Benefits of trading back
The Chicago Bulls should consider the idea of trading back in the NBA Draft if the opportunity presents itself in a solid trade package. The Bulls would need to get a team like the Atlanta Hawks or the Washington Wizards involved in the trade package if John Paxson and Gar Forman wanted the best shot at landing Sekou Doumbouya.
The latest 2019 NBA Mock Draft from Sports Illustrated had the Wizards picking the French Limoges star forward at No. 9. It seems like there’s good odds that Doumbouya wouldn’t slip out of the top 10, which makes a lot of sense. Doumbouya is just too talented and has a ceiling too high to fall that far into the back half of the lottery.
If some mocks are projecting Doumbouya to fall at No. 9, then the Bulls should jump on whatever opportunity they have to nab him before then or trade down with the Wizards. There’s a lot to work with around the Wizards’ pick. The Hawks have picks 8 and 10 too, and already made one trade deal involving Allen Crabbe from the Brooklyn Nets.
Landing a point guard is a different matter for the Bulls. If GarPax is set on taking a point guard, then White could be a better target than Doumbouya. But it’s hard to imagine the Bulls having a better shot at landing a real game-changer on the wing than him. That’s really what the Bulls need to round out the starting five too alongside Markkanen and center Wendell Carter Jr.