Chicago Bulls: Midseason team awards for 2018-19 season

Rookie of the Year: Wendell Carter Jr.

If there were one positive that could be gleaned from 2017-18 season, it is the fact that the Bulls had two first round selections in the 2018 NBA Draft. With the No. 7 pick, they took Wendell Carter Jr. from Duke.

With the second pick at No. 22, Chicago selected Chandler Hutchison, a versatile forward from Boise State. Due to the makeup of the roster going into the offseason, it would have been reasonable to presume that both players would have to wait a bit before either of them would get significant playing time.

However, Carter emerged as the team’s starting center following training camp. Thanks to injuries, along with Jabari Parker falling out of the rotation and Justin Holiday being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies, Hutchison’s role will increase going forward as he has been in the starting lineup six times this season, including each of the last three contests.

Looking at the tale of the tape, Carter has posted averages of 10.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per contest on 49.4 percent shooting from the field. This includes a 22-point, six-rebound performance in the team’s 124-112 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night.

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Meanwhile, Hutchison’s numbers include 4.4 points and 3.6 rebounds per contest on 44.3 percent shooting from the field.

As the season progresses, Hutchison may close the gap a bit, but for the time being, Carter is the Bulls’ top rookie at the midpoint of the season.