Game Thread: Official Draft Thread ESPN/ABC 7PM CT

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[_txchilibowl_]

Being a below the rim center is it tough thing to overcome...

[ThisGuyFawkes]

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Just watching the highlights. Was he on the Burger Jacks? Probably my favorite Bull of all-time now.

[Muzbar]

Just ducking in to share some insight on Olbrich. I've covered him the last few years in the Australian league and interviewed him multiple times (awesome young man).

He was very productive as a pro in the NBL. He's not an archetypical NBA big - he kinda has that Sengun type physical profile.. won't be a rim protector. That makes him an awkward 4/5 tweener. I saw someone mention Cam Bairstow (perhaps half jokingly) - he's more athletic and more skilled.

- He's great at grabbing and going. Likes pushing the pace with the ball in his hands, and he can make good passes pushing the ball in transition. Transition bigs seems to be a trend for the Bulls FO.
- He has Kawhi sized hands. Great control of the basketball.
- Excellent footwork and touch around the rim.
- Doesn't shoot it (will need to).. but the mechanics are workable.
- Play his ass off. Led the combine in rebounding.

He's an outside shot of being an NBA guy, but he has some fun qualities. My only concern would be the defensive physical tools.

Worth noting also that the NBL is a great league but lacks some elite front court size, so Olbrich might find more resistance around the rim at the NBA level.

(Also, would woop Rocco Zikarsky's ass right now. I get the Rocco fascination - 7'4 with a 9'6 standing reach, good argument to draft him higher.. but he was unplayable in the NBL and Olbrich, who was admittedly a little older too, was a high minutes player on the championship team by comparison).

OMG, a Gimmedat sighting!

Cheers for the insight.

[boozapalooza]

Never heard of Lachlan but the highlights are nice. Decent draft and stash guy. The one thing everyone agrees on is hes got a great motor. Held his own at the combine. Consider me intrigued.

[MGB8]

Well a major let down of a draft in my opinion....B- 1st rounder and that is if he pans out, D- second rounder that likely sees 20 total NBA games in his career. Welp back to the play in and same time, same place, same draft position next year!

Agree on the 2nd rounder. Nice kid, good bal player… almost certainly not an NBA player (in my hot take opinion).

On Essengue… while not the pick that I would have made for both rawness and fit concerns, I can’t really hate it.

The size/athleticism combo for him are, in combination, near elite. And he has flashed lots of skills, so there is reason to hope that they can develop more. It’s a Tyrus like shot, on a guy who is bigger if not as insanely explosive. If everything breaks just right, Essengue could become a top-10 in NBA player - that is how good the upside is. Now, chances of everything working out like that, like they did for Giannis, are always small. But … I get taking a swing at this particular pitch.

[dawhizz]

I don’t know if it’s a good sign or a bad sign but Lachlan Olbrich looks like Bill Paxton in True Lies.

[boozapalooza]

Ryan Nembhard somehow went undrafted. Im sure Indy will prob scoop him up but damn, I’d love to get him on a two way contract. Wanted him at 45 if we kept the pick.

[Guru]

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Just watching the highlights. Was he on the Burger Jacks? Probably my favorite Bull of all-time now.

Nice.

Watching that video his offense seems bad to the point where I was basically like where does he stand out? Then you get to the transition game and you see how he makes sense. He's also got a good motor. Probably not anything but theres a world where he just fits so well in the system he gets reserve minutes.

He apparently had a great combine. You can't find a ton of info on that but the AI told me.....

Key takeaways from his performance at the combine:
He performed well in the scrimmages, even achieving a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds in one scrimmage.
His footwork and touch around the rim impressed NBA executives.
His participation in the combine helped increase his draft stock and chances of being selected.
He demonstrated good decision-making and court awareness, particularly in areas like passing and off-ball movement.
He showcased his ability as a passer, including live-dribble kickouts and cross-court finds.
Olbrich is described as a throwback big man with a strong motor and good feel for the game.
While considered undersized for an NBA 5 with a limited wingspan, his efficient inside play and work ethic caught the attention of scouts.
His performance at the combine solidified his potential as a late second-round pick or two-way contract player.
Overall, the combine was a positive experience for Lachlan Olbrich, helping him to gain exposure and improve his prospects for the 2025 NBA Draft.

[_txchilibowl_]

I don’t know if it’s a good sign or a bad sign but Lachlan Olbrich looks like Bill Paxton in True Lies.

[ThisGuyFawkes]

Ryan Nembhard somehow went undrafted. Im sure Indy will prob scoop him up but damn, I’d love to get him on a two way contract. Wanted him at 45 if we kept the pick.

Yeah, I also would have liked him. Averaged nearly 10 assists at Gonzaga. Seems like a solid 3rd PG that could run our uptempo system.

[dawhizz]

Working on Rocco here.

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[ThisGuyFawkes]

Watch on YouTube

Just watching the highlights. Was he on the Burger Jacks? Probably my favorite Bull of all-time now.

Nice.

Watching that video his offense seems bad to the point where I was basically like where does he stand out? Then you get to the transition game and you see how he makes sense. He's also got a good motor. Probably not anything but theres a world where he just fits so well in the system he gets reserve minutes.

He apparently had a great combine. You can't find a ton of info on that but the AI told me.....

Key takeaways from his performance at the combine:
He performed well in the scrimmages, even achieving a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds in one scrimmage.
His footwork and touch around the rim impressed NBA executives.
His participation in the combine helped increase his draft stock and chances of being selected.
He demonstrated good decision-making and court awareness, particularly in areas like passing and off-ball movement.
He showcased his ability as a passer, including live-dribble kickouts and cross-court finds.
Olbrich is described as a throwback big man with a strong motor and good feel for the game.
While considered undersized for an NBA 5 with a limited wingspan, his efficient inside play and work ethic caught the attention of scouts.
His performance at the combine solidified his potential as a late second-round pick or two-way contract player.
Overall, the combine was a positive experience for Lachlan Olbrich, helping him to gain exposure and improve his prospects for the 2025 NBA Draft.

He's a late 2nd round pick so I don't think anyone is expecting much. Just seems like a really poor-man's Vuc. Or did we just draft our Jokic? Just kidding, but he was a Hamburger Jack. Or maybe he wasn't. I don't know what team he played on.

[Muzbar]

Working on Rocco here.

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Rocco was like 16/17 years old back then.

[GoBlue72391]

Australian guy who's undersized for the 5 and lacks skills for the 4. Also not athletic.

Sounds like Cameron Bairstow's twin.

Obviously not expecting much for a 55th pick.

[Wxlves]

Has a nice and 1 highlight against Rocco in that last video

[Jvaughn]

Looks like Nemhard already signed a 2 way with Dallas. Good pickup.

[ThisGuyFawkes]

Working on Rocco here.

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Makes you wonder if Giddey was like "nah man, Rocco is soft as paper tissue. You gotta get my boy Lochlan."
AKME: " Oh is he Irish?"
Giddey: "No dawg, he's 100% pure Australian history of English criminal that got sent to this island. A real hound dog. I think his Grandpa killed 2 people".

[BigUps]

Lachlin’s jumper is more broke than broke. It can’t be understated. A complete waste of a pick.

Career in Aussie is under a 60% shooter from the free throw line and shot 9% from three last season. Did have a 30% season from three, but his sample size is so low the numbers don’t matter outside of telling you he doesn’t shoot from there because he can’t.

[GoBlue72391]

Being a below the rim center is it tough thing to overcome...

He's basically the new Sanogo.