Imagining Zion Williamson’s fit with the Chicago Bulls

If the NBA Draft Lottery ping pong balls bounce the Chicago Bulls’ way, Zion Williamson may soon be calling the Windy City home. Here’s how the Duke star would fit.

When the Chicago Bulls embarked down the long road of rebuilding the franchise, the goal was to stock their roster with young, athletic talent capable of competing in today’s NBA. So far, they’ve added Zach LaVine, Lauri Markkanen, Wendell Carter Jr. and Otto Porter Jr.

With this season winding down, the Bulls have staggered to a 21-55 record with six games remaining, penciling them in for the fourth-best odds at securing the top pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. If that happens, it means one thing: Zion Williamson will be taking Chicago by storm this winter.

The freakishly athletic Duke freshman sensation hasn’t officially declared for the draft, but that appears to be a mere formality. NBA teams in the lottery are salivating at the opportunity to add the 6’7″, 285-pound forward and the Chicago Bulls are no exception. The question is, how will Zion (already known on a first name basis) fit in?

Don’t overthink it, take Zion and the rest will figure itself out

For the Bulls, their primary need, of course, is at point guard. Kris Dunn is the incumbent at the position but the front office is expected to address that need in the offseason. Realistically, if the Bulls land outside of the No. 1 pick, fans can expect Chicago to target a new lead guard such as Murray State’s Ja Morant or Vanderbilt’s Darius Garland.

With approximately $20 million in cap space, the Bulls will have opportunities to address the point guard spot through free agency. Patrick Beverley, a Chicago native and a potential free agent, is a name that comes to mind who would fit in nicely as a mentor to Dunn and of course, has the tenacity the city loves.

If they beat the odds and win the lottery, the Bulls shouldn’t overthink it. Selecting Zion Williamson would be the best choice for a franchise looking to reclaim its glory years. While Chicago has Markkanen and Porter in their frontcourt, Zion is a generational talent. He’s the type of player that you draft and figure out the details later.

What does Zion bring to Chicago?

Zion’s natural position isn’t necessarily a need for Chicago. What is a need though, is that superstar that has eluded the Bulls in free agency for years. In today’s position-less NBA, players aren’t cemented into spots like they were in the past. Zion is the prototype for this generation.

Instead of dreaming of enticing a major free agent to the Windy City, combining Zion’s talent with LaVine and Markkanen would elevate the Bulls to instant playoff contenders in the Eastern Conference. Already stocked full of exciting, young talent, adding Williamson would make the Bulls a fixture on the national primetime TV schedule next season and beyond.

He may not be a great outside shooter yet, shooting just 33 percent from 3-point range this season. What he can do though, is score with a high level of efficiency. His true shooting percentage stands at 70.5 percent for the season, shooting 74.9 percent on 2-point field goal attempts. Utilizing his size and athleticism, he’s nearly impossible to stop from getting to the rim. He’s a true scorer, averaging 22.5 points per game with a whopping 41.6 Player Efficiency Rating (PER).

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Zion gives the Bulls options — lots of options

The Chicago Bulls would be a matchup nightmare with Zion in the lineup. With him, they could feature a lineup with Markkanen at center and either himself or Porter at power forward and the other playing on the wing with LaVine.

With LaVine being comfortable as a playmaking guard, the Bulls could also employ a lineup with LaVine being the shortest player on the court at 6’5″ and Porter playing the 2-guard position at 6’8″, with Williamson, Markkanen and Carter in the frontcourt.

Zion gives the Bulls the ability to always have a scorer on the floor as coach Jim Boylen (since he’s currently the non-interim head coach) would have the opportunity to rest two of his stars at a time and still not lose much offensively.

Besides the options Zion would give the Bulls on the floor, he’d make them an option in free agency as well. A team with the type of talent Chicago possesses and then adding Zion Williamson could make them a primary target for future free agents.

If for some reason his fit doesn’t work with the existing roster, Zion’s presence would allow the Bulls the flexibility to move pieces around to make the squad more conducive to his game.

We can always dream, can’t we?

Until the 2019 NBA Draft Lottery takes place on May 14, fans can all dream of the possibilities. The Chicago Bulls are slated to have the fourth-best odds of winning the lottery and cannot fall lower than eighth. They should be adding a top player regardless. Remember, Markkanen and fellow Duke star Wendell Carter Jr. were selected with the seventh pick, so imagine what they might come up with if they slide into the top three.

Zion Williamson is a phenomenal basketball player. The Chicago Bulls are an up-and-coming team with an underrated collection of talent. Winning the top pick in the draft would vault the Bulls back onto the national scene, a place they’ve vacated recently.

The Duke sensation is one player that can fit into almost any system. If the Chicago Bulls win the lottery, their fortunes will change in an instant. Imagining how Zion would fit in the Windy City is an exciting proposition. Don’t overthink it — draft him and let him loose, and a return to the playoffs shouldn’t be too far behind.