Chicago Bulls: 5 options for pick No. 22 in 2018 NBA Draft
3. Keita Bates-Diop, SF — Ohio State
Keita Bates-Diop was coming off a season in which he played just nine games due to a stress fracture in his left leg. This didn’t hold the fourth-year junior back during the 2017-18 season though, as he bounced back with averages of 19.8 points and 8.7 rebounds in 33.1 minutes per contest en route to winning the Big 10 Player of the Year award.
Positives:
- Has good size at wing spot, standing at 6’7”.
- Scores around the rim in a variety of ways, including floaters, runners and can finish layups with either hand.
- Effective low-post scorer.
- Ability to be a perimeter threat. Shot 48 percent from the field and 35.9 percent from beyond the arc.
- Adequate rim protector for his size. Averaged 1.6 blocks per outing.
Negatives:
- Not overly athletic.
- Lacks speed and agility to get by primary defender.
- Has not developed the necessary handles to be an elite shot-creator.
- Does not have ideal position. May not be strong enough to play at the 4 or 5 and lacks quickness to play at the shooting guard or small forward slots.
KBD is not the kind of player a team can build around just yet. However, he is certainly capable of stepping in and providing some scoring punch for the second unit from day one. And as long as he shores up his defense, he and the Bulls will be a good fit.