Each day until the 2025 NBA Draft, Pippen Ain't Easy will profile one prospect who makes sense as a fit for the Bulls in either the first or second round. These players could fill a need, such as on-ball defense or rim protection, or could fit an archetype that Chicago lacks on its current roster, like an athletic big man or 3-and-D wing.
NBA teams can never have too many versatile, lockdown, on-ball defenders. North Carolina swingman Drake Powell could be the first for the Chicago Bulls if they snag him in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Chicago desperately needs to improve one of the league's worst defenses. The Bulls allowed the third-most points in the league and the most in the paint during the 2024-25 season. Josh Giddey and Coby White, if they both return next season, make for a leaky backcourt at best.
Powell, who can play at guard or on the wing, would be an immediate upgrade over anyone on head coach Billy Donovan's roster. Julian Phillips is a lanky 6-foot-8 athlete, but has been in the league for two years and hasn't carved out a role. Dalen Terry fits a similar profile, but he hasn't found his niche either.
Matas Buzelis led the team in blocks as a rookie, but he's not built to be an on-ball stopper. Nikola Vucevic has been one of the worst defensive centers in the NBA for over a decade. Patrick Williams, in theory, should be able to guard an opposing team's best player. Unfortunately, he's a draft bust who got shoved into a bench role toward the end of last season.
That leaves plenty of room for Powell to become the Bulls' best defender.
Drake Powell 2025 NBA Draft scouting report
Powell was a McDonald's All-American and one of the top recruits in the class of 2024. He was the 11th-ranked prospect in the country and the third small forward, although he could easily have been classified as a two-guard.
Even in high school, the Pittsboro, N.C. native locked in on the defensive end and was content to fill that role (although in high school he was a much higher-usage player on offense). He possesses the length, athleticism, explosion and motor to be a menace as both an on-ball and off-ball defender.
The 19-year-old is 6-foot-6 in shoes with a 7-foot wingspan. He was the most explosive player at the draft combine, landing the highest standing vertical leap (37.5 inches) and max vertical (43.0). He was also among the top 10 of all prospects in the lane agility and shuttle run drills, as well as the three-quarter-court sprint.
His statistical production, or lack thereof, at North Carolina is the most significant issue surrounding Powell's status as a prospect; however, there's no denying that his physical traits should make him a high-level defender at the professional level.
Offense
This is where the problems with Powell arise; there are certainly positives to his offensive game, but there are also several question marks.
Powell's elite athleticism, explosiveness and length serve him well when he has a clear path to the basket. It's not difficult for him to get a step on his defender, and once that happens, leave them in the dust. He can finish powerfully off one foot or two feet and has the requisite body control to maneuver around defenders at the basket. He finished a wild 68.2 percent of his attempts at the rim in the half court during his lone season at UNC, per Synergy (h/t No Ceilings).
Powell makes smart cuts off the ball, where he can snag a pass and finish up, over or around defenders, and is an easy lob target.
He was unquestionably underutilized as an offensive player with the Tar Heels, but there are still some promising shooting statistics that can be unearthed. He shot 48.7 percent from the field and 37.9 percent from three, though he made just an average of 1.0 triples per game. He hit 40 percent on catch-and-shoot threes, which is a positive sign for his potential role as a 3-and-D swingman in the NBA.
Powell was inefficient from the mid-range and off the dribble, however. He can develop tunnel vision when he thinks a bucket is in play, which leads to awkward, contested shots. He hit less than 65 percent of his free throws in Chapel Hill and got to the line only 1.5 times per game, a frighteningly low amount considering his offensive game is predicated on attacking the rim.
Defense
Powell was built in a lab to play defense. His quick first step, long arms, side-to-side explosiveness and hunger to guard make him a potential nightmare for opposing ball handlers.
He can swarm offensive players at the point of attack, forcing them off their spots, off balance and into contested attempts. He's tough fighting through screens, although at just 200 pounds, he will need to add some muscle to keep from getting bumped and stuck.
He can contest shots with his quick, explosive leaps and his length. Most of the time, he's in control when it comes to closeouts and shifts, but he can get greedy and overplay his man. Even if he's trailing the play, however, he's physically gifted enough to recover. He simply makes things uncomfortable for scorers.
Powell is also a strong help defender. He can read an offense, anticipate its next move and explode from the perimeter to the rim before rising up to swat shots or make easy layups difficult. He was a dominant off-ball shot blocker at times in college, coming away with two-handed grabs rather than slaps off the backboard or out of bounds.
Drake Powell's fit with the Chicago Bulls
Powell fits the profile Chicago should be targeting. He has a high floor as a strong defender who can guard 1 through 3, but he's only 19 and has shown enough flashes of offense to potentially convince teams of a massive two-way upside.
The Bulls are a woeful defensive team. They need any kind of rim protection, but having someone like Powell, who Donovan could throw on the opposing team's top scorer and let him go to work, would be almost as impactful.
Powell is also a snug fit for what Chicago does offensively. He can gallop and finish forcefully in transition and either spot up in the halfcourt or force defenses to scramble when he gets a sliver of space to attack the rim. Having a table-setter like Giddey and a combo guard like White should bring out the best in Powell.
Should everything break right, Powell is an All-NBA-caliber defender and a potential All-Star. It could take him a few seasons to get there, but landing in Chicago, where he can continue to play hungry defense and let his offense develop, could be the best-case scenario for both the player and the franchise.
For more prospect profiles and all things draft-related, check out Pippen Ain't Easy's Chicago Bulls draft page. A new prospect's scouting report will be added daily.