bulls draft cameron bairstow

[stellation]

Hey, Australian here- love this pick, Cam was my guy in this draft. He plays hard and has a great bball IQ, I think he's a great second round pick. Works his butt off.

Will play his role, and given the chance has the moves to make defenders look silly.

[Rockchalker]

I saw New Mexico play several times this year and every-time Bairstow impressed me.

When my Kansas Jayhawks played New Mexico, this guy was a MAJOR pain in the ass. Seriously. he was getting boards, taking out the garbage, obstructing the lane and making mid range shots. He was really impressive below the rim as well.

When I saw the Bulls picked him I thought it was a solid pick. I don't know if he will translate to the NBA but in college he was a major contributor and I think he was a good pick for the 2ns round.

I wouldn't have minded Patric Young either. Young went undrafted though so maybe there is something going on there. If not the Bulls could bring him into camp.

[DerrickRose025]

NBA Comparison: Darius Songaila

Strengths: Bairstow is a brute with the ability to knock down the mid range jumper ... Hustles extremely hard and will bang down low ... Will give up his body for the good of the team ... Puts a lot of pressure on his man to be physical; gets to the free throw line (8.8 FTA in 2013-14 was good for 4th nationally in this category) ... Crashes the boards, has a great motor ... Really works for post position, and good at sealing his man ... Does the majority of his work offensively in the lane and on the block, but can also knock down elbow and baseline jumpers ... Was one of the nation's most improved players between the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons; even showed the ability to do some shot blocking his senior season, although this may not ultimately translate as a part of his pro game ... Has good measurables for the power forward position (has almost identical measurements and athleticism numbers to draft-class mate Julius Randle) ... High percentage shooter (74% FT Shooter, 56% FG senior season with Lobos) ...

Weaknesses: Born in 1990, he will turn 24 later this season, decreasing his upside substantially ... Below the rim athlete and below average athlete by NBA standards ... In college was able to overpower opponents; may be a different story in the pros ... Relatively inexperienced, having arguably only played a significant role for the Lobos his senior season ... Still developing in terms of his feel for the game ... Not particularly effective on the fast break ... Prone to "tunnel vision" offensively, where once he commits to a move, he loses awareness of teammates and help defense ...

Notes: Native of Australia, and attended the hallowed Australian Institute of Sport that has produced a number of NBA players ... Bairstow is very much a late bloomer ... Had a minor role for the Lobos his freshman and sophomore seasons, and did not really break out until the 2013-14 season as a legitimate pro prospect ... Was part of a formidable college front line at New Mexico along with teammate Alex Kirk, who surprised many by entering the 2014 NBA draft as an early entrant ... Measured 6'9.75" in shoes 7'0.75" wingspan at the 2014 Draft Combine ...

[ChiBulls09]

Reminds me a bit of Scola. Cam def has the intangibles to become a good team defender under Coach Thibs.

[Red8911]

Now snell will finally have a friend

[ManualRam]

i think he makes the team. physically he's ready to bang and he's really skilled. smart passer from the high post, can set up straight line drives with the threat of the shot. mid-range is money and i think he has the stroke to extend his range.

makes up a little but for the missed opportunity to grab 2 lotto caliber talents in the first because i think he makes the roster. i don't think there was any way the bulls were gonna come out of this draft with 3 rooks, but i still would've preferred at least 1 draft and stash with one of the picks.

losing out on nurkic and lotto caliber (imo) wing stings a little, but just looking at these 2 picks by themselves, i like em.

[joshcxa]

Now snell will finally have a friend

Still won't chest bump though.

[cmac_33]

Bairstow will be the 4th Australian Bulls player -

1 - Luc Longley
2 - Chris Anstey
3 - Luke Schenscher

And now
4 - Cameron Bairstow.

Lets hope he has more success than numbers 2 & 3.

[GimmeDat]

I'm liking He-Man as a potential nick-name. Great resemblance.

[danzou]

Now snell will finally have a friend

Still won't chest bump though.

Because he might break a rib if he tried.

