The Chicago Bulls are ushering in a new era.
They've brought in a new lead executive in Bryson Graham, who so far, has preached a distinct vision centered around defense and athleticism. With the fourth and 15th overall picks in the upcoming NBA Draft, they should be well-poised to furnish the roster with players of that archetype.
But in this new era, virtually no player on the roster outside of Matas Buzelis is completely safe. Even Josh Giddey, who signed a four-year, $100 million extension with the organization under the old front office, has an uncertain future under Graham.
Giddey has taken impressive strides during his time in Chicago, but there are still serious questions about whether he can be the lead guard on a winning team. If the Bulls want an insurance plan, the option could be there at 15th overall in Ebuka Okorie out of Stanford.
Ebuka Okorie should get a long look from the Bulls in the middle of the first round
There's no question that Giddey is a capable facilitator and a viable lead guard, at least in the short-term. Last season, across 54 games, Giddey averaged 17 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 9.1 assists while shooting 36.4% from beyond the arc. But even at 6'7", there are still major lingering questions about Giddey's ultimate defensive upside.
There's no urgency to move on from Giddey. But as Graham begins to build out this roster, Giddey's future will be on everyone's minds.
It's certainly not off the table, therefore, for Chicago to grab a lead guard in the middle of this first round in this year's Draft. Okorie would be a more-than-viable option.
As a freshman at Stanford, Okorie averaged 23.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists while shooting 35.4% from 3-point range. He's both a capable shot-maker and a high-upside defender, with a 6'8" wingspan and an ability to contort his body through gaps in the defense and create consistent rim pressure.
There are questions about his long-term abilities as a facilitator, especially considering his low assist volume at Stanford. But he posted a respectable 1.89 assist-to-turnover ratio as a freshman, and it's clear he has the ability to make the right plays when called upon.
As expected, Okorie announced his intention to stay in the NBA Draft instead of returning college for his sophomore season. He doesn't necessarily possess the eye-popping traits that many of the guards projected in the lottery do.
But at 15th overall, the Bulls could certainly afford to take a flyer on a prospect of Okorie's caliber, especially if Giddey's long-term future remains up in the air.
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