Chicago Bulls: In Need Of Delon Wright

The Chicago Bulls may have not reached expectations set out for the 2014-15 season, but it’s an encouraging sign to see former MVP Derrick Rose exude confidence in his game and body.

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The results of their season could very well have been quite the opposite of their 4-2 defeat to the Cleveland Cavaliers if the likes of Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol had been as healthy as Rose. Outside of nagging injuries, the team’s lack of depth on the perimeter stuck out like a sore thumb.

While Aaron Brooks and Kirk Hinrich backed up Rose for most of the season, the two had less than stellar playoff performances. Brooks only averaged 4.5 points (compared to 10.9 per game in three previous postseasons), on 41 percent shooting. Hinrich saw his scoring dip from 11 points per game last season to 2.6 in a total of 10 games played this year.

Brooks will enter free agency this season, and his return to the team is to be determined. Hinrich will enter the 2015-16 season at age 34, and is sure to see a reduction in his playing time. The Bulls will be stuck with plenty of question marks at point guard.

Quite like the team did when drafting Jimmy Butler in 2011, the Bulls will need to find a young talent fitting their ideal style of play. The team’s identity under recently dismissed head coach Tom Thibodeau has been their aggressive defense and offensive versatility. Fred Hoiberg will likely take the reins, and make tweaks to an already talented roster.

An NBA source told @CBSSports the Bulls would like to announce the hire today and hold a press conference tomorrow. That’s the plan.
— Gary Parrish (@GaryParrishCBS) June 1, 2015

Equipped with a late first round pick at the 22^nd spot, a point guard should be the first order of business in the draft to control both ends. The ideal candidate should be the University of Utah’s Delon Wright.

Wright is a combo guard with the size (6’6″) that could still allow the team to play him alongside both Jimmy Butler and Derrick Rose. His comfort playing the point guard position was on full display in his two years at Utah. Wright can run the pick and roll, push tempo, and shows good court vision.

When the ball is in his hands, Wright is best getting into the paint. He uses his quickness and aggression to get to the basket, where he ended up shooting 56.1 percent. Aside from Rose and occasionally Butler, the Bulls don’t have a player that gets to the rim in the halfcourt setting or transition. Wright would provide that ability.

Defensively, he would mesh perfectly with Jimmy Butler, providing the Bulls with two capable wing stoppers. While he doesn’t possess a huge wingspan (6’7.5″), Wright uses his lateral quickness and anticipation to make up for those on defense. Wright finished the year averaging 2.1 steals and 1.0 blocks per game.

Shooting is the only concern with bringing Wright into the rotation. He’s never been known as a spot-up guy, so the Bulls will have to rely on playing him with shooters. His three-point percentage took a dramatic dip from 35.6 in 2014 to 22.2 percent this season. Scoring from the midrange has also been an opportunity of Wright’s. He will have to put in the work to gain the confidence and consistency in shooting at the NBA-level.

For the most part, Wright could serve as a solid long-term backup to Derrick Rose. At 23 years of age, he can possibly contribute right away. Given Rose’s injury history, it’s imperative that Chicago build up a prospect that could slide in and out of the lineup when needed. Wright has proven that he has the NBA tools after helping resurrect the Utah Utes. It’s time the Bulls get over the hump, and the more pieces they add, the quicker they can overcome it.

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