Out with the trade chatter, in with mock draft season—especially for the Chicago Bulls. Following the three-team swap that sent leading scorer Zach LaVine to the Sacramento Kings, Chicago's first-rounder was returned thanks to the San Antonio Spurs. Since LaVine has been out of the picture, the Bulls have lost three straight contests by an average of 26.7 points.
The Bulls are on the fast track to a top-10, potentially top-five, selection in June's draft. Somehow, this will be the first time in five years that Chicago has drafted in the top 10. While last season's 11th overall pick, Matas Buzelis, seems to be a hit, the Bulls haven't had much luck in the draft in recent years.
Although the need to hit on a draft choice hasn't been as crucial in recent seasons, it's make-or-break this time around. The Bulls already traded LaVine, and 34-year-old Nikola Vucevic should be next. Thus, the entire roster will soon be 30-years-old or younger. The rebuild is officially underway.
With the NBA Draft in mind, we've perused different outlets to discover who the pundits are linking to the Bulls. Due to Chicago's current roster construction, the pairings are ubiquitous. Aside from point guard, the Bulls' roster features numerous voids worth filling.
NBA Mock Draft Roundup
ESPN
The pick: Khaman Maluach, Duke
First up, from Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo at ESPN, the Bulls are slated to select Duke center Khaman Maluach with the seventh overall pick. Givony noted, "[Maluach] plays his role cleanly and efficiently for the Blue Devils, bringing vertical pick-and-roll spacing, offensive rebounding, and a serious-minded, mature approach despite his lack of previous experience."
The lack of experience is evident when assessing the 7-footer's offense. Maluach first started playing basketball just six years ago. He's only 18-years-old and won't turn 19 until September. In 23 games for the Blue Devils, Maluach has averaged 7.8 points and recorded only six assists to 16 turnovers. However, he's an extremely efficient finisher, shooting over 83.0 percent around the basket.
Maluach offers an immediate impact on the defensive end. The 18-year-old's shot-blocking numbers are not elite (1.1 blocks per game), but he's a massive interior presence who uses his 7-foot-6 wingspan to deter shots at the rim and grab 11.8 rebounds per 40 minutes.
Bleacher Report
The pick: Ben Saraf, Ratiopharm Ulm
Next up is an international prospect, Ben Saraf. Like Maluach, Saraf is also 18 years old and won't turn 19 until a few months later. The Israeli-born guard suits up for Ratiopharm Ulm of Basketball Bundesliga, the highest level in Germany. Across 34 games, split between the German BBL and the Eurocup, Saraf averages 12.6 points and 4.4 assists per game.
At 6-foot-5, Saraf is a bit of a tweener. He's tall enough to play shooting guard, but he's an exceptional ball handler, positioning him to man the point in the NBA. Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman projected the Bulls to nab Saraf with the eighth overall pick. In ESPN's mock draft, Saraf is forecasted to be 17th, and in No Ceilings' he's all the way down at 20.
Wasserman is certainly impressed by Saraf's consistency and playmaking at such a young age. Despite Saraf's athletic limitations, the Bleacher Report writer mentioned his "creative handles, footwork, and shotmaking craft inside the arc" as evidence of high upside on the offensive end of the floor.
No Ceilings
The pick: Tre Johnson, Texas
Finally, is a player locked into the 8-to-12 draft range. Texas freshman Tre Johnson is a certified bucket-getter. The 18-year-old is third amongst freshmen in scoring, averaging 19.3 points per game. He's a high-volume scorer who remains efficient. Johnson is converting 43.9 percent of his field goals and 38.6 percent of his 6.7 three-pointers per game.
No Ceilings projects Johnson to the Bulls at eight. The draft specialists pointed out Chicago's need for scoring following the LaVine trade. "After those moves, [the Bulls] could stand to replenish their offense, and their shooting in particular." No Ceilings compared Johnson to LaVine but made sure to mention he's not at the same level athletically as the former UCLA Bruin.
While not many players are as athletic as LaVine, No Ceilings pointed out Johnson's smooth handle, combo guard skillset, and shooting touch, which all scream future offensive star. The 6-foot-6 freshman would get plenty of open looks in Chicago's high-paced, three-point-focused offense.