Pre-Draft Lottery Projection: 7 (+1)
As reported by Shams Charania of the Athletic, Darius Garland left the draft combine with a promise from an unknown team. If we’re working under the assumption that team wasn’t the Lakers, then all signs point towards Garland heading to Phoenix.
Nailing 47.8 of his shots from behind the arc, Garland poses a dangerous threat to drive a long-range dagger into the opposing team’s heart at any given moment. Granted, his 139 minute sample size is quite small; however, shooting has always been Garland’s forte.
As for his fit with the Suns, Garland’s smooth handles will help ease the burden off Devin Booker’s ridiculous 32.9 usage percentage (behind only James Harden and Joel Embiid). Without another consistent three-point threat outside of Booker, Garland’s ability to space the floor and stretch the defense will also help unleash the dormant offensive abilities of Deandre Ayton. Expect to see the Suns grab Garland in hopes of finally filling the point guard void in the desert.
Pre-Draft Lottery Projection: 8 (+1)
Oh, how naïve were we to think the fourth selection would be a bittersweet result for the Bulls? No, in retrospect of the draft lottery chaos, picking fourth overall would seem ideal. Instead, the Bulls will have to make do with the hand they’ve been dealt. Unless a favorable trade package becomes available, Coby White will likely be the newest addition to Chicago’s young core.
For a city that is so enamored with former-Bull Derrick Rose, the appeal of Coby White is all the more interesting when juxtaposed next to the hometown hero. Rose often looked detached and cold when on the court, earning the title ‘Windy City Assassin’; White on the other hand, wears his emotions on his sleeve.
Rose was also adverse to the three-point game; While over half of White’s shot attempts came from behind the arc, more in 35 games than Rose took in his first 182 NBA games.
Regardless, Coby still presents an interesting amount of potential as a combo guard next to Zach LaVine. White’s surprising first-step quickness lends itself well to a pick-and-roll heavy offensive scheme. Who knows, perhaps a bit of emotion and intensity is exactly what this Bulls team needs injected into its veins.