2020 NBA Draft Thread: Bulls pick 4th!

[PlayerUp]

Man, it's so much more comfortable picking 4th than 7th! On our range last year I was praying we'd pick Culver or White, but not really knowing if they'd be there. This year, I'm very comfortable with Hayes, Ball, Avdija and Hali (I'm assuming Edwards will be gone). Hell, even Vassell or Nesmith.

It would have been more clear who we would want to take at #4 had March Madness happened. The hope here is someone stands out among all the prospects we've been talking about. Similar to Paul George when he stood out and moved into the mid lottery in 2010.

[Jcool0]

I would bet money that we don't pick one of those first 3

You would probably lose that money.

How much do you want to bet?

You think zero chance the Bulls pick Deni Avdija or Killian Hayes? That is pretty confident for a unsettled draft.

[MrSparkle]

Bulls unrelated (kind of), but trade ideas where both top picks are traded:

MIN #1 & JJ to ATL for #6, Reddish, Huerter, TPE

- ATL gets hometown Edwards, finalizes their starting line-up: Trae-Edwards-Hunter-Collins-Capella

- MIN keeps the ball in Russell's hands, adds wing-depth and drafts Okoro, Vassell, or Onkongwu who all fit that roster better than Edwards

GSW #2, Poole, Looney for DET #7, Sekou, Rose, Kennard

- Fills out GS's depth chart: Kennard came around this season; groomed as a backup for ACL Klay. Sekou has a defensive potential. GSW takes BPA at #7. Hali, Okoro, Vassell, Deni, Bey, Nesmith, Okongwu - any of these guys potentially fit GSW better than LaMelo.

- DET takes LaMelo as they start a major rebuild. Maybe Sekou's potential (super raw) and Kennard's production are too much for Detroit to give up, but they certainly haven't proven to be building blocks.

I don't think that GSW finds a Bulls #4 offer appealing given the lack of separation between 4-10 prospects.

I can see CHI just standing pat with #4 and taking the BPA. If a "tier 1" is established, and Wiseman, Hayes, LaMelo are it (not saying they are, but if they are in the scout's opinions), I imagine AK rolls the dice on the remaining guy instead of trading up or down. It's a tough spot to trade out of because there's a flat-talent gap in the top-10.

If Tier 1 is Wiseman, Hayes and LaMelo, I think the Bulls happily take Edwards at 4.

The only way I can see the Bulls trading back from 4 is if LaMelo were to fall to them. He's got the sizzle that the Knicks, for example, would want. Knicks have 8 and future picks plus 27 this year to trade. The other way for the Bulls to get a lottery pick is to trade Lauri. He's a perfect fit for PHX, who sit at 10. Doing that trade opens up the possibility of a trade with Boston, who has 14, 26 and 30. Trading Lauri also avoids overpaying him, which is our current path - I'm sorry but I'm down on him, and am not interested in creating an inefficient offense to maximize his counting numbers.

IMO, Wiseman will drop to (and past - hopefully) the Bulls. Lamelo and Edwards will be gone by 4.

I can see it. I didn't mean to exclude Edwards from "tier 1." From what we understand, he's probably gonna be the 1st pick. I also didn't mean to imply I want Wiseman. But ATM he is considered a consensus top-2. Of course so were Ayton and Bagley, and Wiseman is a much less proven prospect.

I will say, AK clearly believes in the big man. Nuggets are pretty much the only team in the NBA the last few years with a functional/winning center rotation, besides Embiid. He traded for Nurkic, who got converted into for Plumlee. He added Millsap, moving him back from his successful ATL run at C back to archaic big PF. Drafted Bol Bol and kept him for over a year when no one else wanted to bother with an injury-prone project. And he's gambled on some low-skill/IQ athletic prospects (Mudiay). Traded the Mitchell pick for Lyden and Lyles, more stiff big men. Was the last guy to take a chance on Hibbert before he retired. And he's pretty confident in player development. Of course it's hard to know whether Jokic was a lucky break or a deep scouting Krause stroke of genius (of course he had a pulse on Euro prospects, but whether he expected Jokic to actually pilot a modern NBA playoff offense...).

