Chicago Bulls: 4 players that can join NBA leader boards this season
By Abe Rotbart
No. 3 Thaddeus Young has a shot to be among the top three league leaders in total steals
The only player on the current Bulls roster, besides Arcidiacono, to make the top ten of any statistical category last year was Thaddeus Young, then a member of the Indiana Pacers. He finished tied with Jimmy Butler for ninth in total steals with 123.
Thaddeus Young equal to Jimmy Butler? Hmm.
In the prior year 2017-18, Young was 7th and Butler 15th. Maybe he is even better defensively!
Before attacking me in the comments below, I admit this one is a stretch. League leader Paul George had 47 more steals than Young last year and James Harden 35. However, if the stars align and George or Harden miss significant time due to an injury or load management, the field is wide open. Only 20 steals separated Young from Marcus Smart at number 3. That is a quarter steal per game difference over 82 games.
Granted, Young was on a Pacers team that placed third in the league in defensive rating last year. He was surrounded by other top defensive players like Myles Turner who led the league in blocks. Now he is on a Bulls team that is still trying to figure it out.
Young’s job will be to lead by example and change the culture of the team, especially on the defensive end where the Bulls ranked 25th in defensive rating. He was signed to provide offensive rebounding and lock down defense for a young team that needs mentoring.
His versatility will allow him to fill in on the first team when needed and be the glue that helps the second squad positively affect a game. Young’s experience provides him with the advantage of quickly recognizing what teams are trying to do on offense.
The Bulls also have Otto Porter Jr., Satoransky and Wendell Carter Jr., 3 players with great length. They should help clog lanes and generate steals. Before being traded to the Bulls, Porter led the Wizards in steals per game.
At age 31 he shows no signs of slowing down. His minutes should remain the same and if there is an injury to Wendell Carter Jr. or Lauri Markkanen, the Bulls will be forced to play frequent small ball. In that case Young may see an increase from 30 minutes a game to as much as 34 minutes.
He is a long shot to make the top three but how can I leave out a player that was better last year per 36 minutes than one time Bulls defensive specialist Jimmy Butler? Playing better defense than Butler alone is worth an award in my eyes.