Chicago Bulls: 3 deep rotation players that need more playing time

Adam Mokoka, SG/SF

While the Bulls are improving on the defensive end of the floor of late, they still need some help with one-on-one perimeter defending. Moving combo guard Tomas Satoransky into the starting five in place of second-year point guard Coby White surely helped, but missing veteran shooting guard Garrett Temple for the most part the last few weeks definitely hurts the team on that end of the floor.

If Donovan wants more assured strength on the defensive end from his bench, then he could definitely call on the second-year French 6-foot-5 and 190 pound shooting guard/wing Adam Mokoka. The former undrafted free agent signing of the Bulls had some flashes that he showed in the last year and a half that proved the talent level he can bring to the table.

Mokoka could be a special player in transition, get in the lanes often to draw turnovers and drive effectively to the rim. He’s a gifted athlete with a good nose for the ball. Mokoka also proved during his time with the Bulls in the Vegas Summer League, G-League affiliate, and in limited stints with them in NBA game action, that he can be a very effective defender and run well in transition.

So far this season, Mokoka has only played in nine games and 47 total minutes. And he’s averaged 10.0 points per 36 minutes, 3.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.8 blocks. Mokoka shot 40.0 percent from the field, 12.5 percent from beyond the arc, and doesn’t have any attempts from the free-throw line.

What Mokoka brings to the table above all else is a defensive ability that really is only matched in the backcourt/wing rotation by Temple.