2) Chicago Bulls draft targets that fit with LaVine
There’s mixed hype about the former USC Trojans elite five-star recruit and star freshman big man Onyeka Okongwu in the weeks and months leading up to 2020 NBA Draft night. Okongwu had a truly special freshman campaign at USC, and he has a skill set that should be effective and translate immediately to the next level.
Some of the numbers that Okongwu posted at USC just blow NBA scouts out of the room. During his freshman campaign last season at USC, Okongwu played in 28 games (all of which he started in). And he averaged 16.2 points per game, 8.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.2 steals, and 2.7 blocks. Okongwu shot 61.6 percent from the field, 25.0 percent from beyond the arc, and 72.0 percent from the free-throw line.
All of those solid numbers amounted to a sparkling 123 offensive rating/88 defensive rating, 11.6 box plus/minus rating, .251 win shares per 40 minutes, 64.5 true shooting percentage, and 31.1 player efficiency rating.
The raw potential that Okongwu has to make an early impact on whatever team he lands with on both ends of the floor could also make him a solid fit with LaVine. The Bulls don’t have a true plug-and-play big man that is efficient right from the word go. Center Wendell Carter Jr. and power forward Lauri Markkanen have spotty injury histories of late and have yet to be a true consistent net positive presence on both ends of the floor.
This might be something that Okongwu can help turnaround for the rest of the Bulls starting five if they pick him in the lottery this week.