Chicago Bulls: 5 options for pick No. 7 in 2019 NBA Draft

2. Brandon Clarke

The Bulls weren’t a good defensive team in 2018-19. They were ranked 20th in scoring, giving up 113.4 points per contest and they finished 25th in defensive efficiency with a rating of 113.2 points per 100 possessions.

Along with that, their 4.1 blocks per game average was the third-worst mark in the association. Needless to say, the Bulls could use a bit of rim protection.

Enter Brandon Clarke.

On the defensive end of the court, Clarke averaged 3.2 blocks per contest. This number increased to 4.3 on an adjusted 40-minute scale. He can be an effective defender at the rim and on the perimeter as well. Furthermore, he finished in ESPN‘s Top 100 in block percentage (10.8).

From an offensive standpoint, Clarke complied averages of 16.9 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. He shot the ball at a more than respectable clip, converting 68.7 percent of his overall attempts. He is a great finisher at the rim as well.

One of the few areas where Clarke needs to improve is adding range to his jump shot, as he shot a rather forgettable 26.7 percent from beyond the arc. Although his free throw shooting percentage jumped up 12 percent between his sophomore and junior year, his 69.4 percent conversion rate leaves a lot to be desired.

Considering that he’s more effective around the rim compared to the perimeter, Clarke will more than likely excel playing at the 4 or 5-spot in a small-ball lineup. Although he is projected to go as low as No. 23 on some mock draft boards, his ability to be effective at both ends of the floor would certainly justify the Bulls taking a look at him with the seventh overall pick.