Pippen Ain't Easy
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Chicago Bulls roundtable discussion: Welcome to the regular season, Bulls fans

By Michael Whitlow

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 13: Bobby Portis #5 of the Chicago Bulls and OG Anunoby #3 of the Toronto Raptors dives for a lose ball during a preseason game at the United Center on October 13, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 13: Bobby Portis #5 of the Chicago Bulls and OG Anunoby #3 of the Toronto Raptors dives for a lose ball during a preseason game at the United Center on October 13, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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Luka Doncic, a future member of the Chicago Bulls?
ISTANBUL, TURKEY – OCTOBER 12: Luka Doncic, #7 of Real Madrid in action during the 2017/2018 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 1 game between Anadolu Efes Istanbul v Real Madrid at Sinan Erdem Dome on October 12, 2017 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Aykut Akici/EB via Getty Images) /

MW: When I first ask you guys this question, I said no more than 26-27 wins. I just don’t see how *this* team approaches anywhere near 30 wins this season. They’re that bad.

So, last question: if you’re Gar Forman and you get the No. 1 pick next June, who would be your pick?

DG: Missouri’s Michael Porter, Jr. should be selected by the Bulls in 2018.

DB: Michael Porter, Jr. I’m a little biased here as I attend Mizzou, but Porter is a beast. He’s tall, long, and athletic (cue the GarPax “we want to get younger and more athletic” music). Porter has a nice jumper; something Marvin Bagley III lacks at this point and I think he’d bring some much needed scoring to the Bulls. However, I’m not sure what a core of LaVine, Porter and Markkanen would look like defensively.

CB: If I’m running the Bulls, I’m drafting Luka Doncic, the Slovenian. At 6-foot-7, he’s got the prototypical point-forward skill set that organizations need to succeed (i.e. LeBron, Ben Simmons, Draymond Green.) He played great in EuroBasket and I think he would compliment Lauri, LaVine, Niko and Valentine really well. That said, I think Gar is going to take Marvin Bagley III. Bagley has that skill set/athleticism and scoring ability that’s going to put butts in the seat, which is really what separates the US game from the Europeans. Americans love big highlight dunks and blocks, but guys like Dirk, Manu and Doncic make the game look as beautiful as it gets to basketball purists.

WL: As good as we’re considering the top of this NBA draft class to be, I’m not seeing a knight in shining armor. However, if you can get other pieces, you might not need the mega-ace. Michael Porter, Jr. is my guy for a myriad of reasons. I don’t know if Porter has the highest ceiling in the draft class, but I think his floor is still an NBA above-replacement starter. On the right team, this guy is a jack-of-all-trades, something the Bulls had in Jimmy Butler, but they didn’t have him at 6-foot-10 with pre-developed shooting range.

NN: I’m firmly on the #LoseForLuka bandwagon until the college basketball season actually rolls around.

MO: This is tough for me since I try to tune out hype for incoming college freshman until I’m actually seeing them play (thanks, Cliff Alexander), but I’ll say Michael Porter, Jr. The name of the game is versatility, and Porter, at 6-foot-10, can play all three forward spots. His jump shot will spread out the defense, and on defense his athleticism should allow him to switch onto guards in the pick and roll. He already looks to be special, but if he develops the ability to run an offense… I’m already drooling.

MP: I would select Michael Porter Jr. with the No. 1 overall pick next June if the Bulls had the opportunity. A 6-foot-10 small forward and athletic freak, the ceiling is unlimited for Porter and he could be a great cornerstone player for Chicago moving forward. However, there are reports that he might be staying two years at Missouri.

Whatever ends up happening, the Bulls need to take advantage this year, before the new NBA tanking rules come into effect.

Next: Will Bulls even pick up Bobby Portis' team option after suspension?

DC: It’s so early for me to even guess at who to take. Forman and Paxson send so many mixed signals about what they’re doing (because they don’t know what they’re doing). They seem obsessed with finding a point guard, but then they chase boring forwards and trade Jimmy Butler for the right to draft Lauri over Dennis Smith, Jr., Frank Ntilikina, or Donovan Mitchell. I’m not against Markkanen, even if I’m not excited about him, but I’m trying to point out that GarPax appears to be acting with incredible dissonance. I’d guess they trade the No. 1 pick for LaMarcus Aldridge, just as much as I’d think they draft Luka Doncic. It seems like the probably pass on the Euro guard because they have a unique opportunity at power forward. If they either trade Mirotic or don’t re-up on him for next season, and then give up on Bobby Portis, Marvin Bagley III would be the guy. Personally, I value wings the most, so it comes down to Doncic and Michael Porter, Jr. I’d be happy with Porter if he shows any sign of defense leading up to the draft.

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