Chicago Bulls: Grading the Central Division’s First Round

Chicago Bulls (Photo by Ryan McGilloway/NBAE via Getty Images)
Chicago Bulls (Photo by Ryan McGilloway/NBAE via Getty Images)
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(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Indiana Pacers: B+

At No. 18 overall, the Indiana Pacers selected the Serbian-league pro Goga Bitadze. The Pacers also acquired T.J. Warren and a second round pick from the Phoenix Suns as Phoenix attempted to dump salary.

Warren averaged 18 points a game last year, second to Devin Booker and will be an instant offense off an already talented Pacers bench.

At 19-years-old, Bitadze averaged 12.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.3 blocks in 13 games during the EuroLeague and was voted the 2018-19 Adriatic League MVP and Best Young Player during the same season.

Bitadze is 6-foot-11 and 250 pounds, so he’ll pair well with Domantas Sabonis or Thaddeus Young during the course of a game. Myles Turner has started to blossom into a dominant force on the defensive end, so whenever he comes off the floor a player like Bitadze could fit right in giving Indiana good minutes early on.

Overall the Pacers improved their team and continue to build a bench mob for when Victor Oladipo is healthy.