Chicago Bulls select Noa Essengue - #12 overall

[waffle]

well, you can't teach height
he's very coordinated for his size
runs really well...not plodding at all
Handles a bit iffy, but he is really tall
young as HECK
shoots a bit, not great
Great at drawing contact which I LOVE

Needs to put on some muscle
needs to work on his shooting

The definition of a high upside pick...can't say I am disappointed

[kulaz3000]

Watch on YouTube

[NocioniHomie]

Love the pick. This is Buz 2.0 to me. Everyone looks at Buz with hindsight now. Like he was obviously going to be the asset he's become. Nothing's given, Essengue could bust out just like Buz could've and still could - but you take the modern, highest upside, hardest to find prototype (skilled/athletic 2-way wings) every time.

Draft is deeper this year, so there's going to be players who potentially shoot past him and we regret 3 years from now not drafting - but no one can predict that between any 2 prospects at this point in time. We don't have the quantity of assets to not shoot for the stars.

The disappointment is AK being so lazy and uncreative about the draft. What are we going to do with the Portland pick or our glut of guards - there's intersting dudes up and down this board - and yes it would've been nice to take another crack at them. That said - 45 to 33/34 is less costly than tonight to nab someone like Zikarsky/Kalkbrenner

[HomoSapien]

This was a pretty much a fit not BPA type pick. KC reported the FO was completely focused on solving their defense, their big board probably had Maluach & CMB. When both were off the board, Noa is probably the next guy available.

Disagree here. This pick is all about potential. If I am not mistaken, he was the number one ranked player remaining on Bilas' board.

[ScrantonBulls]

I love it. It's cliche, but his measurements reminds you of Giannis. Good chance he's busy but the upside is huge.

One think I love is that he's already a completely free throw shooter. He shot 73% on 5.6 FTA per game. Love to see a big man that has good enough shooting ability to hit free throws. That's a good sign.

[ThisGuyFawkes]

I like the pick, but I also don't see the high upside unless he learns how to score in the halfcourt.

62% finishing at the rim in half court. 86% finishing on fast breaks.

Mostly cutting and finding a gap in the defense off-ball. Then 31 dunks in the halfcourt. He's going to put it in the hole or get fouled trying.

Only on dunks. From Vecenie.

Finishing was a mixed bag. Great in transition but was all over map in half court. Unless he gets a head of steam, he can be
more below-the-rim than expected. Made 62 percent of his attempts at the rim in half court but only 47 percent of his layups
this season, which is a low number for his size. Good at getting fouled and not afraid of contact but isn’t great at maintaining
his touch through bumps around the rim. Because he’s not that strong through his lower half, he doesn’t seem to absorb
contact well. Also doesn’t seem able to initiate contact to separate.

In the halfcourt, he's only effective as a cut and dunk guy.

I'm not sure what I said that differs from what you said.

[Midwest219]

@Homo, you talking about hornets w. Liam???

[Ccwatercraft]

First time seeing any highlights, but then again everybody looks good on a highlight reel. He's tall, seems athletic, still young and raw however.
Ummmm....
See Red!

[Chi town]

His floor is what he is now: a player who couldn't get minutes in the German league playoffs.

It's entirely possible he doesn't improve at all or barely improves. Look at Pat, Terry, Phillips, etc. They're the same player they were when they were drafted. Hell, Pat is worse.

Not saying that's what's gonna happen with Essengue but you can't rule it out.

Sure. Anyone can bust. Your examples don’t fit.

A bit more nuanced than that.

None of those players have Noa’s body and measurables with his motor.

Yeah, but you can also say those guys have things that Essengue doesn't.

Noa def has way more than they do. This is why many scouts have said Noa has a top 5 ceiling in the draft.

[Dez]

Every year I have to chuckle at the people that write off players before they've even put the hat on.

They'll be the first people to declare they knew he was a star from the second he was drafted if he breaks out.

I think some of you guys are mistaking healthy skepticism with outright hating and writing them off before he's even signed his rookie contract.

Not at all, look at some of the responses.

[NecessaryEvil]

Read on Twitter

Everyone is comparing him to Pascal Siakam. To me, he looks like the successor of Scottie Pippen in Chicago.

[GoBlue72391]

lauri markkannen's length has been a hindrance for him?

I've watched enough Bulls games to know this, but if you're not going to take my word for it, then here:







I feel like anyone who watches games should already know this.

These two guys are both big wings with similar size/length and similar athleticism, so it's weird how for the new guy it's considered excellent while the other guy has been hindered by it his entire career.

Essengue has average-ish length for his height and a good but not great vert. Is that an unfair statement?

[kulaz3000]

Watch on YouTube

[2weekswithpay]

Matas can dribble the ball, though. Noa can't be trusted to put the ball on the floor. He didn't shoot the ball well, and when he tries to create off the bounce, the results aren't good.

[GoBlue72391]

Sure. Anyone can bust. Your examples don’t fit.

A bit more nuanced than that.

None of those players have Noa’s body and measurables with his motor.

Yeah, but you can also say those guys have things that Essengue doesn't.

Noa def has way more than they do. This is why many scouts have said Noa has a top 5 ceiling in the draft.

Pat was also considered one of the top upside picks in his draft and all of them have more skill than Essengue does at this point.

[Chi town]

Read on Twitter

Everyone is comparing him to Pascal Siakam. To me, he looks like the successor of Scottie Pippen in Chicago.

He’s still growing. I think he will be more Chet than Siakam. Bigger but less skilled ala Chet.

[boundbymusic]

Looks like a stretched out Jeff Teague. He will now be known as Stretch Teague. Boite 520

[GoBlue72391]

To clarify my position, I would like this pick a lot more if we had a proven track record of developing project players, but we're the opposite. If we were a different organization with high level player development I would probably love this pick.

Any gripes I have are more on the organization than the player.

[WesPeace]

In the end he might grow into center role.. defense is already there, he isnt good 3pt shooter (yet at least) and he isnt even 19. So he could end up almost 7 foot kid and when he builds out his frame, he could be strong big PF or just Billy D center

[Dan Z]

To clarify my position, I would like this pick a lot more if we had a proven track record of developing project players, but we're the opposite. If we were a different organization with high level player development I would probably love this pick.

Any gripes I have are more on the organization than the player.

It seems like he runs the floor well, so maybe Giddey and Lonzo will help find him for easy baskets?

Of course, he still needs to develop other skills. He seems like a player who has one of the higher upsides in the draft, but could also end up as a bust (I say that and don't hate the pick).