Chicago Bulls: 5 steps Billy Donovan must take to succeed

3. Embrace the youth movement

The Chicago Bulls have the fourth pick in this year’s upcoming draft. Conventional wisdom says that Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball and James Wiseman will be the top three picks in one order or another. Although those three franchise changing players will most likely be gone by the time Chicago’s number is called, it doesn’t mean that the fourth pick won’t be a selection that can impact the franchise for years to come.

In addition to having a high draft pick, the Bulls also have two very good young players who must be allowed to develop for the sake of the team. Coby White is entering his second season and Wendell Carter Jr. is entering his third.

Last season, White showed flashes of brilliance, shooting 35.4 percent from 3-point land over the course of the year. He is ultra-confident and has the ability to heat up quickly from beyond the arc. In a game against the New York Knicks last November, White hit seven 3-pointers in the fourth quarter alone.

Last season Wendell Carter Jr. put up impressive averages of 11.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. He has the potential to become a walking double-double. An elite interior defender and rebounder can help any team in the league, especially a team as young as the Bulls.

While encouraging veterans like LaVine, Markkannen and Otto Porter Jr. to take the lead will be important next season, Donovan must also prioritize cultivating his young talent. One of the things he was praised for in OKC was allowing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to flourish. He must take a similar approach with White and Carter Jr. If he does, they could become valuable pieces of the organization’s foundation for years to come.