Chicago Bulls select Noa Essengue - #12 overall

[Chi town]

So what is everyone expecting from Noa in SL?

I’m thinking a lot like Buz. Big flashes. Dumb turnovers. High energy with good D.

I want to see what he does with the ball in one on one situations. Would love to see him in the post. Think we will see some awful misses and some good wow plays.

[ThisGuyFawkes]

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[dpucane]

So what is everyone expecting from Noa in SL?

I’m thinking a lot like Buz. Big flashes. Dumb turnovers. High energy with good D.

I want to see what he does with the ball in one on one situations. Would love to see him in the post. Think we will see some awful misses and some good wow plays.

He's not tailored to summer league because he's a play finisher and SL has a bunch of guys chucking to get noticed. So I don't think hell do a whole lot statistically.

All I want is to watch him switch on to NBA-ish caliber guards.


The main upside with him is the potential to be a true 1-5 defender.


If that's legit they really found something with him.

[fleet]

So what is everyone expecting from Noa in SL?

I’m thinking a lot like Buz. Big flashes. Dumb turnovers. High energy with good D.

I want to see what he does with the ball in one on one situations. Would love to see him in the post. Think we will see some awful misses and some good wow plays.

He's not tailored to summer league because he's a play finisher and SL has a bunch of guys chucking to get noticed. So I don't think hell do a whole lot statistically.

All I want is to watch him switch on to NBA-ish caliber guards.


The main upside with him is the potential to be a true 1-5 defender.


If that's legit they really found something with him.

Is a Shawn Marion upside wrongheaded? That’s a lot of the impression I get from the discussion

[Chi town]

For those comparing Essengue’s traits to Giannis…

Giannis Roomie highlights.

https://youtu.be/KSMjhebK1ZQ?si=JK3k2Q4GAx-8KJEy

Giannis does barely anything in ball.
Noa’s shot looks better.
Giannis def more explosive and twitchy.
Handle pretty similar.

I still see more Chet than anyone else.

[fleet]

For those comparing Essengue’s traits to Giannis…

Giannis Roomie highlights.

https://youtu.be/KSMjhebK1ZQ?si=JK3k2Q4GAx-8KJEy

Giannis does barely anything in ball.
Noa’s shot looks better.
Giannis def more explosive and twitchy.
Handle pretty similar.

I still see more Chet than anyone else.

Wing Chet is fair idea. Giannis does look more sudden and twitchy at that age. I think we’re doing a disservice to the veterans LOL. As usual one player is rarely quite like another.

[Ice Man]

I’m thinking a lot like Buz. Big flashes. Dumb turnovers. High energy with good D.

Like Buz, but rawer. I don't see Noa being a credible NBA starter by the end of Year 1, as Buz was. I mean, I have never seen the guy play, so take that prediction with a few pounds of salt, but from the scouting report he's further away as a shooter. That is, Buz was a 77% FT shooter in G league, while Noa was "low 60s" last year in European play. And while Buz had a poor 3-point shooting % in G league, scouts thought that he had a soft touch and obvious potential, whereas Noa's 3 point shot is described as undeveloped.

And that's basically what gets guys like Buz and Noa on the court, the ability to hit shots. There's limited demand these days for 3/4s who aren't perimeter threats, no matter what their athletic attributes and defensive abilities.

I'm not knocking Noa, as I like the pick, just saying I'm not expecting much from him until Year 3, at the earliest. Whereas I think Buz will be pretty good already next season, in his Year 2.

[sco]

I’m thinking a lot like Buz. Big flashes. Dumb turnovers. High energy with good D.

Like Buz, but rawer. I don't see Noa being a credible NBA starter by the end of Year 1, as Buz was. I mean, I have never seen the guy play, so take that prediction with a few pounds of salt, but from the scouting report he's further away as a shooter. That is, Buz was a 77% FT shooter in G league, while Noa was "low 60s" last year in European play. And while Buz had a poor 3-point shooting % in G league, scouts thought that he had a soft touch and obvious potential, whereas Noa's 3 point shot is described as undeveloped.

And that's basically what gets guys like Buz and Noa on the court, the ability to hit shots. There's limited demand these days for 3/4s who aren't perimeter threats, no matter what their athletic attributes and defensive abilities.

I'm not knocking Noa, as I like the pick, just saying I'm not expecting much from him until Year 3, at the earliest. Whereas I think Buz will be pretty good already next season, in his Year 2.

Very well said! I think he'll get 10-12 developmental minutes (at least until the Bulls are out of contention for a play-in). Billy will give him more if he improves and plays the right way. Minutes are important, but given that rookies hit a wall anyway, being stingy with them is a great carrot.

[Senor Chang]

If he never improves his 3 point shot he can still probably be a josh smith type role player for us. Defense, running the floor, rebounds, energy. If this is the case i just hope it’s more josh smith and less tyrus thomas.


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[Almost Retired]

Looking ahead one year to potential Centers in the 2026 Draft. If we suck enough and get lucky in the lottery I like Chris Cenac of Houston who early projections show might go Top 5. Where we are most likely to pick, just outside the Lottery, I like Tomislav Ivisic from Illinois. He's got the outside shot our front line could use if Essengue doesn't develop his jump shot. But a front line of Matas, Essengue and Ivisic would be long, versatile, and would pose a defensive nightmare for teams. And in the event we are better than projected due to weakness in the East then Alex Condon of Florida would be a nice addition in the later 1/3 of the First round. I think Essengue will be a beast on defense with a little added muscle and I can't wait to see him and Giddey streaking downcourt on a fast break. Essengue is only 18. We might have the best forward combo in the league in 3 years.

