7. Tony Snell (20th overall, 2013)
If there was anything that scouts were sure of when it came to New Mexico swingman Tony Snell, it was his shooting ability. NBADraft.net even went as far as to praise him for his “picturesque” form, which his 38.0 collegiate 3-point percentage backed up. Sounds like just the thing the Bulls, who ranked 21st in 3-point rate and 29th in attempts the season prior (2012-13), needed to boost its sterile, Derrick Rose-less offense.
And that’s exactly what the team got when it selected Snell with the 20th overall pick in 2013. As expected, his steady shooting carried over to the NBA — he shot only 32.0 percent in his rookie season, but it skyrocketed to 37.1 in 2014-15 — but as his -2.6 BPM suggested, he offered little else in regard to shot creation, playmaking, and, most importantly, defense.
But despite the slender frame that contributed to his lack of aggression — .123 free throw attempt rate (FTr) in three seasons in Chicago — and scant defense, Snell was a good enough shooter to keep around and hope that he improved in those other areas.
Of course, the Bulls didn’t do that. Instead, the franchise sent him to the Milwaukee Bucks for former Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams in a rare player-for-player trade. Apparently floor spacing isn’t nearly as important to this club as bringing in a tall point guard who couldn’t shoot is.