NBA: Ranking every team’s best player in 2019-20
. . Otto Porter Jr.. 27. player. 24.
The Chicago Bulls have poured substantial draft and financial capital into building a talent base, including multiple former lottery picks in return for Jimmy Butler, three straight selections at No. 7 overall and a lucrative new contract for Zach LaVine.
That makes it both unexpected and possibly embarrassing that the best player on the team was acquired in what amounts to a salary dump. Otto Porter Jr. is likely a Bull simply because the Washington Wizards did not want to pay his salary. Their loss is the Bulls’ gain, as Porter is a talented player.
Miscast as the top or even second option on a team, Porter is an elite role player. He has the size to guard opposing wings and while not a stopper, he will not be hunted out either. Offensively he is a knockdown catch-and-shoot player, a career 40.5 percent shooter.
The Bulls need someone else to step up as this team’s best player and when they do Porter will be an excellent dependent player to suit up alongside.
Looking Ahead: Take your pick. Lauri Markkanen has shown the most potential, with a gorgeous shot he can get off over anyone from anywhere. If he can add to the rest of his game — and be something other than a sieve defensively — he could be here in a year. Coby White, Wendell Carter Jr. and Zach LaVine could also get there.
Shout out to Tomas Satoransky, who was dominant as the top player leading the Czech Republic to a surprising finish at the FIBA World Cup.