Chicago Bulls: 3 reasons not to tank after All-Star break

1. Higher draft pick don’t guarantee success

One of the benefits of a team having one of, if not the worse records in the league is the potential of landing a player who falls within the first five or 10 spots in the draft. As certain instances have demonstrated though, a player who falls outside of this range can turn out to be a solid pick.

Let’s take Taj Gibson for example. The Bulls selected him at the No. 26 spot in the 2009 NBA Draft. Although he spent most of his career with the Bulls coming off the bench, he was the consummate professional who performed well regardless of the role he was given.

Another example is Jimmy Butler. Coming off their first conference finals appearance in 13 years, the Bulls selected Butler at No. 30 in the 2011 NBA Draft. Initially, Butler did not make much of an impact, averaging 2.6 points in 8.5 minutes per contest during his rookie season.

However, after carving out a niche as a defensive specialist during his second and third NBA seasons, Butler eventually emerged as the Bulls’ go-to player, averaging at least 20 points per contest during his final three seasons in Chicago.

Not only did Butler come into his own with the Bulls, he also came into his own as a household name around the league. Then again, when you see the effort he gives at both ends of the floor; league-wide recognition can be expected.

Next: 2017-18 Week 19 NBA Power Rankings

As of right now, the Bulls are slated to pick at No. 8 along with either the 16th or 17th pick. Taking into consideration where Gibson and Butler were selected in their respective drafts, it is very possible the Bulls can still land a quality player with both of their selections, therefore eliminating the need to tank the second half of the season away.