Entering the 2022 NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls find themselves in strange and unfamiliar territory. For the first time since 2015, the Bulls have earned a playoff spot and will not be selecting a player in the lottery portion of the draft. While fans are undoubtedly happy to be watching quality basketball again, it also just got quite a bit more difficult to continue improving the team with the addition of young talent.
That isn’t to say all hope is lost, however, as just last year the Bulls proved they can find talent late in the draft by scooping up Ayo Dosunmu in the second round at No. 38 overall. While it’s always rewarding to find a diamond in the rough, the Bulls may not need to look so hard to find a great prospect this year.
As owners of the No. 18 pick in this year’s draft, the Bulls find themselves in a middling position with a lot of flexibility. Chicago could trade down to recoup future draft capital lost in the DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic trades. They could also swap the pick for a talented veteran player and shore up the team’s bench depth.
But perhaps most interestingly of all, the Bulls could still trade back the lottery to lay claim to a prized young prospect.
The Bulls could still swing a trade to move up from their No. 18 position in the 2022 NBA Draft to select a true game-changer
Due to the DeRozan trade, the Vucevic trade, and the penalties incurred by tampering to sign Lonzo Ball, the Bulls are admittedly a bit depleted on draft capital. This makes moving up in this year’s draft all the more difficult — but not impossible.
Assuming Chicago’s core of Zach LaVine, DeRozan, Vucevic, Lonzo Ball, Patrick Williams, and Alex Caruso are untouchable, here are the assets the Bulls will have to make any draft day trades:
- The No. 18 pick in 2022
- Portland’s future first-round pick (lottery protected through 2027)
- Chicago’s first-round pick in 2027
- Chicago’s second-round picks in 2026, 2027, and 2028
- Coby White
- Ayo Dosunmu
- Javonte Green
- Marko Simonovic
As you can see, it’s not exactly a lot to work with, so don’t expect the Bulls to be jumping into the top five or anything like that, especially when Dosunmu is extremely unlikely to be traded after a very promising rookie campaign. However, the Bulls may not need a top-five pick to draft a great rookie after all.
Measuring in at a height of 7-foot-2 with a ridiculous 9-foot-9 standing reach at the NBA Combine, Mark Williams drew much attention with his imposing presence as the largest player in attendance. If Williams’ Final Four run with Duke wasn’t enough to get your attention, his high basketball IQ, physicality, and prowess on the glass should have him moving up on your big board.
Since other teams in the draft lottery will likely have their eyes locked in on high-upside prospects, it’s possible Williams slips under the radar due to his perceived lack of star potential. Williams may not be a two-way forward that has scouts projecting superstar player comparisons, but he does have many legitimate big-league skills that make him as sure of a bet as anyone to come in and immediately produce.
They say looks can be deceiving, and Williams is no exception here. While his enormous frame may induce expectations of a lumbering giant on the court, Williams has excellent footwork and is surprisingly nimble for someone of his stature. He won’t be chasing people around the perimeter, but I do believe Williams will be able to effectively switch on defense and use his length to contest shots.
Lacking an outside shot of his own, Williams will be forced to make up for his deficiencies on the perimeter with his lethal dunking ability. Any time the ball is within three feet of the hoop, opposing teams should be at risk of getting put on a poster.
For a Bulls team that loves to get out in transition, throw lobs, and is desperately in need of help on the boards, Williams fits the bill on all accounts. With the Charlotte Hornets also in serious need of a big man, it’s unlikely Williams falls past their No. 13 pick. In order to draft a very solid backup (with true starter potential) to Vucevic, Chicago would likely have to move into the top 12.
Fortunately, the Thunder sit at the No. 12 spot and have displayed a notorious propensity for making draft-day deals in recent years. If the Bulls do wish to move up, Oklahoma City would at least pick up the phone and entertain the notion of a swap.
Jeremy Sochan has been likened to many as a Draymond Green-esque presence on the defensive side of things. While that’s certainly hard praise to live up to, it’s not entirely unfounded. Sochan has the makings of a defensive genius with his ability to disrupt offensive schemes and create opportunities through stout defense and turnovers.
