3 rookies the Bulls likely regret not drafting after Summer League success

2. JD Davison

Although he entered his freshman season as the ninth-ranked recruit in the nation according to the RSCI Top 100, JD Davison struggled to make as big of an impact at Alabama as he would’ve liked. Averaging just 8.5 points and 4.3 assists with poor shooting splits off the bench, it’s easy to see why Davison fell all the way to pick No. 53 in the 2022 NBA Draft.

However, it’s important to note that Davison was playing with a relatively weak supporting cast, as the Crimson Tide stumbled to a 19-14 record and 9th place finish in the SEC after NBA prospects Herb Jones and Josh Primo helped propel Alabama to 26-7 and 1st place in the SEC just one year ago.

Davison also avoids the most common faults we see in young athletic guards, as he’s tall enough to play both guard positions and is a great rebounder with solid defensive potential. He isn’t just a pure scorer and can provide value on the court even when the ball isn’t in his hands.

We saw as much in the Summer League when Davison averaged 13 points and edged out Josh Giddey for a Summer League-best 8.2 assists per game. JD also shot 46.7% from 3-point range and 85.7% from the free throw line, a significant step towards dispelling the concerns around his shooting ability.

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His shot creation and playmaking ability are exactly what teams were looking for before the draft, and he finally showed that when put alongside competent players like Mfiondu Kabengele, Justin Jackson, and Matt Ryan.

Chicago did not have a second-round pick in this year’s draft, but that isn’t nearly as big of an obstacle as it used to be in years past. This year alone, the 35th, 38th, 48th, and 49th picks were all acquired for cash and a future draft pick or draft rights. Pick No. 44 was also traded for cash and a later pick in the second round. These were five chances to get a player like Davison for practically free before he was selected 53rd.

If the Bulls really are looking to move on from Coby White, then investing in a young guard like Davison makes a lot of sense. Additionally, signing Goran Dragic would have become an even more unnecessary move to make, allowing the Bulls to instead invest some money in other areas of need.