Chicago Bulls: Top 5 Options For The 2013 NBA Draft

The Chicago Bulls only have two picks in the 2013 NBA Draft: the 20th and 49th overall picks. That second-round pick may not lead to anything special considering this is one of the weaker drafts in recent memory, but there’s just enough talent that Chicago can turn that 20th pick into something productive that can help address some of the key areas the Bulls need to improve in next season. The biggest areas the Bulls need to improve in are easily perimeter shooting and adding some depth behind Joakim Noah at the center position.

The Bulls were 29th in the league during the regular season in attempted 3-pointers, taking just 15.4 per game. And no wonder, because they ranked 20th in 3-point percentage (35.3 percent) and 29th in made 3-pointers (5.4 per game). So it’s easy to see why the Bulls could use some help with their perimeter shooting, especially since Derrick Rose‘s return will open up the floor off of his lightning quick drives to the basket. And although Noah easily proved himself to be an All-Star-caliber center this season, he missed a total of 12 games during the regular season and could only play 30 minutes per game in Chicago’s first-round series against the Brooklyn Nets. Noah’s body broke down a little bit last year too as he had to miss the final three games of Chicago’s season in a disappointing first-round loss to the Philadelphia 76ers made possible by D-Rose’s torn ACL. Noah’s recent injury problems aren’t a giant red flag, but the Bulls could certainly gain a lot from replacing Nazr Mohammed with someone more capable.

With those needs in mind, here are the top five draft prospects that the Chicago Bulls have a realistic shot at with their 2oth pick:

Honorable Mentions: Tony Mitchell (6’9″ athletic power forward from North Texas who can play defense) and Tony Snell (6’7″ shooting guard from New Mexico who can drain 3s in a hurry, has a lot of length on defense and has surprisingly good ball handling skills. According to Chad Ford, the Bulls liked his workout).

5. Tim Hardaway Jr. – Hardaway Jr. is a 6’5″ shooting guard out of Michigan with the potential to address Chicago’s needs for perimeter scoring. He is currently projected as the No. 20 pick in the draft on Draft Express and would address the position the Bulls need the most help at. Because Rip Hamilton can’t stay healthy (a trait that doesn’t exactly get better with age), Hardaway Jr. would likely see a decent amount of minutes coming off the bench behind either Jimmy Butler or Marco Belinelli (if he returns).

It depends on the lineup of course, since Butler’s emergence as a versatile role player and upcoming talent can swing him from the three spot to the two spot, but there’s no doubt that Chicago’s bench could use some perimeter talent to bolster its bench. One of Hardaway’s weaknesses is that he tends to fall in love with his perimeter game at times, but on a Bulls team that definitely needs some touch beyond the perimeter, the 1.8 3s he made per game in college last year might develop into something special.

4. Jeff Withey – Withey is a raw talent that could certainly gain from NBA instruction on the offensive end. Anytime a 7-footer averages an OK 13.7 points per game as a senior on an elite college team, you can easily see the professional potential, but you can also see bust potential as well. In his defense, he did shoot 58 percent from the floor, but Chicago certainly won’t be considering him for his offensive game. Rather, it’s Withey’s defense that would be a welcome addition to Tom Thibodeau’s squad as Noah’s backup off the bench. Withey averaged 8.5 rebounds and a staggering 3.9 blocks per game last season with Kansas and although you’d like to see those rebounding numbers a little bit higher and those block numbers will go down against more elite and sizable talent, Withey has potential to fit in.

Hopefully he can develop a little more physically, but his defensive instincts make him a prospect worth looking into, especially since his current Draft Express projection predicts he’ll most likely be available. Mason Plumlee may also be an option here, but I think Withey would fit Chicago’s defense better and that his game would transition to the NBA much easier.

3. Gorgui Dieng – Dieng’s shot-blocking abilities are unquestionable, as he averaged 2.5 blocks per game last season with the NCAA champion Louisville Cardinals. His winning pedigree and all-around defensive skill make him a terrific prospect for a team looking to strengthen its front court. However, ESPN’s Chad Ford has also reported recently that his draft stock is slipping due to injury concerns regarding his ankle and knee.

Healthy big men have been historically hard to come by in the NBA draft (just ask the Portland Trail Blazers), but Dieng certainly has skill on the defensive end and the potential to improve his offensive game as well. His 6’11” frame won’t be quite as dominant at the next stage, but his 7’4″ wingspan helps make up for it. Dieng has the kind of intelligence Chicago seems to specialize in and will likely be available by the time the Bulls get their pick, according to Draft Express. There’s always a bit of risk when drafting a big man, but if he stays healthy, he could be a great addition to Chicago’s already impressive defense. Plus, come on, it’s be kind of cool for the Bulls to have two “Dengs,” wouldn’t it?

2. Reggie Bullock – Most mock drafts and draft projections agree — North Carolina shooting guard/small forward Reggie Bullock is probably going somewhere between the late teens and early 20s. Two CBS Sports’ mock drafts have him going No. 20 and No. 21, while Draft Express projects him at No. 19, so the Bulls may or may not have a shot at him by the time their pick rolls around. Bullock not only fits in because of his efficient 3-point shooting (43.6 percent on 5.8 attempts per game last season) that Chicago desperately needs off the bench, but also because he plays tremendous defense.

Defense is a staple in any player on Chicago’s roster, so the fact that they’d be getting perimeter shooting with the addition of a guy who can play quality D makes him a great fit. He’s an average athlete who is not the best finisher at the rim, but he could be a 3-point specialist that plays lockdown defense while giving the Bulls’ starters a much-needed rest.

1. Jamaal Franklin – According to Chad Ford’s Mock Draft 5.0, the Bulls really like Jamaal Franklin and he is projected to be Chicago’s pick at No. 20. Based on draft projections on CBS Sports and Draft Express, Franklin should be available and will bring the kind of leadership and locker room character to Chicago that recent draft picks (such as Jimmy Butler) have also brought to the table. Franklin may not do much to fix Chicago’s 3-point shooting problem (28 percent from 3-point range last season at San Diego State), but don’t forget he’s extremely similar to another recent Aztec draftee: Kawhi Leonard. Leonard wasn’t seen as a 3-point shooter before he entered the league and like Franklin, was wanted mostly for his decent size, athleticism, rebounding (9.4 per game last year), defense and all-around basketball intelligence.

But like Leonard, there’s always a possibility Franklin could develop the weaker areas of his game under Thibodeau’s tutelage. Franklin won’t benefit from the spread-out offense and quick ball movement of the Spurs, nor will he have the Gregg Popovich advantage that seems to spawn terrific role players and upcoming stars, but Franklin’s defense and rebounding would make him a terrific addition to Chicago’s roster, while his athleticism would allow him to attack the basket and give the Bulls’ bench some much-needed scoring. His shooting and offensive efficiency definitely need some work, but he could really contribute to Chicago’s defensive system and bolster its bench in the process.