Ranking potential draft prospects for the Chicago Bulls

With the Chicago Bulls recent success in games and failure to completely tank, nobody really knows how to predict where the Bulls will end up in the draft.

Let’s say the Chicago Bulls have their pick at any player – here’s how I would rank the top 5 possible draft picks for the Bulls.

Honorable mention: DeAndre Ayton – Arizona/Freshman

It seems strange to have the “honorable mention” Bulls pick as a player who many predict will be the first player drafted in the 2018 draft. But for some reason, I just couldn’t put him in my top 5. It’s not that I have anything against DeAndre Ayton – I think he’ll be one heck of an NBA player – I just love the other 5 guys so much that Ayton had to be bumped down to the honorable mention spot. (I would still be ecstatic if the Bulls got him, though).

Ayton is having himself an impressive freshman campaign averaging 19.7 points and 11.1 rebounds while shooting 63% from the field.

Alright… maybe I made a mistake not having him in my top 5 – only time will tell.

5. Trae Young – Oklahoma/Freshman

I love Trae Young. I think the kid’s going to be a star.

He’s averaging roughly 30 points and 10 assists (leading D-1 in both categories), not to mention he plays in the toughest conference in college basketball.

You’ve heard the comparisons – Steph Curry seems to be the most common one. And you also know what Steph Curry did for the Warriors franchise.

My only hesitation with Young is that I really, love the play of new Chicago Bulls point guard, Kris Dunn. So with all the forward/center talent in this years draft, does it make sense to draft a point guard?

I mean I’d say go for it. If he’s the best player available at the time of the Bulls’ pick, then why not? Fred Hoiberg is a creative offensive coach and he’ll find a way to make it work with two ball dominant guards. Not to mention, Dunn and Young have polar opposite games that might actually work well together.

4. Mohamed Bamba – Texas/Freshman

https://twitter.com/KeyPlayerNation/status/953809055600074758

If the Bulls were to select Mo Bamba with their first pick, it would mean that they’ve chosen to be completely defensive-minded going forward.

Kris Dunn is already one of the elite wing defenders in the NBA, so adding a guy like Bamba, who is 2nd in D-1 in blocked shots per game with 4.3 blocks per game, would surely help the interior defense and rim protection.

Another thing to consider? Rudy Gobert currently has the longest wingspan in the NBA at 7′ 8.5″. Mo Bambas wingspan? 8′ 0″.

Can you say sheesh?

3. Luka Doncic – Real Madrid/18 years old 

Luka Doncic scares me a little but his upside is crazy high. The foreign star is only 18 years old and is already getting pegged as a possible first overall draft pick. His size and versatility on the wing is something that NBA scouts are loving in this new era of NBA basketball.

It’s just always hard to tell with foreign players how smooth their transition to the NBA will be. You have guys like Andrea Bargnani (no offense, Andrea) who was drafted first overall and is now playing somewhere in Europe. But then you have the opposite – guys like Kristaps Porzingis, who is making a splash in the league and changing the game as we know it.

Doncic is a risk, but his upside is most definitely worth it.

2. Michael Porter Jr. – Missouri/Freshman

Michael Porter Jr.’s back injury that’s left him out of basically the entire season thus far has left NBA fans disappointed as we’ve all been excited to see what he can do at the collegiate level.

The 6′ 10″ forward who can shoot the lights out and fly higher than almost anybody has some people extremely excited. Is he the next Kevin Durant? Maybe – or maybe he’ll be a breed of his own – someone that future prospects get compared too.

His offensive fire-power is something the Bulls could really use on the wing. But then again, what couldn’t the Bulls use?

I’m excited for when he (allegedly) comes back from injury this season and shows us all what he’s capable of doing at the collegiate level. But until then, he sits at my number two spot.

1. Marvin Bagley III – Duke/Freshman

https://twitter.com/CourtsideFilms/status/947995785894989825

Now it’s time for the guy I would want the Bulls to take before any other prospect. The 6′ 11″ forward that re-classified this year to play under legendary coach, Mike Krzyzewski at Duke University.

Marvin Bagley has dominated the college basketball platform ever since he made his decision this fall. He is currently second in double-doubles at the Division 1 level and he’s averaging 21.6 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. When you watch a Duke game, his dominance is obvious. He’s virtually unstoppable at the collegiate level and I can only imagine that’s going to translate to the NBA level as well (not being unstoppable but you know what I mean).

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Also, picture the way Bagley would mesh with current Bulls rookie, Lauri Markkanen. Playing those two at the forward spots would be a phenomenal front court for today’s NBA. Markkanen can stretch the floor and Bagley can dominate the glass and the paint.

To me, Bagley seems like the most obvious “once in a generation” type player and I really want him to be a Bull. With the way the Bulls have been winning games lately, however, I can’t imagine he’ll be available when it’s the Bulls time to draft – but a guy can hope can’t he?