Optimistic development scenarios: Who you betting on?

[dumbell78]

I voted Otto but we are all hoping for the first two options, GarPax included.

[Shill]

Here’s some Lauri sunshine to get us through the long off-season:

Watch on YouTube

[kingkirk]

Wendell.

I believe.

[dice]

no felicio?

[sco]

no felicio?

I ran out of options, but for Felicio I think the appropriate metric would be can he drop 25lbs before the start of the season. No other stat really matters.

[sco]

Otto is definitely most likely.

Zach and Lauri putting up those numbers would put them in elite company, so not likely at all. Steph Curry was the only player in the league last season to average 26+ pts and shoot 40% from behind the arc, and Steph, Klay, Kyrie and KAT (the only big) were able to put up 21+ ppg and shoot 39% from behind the arc.

Also, both becoming average defenders would he a big leap. Boy, if either of them did reach these numbers with the defense (especially Zach) the Bulls would likely he in contention for a top 4/5 record in the East.

I think the 3 point shooting is shakiest part of the number for LaVine and Markkanen. I would be happy to see both shoot 38 percent. Honestly Lauri should shoot threes better than he does. He gets much easier looks than LaVine. LaVine's percentage could go up if he gets more easy looks.

I totally agree that Lauri was too streaky as a 3pt threat. Unlike some guys, I would never be confident when Lauri shot even open 3's that they'd fall. I will give him credit for shooting more 3's...from 5.9 to 6.4 a game. Wouldn't mind that number going to 7 and him adding 2% to his accuracy.

[sco]

I voted for Zach, but I would also bet on Gafford playing 20 MPG ... but it not necessarily being a good thing. Wendell is coming off of surgery and probably won't have a great offseason because of it. He's also very foul prone. Lauri on average has missed 22 games per season, so he'll get minutes because of that too.

I'll go out on a limb here, but I still think the only way Gafford gets consistent minutes next season is if both Lauri and WCJ are out for a long period.

Thad Young can play the small ball 4, and they also signed Kornet.

Otherwise I expect him to be in the gleague a lot getting developmental minutes.

If he does, he wont be there long.

Not because of his play but because I think Paxson wants to pump and dump Felicio. I would pencil him as the backup center just until he gets moved or falls out of favor.

Kornet has only played 66 career games in 2 years so he is no way a shoe in to play either.

Gafford easily has the most upside of the 3, but also the least experienced but with the most job security, We can afford to stash him for a month or so.

I feel the same way about Coby. The Bulls were always going to bring him off the bench. Regardless of what he did in the SL. If Paxson's real intention was to always get Collison here, there was no way Collison would have come off the bench. So I think Paxson always thought long game with whomever we drafted.

There are few things I am sure of, but Pax having any illusions that there is anything he can do to increase Felicio's trade value isn't one of him. He's a dead contract until 20-21 as an expiring deal.

[drosereturn]

Zach and Lauri’s stat gauges are imminently doable.

They weren’t terribly far off from that last year.

The real question is can they translate those stats into wins?

That’s what we just don’t know.

Advanced stats tell Lavine will not. Lauri has a chance since he is a 3rd year now.
Lavine's issue is he doesnt know what to work on as expected from his low iq.
Late games, guys clueless and costed so many times. I never doubt he can stuff the sheet but at what cost?

[Southpaw]

Voted for Lauri because I really think he'll have a big year this season. Hope he stays healthy for his further development.

[Hangtime84]

I think lots of players in this team will improve. But gonna go with new comer Otto

[ZOMG]

Lauri can easily average 21, but I don't see him ever shooting the three at 39% over a full season. He's simply not a great shooter. Good, but not great. That said, he doesn't need to shoot 39% to be a credible threat from the perimeter. What he must improve is taking advantage of the respect teams give him out there.

As for defense... I have no idea where this idea that Markkanen is a bad defender came from. The thing is, he can't defend the 5 position because he's not a center. He doesn't have the length or the instincts for containing true bigs in the low post. It's simply stupid to blame him for not being a great defender at a wrong position.

Lauri gets a bad rap for his team defense, but his mistakes there haven't been anything abnormal for a very young NBA big. Also, in his rookie year, the Bulls perimeter defense was full of sieves. Had Lauri aggressively "helped" every time these clowns watched their man jog past them, he'd have been fouling out in 10 minutes. He's not Rudy Gobert.

Lauri is a very good perimeter defender particularly for his size and age. You have to use him right.

[sco]

Lauri can easily average 21, but I don't see him ever shooting the three at 39% over a full season. He's simply not a great shooter. Good, but not great. That said, he doesn't need to shoot 39% to be a credible threat from the perimeter. What he must improve is taking advantage of the respect teams give him out there.

As for defense... I have no idea where this idea that Markkanen is a bad defender came from. The thing is, he can't defend the 5 position because he's not a center. He doesn't have the length or the instincts for containing true bigs in the low post. It's simply stupid to blame him for not being a great defender at a wrong position.

Lauri gets a bad rap for his team defense, but his mistakes there haven't been anything abnormal for a very young NBA big. Also, in his rookie year, the Bulls perimeter defense was full of sieves. Had Lauri aggressively "helped" every time these clowns watched their man waltz past them, he'd have been fouling out in 10 minutes. He's not Rudy Gobert.

Lauri is a very good perimeter defender particularly for his size and age. You have the use him right.

Agree he is terrible at defending the C position. Hopefully new guys will cover that base for us. I am undecided if he below average or average when only defending the PF position...mainly because our defense was so bad for last couple years, it's hard to pinpoint all the problems. I have seen good defense from Lauri in spurts.

[Michael Jackson]

Most likely is easily Otto averaging 17 ppg and playing 72. He averaged 17.9 PPG last season for us and prior to last season he played in 74,75,77,80 games in the previous 4 seasons.

I voted Zach but simply because I think Otto is a lock at hitting this mark which will make Zach that much better. Lauri is my biggest question mark. I see a glimpse of something but yet I am far from sold he has it to become elite. He has the potential and I forgive a shooter who has a bum arm for a year. This year I have to see a leap.

[MrSparkle]

39% from 3P? No way. Not gonna happen for Lauri. Unless Coby is better than everyone expected, a Nash-Curry making life easy for everybody else from the arc.

I can see Otto going for career highs (prime contract year) unless injuries slow him down.

Was hopeful about seeing Wendell’s development but expectations are low now.

I’m seeing Coby as the big mystery hope. Either a nice project (Zach’s replacement in 2y - nice traditional lame GarPax logjam situation where the prime vet gets dumped for a soft rebuild)... or he’s the point who brings it all together.

If Coby plugs into the starting line-up and works, obviously this roster has a future. If not, I’m still concerned with the turnovers and shot distribution.

[Onibuh]

Most likely is Otto for me with Sato as 2nd (if he starts)

[Michael Jackson]

Most likely is Otto for me with Sato as 2nd (if he starts)

My vote is for Bradley Beal because we are using Washington as a farm team.