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The Chicago Bulls should move up and draft Luka Doncic

By Luke Askew

Real Madrid's Slovenian Luka Doncic (C-7) jumps over the barrier as the team celebrates their 85-80 win over Fenerbahce in the Euroleague Final Four finals basketball match between Real Madrid and Fenerbahce Dogus Istanbul at The Stark Arena in Belgrade on May 20, 2018. (Photo by Andrej ISAKOVIC / AFP) (Photo credit should read ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images)
Real Madrid's Slovenian Luka Doncic (C-7) jumps over the barrier as the team celebrates their 85-80 win over Fenerbahce in the Euroleague Final Four finals basketball match between Real Madrid and Fenerbahce Dogus Istanbul at The Stark Arena in Belgrade on May 20, 2018. (Photo by Andrej ISAKOVIC / AFP) (Photo credit should read ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images) /
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Barring any trades, the Chicago Bulls will be drafting with picks No. 7 and No. 22 in the 2018 NBA Draft. However, they should consider the possibility of moving up to draft Luka Doncic.

I’ve seen a lot on the internet recently suggesting that the Chicago Bulls should trade down in the draft. While I think this is an extremely interesting idea, I don’t necessarily think it’s the correct direction to move in the draft. I think the Bulls should move up at all costs to draft Luka Doncic.

Okay – maybe not at all costs.

Lauri Markkanen is obviously untouchable as far as trades go. After that, however, I’d say anyone on the roster is fair game – including draft picks.

I don’t have a “proposed trade” in mind. I think a lot of it depends on how the next few weeks of pre-draft workouts go, but if the Bulls were to trade Kris Dunn, the No. 7 pick, and next year’s first-rounder (and maybe even the No. 22 pick), maybe that would be enough to move up to pick No. 1. Of course, maybe it wouldn’t be. Who knows?

I’m not going to act like I have any inside information about teams willing to trade down or any scoop on where Luka Doncic might get drafted – but what I do think, is that Luke Doncic is going to be a star.

Doncic is a 6’6″ guard with elite playmaking skills. His ability to create shots for himself and others is amazing for a kid who just turned 19 in February.

I’m going to go out on a limb and say that The EuroLeague is better than college basketball. But maybe that’s actually not that much of a limb to go out on? Doncic wasn’t playing against other kids ages 18-22, Doncic was playing against grown men – men that have played in the NBA for many years – and he won the MVP in that league after just turning 19 years old.

That is flat out crazy.

Here are some highlights from Luka Doncic (keep in mind he was 18 at the time of these highlights):

Doncic is hands down the best passer in the draft and if the Bulls truly believe Lauri Markkanen is the future of their franchise (which I think he is), then he needs someone to do two things:

  1. Create opportunities for him to score in the way that he does best
  2. Take some of the pressure off of him by being a scoring threat as well

Doncic is the perfect candidate for that player.

Next: Two options for the Bulls if Hutchison is gone at No. 22

There is, of course, a chance that Doncic ends up being a bust – just like with every other draft pick. But if the Bulls want to take a chance at getting a legitimate star to play next to Lauri Markkanen, then they need to move up in this draft and take Doncic because he has the kind of upside that can bring championships back to the city of Chicago.

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