With Tatum, Mitchell, and Simmons dominating headlines, rookies have proven more significant than ever. I will narrow down who we are targeting with our lottery pick this coming draft.
To clarify, these are the 5 initial guys I think most fit on our team as viable lottery options. The player comparisons represent my opinion on the ceiling and floor of the specified prospect.
1. Luka Doncic
Player Comparison
Gordon Hayward/Manu Ginobili
Upsides
This pairing is almost too perfect. Doncic’s ability to see the floor as a point guard, shoot the ball like a shooting guard, and bully defenders with his 6’8’’ 210 lb. frame could help the talent-laden Bulls.
We have yet to witness a prospect like Doncic. He seemingly combines Dragic’s scoring ability, Hayward’s versatility, and Ginobili’s deceptiveness. In addition, he can easily situate himself on the low block with his linebacker-like build and bully smaller guards. Under other conditions, he can speed past larger forwards to the rim.
Grabbing another point guard might seem redundant at this point but Doncic is so much more than just a point guard. He can slide down to the 2, 3, and even play the 4 in small ball situations.
Kris Dunn struggled mightily when shooting outside the arc, shooting threes at 32.1% clip. Doncic, on the other hand, made 1.5 three pointers on 4.8 attempts per game and shot a very respectable 80.1% from the charity stripe. Overall, he averaged 15.0 PPG, 4.7 APG, and 5.2 rebounds playing 24.7 minutes per game.
Downsides
His athleticism could be cause for concern. His vertical isn’t lacking but his explosiveness does not match up with other guards.
Fit with the Bulls
But with an athletic guard already manning the one, Doncic would not be forced to bring up the ball. Primarily, Luka can shoulder the scoring load. Kris Dunn has been injury-plagued throughout his college and NBA career. Snagging a point guard/forward will help a depleted backcourt. When all is said and done, Doncic could be the Batman to Markkanen’s Robin.
2. Deandre Ayton
Player Comparison
Joel Embiid/Dwight Howard
Upsides
Standing out as a man among boys, Ayton’s physical build is a spectacle to behold. The legitimate 7 footer bears a muscular 243 pound build that has GMs and scouts alike raving. Not to mention, Ayton’s game is nearly identical to today’s unicorns Karl-Anthony Towns and Joel Embiid.
From the get go, Deandre should be ready for the NBA. Expectedly, he will produce 20 points and 10 rebounds in his rookie season. Although he is much more than just a rim shaker and brute rebounder.
Alas, he has revealed a distinct ability to stretch the floor with a fluid shooting touch. He wasn’t really able to showcase this within the Arizona offense, shooting 12-35 on three point attempts. He’ll have to prove he can shoot the ball in workouts to overtake Doncic as the draft’s top prospect.
Downsides
The major cause for concern is his tendency to take plays off. I can’t stand to see him take off plays when he is a gigantic force that can take control of games with a flip of a switch. He should be constantly posting up, jostling for position or else he will find himself drifting on the perimeter too often.
Fit with the Bulls
We don’t need another drifting big man when Markkanen and Portis already fill that role at times. If Ayton can bang down low and be selective with his jump shots, I would be fond of seeing him ball out in the red and white.
3. Mohamed Bamba
Player Comparison
Rudy Gobert/Shawn Bradley
Upsides
The first detail that stands out is how darn intimidating this Mo Bamba is. Standing 7’1’’ center with a 7’9’’ wingspan, he swatted 4.4 shots per game. His block numbers are enhanced by the fact that he did not pick up any dumb fouls. He is a natural shot-blocker, averaging a paltry 2.4 fouls per game at Texas.
Bamba has open-court speed and lateral dexterity you don’t witness in many big men. He cuts to the rim with purpose and has soft hands that lets him lay the ball into the rim even utilizing a George Gervin finger roll on some plays.
Free throw percentage is a solid indicator of the touch of a player’s shot. Noticeably, Bamba’s charity stripe was a solid 68.1% at Texas, comparable to Joel Embiid’s 68.5% at Kansas. He has a high-arcing shot and it will be enjoyable to see if his range increases like Embiid’s.
Downsides
He struggled dominating his college peers on offense with his thin frame, weighing in at 225 pounds.
