NEWSLETTER
Less than one week out from the 2020 NBA Draft, mock drafters still can’t agree on what the Chicago Bulls will do.
Reports have indicated that the Bulls have been one of the toughest teams to figure out ever since Arturas Karnisovas took over front office duties. The former Nuggets GM likes to keep information close to the vest, and it’s led to analysts connecting a wide range of prospects to the Bulls at No. 4.
To get a better idea of where things might stand, let’s take a big look at the most recent mock drafts on the interweb. Perhaps those can give us some idea of where the general consensus lies.
Deni Avdija
• The Athletic (Darnell Mayberry)
• USA Today
• Tankathon
Despite more names coming into the picture over the past couple of weeks, Deni Avdija still seems to be one of the most popular players connected to the Bulls.
Questions have surfaced about whether or not this prediction weighs too heavily on Arturas Karnisovas affinity and knowledge of international talent. However, one can not deny that Avdija makes sense for the Bulls positionally and circumstantially.
Many big boards have Avdija has a high-end lottery talent, and he is easily one of the most promising young wings in the draft (a major area of need for this Bulls team).
Up until now, we have received no word on whether the Bulls have spoken with or worked out Avdija. The Israeli forward did recently meet with reporters, but he said that he plans to keep his communications with teams “on the low.” We do know, though, that the Golden State Warriors met with Avdija and were reportedly “blown away” by his workout. While it’s not expected they select him with the No. 2-overall pick, they do apparently view him as the best talent outside the top-3 (and the Warriors know talent). Do the Bulls feel the same way?
Note: I’m going to share Mike Schmitz’s film review session with each prospect in this post. The video may be from a handful of months ago depending on the player, but it’s still a highly educational and advanced look at each prospect. I very much recommend giving them a watch, if you have the time.
Killian Hayes
• SBNation
• NBC Sports Bay Area
I’ve certainly seen the Hayes smoke fade over the past couple of weeks, but I’m not sure we should attribute that to a lack of legitimate interest in Chicago. After LaMelo Ball, many believe Hayes is the best point guard in the draft (I’ve actually seen a few brave souls rank him higher than Ball).
The French point guard has marinated overseas playing professional ball for years. Give his film a quick watch and it’s easy to see why he’s such a highly-touted prospect. The guy’s court vision is damn impressive, and he has exactly what it takes to be a reliable floor general at the next level for years to come. The big question – can he be more than that? Well, he has flashed the ball-handling necessary to become a good off-the-dribble shooter, but he still doesn’t possess the most convincing jumper. Fortunately, Hayes does have a great free-throw percentage, which normally means there is a solid chance he becomes a more consistent shooting threat. The other concerns would generally revolve around his lack of true athleticism. He is just a far more methodical player than a bouncy one … if that makes sense.
Anyway, we all know Chicago has failed to find a real answer at the point guard position for years on end, so Hayes could very well be a bet worth making. I’m not super convinced it’s the way Karnisovas goes, but we’ll see.
Haliburton
• The Athletic (John Hollinger)
Coke vs. Pepsi, Bears vs. Packers, Batman vs. Superman, and now … Hayes vs. Haliburton.
For months, there has been a debate among NBA analysts and armchair GM’s over whom is the No. 2-ranked point guard in the 2020 NBA Draft. Haliburton hails from Iowa State, where he put together a breakout campaign in his sophomore season. The Cyclone averaged 15.2 points, 6.5 assists, 5.9 rebounds per game, shooting 50.4 percent from the field and 41.9 percent from downtown.
While both he and Hayes share a unique passing ability, Haliburton is the more NBA-ready of the two. His ceiling may not feel as high, but there is little doubt in the NBA community that Haliburton’s IQ will allow him to make a significant and immediate impact when he enters the league.
This thought process has likely played a major role in his ability to move up the draft board in recent weeks. The general uncertainty surrounding this draft has made players like Haliburton all that more intriguing, and he has now been tabbed to go as high as the Bulls at No. 4.
Out of all projected top-10 picks, Haliburton is the only player we know of to both workout for an interview with the Chicago Bulls. Does this tell us what side of the Hayes vs. Haliburton debate the Bulls front office is on? Possibly.
Obi Toppin
• LA Times
• New York Daily News
On the night of the draft lottery, Obi Toppin was a popular pick at No. 4. Today? Not as much. We may not know a whole lot about the Bulls draft night plans, but Toppin has not been talked about a lot locally or nationally as a real fit for Chicago. The main reason we continue to see him get slated at No. 4 is probably because a handful of folks still find him to be the best talent outside the projected top-3 (Anthony Edwards, James Wiseman, and LaMelo Ball). And considering Karnisovas said he is looking for the best player available, I guess it remains possible Toppin goes to the Bulls.
I can’t deny that Toppin would be an incredibly intriguing addition to any team. The AP Player of the year, he is one of the most offensively gifted and athletic players in this draft class. He already has a body that is ready to fight off opposing NBA power forwards, and he would add a new rim-running dimension to the Bulls frontcourt. The only problem is, the Bulls already have Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter Jr. on the roster.
We should probably also include the fact that Toppin is already 22-years-old. Teams kind of already know what they’re going to get with him, which can be very reassuring, but also a bit underwhelming. Haliburton may have a similar problem, but at least he is two years younger. All in all, how much more Toppin can develop is a frustrating question mark.
LaMelo Ball
We have talked about LaMelo Ball a lot lately, so I’m going to keep this brief. Ball has been increasingly tied to the Bulls in recent weeks as rumors swirl about the front office wanting a true point guard to build around. Some believe Ball could fall into Chicago’s lap at No. 4, while others think he is the clear-cut No. 1 talent.
Recent news does seem to be pushing things toward the latter, though. News broke Wednesday that the Minnesota Timberwolves met with Ball for what was his first pre-draft workout. The Bulls could want a stab at the polarizing player, but it looks like they would have to trade up for that to happen right now. Considering the concerns around Ball, I don’t think it’s worth it.