Not only is Sochan a terrific on-ball defender who has the strength to fight through screens, but he’s elite off-ball as well. Sochan’s lateral quickness is impressive for his build, allowing him to read defenses and intercept passing lanes with ease. He looks like he’ll be a fantastic help defender in the NBA as well, something the Bulls are sorely lacking on the interior.
With the ability to play either forward position or serve as a small-ball 5, his versatility is something many teams will value as they get a closer look in private workouts. Consistently mocked in the late lottery over the past few months, it would not shock me to see Sochan rocket up big boards everywhere leading up to the draft.
Perhaps the Draymond comparisons are adequate after all, considering Sochan struggled from 3-point range as a freshman at Baylor. Sochan shot 29.6% from deep and 58.9% from the free throw line in college. These splits certainly don’t inspire much confidence, and may ultimately prevent Sochan from receiving any consideration in the top half of the lottery.
That being said, Sochan displayed a propensity for making the right play more often than not, and I believe he has the work ethic to become at least an adequate floor spacer. He could immediately join a new team and provide value in a role similar to what Javonte Green did for the Bulls this year. Though if he reaches his full potential, Sochan could be a dynamic game-changer for any championship contender.
If the reports are true that the Bulls are attempting to make a trade for a defensive wing such as Matisse Thybulle, perhaps targeting someone like Sochan may be a better and more cost-controlled option to pursue.
Jalen Duren is one of the most intriguing players in this year’s draft and should attract a lot of attention as a top-10 pick. In a class that’s perceived to be weaker than the crop we just saw in 2021, Duren is one of few prospects who seems to have true star potential.
As a freshman, Duren led Memphis to a third-place finish in the AAC while averaging team-highs in points, rebounds, and blocks per game. His superior size and strength made him near impossible to stop at the collegiate level, but he’ll have to add some finesse to his game if he wants to succeed in the NBA.
It’s impossible to deny Duren’s natural talent, but he’s still seen as a very raw prospect with a lot of polishing left to do in his game. He’ll have to work especially hard to succeed in an NBA that’s moving farther and farther away from traditional centers. Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti has even made an effort to specifically not have a big man on the floor, instead opting to play lineups of five individuals who can all space the floor and share ball-handling responsibilities.
Considering OKC holds both the No. 2 and No. 12 pick in this year’s draft, Duren is going to have to work even harder to receive consideration in the lottery.
To make things clear, I do not expect Duren to slip out of the top 10. That being said, it also wouldn’t be the most surprising thing to see happen. Lottery teams like the Thunder, Pacers and Kings will be actively ducking drafting a center. Other lottery teams such as the Trail Blazers, Cavaliers, and Pelicans will likely want to draft someone who can come in and help contribute immediately. Even then, the teams that are willing to take a swing on a risky high-upside player may prefer to instead gamble on an aggressive scoring wing such as Duke’s AJ Griffin.
Because of all these factors, I believe it’s feasible that Duren may end up taking a draft day tumble closer to Chicago’s No. 18 selection. If he falls out of the top 10, the Bulls would be wise to pull out all the stops in order to jump up in the draft.
Duren would be able to come in and immediately fill the hole Chicago has at the backup center slot behind Vucevic. His athleticism makes him a perfect pairing for the Bulls as a transition lob threat, and he would make a huge impact in regards to fixing this team’s rebounding woes.
Perhaps most importantly, Duren would be given time to grow and develop in a bench role without being thrown to the wolves from day one. With a young core of Duren, Lonzo Ball, Patrick Williams, and Ayo Dosunmu, the Bulls would have ample ammunition to not only contend now but also build a winning team for years to come as the roster develops over time.
All three of these prospects should be highly sought after on draft day, so it’s probably unlikely the Bulls eventually do manage to trade up in the draft. However, Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley have already proven themselves to be a crafty front office force, so if anyone can get a deal done to secure the team’s future, they are the ones we want on the job.