Chicago Bulls Countdown to 2021 NBA Draft: Top shooting guard target

With roughly 48 hours remaining before the Chicago Bulls are set to take part in the 2021 NBA Draft, the hype is building for what’s to come. Granted the hype shouldn’t be as big for the Bulls in the 2021 draft as it was last year. The lone pick that the Bulls hold in this year’s draft is at No. 38 in the second round.

And the idea of who executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley will want to pick if they stick in the 38th spot in this year’s draft is tough to configure at the moment. The Bulls didn’t really have an extensive list come out to the public of who the team worked out and/or interviewed throughout the draft scouting process.

Some names did come to the surface that sticks out, such as the star Illinois Fighting Illini point guard Ayo Dosunmu and fast-rising Texas Longhorns big man Jericho Sims.

But there are other names to watch that could be more exciting for the Bulls on draft night if they slip down the board. There are always key names that manage to slip into the second round unexpectedly, and the Bulls could be in a prime position to take advantage of that with the 38th overall pick.

At the shooting guard position, one name to watch for Karnisovas and the Bulls with the 38th overall pick (or if they moved up into the late first round) is the former Oregon Ducks sophomore standout, Chris Duarte. The 6-foot-6 and 190-pound Redemption Christian (NY) product was a significant riser up draft boards in the past few months.

But it’s still likely that Duarte won’t fall off the board until the late first round. That could mean that if he does slip on draft night, the Bulls could be in a position to get a steal at 38. Duarte should be a notable name for the Bulls in this draft class.

Countdown to the 2021 NBA Draft: Oregon SG Chris Duarte should be on the minds of the Chicago Bulls’ execs

There are not many more well-rounded shooting guards in this draft class than Duarte. The 2020-21 All-PAC-12 First-Team selection, PAC-12 All-Defensive Team selection, and the Jerry West Award winner, wound up with a decorated final season with the Ducks.

Duarte brings excellent physical tools and a versatile offensive game to the table. That’s not to mention how good of a defender he is, both on and off-ball. Duarte’s length and basketball IQ allow him to be a disruptive force as a perimeter/wing defender. He averaged just shy of two steals per game and one block per game last season with Oregon.

Moreover, Duarte is an excellent fit in the modern NBA. He’s about as consistent as it gets at the two-guard with his stroke from beyond the arc. Duarte shot an impressive 42.4 percent from beyond the arc last season at Oregon. That was nearly a 10 percent improvement from downtown compared to his freshman campaign.

Being able to draft Duarte would give the Bulls a real option to backup star shooting guard Zach LaVine in this rotation over the long haul. He could also play some minutes at the wing, to help add some depth there alongside the former Washington Wizards shooting guard/small forward Troy Brown Jr.

More so than anything else, it would be nice to get the consistent boost from a good outside shooter and a very capable defender at the two-guard/on the wing for head coach Billy Donovan. If Duarte did manage to slip down draft boards all the way to No. 38, that should be an automatic pick for Karnisovas and the Bulls.

The night of the 2021 NBA Draft is set to take place on July 29. Unless the Bulls move up in the 2021 draft, the lone pick will come at No. 38 overall in the second round.