[ghostinthepost1]

So what is everyone expecting from Noa in SL?

I’m thinking a lot like Buz. Big flashes. Dumb turnovers. High energy with good D.

I want to see what he does with the ball in one on one situations. Would love to see him in the post. Think we will see some awful misses and some good wow plays.

He's not tailored to summer league because he's a play finisher and SL has a bunch of guys chucking to get noticed. So I don't think hell do a whole lot statistically.

All I want is to watch him switch on to NBA-ish caliber guards.


The main upside with him is the potential to be a true 1-5 defender.


If that's legit they really found something with him.

Is a Shawn Marion upside wrongheaded? That’s a lot of the impression I get from the discussion

Marion is what I see as well. Watching a few of his games, it's crazy how few plays I run for him. Everything he gets offensively is generated off BBIQ and energy. Also similar to The Matrix, he fills the stat sheet with rebounds, blocks, steals, and even some assists.

[kodo]

People really high on Noa don't see him as a leading scorer type, a lot of cuts, P&R, occasional hitting those wide open jumpers, drawing FTs.
In the half-court, even as a PF I think he'll be that hub passer that we know AK loves:


Jo was a godawful shooter but plays like this is how we were able to keep him on the floor without playing 4 on 5 on offense.

But still he's probably years away. He's a year and a half younger than VJ who is a freshman. Bulls effectively drafted a high schooler, one that put up 20 points on the Blazers in preseason but still he's younger your normal 1st year pick.

[Dresden]

He's not tailored to summer league because he's a play finisher and SL has a bunch of guys chucking to get noticed. So I don't think hell do a whole lot statistically.

All I want is to watch him switch on to NBA-ish caliber guards.


The main upside with him is the potential to be a true 1-5 defender.


If that's legit they really found something with him.

Is a Shawn Marion upside wrongheaded? That’s a lot of the impression I get from the discussion

Marion is what I see as well. Watching a few of his games, it's crazy how few plays I run for him. Everything he gets offensively is generated off BBIQ and energy. Also similar to The Matrix, he fills the stat sheet with rebounds, blocks, steals, and even some assists.

Shawn Marion was a tremendous rebounder. Noa hasn't shown that capability to this point.

[GoBlue72391]

So what is everyone expecting from Noa in SL?

I’m thinking a lot like Buz. Big flashes. Dumb turnovers. High energy with good D.

I want to see what he does with the ball in one on one situations. Would love to see him in the post. Think we will see some awful misses and some good wow plays.

Flashes of brilliance mixed with signs that he's got a long way to go.

[CROBulls]

Expectations are zero unless there is decent playmaker on roster. Guy is protoypical wing who cannot score single basket in isolation, basically off ball wing who can cut. And Summer league is proven ISO basketball product of future G-leaguers looking for a NBA contract. I want everyone to settle down their expectations expecting Noa be next Matas. They cannot be more opposite players.

[DuckIII]

For summer league, I'll be looking at all of whatever Noa does of course, but the most important and easiest thing to see will be what his athleticism looks like compared to NBA athletes. Honestly, for a guy like him that's the most important test to pass this summer to me as a fan. I realize he's a 3-4 year project.

[sco]

For summer league, I'll be looking at all of whatever Noa does of course, but the most important and easiest thing to see will be what has athleticism looks like compared to NBA athletes. Honestly, for a guy like him that's the most important test to pass this summer to me as a fan. I realize he's a 3-4 year project.

Good point, but there isn't too much NBA athleticizing in the SL. I'm looking for flashes of good play. I expect a lot of ugly jump shots and blown defensive assignments mixed in.

[CROBulls]

For summer league, I'll be looking at all of whatever Noa does of course, but the most important and easiest thing to see will be what has athleticism looks like compared to NBA athletes. Honestly, for a guy like him that's the most important test to pass this summer to me as a fan. I realize he's a 3-4 year project.

I do agree on this point. It's gonna be exciting to see how he looks on floor compared to other NBA prospects. Size, height, lenght, is he contact guy, does he fight for rebounds, does he get pushed or can play little bit of bully ball. Small things not scoring related. Also personality on floor, confidence etc. All we heard about this guy is being unique athlete with good measurement and if this doesnt stand out in his basketball play, you can immediatly know if you have a NBA player on your hand or just another dead waste of body on roster.

No need to waste 3-4 years.

[DuckIII]

For summer league, I'll be looking at all of whatever Noa does of course, but the most important and easiest thing to see will be what has athleticism looks like compared to NBA athletes. Honestly, for a guy like him that's the most important test to pass this summer to me as a fan. I realize he's a 3-4 year project.

Good point, but there isn't too much NBA athleticizing in the SL.

Its not up and down the rosters at every position, but there are plenty of NBA caliber athletes at summer league who are either highly regarded prospects themselves (from a 2 class window) or, more commonly, are NBA athletes who haven't gotten over the hump due to skills. There will be enough on the floor at any given time to be able to get a sense of how Noa measures up. If he's a unique plus athlete for his size and stands out that way, it won't be an illusion.

[DuckIII]

All we heard about this guy is being unique athlete with good measurement and if this doesnt stand out in his basketball play, you can immediatly know if you have a NBA player on your hand or just another dead waste of body on roster.

No need to waste 3-4 years.

That's a pretty extreme of course, but I do agree very much that the size/athleticism eye test is going to be pretty important. Strength, not so much. Because I expect him to get knocked around. Happened with Matas too. These guys need time in the weight room. But its going to be important that his size/speed/quickness/vertical combination pop more than a little bit.