He desperately needs to expand upon his raw post moves. In college, he could reach over defenders with ease and dominate them inside with his size. Once he gets to the pros and sees guys eye-to-eye, Bamba could struggle creating his own shots.
Fit with the Bulls
With our best center being Robin Lopez, Mo Bamba would be an archetypal predecessor. He is a better rim protector and has more outside shooting potential than Lopez. Furthermore, Bamba aides Markkanen’s stretch 4 ability with defense. The pairing would be reminiscent of Tyson Chandler next to Dirk Nowitzki.
4. Wendell Carter Jr.
Player Comparison
Al Horford/Greg Monroe
Upsides
Wendell Carter Jr. has a high level of offensive awareness, knowing when to slip to the rim off a pick and roll or pop out for an open three-point shot. Wendell’s go-to move is a spin which turns into either a forceful dunk or face-up jump shot.
Carter Jr. steps into his shot with warranted confidence, shooting threes at the top of the arc like Nikola Jokic. He was 19 for 46 from three and backed them up with a solid free throw percentage. Defenders realize he can shoot so they run him off the line. This allows him to put the ball on the floor and drive to the rim. He has surprising handles for a 6’10’’ 260 pound beast.
Moreover, he dished out an Al Horford-like amount of assists, averaging 3 every 40 minutes.
When he mistimes his jump he’s able to gather and explode back up to the rim with ferocious horsepower. Not to mention, he boasts a 7’3’’ wingspan. A genuine 5 with the ability to slide down to the 4, he is the model formed by today’s NBA.
Downsides
Not exactly bearing the most endurance, Carter Jr. lumbers down the court slowly. The truth is that Carter Jr. is not one of the most athletic big men in this years draft. He tends to struggle against his more athletic peers.
Fit with the Bulls
Will he be able to get down the court in Hoiberg’s fast paced offense? Carter Jr.’s ability to play at the 5 makes him a justified option, but he does not comprise the shot-blocking capacity that would fit so well alongside Markkanen. I love what he has going for him now, but with ho-hum athleticism we would not be drafting for upside.
5. Mikal Bridges
Player Comparison
Otto Porter/Wesley Johnson
Talk about improvement. His numbers have risen in every statistical category the past three years and that improvement is visible on the court. Bridges was mostly overshadowed at Villanova, either by Jalen Brunson’s pedigree or Kris Jenkins’ game winning shot. We’re going to have to look through the cracks to witness Bridge’s rise from mid-tier prospect to legit 3 and D NBA player.
Upsides
The first thing fans notice is Bridges elastic-man arms which allows him to steal and block the ball on a routine basis. He produced 2.1 blocks and 1.3 steals in his Junior season.
Bridges has solid handles with both hands, allowing him to slash to the rim. On jump shots, he rises over defenders by releasing the ball at the peak of his jump. Mikal has developed a potent fadeaway off a post up and employs a solid pull up game. One thing is for sure, you won’t see Bridges shots blocked all too often at the next level.
His cutting ability is comparable to Andre Iguodala. His 7’3’’ wingspan more than makes up for his lack of explosiveness, allowing him to stretch out and place the ball in the basket from long distances.
He is careful with the ball while still being creative and displaying a vast array of deceptive moves. With an increase in minutes, his turnover percentage fell from 15.1% to 9.1% from his sophomore to junior seasons.
Downsides
At 22, Bridges is older than most his competition which gave him a physical advantage, reminiscent of Wesley Johnson dominating at Syracuse.
Fit with the Bulls
Also, Bridges has morphed into a leader on the court. Jay Wright said it best, “He (Bridges) just gradually got better and better. He knows this year he’s the leader, he’s the captain, so he’s playing with a lot more freedom, a lot more aggressiveness.” The inexperienced Hoiberg could use another coach on the floor.
Next: Can Fred Hoiberg be a "nice guy" and a good coach?
Mikal Bridges is undoubtedly the most solid prospect in the 2018 NBA draft. Bridges incorporates a low ceiling but a strikingly high floor. If we can grab a knock down shooter and lockdown defender at a lower lottery pick Gar/Pax should not blink twice.