Chicago Bulls: 2019 NBA Draft grades

Overall

So, to recap, the Bulls entered the 2019 NBA Draft with a strong desire to bolster the point guard position. To address this need, they selected Coby White out of North Carolina. Not only is White a decent scorer and facilitator, he also plays the game with the sort of pace the team has been in search of over the past few seasons.

Due to his size, White can defend both guard positions. Furthermore, he shot the long ball at a 35.3 percent clip during his lone season with the Tar Heels. This is significant because Chicago’s starting point guards have converted just 30.5 percent of their attempts from beyond the arc over the last three seasons. Aside from the 19.1 percent turnover rate, there’s a lot to like about what White brings to the table.

With the No. 38 pick, the Bulls took Daniel Gafford from Arkansas. While Gafford didn’t come with the same kind of fanfare as the Bulls’ other draft pick, he put up respectable numbers, averaging 16.9 points and 8.7 boards per contest. Not only did Gafford shoot 66 percent from the field, but he also averaged two blocks per contest.

On the other side of the equation, Gafford must expand his game from an offensive standpoint, as most of his game pertains to being a solid rim runner and lob finisher. In fact, he attempted just 16 shots outside the painted area last season. That number has to improve if he hopes to succeed at the next level.

Additionally, for a guy that got to the charity stripe as much as he did, Gafford shot just 59 percent, which is cause for concern. Yes, he will be a project initially, but if he’s able to develop a mid-range game, he will add depth to the frontcourt, which is a plus with Robin Lopez having possibly played his last season in a Bulls uniform.

Final Grade: B