So I wouldn't be shocked if Wiseman's talent-ceiling outweighs the red flags, in AK's eyes. Having a cross-armed pogo stick doesn't sound appealing to me, but adding a project PG who can't shoot or burst to the rim also doesn't sound great... And I'm cooling off on Deni, as I do see him more of a role-player with a long-shot fringe star ceiling. So I'm just saying, the options are wide open. Obi and Onkongwu probably have to be in consideration too.

In regards to the Deni pick, you CAN purse one of these FAs to address SF depth and probably get the same ball-park production for 4-years: Gallinari, Joe Harris, SAC's Bogdanovic. Saric is also going to be an RFA and only 26. I do think one big difference between Arturas and Gar/Pax is that he's going to add realistic long-term targets with FA money, not have this Plan A or B-bust kind of approach, where the Plan B is a regret-move about 24hrs after it's inked.

[BullsFTW]

Pelicans were able to move #4 for #8 + #17 + #35 in the last draft. I would be thrilled if we did a trade like this in this draft.

Bulls would need a 3rd team involved in a trade like this. Team acquiring the #4 pick would need to give up assets to acquire additional picks which would be moved to the Bulls.

Knicks have 8 and 27 this year, plus the Mavs pick from next year. Given that the Mavs will likely be picking around 20 next year, that's a pretty similar set of trade assets.

Only way this happens...

Melo falls to 4 and AK doesn’t want him AND Deni has already been picked. Knicks would def make that trade for Melo.

This will depend how high AK will be on a certain prospect. I think Detroit will be selecting a PG, and if Hayes or Haliburton’s stock continue to rise, Detroit could be a roadblock. This off course only depends if the Bulls feel one PG prospect is rated way higher than the other. If the Bulls have Toppin, Okongwu, Okoro, or Vassell rated high, then Cleveland and Atlanta will be a roadblock.

I have Hayes rated higher than Ball, but if AK loves Ball, I could live with that.

[BullsFTW]

I love when there is such certainty for posters about who the Bulls ABSOLUTELY CANNOT take. We have at least one poster for every top 10 player.

This draft is just a mess.

Oh, I think we're down to 3-6 prospects- Deni, Hali, Hayes, Toppin, LaMelo. I guess you could throw Wiseman in there too. But there's pretty widespread agreement it will be one of those, esp. those first 3.

I would bet money that we don't pick one of those first 3

Who do you see the Bulls picking?

I think Avdija, Hayes, and Haliburton are potential targets because of their playmaking abilities.

[R3AL1TY]

With the T-Wolves for sale, I can see them drafting Ball at #1 to put more value, marketing and hype into the team, which leads to Edwards possibly going #2 in a trade, and Wiseman going #3. Deni most likely is the Bulls pick one way or another.

[Jvaughn]

Why not Kira Lewis over Hayes and Hali?

I'm a big fan of Kira but he has some gaps that keep him as late lottery mid first tier. His size (160lbs) is an issue for him at the college level and will be even more magnified at the pro level. It hurts him on defense, trying to defend PnR, and his issues shying away from contact at the whole are probably due to this as well. He also can sometimes be turnover prone as well as shot happy, which create issues as a primary ball handler. If we were to trade down, I'd be fine with him though, as he has a lot of De'Aaron Fox in his game.

Good to know. His frame seems ok though, it more-so looks like he's skinny and needs to build muscle, as opposed to Terry, who's just small. I also see some Harden in him, which is why I'd take him if we move Lauri for a late first. Something we should seriously consider, especially if we pick Obi at 4. Looks like there are a few prospects in the mid to late first

Yeah, he's not short or anything. About normal height for a PG, just very slight in frame, and needs to live in the weight room the first year.

As another point, Obi would be my worst case scenario for the 4th pick. I'm fine trading Lauri, but I think a lot of people who are down on Lauri are going to be highly disappointed with Toppin. Outside of his athleticism, he's just as bad if not worse in all the areas we bash Lauri for.

