| 30 Teams, 30 Days: Chicago Draft Preview Authored by Jason M. Williams - June 19, 2009 - 10:52 am
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2008-2009 Finish: 41-41
2009 Draft Picks: 16th, 26th
Pre-Draft 2009-10 Projected Starters:
PG Derrick Rose
SG Ben Gordon
SF Luol Deng
PF Tyrus Thomas
C Joakim Noah
Key Reserves:
PG Kirk Hinrich
SF John Salmons
PF Tim Thomas
C Brad Miller
C Aaron Gray
What The Bulls Do Well:
The Bulls shot out of the regular season and into the first round of the playoffs like a bat out of hell. They forced the defending world champion Boston Celtics to the brink in a stunning seven game series that ranks among the best.
First year coach Vinny Del Negro led this young team to a playoff appearance and rode the strengths of Rookie of the Year Derrick Rose to the seventh seed in the East. Rose had a stellar debut, posting 16.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and a team-leading 6.3 assists per game.
Ben Gordon came back on a one-year tender and proved to the city of Chicago that they made a grave mistake by giving the heavy long-term money to Luol Deng instead of the former UConn scorer. Gordon led the team in scoring (20.7 ppg), toughness, clutch shooting, and overall moxie.
Two young bigs acquired via the Eddy Curry deal finally busted out last season. Ty Thomas added 10.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, and a team-leading 1.91 blocks per contest, while Joakim Noah put up career numbers with 6.7 points, 1.38 blocks, and a team-high 7.5 rebounds.
The deadline deal that brought in Brad Miller and John Salmons was a huge spark for the team. Both contributed and Salmons turned into an animal of a scorer when called upon.
Greatest Areas Of Improvement:
For the Nine Millionth Consecutive Year, Interior Scoring
Sure, they have plenty of talented big men – Noah, Thomas, even Brad Miller – but none of those guys can score on the block! Imagine if they had a beast in the middle who could command a double team and then kick it out to Gordon, Deng, Hinrich, Whiny Tim or Salmons for an open three, or dish it to a slashing D-Rose, Thomas, or Noah. Then this team will be complete.
A Fall-Back Option at Shooting Guard If Gordon Leaves
While its true that if Gordon leaves via free agency, the team can just start Hinrich at two or Salmons and Deng at the two and three interchangeably, I’m sure the Bulls would rather have a full time natural option at the position.
Who’s Gone Number 16 Recently?
The 16-spot has been very good over the past three years, offering up key bench rotation guys in Rodney Carney, Nick Young, and Marreese Speights. The last time the Bulls had the 16th pick back in 2006, they selected Carney and sent him to Philly in exchange for Thabo Sefolosha, who now resides in Oklahoma City.
2008
Marreese Speights, Philadelphia 76ers
2007
Nick Young, Washington Wizards
2006
Rodney Carney, Chicago Bulls (traded to Philadelphia)
2005
Joey Graham, Toronto Raptors
2004
Kirk Snyder, Utah Jazz
Who Should The Bulls Target?
- BJ Mullens of Ohio State
Mullens is a big man project that is more suitable to play off the pick and roll and inside with the dangerous D-Rose. While the Bulls are inundated with project big men on the defensive side of the ball, it would be nice to add one who is extremely skilled on the offensive end.
- Earl Clark of Louisville
Earl Clark is another intriguing prospect for this Bulls team. He’s another huge versatile body who can put points on the board in a hurry and provide and inside-outside presence much like a younger version of Whiny Tim Thomas.
- Tyler Hansbrough of UNC
Hansbrough is a prototypical Bulls selection. They LOVE…repeat, LOVE selecting guys that are collegiate studs who starred in the Final Four. D-Rose, Noah, Ty Thomas, Deng, Gordon, Hinrich, and even Chris Duhon. Plus Hansbrough fits into their desire for an energetic big man who can score.
- DeJuan Blair of Pittsburgh
Blair is a monster of a man, who can score with his (big) butt to the basket. The only knock on Blair’s game is that he’s too small to put up big scoring numbers in the paint on taller stronger NBA men. Look no further than his dominance of 7-3 tower of a human, Hasheem Thabeet, in their two head-to-head battles.
