Chicago Bulls: Daniel Gafford posing ‘Sixth Man of the Year’ potential

Getting over-excited about the potential rookie big man Daniel Gafford brings for the Chicago Bulls is easy after his Summer League debut on July 5.

The time is now for Chicago Bulls fans and the national and local media to have way-too-early reactions to the first Summer League game of the offseason in Las Vegas. In the midst of a weird day at the Thomas & Mack Center (home of the UNLV Rebels basketball program), the Bulls squared off against the new look Los Angeles Lakers in each team’s Las Vegas NBA Summer League debut. A particularly strong Summer League debut surfaced on July 5 for the Bulls with rookie center and second round draft pick Daniel Gafford.

The Arkansas Razorbacks talented rim runner and rim protector showed out in his Summer League debut yesterday in Vegas against the Lakers helping the Bulls to a 20-point route of a victory. That outing saw Gafford post a game-high 21 points and tie a game-high with 10 rebounds. Those 21 points helped the Bulls notch the 96-76 dominant win.

What was more impressive about the numbers Gafford put up was the fashion in which he did it. He shot 90 percent from the field and 75 percent from the free-throw line. Two of his 10 rebounds came on the offensive glass and he also posted an insane four blocks.

All these numbers are great for Gafford, but they do signal the potential he brings to excel in a specific role with the Bulls. If he gets significant playing time in the frontcourt rotation, Gafford could eventually blossom into a premier sixth or seventh man with this team. Chicago Bulls head coach Jim Boylen runs a scheme that really plays to his skill set.

Averaging around 10-12 points per game while hauling in around 6-8 rebounds and blocking 2 shots per game puts Gafford directly in the spotlight of contending for Sixth Man of the Year honors later on in his career. As a rookie and former second round pick, Gafford would find it challenging to contend for such an award. All-Rookie nods could be in the immediate future for him and point guard Coby White, though.

The two major reasons why Gafford could be a major contender for Sixth Man of the Year in the near future come because of his skill set and role with the Bulls under Boylen. His length and athleticism allow him to produce rebounds and blocks at a much greater rate than almost any other 2019 second round draft pick. It’s easy to get excited about what he brings to the table after his Summer League debut against the Lakers.

The Bulls should be able to put Gafford in a role where he has a lot of floor spacers and offensive creators around him. He and White showed right away in Summer League with a nice alley-oop what they could become. There’s actually a lot to like about what John Paxson and Gar Forman did in this year’s draft.