[Just_Bullz]

Wolves takes Lamelo to compliment the scoring duo of D'Lo and KAT

GSW takes Edwards and trade him for a proven star due to their closing window of opportunity

Charlotte takes Wiseman or Okongwu to finally solve their big men issue

That leaves us spoilt for choice at the 4th pick. That's the optimistic scenario given a weak and unknown draft. Not too bad.

[Dominator83]

Doesnt matter where he is mocked.

Yes it does. You don't pick a guy you really like projected to go #50 at #4. No team does this. You position yourself to make sure you get that player before he is taken. You could get Lewis as of now by trading down and that's essentially what you'd do in this case maximizing your picks value.

I disagree. If your the GM and you think he will be the best player out of this draft, you take him regardless of where he's mocked.

That said, yes I also agree that in such case, try and find a dance partner to trade down with

[BullsFTW]

With the T-Wolves for sale, I can see them drafting Ball at #1 to put more value, marketing and hype into the team, which leads to Edwards possibly going #2 in a trade, and Wiseman going #3. Deni most likely is the Bulls pick one way or another.

If Edwards is available at #2, it’s worth considering to move up for.

[PlayerUp]

If Edwards is available at #2, it’s worth considering to move up for.

Would potentially cost us a 2021 Protected 1st Rd Pick + #4 to move up for him or Lauri + #4 for #2.

[Jeffster81]

If Edwards is available at #2, it’s worth considering to move up for.

Would potentially cost us a 2021 Protected 1st Rd Pick + #4 to move up for him or Lauri + #4 for #2.

And neither is worth pursuing. Just stay at 4.

[BullsFTW]

If Edwards is available at #2, it’s worth considering to move up for.

Would potentially cost us a 2021 Protected 1st Rd Pick + #4 to move up for him or Lauri + #4 for #2.

I wonder if OPJ is enough to move up two spots.

[BullsFTW]

If Edwards is available at #2, it’s worth considering to move up for.

Would potentially cost us a 2021 Protected 1st Rd Pick + #4 to move up for him or Lauri + #4 for #2.

And neither is worth pursuing. Just stay at 4.

That’ll be the most likely scenario.

[BullsFTW]

1. MIN Lamelo Ball
2. GSW Deni Avdija
3. CHA James Wiseman
4. CHI Anthony Edwards

Chances are slim, but it could happen.

[drosereturn]

With the T-Wolves for sale, I can see them drafting Ball at #1 to put more value, marketing and hype into the team, which leads to Edwards possibly going #2 in a trade, and Wiseman going #3. Deni most likely is the Bulls pick one way or another.

Its either Deni or Wiseman for the Bulls. its going to be tough for AK whether to go for BPA or fit.

[drosereturn]

Doesnt matter where he is mocked.

Yes it does. You don't pick a guy you really like projected to go #50 at #4. No team does this. You position yourself to make sure you get that player before he is taken. You could get Lewis as of now by trading down and that's essentially what you'd do in this case maximizing your picks value.

Your literally wasting draft capital and become the treadmill Sixers if you draft someone way higher than they are mocked.
Even if you knew Giannis and Jokic were superstars, it would not be a good idea to draft them with number 1.
Ainge did it much worse when he gambled tatum would be there at 3. This is nothing.

[PlayerUp]

I wonder if OPJ is enough to move up two spots.

Nobody wants OPJ due to his injuries and contract. He's a positive player to a team when healthy but has negative value overall.

[PlayerUp]

If Edwards is available at #2, it’s worth considering to move up for.

Would potentially cost us a 2021 Protected 1st Rd Pick + #4 to move up for him or Lauri + #4 for #2.

And neither is worth pursuing. Just stay at 4.

Of course. It would be foolish to move up 2 spots in this draft. You only do that in potential star drafts like 2018 and 2019.

[MrFortune3]

With the T-Wolves for sale, I can see them drafting Ball at #1 to put more value, marketing and hype into the team, which leads to Edwards possibly going #2 in a trade, and Wiseman going #3. Deni most likely is the Bulls pick one way or another.

I'm completely fine with any scenario that leads Deni to the Bulls.
Deni with the shooting of Zach and Coby would be wonderful to behold.