Picks Over the Past Five Years
The Bulls have used the draft well to construct their team. In 2006, the jury is still out on whether the guys they drafted were in fact better than the guys they traded them for – they traded both selections: LaMarcus Aldridge to Portland for Ty Thomas; and Carney to Philly for Thabo Sefolosha. Last year, they jumped up from the 9th best odds to win the lottery and the right to select one of the game’s premier young superstars, Derrick Rose.
2008
Derrick Rose, 1st
Sonny Weems, 39th (traded to Denver)
2007
Joakim Noah, 9th
Aaron Gray, 49th
JamesOn Curry, 51st
2006
LaMarcus Aldridge, 2nd (traded to Portland)
Rodney Carney, 16th (traded to Philadelphia)
2005
None
2004
Ben Gordon, 3rd
Luol Deng, 7th
Chris Duhon, 38th
According to Andrew Perna’s Chicago Bulls Draft Summit, an interactive forum featuring the responses of true RealGM hoops fans hoping to add their two cents to the Bulls Draft discussion, the fans of Chicago have made it known that they would like to draft a big man that can score.
The Verdicts
1. What could the team have done differently to advance further in the playoffs?
BrooklynBulls: Nothing much, but we made it. It was a good one too.
BULLHITTER: Nothing.
Dr Manhattan: If we played Tyrus Thomas more.
SlimD235: We should have run the ball through Derrick Rose more.
Ajosu: Better defense, rebounding, and decision-making.
2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?
BrooklynBulls: Our backcourt: Rose, Ben Gordon, Kirk Hinrich, and John Salmons.
BULLHITTER: Guard play; Gordon and Rose.
Dr Manhattan: Backcourt scoring, athleticism, and offensive rebounding.
SlimD235: Our wings: Gordon, Salmons, and even Hinrich.
Ajosu: Guard play.
3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?
BrooklynBulls: I'd say Joakim Noah, Thomas, Salmons, and Rose were surprisingly effective.
BULLHITTER: Rose, Salmons, and Noah.
Dr Manhattan: Noah and coach Vinny Del Negro.
SlimD235: Noah, our coaching staff, and the backcourt
Ajosu: Rose, Salmons, Hinrich, and Noah.
4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?
BrooklynBulls: Luol Deng.
BULLHITTER: Deng.
Dr Manhattan: No one.
SlimD235: Deng.
Ajosu: Deng and Andres Nocioni.
5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?
BrooklynBulls: Not very. They're hamstrung by salary, a lack of talent, and a lack of trading partners.
BULLHITTER: I’m confident they'll acquire solid, if unspectacular, players.
Dr Manhattan: I’m at about 70%.
SlimD235: Pax-Gar? ... very confident. I know we'll never get hosed on trades in terms of value. I don't like that we have a cheap owner though.
Ajosu: I’m torn. JR doesn’t like Gordon, and we have given out poor contracts in the past. Hopefully, we will make a pitch for Amare Stoudemire or Chris Bosh.
6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
BrooklynBulls: Good players, first and foremost. Good frontcourt players if we're lucky.
BULLHITTER: A big that can score.
Dr Manhattan: Size in the frontcourt (B.J. Mullens) and defensive 2-guard (Gerald Henderson).
SlimD235: Our biggest hole has been power forward for the longest time. Big bodies that are competent are vital. Our guard rotation is fine for the most part.
Ajosu: Immediate contributors, rebounding, and defense.
7. Who would you like the Bulls to take with the 16th and 26th picks?
BrooklynBulls: DeJuan Blair, Henderson, Chase Budinger, Sam Young. Two out of those four would make me very happy.
BULLHITTER: Blair, Earl Clark or Henderson at sixteen. Terrence Williams or B.P.A. at 26
Dr Manhattan: Henderson, Mullens, Marcus Thornton and Patrick Mills.
SlimD235: Blair and Tyler Hansbrough.
Ajosu: Williams or Blair at 16; and Danny Green or Young at 26.
Click here to read other draft previews in our 30 Teams, 30 Days series
Who do you want the Bulls to draft at number 16? Feel free to contact Jason M. Williams with your thoughts. He can be reached at Jason.Williams@RealGM.com for comments and questions.
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