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Chicago Bulls: Ranking the last 10 first-round picks

By Luke Askew

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 14: Jimmy Butler #21 and Doug McDermott #3 of the Chicago Bulls react after a made basket against the Philadelphia 76ers on January 14, 2016 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Bulls defeated the 76ers 115-111. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 14: Jimmy Butler #21 and Doug McDermott #3 of the Chicago Bulls react after a made basket against the Philadelphia 76ers on January 14, 2016 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Bulls defeated the 76ers 115-111. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 26: Denzel Valentine
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 26: Denzel Valentine /

8. Chandler Hutchison

  • Draft year: 2018
  • Pick: 22

It’s hard to get a read on Chandler Hutchison at this stage in his career. He was supposed to be one of the sure-fire, can’t-miss prospects in the 2018 NBA Draft. It’s not like people thought he would be a star, but after a dominant senior season at Boise State, he looked like he’d be an above-average role player at worst.

That hasn’t exactly been the case.

Injuries and a lack of confidence have been detrimental to Hutchison’s NBA development thus far. In his two seasons with the Bulls, he’s played a total of 72 games (44 in his rookie season, 28 in this last season), and in the majority of those 72 games, he’s been frustratingly passive.

The good news is prior to reaggravating his injured shoulder, he started to dial up the aggressiveness for a few games. He was actively cutting off the ball and when he had the ball in his hands, he was attacking the basket with ferocity. That’s the Chandler Hutchison the Bulls need.

Unfortunately, he’s been injured too much to ever show consistent improvement.

7. Denzel Valentine

  • Draft year: 2016
  • Pick: 14

Denzel Valentine has some of the same problems Chandler Hutchison has. Not with the aggressiveness, but with the injuries.

His rookie year, Valentine played in 57 games. In his sophomore year, he played in a career-high 77 games. He missed his entire third year with a severe ankle injury. And this year, he only played in 36 games. That’s a grand total of 170 games in four years. Yikes.

When Valentine has been healthy, he’s actually been solid. He’s the best passer on the Bulls (by a mile), always making extra passes to open shooters and spotting guys no one else sees. He’s a decent 3-point shooter at 36.6 percent for his career on 4.2 attempts per game, and he has a savviness about him on the offensive end that’s extremely valuable, especially to a Bulls team with a cringe-worthy offensive system.

Right now, injuries and Jim Boylen are the only things holding Valentine back. If he can stay healthy, and if Boylen can start believing in him, he’ll move his way up this list in no time.

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