Chicago Bulls select Noa Essengue - #12 overall

[Almost Retired]

he has drive
Matas is going to push him
He seems like a mature dude
Yes, his shot looks balky. I am willing to bet he'll improve

He has LOTS and LOTS of physical traits that you cannot train. Great foundation to build on

Matas last year looked winded RIGHT AWAY in the early season. Now he seems to have the endurance to compete. I suspect the same will be true for Noa

My only real concern, that could hold him back - to me - is DRIVE. I think he has it and I think Matas will push him

Probably the thing that most impresses me is he seems willing to mix it up despite his youthful frame. I think he'll easily pack on 20 pounds of muscle within the next several years. His father looks like he had a strong build. At his age he's pretty fearless. He's going to be fine.

[ghostinthepost1]

Definitely seeing him more as a small ball 5 than a hybrid 3/4 wing...still not "impressed" but I'm also not going to knock an 18 year kid for being raw

If you cannot dribble and shoot, you are small ball 5 by definition. There is nothing else. Like I said he is tall guy trying play basketball, not basketball player who is tall. In few years we can revisit that statement. But lets not all try pretend we are blind.

I want to start off by saying, my absolute least favorite argument to have is "what position does he play" because most of the time it doesn't matter. The whole should Patrick Williams play SF or PF thing drove me up a wall. Tony Allen couldn't really dribble or shoot, but he was definitely a wing. Andre Roberson is another example.

It's pretty clear watching Noa play that he sees himself as a wing. He wants to play more on the perimeter, handle the ball, shoot 3s, and make plays for others.

Two of the last three plays from the clips below are him bringing the ball up the length court and
1. Kicking it to a guy for a 3
2. Get to the rim for an easy lay-up

Watch on YouTube

You're right, he can't really shoot or dribble at an NBA level right now but he show's some flashes and those are the skills he's definitely going to work on which is a really good thing because a 6'11 wing who can dribble/pass/shoot and defend at a high level is an infinitely more valuable player than a 6'11 athletic center.

[2weekswithpay]

Unfortunately, ball handling is one of those you have it or you don't skills. I wouldn't expect major improvement in this area.

[Kuro]

Unfortunately, ball handling is one of those you have it or you don't skills. I wouldn't expect major improvement in this area.

Are all of these ball handling coaches and clinics just wasting their time?

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[Indomitable]

Unfortunately, ball handling is one of those you have it or you don't skills. I wouldn't expect major improvement in this area.

Are all of these ball handling coaches and clinics just wasting their time?

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No it works for some. It is like improving your free throws.

[Red Larrivee]

Ball handling can improve, but I don't think anyone is going to go from bad to Kyrie during their career.

Scoring instincts? That's a different game and probably falls under the "you either have it or you don't" tag.

[WindyCityBorn]

Unfortunately, ball handling is one of those you have it or you don't skills. I wouldn't expect major improvement in this area.

Wrong. Look at Coby’s handle now compared to when he entered the NBA.

[WindyCityBorn]

Ball handling can improve, but I don't think anyone is going to go from bad to Kyrie during their career.

Scoring instincts? That's a different game and probably falls under the "you either have it or you don't" tag.

This isn’t true either. Especially for bigs.

[Hangtime84]

Read on Twitter

[ShadyMoney]

Remember people

Donte green scored 40 in summer league.

[DuckIII]

Unfortunately, ball handling is one of those you have it or you don't skills. I wouldn't expect major improvement in this area.

Huh? The two skills very clearly capable of significant development are ball handling and shooting. Certainly everyone has talent based limits, but we aren’t talking about turning Giannis into Kyrie here.

[DuckIII]

Ball handling can improve, but I don't think anyone is going to go from bad to Kyrie during their career.

Scoring instincts? That's a different game and probably falls under the "you either have it or you don't" tag.

I guess it’s fundamental that instincts can’t be taught, but you can absolutely drill moves, counters and finishes to a wide variety of common scenarios to increase the likelihood of better reaction time and decision making when those scenarios arise. It’s a way to create recognition which is the cousin of instinct.

