Chicago Bulls 2021 NBA Draft Scouting Reports: PF Isaiah Todd

In a draft class full of potent G-League prospects that passed on taking the traditional college route, the former elite five-star recruit and G-League Ignite power forward Isaiah Todd does stand out in his own way. This is a prospect that is definitely worth considering for the Chicago Bulls come draft night on July 29.

As our progress continues through the 2021 NBA Draft scouting reports roughly one month ahead of draft night, the focus stays on the power forward position. We touched on the former Texas Longhorns freshman power forward Greg Brown to start off the scouting reports.

Todd is a similar prospect in a sense to Brown given that both are very potent power forward draft prospects that have a very high ceiling, but a seemingly low floor. The difference between a power forward prospect like Brown in this draft class and Todd is that the latter of the two took to the increasingly popular route of passing on playing college ball and going straight to the G-League.

Background of the former G-League Ignite PF and potential Chicago Bulls draft target Isaiah Todd

This native of Richmond, VA, and product of Word of God Academy in Raleigh, NC, did have big-time offers coming out of high school from the likes of the Kansas Jayhawks, Kentucky Wildcats, North Carolina Tar Heels, etc. And he ranked as the nation’s No. 20 2020 high school prospect, No. 3 power forward, and the top overall prospect out of North Carolina (247Sports Composite).

Todd stands at a lengthy 6-foot-10 and 220 pounds. He also has a standing reach of nine feet and a wingspan of 7-foot-2. At the 2021 NBA Combine, Todd showed off a decent vertical leap just shy of 36 inches.

Right out of the gates with the G-League Ignite program, Todd stood out with some effective contributions. He played a pretty well-rounded first season with Ignite. He averaged 12.3 points per game, 4.9 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.7 blocks, in 15 games played (and two starts) last season with Ignite.

And he shot 43.7 percent from the field, 36.2 percent from beyond the arc, and 82.4 percent from the free-throw line.

Isaiah Todd’s strengths

When taking a look at his physical tools and the counting stats and shooting percentages from Todd’s one season with Ignite, there’s a lot to like. He really improved as a shooter from deep and shot the ball well from the free-throw line. Todd just didn’t get to the free-throw line all that often.

At just 20 years of age, Todd is already showing a lot of maturity and progression in his game. He’s got excellent physical tools and fluid athleticism. That will allow him to be a versatile two-way big man at the next level. He should be able to run well in transition, help space the floor, protect the rim when needed, and be an effective rebounder.

The one-on-one defending ability and switchability of the athletic Todd are also some of the big plusses to his game on defense.

Todd could develop into a true scoring threat from multiple levels of the offensive end of the floor. He’s got a good shooting form, an effective mid-range shot, and he can get to the rim driving with both hands. Back-to-the-basket scoring definitely doesn’t look to be a staple in his game, but that’s what makes him more of a modern big man.

Isaiah Todd’s weaknesses

On the surface, there are a lot more strengths than weaknesses that Todd brings to the table. You really have to seek out most of the true weaknesses that Todd has shown of late. But one of the problems with that is the limited exposure Todd has playing hoops at a high level.

There are some prospects in this draft class that got to play in a few dozen games at the college or G-League level, even if they only stuck around for one year. Meanwhile, Todd only played in 15 games in the Ignite program in the G-League and 366 total minutes. That’s most of what NBA scouts have to work off of.

Another limitation to what we know from Todd was the fact that he did not participate in the scrimmages at the combine. That’s a fairly common move by prospects, but not necessarily from those with limited exposure that are projected mid-second-round draft picks such as Todd.

There will be some hesitancy to taking a flier out on Todd for those reasons of limited exposure. Yet, that’s not a great reason for a team in the Bulls position to completely pass on him.

Some of the more relevant question marks in Todd’s game include his ability to contend in the paint on defense, getting to the free-throw line, untimely turnovers, and rebounding on a consistent basis.

Given his 6-foot-11 height and 7-foot-2 wingspan, Todd should’ve posted a better rebounding percentage last season than 10.8. Also, the fact that he more than doubled his assist percentage in his turnover percentage isn’t a good sign of where his court vision sits at the moment.

The other problematic stat he had from his year with Ignite in the G-League was a free-throw attempt rate that barely cleared 10 percent. For a player that has a potentially dynamic offensive skill set, with a usage rate north of 23 percent, Todd needs to be able to get to the stripe more often at the next level. But that might be able to come with time.

Isaiah Todd’s projection and player comparison

There are indicators that Todd brings first-round caliber value to the table that a team like the Bulls could find in the second round. Considering that the Bulls have the 38th overall pick in the second round of the 2021 draft, Todd should firmly be on their radar.

Todd is likely to fall off the board in either the early or middle portion of the second round.

There are two valid comparisons that come to mind when considering what Todd could develop into at the next level. NBA Draft Room pointed out the comparison for Todd as a Chris Bosh-lite, but there are closer comps out there.

The likes of Noah Vonleh, Bobby Portis, Isaiah Stewart, and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson all have a lot of similarities to Todd. If he turned out to at least have the floor of any of those forwards, then it makes a lot of sense for the Bulls to take a flier out on Todd.

If the Bulls are looking to fill a need at the power forward position this summer (likely if they are to let Lauri Markkanen walk), then Todd is a good option for them with the 38th overall pick. He’s a potent prospect in this draft class, despite the limited exposure.