Chicago Bulls: 2019 NBA Draft grades
No. 7 pick: Coby White
A few weeks ago, I outlined some options the Bulls should consider at the No. 7 spot and Coby White was on that list. Yes, the Bulls already have a starting point guard in Kris Dunn, but he regressed a bit during his second year in the Windy City.
Although Dunn shot a career best 35.4 percent from beyond the arc, his scoring, overall shooting, rebounding and steals numbers all dipped a bit, thus opening the door for potential competition at the starting point guard spot.
Enter Coby White.
During his lone season at UNC, White posted averages of 16.1 points, 4.1 assist and 3.5 rebounds per contest. Also, he passed Michal Jordan on the UNC’s all-time freshman scoring list. Although he will go from playing as a combo guard to playing as a full-time point guard , standing at 6’5”, he has the ability to play at and defend both guard positions.
https://twitter.com/espn/status/1104528227329105921
White excelled in catch-and-shoot situations as he averaged 150 points on 112 catch-and-shoot jumpers, placing him in the 93rd percentile in this category.
Another positive about White is that he is good in the open court (30.7 percent of offense generated in transition), something that the Bulls desperately need as they finished near the bottom of the league in pace and transition points.
Bulls get their point guard of the future in Coby White. He’s the fastest player in the draft & an explosive scorer. Should be able to run the offense with the pace the Bulls have been looking for.
— Mark Schanowski (@MarkSchanowski) June 21, 2019
Although White didn’t shoot the ball well overall (42.3 percent), he did knock down 35.3 percent of his looks from 3-point range. Being that long range shooting hasn’t always been a plus at the starting point guard position, this skill definitely makes White a valuable addition to the roster.
Lastly, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that White is the first player the Bulls have selected from UNC since taking Jordan with the No. 3 overall pick back in 1984.
Hard for a lifelong Bulls not to become reflective once Coby White was drafted..."At guard, from North Carolina" puts us in a certain mood...hope there's reason to feel this good going forward...
— Michael Wilbon (@RealMikeWilbon) June 21, 2019
While it would be very unrealistic to place such high expectations on a 19-year old, White does have some intangibles that indicate he has the potential to be a viable option at one of the most important positions in the offense.
Grade: A-