[Am2626]

I agree with you is that the Bulls can afford to be patient, but I don't trust the front office. I imagine that they'll continue to fight to make the play-in and never tank or do anything that will help give the team a higher draft pick. In doing so it's possible that Noa will get limited minutes to develop (that remains to be seen) and if he doesn't work out then where does that leave the team?

I guess you could argue that either way the team needs more talent, so it's worth the risk.

We it’s only been 27 years since this organization won a championship. I guess we can be patient and wait another 27 years. Maybe then the Bulls will make it to the Eastern Conference Finals one more time.

Were you under the impression we were going to win 39 games, pick 12th, and then go to the ECF next year?

It’s perhaps more important than ever that the Bulls be patient this year and next. So far so good on that front.

The prior 27 years don’t mean anything today. Thinking that way is how you screw yourself.

My comments have nothing to do with last years team and what would be expected of them to do this year. Obviously they are very far away from being a championship contender. The fact that in the last 27 years this organization has made 1 Eastern Conference Finals actually means a lot. It’s the blind loyalty and the willingness to accept mediocrity that is the problem. We as fans can remain patient and can expect the next 27 years to be the same as the last 27 years.

Krause infamously said that “Organizations win Championships.” What I can say is “Organizations definitely can prevent championships.”

[DuckIII]

The fact that in the last 27 years this organization has made 1 Eastern Conference Finals actually means a lot.

What does it mean to what we are doing or should do now?

It’s the blind loyalty and the willingness to accept mediocrity that is the problem. We as fans can remain patient and can expect the next 27 years to be the same as the last 27 years.

Krause infamously said that “Organizations win Championships.” What I can say is “Organizations definitely can prevent championships.”

None of that is relevant to what we should do now. Someone said we can be patient and you started talking about 27 years. Shouldn’t we be patient right now? What would you prefer we do?

[waffle]

he has great instincts...

Handles can be taught

Shooting can improve. Look at the championship bulls. MJ, Pip and especially Horace all improved their shooting all while putting on proper game weight

[2weekswithpay]

Unfortunately, ball handling is one of those you have it or you don't skills. I wouldn't expect major improvement in this area.

Huh? The two skills very clearly capable of significant development are ball handling and shooting. Certainly everyone has talent based limits, but we aren’t talking about turning Giannis into Kyrie here.

I would disagree. Especially with non-guards, the players who do most of the ballhandling/creation also did some predraft. The players who were already good at it get even better, while those who weren't go from terrible to just bad.

[2weekswithpay]

Unfortunately, ball handling is one of those you have it or you don't skills. I wouldn't expect major improvement in this area.

Wrong. Look at Coby’s handle now compared to when he entered the NBA.

Look at Pat's handle now compared to when he entered the NBA. Most players only make marginal improvements.

[GoBlue72391]

Unfortunately, ball handling is one of those you have it or you don't skills. I wouldn't expect major improvement in this area.

That is not true at all. My brother plays in HS and went from barely being able to dribble to being a ball handling wizard after a year of 20 minute daily dribbling drills.

Or hell, just look at Coby.

You get better at things by practicing that thing repeatedly.

[GoBlue72391]

Unfortunately, ball handling is one of those you have it or you don't skills. I wouldn't expect major improvement in this area.

Huh? The two skills very clearly capable of significant development are ball handling and shooting. Certainly everyone has talent based limits, but we aren’t talking about turning Giannis into Kyrie here.

I would disagree. Especially with non-guards, the players who do most of the ballhandling/creation also did some predraft. The players who were already good at it get even better, while those who weren't go from terrible to just bad.

I promise you, you are wrong.

We're not talking about getting Noa's handles to PG standards here, but even if we were that's not out of the realm of possibility either depending on how much work he's willing to put in.

[GoBlue72391]

Unfortunately, ball handling is one of those you have it or you don't skills. I wouldn't expect major improvement in this area.

Wrong. Look at Coby’s handle now compared to when he entered the NBA.

Look at Pat's handle now compared to when he entered the NBA. Most players only make marginal improvements.

Pat is a mental midget and obviously hasn't put in enough work to improve his handles.