Sleeper lottery targets for the Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls have an opportunity to look at underrated players that will fall in the lottery. Miles Bridges and Kevin Knox are sleeper targets.
The Bulls were the 6th worst team in the NBA, so our pick should fall around that spot dependent on the lottery.
Miles Bridges and Kevin Knox are two prospects we should look at if our pick falls to 8 or 9 or if the top prospects are already taken by our pick.
Miles Bridges
Wilson Chandler/Marvin Williams
Upsides
Miles Bridges‘ offensive game is not exactly refined. Nonetheless, his touch is natural, spinning the ball with a beautiful backspin. To add, he has extended range stretching to the NBA three-point line.
Undoubtedly, if I took my grandma to the game the first thing she would notice is Bridges’ extraordinary bounce. Obviously, the outstanding part of his game is his 41 inch vertical leap.
For an elite athlete, Miles has unforeseen offensive awareness. The average fan may not see how he utilizes the basket to screen off shot-blockers and finish acrobatically at the opposite side.
Defensively, Bridges will be able to guard both forward positions with ease using pure athleticism to contest shots.
Downsides
Unfortunately, Miles Bridges did not improve in any aspect after making a surprising return to Michigan State for his sophomore year.
Bridges is a power forward in a shooting guard’s body, standing only 6’6’’. To compound this issue, he does not have long arms to make up for a lack of height, his wingspan only reaching 6’9’’.
Miles has not eradicated the tweener label necessitated when he returned to school. He has solid handles but his handles restrict his potential to attack the rim like a genuine 3. Bridges struggles creating for his teammates, but improved this past season, dishing out 2.7 assists. With vast improvement in both categories, Bridges can shape into a small forward.
Fit with the Bulls
In the long run, Bridges could have trouble extending his career once his athleticism dwindles unless he develops a knockdown jumper. For now, his fit is not great with Markkanen and Portis manning the power forward spot already. Bridges will have to showcase the ability to play small forward during combine workouts for the Bulls to seriously consider him.
Kevin Knox
Player Comparison
Upsides
Kevin Knox is the typical Kentucky prospect. There are just not enough minutes nor basketballs to go around for each top 100 recruit. Highly touted coming out of high school, at this point it seems as if scouts have forgotten about him.
Knox Has the ability to pull up and float the ball into the basket with finesse. The Bulls need a guy that can create offense and can be trusted to take that last shot at the end of a close game. Knox has that bona fide takeover ability.
Defensively, he is solid producing 2.1 steals per 40 minutes displays his lateral movement. A 102.8 defensive rating proves he could be a potential menace on defense at the next level.
Downsides
Knox does not have that explosive jumping ability like Michael Porter Jr. or Bridges but is still athletic enough to guard small forwards and beat defenders off the dribble.
Clearly, Kevin is not the fastest player in the lottery. He has some trouble beating defenders off the dribble with his waist high handle. In conjunction, he struggles with turnovers at times, giving up the ball at a 10.9% turnover rate.
Next: What does the future hold for Bobby Portis?
Knox is not a good enough shooter or dribbler to find himself drifting, shooting threes at a 34.1% clip in college. He has a mechanical shot that takes a while to load, opponents will block his shot at the next level.
Fit with the Bulls
Word is still out on whether Valentine or Holiday are the future at the small forward position. If our pick falls to number 8 or 9 Knox would definitely be in consideration.