[GimmeDat]

i think he makes the team. physically he's ready to bang and he's really skilled. smart passer from the high post, can set up straight line drives with the threat of the shot. mid-range is money and i think he has the stroke to extend his range.

makes up a little but for the missed opportunity to grab 2 lotto caliber talents in the first because i think he makes the roster. i don't think there was any way the bulls were gonna come out of this draft with 3 rooks, but i still would've preferred at least 1 draft and stash with one of the picks.

losing out on nurkic and lotto caliber (imo) wing stings a little, but just looking at these 2 picks by themselves, i like em.

Yeah I don't know about you, but I'm majorly upset we missed out on Nurkic/Harris.

McDermott/Bairstow isn't bad per se, but I can't help but wonder what could've been if we stayed put.

[IbankingBoiler]

they wanted as few players as possible to save as much space as possible for MELO

i think he makes the team. physically he's ready to bang and he's really skilled. smart passer from the high post, can set up straight line drives with the threat of the shot. mid-range is money and i think he has the stroke to extend his range.

makes up a little but for the missed opportunity to grab 2 lotto caliber talents in the first because i think he makes the roster. i don't think there was any way the bulls were gonna come out of this draft with 3 rooks, but i still would've preferred at least 1 draft and stash with one of the picks.

losing out on nurkic and lotto caliber (imo) wing stings a little, but just looking at these 2 picks by themselves, i like em.

Yeah I don't know about you, but I'm majorly upset we missed out on Nurkic/Harris.

McDermott/Bairstow isn't bad per se, but I can't help but wonder what could've been if we stayed put.

[[e]]

Only seen him play a few games, definitely liked what I saw from him in the Kansas game. I was hoping we would go for Cory Jefferson in the second round, but I like the Snell connection and happy they still went for a big guy to potentially fill out the roster.

[Chi]

Reminds me of Kurt Thomas...

[jump]

i think he makes the team. physically he's ready to bang and he's really skilled. smart passer from the high post, can set up straight line drives with the threat of the shot. mid-range is money and i think he has the stroke to extend his range.

makes up a little but for the missed opportunity to grab 2 lotto caliber talents in the first because i think he makes the roster. i don't think there was any way the bulls were gonna come out of this draft with 3 rooks, but i still would've preferred at least 1 draft and stash with one of the picks.

losing out on nurkic and lotto caliber (imo) wing stings a little, but just looking at these 2 picks by themselves, i like em.

Yeah I don't know about you, but I'm majorly upset we missed out on Nurkic/Harris.

McDermott/Bairstow isn't bad per se, but I can't help but wonder what could've been if we stayed put.

How would anyone have predicted that Harris would be on the board at 16, let alone 19! It was unimaginable. Can't really fault the FO for making their move to get who they wanted to get.

[GimmeDat]

i think he makes the team. physically he's ready to bang and he's really skilled. smart passer from the high post, can set up straight line drives with the threat of the shot. mid-range is money and i think he has the stroke to extend his range.

makes up a little but for the missed opportunity to grab 2 lotto caliber talents in the first because i think he makes the roster. i don't think there was any way the bulls were gonna come out of this draft with 3 rooks, but i still would've preferred at least 1 draft and stash with one of the picks.

losing out on nurkic and lotto caliber (imo) wing stings a little, but just looking at these 2 picks by themselves, i like em.

Yeah I don't know about you, but I'm majorly upset we missed out on Nurkic/Harris.

McDermott/Bairstow isn't bad per se, but I can't help but wonder what could've been if we stayed put.

How would anyone have predicted that Harris would be on the board at 16, let alone 19! It was unimaginable. Can't really fault the FO for making their move to get who they wanted to get.

I appreciate that fact, but there was still a lot of talent on the board. If it wasn't someone like Harris available, someone like Young, LaVine, Hood, etc. could've been picked instead.

[ChiefILL53]

damn that slam combine video has me feeling some type of way. If he makes the team, He-Man is a good nickname. I like this pick.

[TheStig]

Did Gar meet a girl in New Mexico or something? So Tony Snell wasn't bad enough, now we need his worse pf team mate?

[bearadonisdna]

20 ppg and over 7 boards. Whats not to like about him. Bulls really addressed scoring. They drafted over 45 ppg of college scoring with their two picks.

[JohnnyKILLroy]

Did Gar meet a girl in New Mexico or something? So Tony Snell wasn't bad enough, now we need his worse pf team mate?

Facepalm.