The Chicago Bulls need to add size this summer, but landing Caleb Wilson with the No. 4 pick won't be enough. Reportedly, Chicago is also interested in Michigan big man Morez Johnson Jr., but it'll need to trade up to acquire him.
That's according to Jake Fischer, who noted on The Stein Line (subscription required) that teams don't expect Johnson to fall past the Bulls' second first-round pick at No. 15.
"... If he even makes it that far," Fischer added.
Johnson would make sense for Chicago, but Bulls executive VP of basketball operations, Bryson Graham, can't wait for him to fall in his lap.
Bulls may have to trade up to land Morez Johnson Jr.
Chicago isn't the only frontcourt-needy team. One pick earlier at No. 14 lies the Charlotte Hornets, who made a stunning return to relevancy last season but need depth at center if they want to go from cute storyline to title contender.
That's where Johnson would come in.
Per Fischer: "Several teams told The Stein Line that they think Johnson's floor might actually be Charlotte one slot earlier at No. 14, which has led to some thought around the league that the Bulls will try to trade up a couple slots to try to leapfrog the Hornets."
Johnson would be an ideal fit for the new-look Bulls
If Wilson is the pick at No. 4, as is widely expected, Johnson would be a promising prospect to put next to the North Carolina standout.
The 20-year-old, who began his college career at Illinois, was one of the stars of this year's draft combine. He measured 6-foot-9 without shoes and 250 pounds with a 7-3 wingspan and a 39-inch max vertical jump. He finished second among all forwards in the lane agility drill.
Despite not being known as a knockdown shooter, he went 17-for-25 in the 3-point star drill — the fifth-best mark of any player who shot at the combine.
More than anything, though, Johnson is an elite and versatile defender. His strength, length and agility allow him to switch around the perimeter. His explosion, coupled with that 7-3 wingspan, makes him an intimidating rim deterrent.
He's capable of defending at least four positions, and against certain lineups, he can guard 1 through 5. During Michigan's national championship run, he was often sandwiched between 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara and 6-foot-10 combo forward Yaxel Lendeborg.
Johnson's ability to guard up and down the positional spectrum allowed Wolverines coach Dusty May to overwhelm college basketball with size, power and athleticism.
Johnson would be a snug fit next to Wilson, if that's how it plays out. He could play alongside Matas Buzelis. He could slot in between both at the same time.
He would be worth the extra draft capital to jump ahead of Charlotte and bring to Chicago.
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