Four first round NCAA Tournament games to watch for Chicago Bulls prospects
4. Thursday at 3:30 p.m Central Time: Murray State vs Marquette
Prospect to watch: Ja Morant, point guard, Murray State
Projected draft position: 2 (Tankathon), 2 (The Athletic), 2 (Draft Site)
Ja Morant has become a fan favorite pick among Chicago’s faithful since he exploded onto the draft scene this year. The 6’3” sophomore point guard played his way into first round consideration early in the season with his stellar play for Murray State, dropping 38 points on Alabama and 25 points against Auburn.
Since then, he’s only continued to excel, averaging just under 25 points, 10 assists and five rebounds a game. Morant is Murray State’s engine on offense, and he’s likely to play every minute of Thursday’s game against Marquette.
Keep an eye out for his excellent athleticism, handles and overall playmaking. He’ll showcase his ability to blow by defenders and contort himself near the rim to finish, as well as a knack for kicking the ball out among collapsing defenses. He does a lot of what elite NBA point guards need to do on offense and would fill a need for Chicago.
The biggest concerns at the next level are Morant’s jump shot and body, both of which are not ready for the NBA. Morant only weighs 175 lbs and will struggle to absorb contact near the bucket against the rim protectors of the league. Without a capable jump shot, Morant could be easily neutralized until he either puts on weight or makes defenses pay for sagging off of him.
Teams are also concerned about his turnovers and defense, but his massive usage could help explain both. Morant is expected to do everything for Murray State, and teams can throw everything they have defensively at him, similar to what we saw with Trae Young last year at Oklahoma.
Even considering that, his defense is still a large question mark, but Chicago will likely take that chance given Morant’s skill set on offense. He’ll be surrounded by great shooters with the Bulls, and selecting him would give Chicago the missing piece in its offensive system, as well as give them flexibility with Kris Dunn’s future on the team.
Prospect to watch: Markus Howard, point guard, Marquette
Projected draft position: 46 (Tankathon), 43 (The Athletic), 54 (Draft Site)
On the other end of the floor is Markus Howard, a 5’11” junior point guard who specializes in torching defenses by hitting difficult shots. Howard averages 25 points, four assists and four rebounds for Marquette, all while shooting just under 41% from deep.
He’s an elite shooter off the dribble, an invaluable skill in the NBA, and his jump shot dictates how defenses can try to guard him. He isn’t a plus finisher at the next level and is likely to get bodied by bigger defenders, although his shooting should keep defenders honest. Howard’s handle and passing could stand to improve, but he is still capable in that regard.
No team should expect him to be average on defense at the next level, and he’ll be best suited as a regular season backup. The Bulls might be tempted to spend a second rounder on him and help fill out their back court depth, and his shooting could certainly work well with Denzel Valentine or Otto Porter Jr. playing as complementary ball handlers with the second unit.