Chicago Bulls: A look back at NBA Draft history before 2018
The Chicago Bulls own the No. 7 and No. 22 picks in the 2018 NBA Draft. Will they able to draft players who will help them compete for a playoff berth next season?
The Chicago Bulls began the 2017-18 campaign by dropping 20 of their first 23 games. Despite the rough start to the season, most Bulls fans were okay with the team’s futility in the early going because it meant being in position to acquire a high draft pick.
Thanks to a 10-6 stretch during the month in December, though, the Bulls returned to a level of respectability, albeit temporarily. Following the All-Star break, the front office quickly reminded everyone what this season was about when they opted to give the younger players an extended look during the second half of the season.
Fortunately — or unfortunately, depending on your perspective — the tanking strategy was implemented too little too late as the Bulls finished tied for the sixth-worst record in the NBA. As a result, they will have the seventh and 22nd overall picks in the 2018 NBA Draft.
Here’s a look at how the Bulls have fared at these spots in years past.
There have been three other occasions in which the Bulls have had the No. 7 pick. The first instance occurred in 1982. That year, they selected Quintin Dailey out of the University of San Francisco.
In four seasons with the Bulls, Dailey compiled averages of 16.4 points, 2.9 assists and 2.8 rebounds on 46.6 percent shooting from the field. While Dailey posted respectable numbers for the franchise during his tenure in the Windy City, he will be remembered more for his off-the-court problems than his production on the hardwood.
Nearly two decades passed before the Bulls would again own the No. 7 overall pick, and in the 2000 NBA Draft, they selected Chris Mihm out of Texas. Subsequently, the Bulls dealt Mihm and cash considerations to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for the rights to Jamal Crawford, who was taken at No. 8.
Like Dailey, Crawford played in a Bulls uniform for four seasons, posting averages of 11.2 points, 3.8 assists and 2.4 rebounds per game on shooting splits of .397/.339/.820. Following his first two NBA seasons in which he averaged 4.6 and 9.3 points per game, respectively, Crawford has been a double-digit scorer ever since, including the 2017-18 season, in which he averaged 10.3 points per contest as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The most recent instance in which the Bulls owned the seventh overall pick took place in 2003. As you may recall, that draft class included the likes of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony.
With that pick, they selected Kirk Hinrich from the University of Kansas. Hinrich had multiple stints with the Bulls that spanned a total of 11 seasons.
During that stretch, the 15-year veteran averaged 11.4 points, 5.1 assists and 3.0 rebounds per contest. Hinrich shot 40.8 percent from the field and 37.6 percent from 3-point range. It is also worth mentioning that Hinrich is the Bulls’ all-time leader in 3-point field goals (1,049) and 3-field goals attempted (2,792).
As far as the No. 22 pick is concerned, the Bulls don’t have a lot of history here. In 1967, they selected John Dickson from Arkansas State, but he never played one game in a Bulls uniform, opting to play in the ABA instead.
The only other time the Bulls owned the 22nd pick was the summer of 2015 — when the team turned over the coaching reins to Fred Hoiberg. That year, the Bulls selected Bobby Portis from the University of Arkansas.
Portis showed sporadic glimpses of potential during his first two years in the league, but that all changed this season. In fact, he posted career highs in scoring (13.2 points per contest), rebounding (6.8), assists (1.7). Additionally, Portis extended his range out to the 3-point line, knocking down 35.9 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc.
As far as historical references go, the Bulls have had a bit of success with being associated with the No. 7 spot outside of their own selection. Back in 2004, the Bulls acquired the rights to the No. 7 pick from the from the Phoenix Suns (Luol Deng) in exchange for a future conditional first round pick; the rights to the 31st pick in the second round of the 2004 Draft (Jackson Vroman), and an undisclosed amount of cash.
Last season, the Bulls acquired the No. 7 pick from the Minnesota Timberwolves (Lauri Markkanen) in a draft-night trade that sent Jimmy Butler to the Twin Cities. Markkanen exceeded expectations from day one and has established himself as one of the team’s future building blocks.
You may know another player who was taken at the No. 7 spot in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors. In the event that you don’t, that guy is none other than Stephen Curry.
Not only is he a two-time MVP with unlimited range, his recent performance against the Houston Rockets in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals has the Warriors on track to make their fourth straight NBA Finals appearance.
Other notable No. 7 overall picks over the years include Jamal Murray, Julius Randle, Harrison Barnes, Bismack Biyombo, Greg Monroe, Eric Gordon, Corey Brewer, Nene, Richard Hamilton, Jason Williams, Luc Longley, Kevin Johnson, Chris Mullin, Vinnie Johnson, Bernard King, Pat Riley, Mel Counts and John Havlicek.
Bearing that in mind, it is very conceivable that the Bulls could find a difference-maker at this spot in the 2018 NBA Draft.
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Even more important, that individual could play a role in helping them become a playoff contender sooner rather than later.