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Chicago Bulls: Duke’s RJ Barrett emerges legit top 3 selection

By Andrew Miller

SYRACUSE, NY - FEBRUARY 23: RJ Barrett #5 of the Duke Blue Devils looks on against the Syracuse Orange during the second half at the Carrier Dome on February 23, 2019 in Syracuse, New York. Duke defeated Syracuse 75-65. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images)
SYRACUSE, NY - FEBRUARY 23: RJ Barrett #5 of the Duke Blue Devils looks on against the Syracuse Orange during the second half at the Carrier Dome on February 23, 2019 in Syracuse, New York. Duke defeated Syracuse 75-65. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images) /
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The Duke Blue Devils are slipping without Zion, but the Chicago Bulls could have a new emerging NBA Draft target in the process in R.J. Barrett.

The 2019 NBA Draft is soon to be the main focus for all the lottery teams that will miss the playoffs this year. The Chicago Bulls definitely fall into the category of teams that should already be looking forward to the 2019 NBA Draft. There is so much talent to draw from if the Chicago Bulls land in the top three that this fan base should be ecstatic.

A top team that is going to have a lot of top 15 picks entering the 2019 NBA Draft is the Duke Blue Devils. The four players that Duke has in the starting five that includes point guard Tre Jones, shooting guard R.J. Barrett, small forward Cam Reddish, and forward Zion Williamson, could all be lottery picks this year.

According to ESPN, Williamson isn’t ready to return to the lineup yet for Duke after the weird knee injury he suffered in a loss earlier this month to the rival North Carolina Tar Heels. That injury to Zion was one of the more interesting that any basketball fan has likely ever witnessed at the college level where he exploded through his shoe.

Zion didn’t play in Duke’s latest loss, on the road at the hands of the Virginia Tech Hokies. There’s still a chance he could make it back by the March 5 ACC showdown against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

Yet, this absence of Zion for Duke created the opportunity for Barrett to step up and show what he can do in the spotlight. The interesting part about Barrett’s recent rise with the void of Zion in the starting five is that he’s not handling the ball much more than he did previous to the knee injury against UNC.

If you include the UNC game where Zion was injured in the first place, Barrett is registering some season-best numbers in the past three games. Barrett posted 84 points, 23 rebounds, and 16 assists in the past three games combined. Those are some of his best numbers since arriving at Duke.

Despite the 16-point loss to the Tar Heels, Barrett started to show that he could breakthrough as the main source of offense for Duke in Zion’s absence. He posted the highest offensive rating on the team in that game and the highest usage rate.

The assist percentage for Barrett has also skyrocketed in the past three games. It’s just a shame for Duke that the win column doesn’t look as good as it did with Zion in the lineup. That figures, though, with a prospect that could be considered a generational talent in the NBA Draft sidelined.

Moreover, the Chicago Bulls need someone like Barrett to pan out if it can’t snag Zion in the upcoming Draft. The Chicago Bulls look to improve across the board this summer, but need help in quite a few areas. The first round of the 2019 NBA Draft should at least address the concerns that this team has to find a facilitator that can effectively command the offense.

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Barrett is proving now that he can be that type of offensive floor general the Chicago Bulls so desperately need. He does clash a bit with the tendencies and playing style of shooting guard Zach LaVine, but that is an issue that could be worked out if the opportunity to draft Barrett comes around.

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