Lachlan Olbrich: Could he turn into something?

[ghostinthepost1]

I read this article -> https://www.nba.com/bulls/news/sam-smith-versatile-big-man-lachlan-olbrich-thriving-with-fast-paced-summer-bulls this morning which sent me down a Oblrich rabbit hole.

The quotes from the article seemed promising.

“Lucky, if you watch him play in Summer League, he’s probably going to hurt some people with how hard he plays, crack someone’s sternum,” Bulls Summer League coach Billy Donovan III said with a cautiously wry laugh earlier this week following practice. “If you tell him to run through a wall, he’ll try to run through two of them. You can tell he has a chip on his shoulder, but in a good way. He can handle the ball, he’s got a really good feel of how to play and can pass. Even when he gets rebounds, you’ll see him push the ball on the break. He can really pass, so we are relying a lot on him for his playmaking ability. If you watch (him play in Australia), he was leading the break, and he’s got a really good feel on how to space and how to make others better.”

“Physicality,” Olbrich agreed when asked about his strength following Bulls practice Tuesday. “Getting my teammates open. I’ll do all the dirty work so they don’t have to; an elite screener and rebounder. I feel as the competition goes up I’ve been better because I play with my teammates a lot and make them look better because I am going to get them in the right spots, get them open on screens.

Love that he knows to make it in the league he's going to have to do all the dirty work, rebound the ball, set good screens, etc. His passing also seems intriguing.

Then I read through some scouting reports:

https://floorandceiling.substack.com/p/lachlan-olbrich-scouting-report-australia
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25216437-2025-nba-draft-scouting-report-chicago-bulls-no-55-pick-lachlan-olbrich

The 21-year-old can grab-and-go, push the pace, and make hit-ahead passes in transition. He always runs the floor hard, and has a great motor on both ends of the floor. The Hawks prospect is a tenacious offensive rebounder, although we rarely see put-backs from him due to his athletic limitations. Despite those athletic concerns, his at-rim finishing is relatively good, as he has decent touch and knows how to use the basket as a shield against the defender effectively.

Fastbreak Potential: Being a physical rebounder who tracks the ball well is one thing, but Olbrich has shown he's comfortable trying to get the offense going, and he's done it with some success. If he can prove he has the vision to hit ahead or connect early in the break, that will be a nice bonus at the NBA level.

So, obviously my next step was to go to youtube and was able to find some clips of absolute monster Lucky games.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Maybe I'm delusional but I kind of really like his game. He's obviously not going to become a starter or anything but I see someone who could be a energy 4/5 off the bench who plays hard, runs in transition, rebounds at a high clips, and can even do some playmaking.

[HomoSapien]

I agree, he does seem intriguing. I wonder if Giddey recommended this pick at all.

[MrSparkle]

Unlikely players have made big careers. However, poor shooting %s, lack of length and vertical, positional ambiguity… I dunno. Seems like a young prime Theis might be the best case scenario, though younger Theis always looked like a good athlete to me. Olbrich’s lateral movement seems slower.

[Kuro]

I read this article -> https://www.nba.com/bulls/news/sam-smith-versatile-big-man-lachlan-olbrich-thriving-with-fast-paced-summer-bulls this morning which sent me down a Oblrich rabbit hole.

The quotes from the article seemed promising.

“Lucky, if you watch him play in Summer League, he’s probably going to hurt some people with how hard he plays, crack someone’s sternum,” Bulls Summer League coach Billy Donovan III said with a cautiously wry laugh earlier this week following practice. “If you tell him to run through a wall, he’ll try to run through two of them. You can tell he has a chip on his shoulder, but in a good way. He can handle the ball, he’s got a really good feel of how to play and can pass. Even when he gets rebounds, you’ll see him push the ball on the break. He can really pass, so we are relying a lot on him for his playmaking ability. If you watch (him play in Australia), he was leading the break, and he’s got a really good feel on how to space and how to make others better.”

“Physicality,” Olbrich agreed when asked about his strength following Bulls practice Tuesday. “Getting my teammates open. I’ll do all the dirty work so they don’t have to; an elite screener and rebounder. I feel as the competition goes up I’ve been better because I play with my teammates a lot and make them look better because I am going to get them in the right spots, get them open on screens.

Love that he knows to make it in the league he's going to have to do all the dirty work, rebound the ball, set good screens, etc. His passing also seems intriguing.

Then I read through some scouting reports:

https://floorandceiling.substack.com/p/lachlan-olbrich-scouting-report-australia
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25216437-2025-nba-draft-scouting-report-chicago-bulls-no-55-pick-lachlan-olbrich

The 21-year-old can grab-and-go, push the pace, and make hit-ahead passes in transition. He always runs the floor hard, and has a great motor on both ends of the floor. The Hawks prospect is a tenacious offensive rebounder, although we rarely see put-backs from him due to his athletic limitations. Despite those athletic concerns, his at-rim finishing is relatively good, as he has decent touch and knows how to use the basket as a shield against the defender effectively.

Fastbreak Potential: Being a physical rebounder who tracks the ball well is one thing, but Olbrich has shown he's comfortable trying to get the offense going, and he's done it with some success. If he can prove he has the vision to hit ahead or connect early in the break, that will be a nice bonus at the NBA level.

