Chicago Bulls: 5 criminally underrated NBA Draft targets

Sports Illustrated Big Board Ranking: 38

Chicago Bulls fans have fallen in love with Ryan Arcidiacono for his hard-nosed play on the court. Now imagine a juiced-up version of Arcidiacono, and your end result will look something like Ty Jerome.

Two inches taller, and slightly better on each end of the court, Jerome has emerged as a leader for one of the top teams in the country. Shooting nearly 40 percent from deep and averaging over three times as many assists as turnovers, he’s got exactly what the Bulls are looking for in a point guard.

If Chicago doesn’t land their long-term point guard replacement in the first round of the draft, Jerome could likely be had early in the second round. His playmaking and sharpshooting abilities are exactly what the Bulls are looking for to complement Zach LaVine‘s skill set.

While his defense may not be a highlight of his game, he has always rated out as a positive defender at the collegiate level. This is likely due to his big frame and the gritty culture at Virginia, renowned for their painfully slow pace and stout defenses.

At Virginia, he’s learned how to play within a rigid system and defer to other players. Although he’s an elite shooter from range, he’s only the third-leading score for the Cavaliers. An impressive 32.7 assist percentage indicates he’s happy to get his teammate’s involved.

Jerome projects to be a player similar to Wizards sharpshooter Tomas Satoransky, which would be a fantastic pickup for a second-round addition. The Bulls need players that can come off the bench and immediately affect the game, and Jerome can do exactly that.

The only issue with the pursuit of Jerome however, is that he projects to be an early second-round pick just out of the Chicago Bulls reach. If the Bulls feel confident packaging another second-round pick to trade up for him, or if his draft stock falls, Jerome would prove to be a solid contributor for a team ready to make a playoff push.