So, obviously my next step was to go to youtube and was able to find some clips of absolute monster Lucky games.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Maybe I'm delusional but I kind of really like his game. He's obviously not going to become a starter or anything but I see someone who could be a energy 4/5 off the bench who plays hard, runs in transition, rebounds at a high clips, and can even do some playmaking.

I was definitely one of the few fans of the pick lol. I admittedly didn't hear much about him until I watched the combine scrimmages and had to find out who this white kid was that was all over the court.

Idk I like his game a lot, sort of plays like a Derik Queen at home. Except he gives a damn

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[WesPeace]

A bit early for this thread.. its all a guessing game at this phase

[ThisGuyFawkes]

I thought it was "Lachy". Are we calling him "Lucky" now?

Also, I agree that he's an intriguing player. Kinda hoping he becomes something like Nocioni and can become a contributor due to sheer motor/effort. I like the pace, passing, touch. We'll see if he can carve something out.

[Ballerkingn23]

Prb not until next season, otherwise I fully expect him to play a full season in the G league. But he's more skilled than Sanogo who got some burn with us. I don't think this kid is as good a rebounder as Sanogo, but offers my vert, and passing. The jumper too not sure about with Lac but he seems like a junk yard dog scrappy guy and won't be looking to score much. Just do the little things that don't show up on the box score. Which we can use on this team. I know he will give effort and play with passion and that too is poorly lacking with our team at times. Beyond that I don't see much right now.

[jordanwilliams6]

I see a bit of Kelly Olynyk in his game.

[kodo]

Looks like a high hustle motor, high floor guy but pretty low ceiling. There's better NBA centers available right now unsigned like Mo Bamba but Olbrich is eligible for a 2-way contract.

As a 2-way call up his main job is going to be on the defensive end, and his defensive stats in the NBL looked unimpressive.

[ImSlower]

He's a huge long shot to stick as an actual roster piece. But a fun player and cool dude, coming directly from one of our Aussie stalwarts who's met Olbrich down there.

[Almost Retired]

I thought it was "Lachy". Are we calling him "Lucky" now?

Also, I agree that he's an intriguing player. Kinda hoping he becomes something like Nocioni and can become a contributor due to sheer motor/effort. I like the pace, passing, touch. We'll see if he can carve something out.

A season with Windy City will get him lots more minutes on the floor than being our 15th player. He can get more accustomed to almost NBA level talent. Next season we'll have more roster spots to fill, especially on cheap contracts. Sometimes heart can get you a little farther along than just your talent or size. I won't dismiss him. Anything like a Nocioni impact and it will have been an excellent pick up.

[ChettheJet]

Rare that anyone around here gives a crp what Sam Smith writes.

He may end up starting the year in the G League, I would much rather send Terry and Carter packing and have him on the roster. He could get some highlights and stats in the G but probably learn more playing against Vuc, Collins and Smith in practice and with better coaches.

[GoBlue72391]

Until I see something to suggest otherwise, I'm categorizing him in the same group as Sanogo, Simonovic, Bairstow, etc.

I expect him to play well in SL/GL and struggle to standout in whatever limited minutes he gets at the NBA level. Basically, the basketball equivalent of a AAAA baseball player.

[GoBlue72391]

I thought it was "Lachy". Are we calling him "Lucky" now?

Also, I agree that he's an intriguing player. Kinda hoping he becomes something like Nocioni and can become a contributor due to sheer motor/effort. I like the pace, passing, touch. We'll see if he can carve something out.

A season with Windy City will get him lots more minutes on the floor than being our 15th player. He can get more accustomed to almost NBA level talent. Next season we'll have more roster spots to fill, especially on cheap contracts. Sometimes heart can get you a little farther along than just your talent or size. I won't dismiss him. Anything like a Nocioni impact and it will have been an excellent pick up.

I don't see the Nocioni comps. He was a SF/PF with a 3 ball and Olbrich is a pure big without a reliable shot.

[ChiTownHero1992]

Seems like a big bruising Nocioni type, gonna do all the little things and be unsung bench hero obviously not exactly the same player as one was more a SF and the other more a C type but same physically imposing, do the little things, rebound, dive for loose balls, etc

[Guru]

I think people forget that not everyone has to be able to score. You need players to do the little things to help the scorers

[ThisGuyFawkes]

I thought it was "Lachy". Are we calling him "Lucky" now?

Also, I agree that he's an intriguing player. Kinda hoping he becomes something like Nocioni and can become a contributor due to sheer motor/effort. I like the pace, passing, touch. We'll see if he can carve something out.

A season with Windy City will get him lots more minutes on the floor than being our 15th player. He can get more accustomed to almost NBA level talent. Next season we'll have more roster spots to fill, especially on cheap contracts. Sometimes heart can get you a little farther along than just your talent or size. I won't dismiss him. Anything like a Nocioni impact and it will have been an excellent pick up.

I don't see the Nocioni comps. He was a SF/PF with a 3 ball and Olbrich is a pure big without a reliable shot.

I think ChiTownHero1992 summed it nicely, as far as Nocioni comps.

[d boy gentleman]

I honestly preferred Zikarsky over him due to his size (7'2"), catching lobs, finishing off putbacks, swallowing up rebounds and defending the middle of the floor.

[DuckIII]

He’s more interesting to watch than most second round picks, at least. He’s less obviously useless and boring than your typical fare. I guess that’s kind of like a compliment.

[meekrab]

He could turn into AKME's Felecio.