The Chicago Bulls had an interesting season last year. They seemingly put all their chips in the middle by adding DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso, and more. They put together a big three of Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic which was expected to launch the team into the top-tier contenders. Despite a terrific season from DeMar DeRozan, the Bulls underperformed and ended in the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. Their 46-36 record did not quite meet expectations and they were knocked out of the playoffs in the opening round by the Milwaukee Bucks.
There is an important offseason ahead for Chicago. Figuring out a long-term plan for Zach LaVine is essential to the organization. While this key factor is still to be determined, their focus must shift to the NBA Draft. The Bulls hold just one pick in the upcoming draft as they will be selecting with the 18th pick. While there are sure to be plenty of good options on the board, here are three players the Bulls must avoid.
3 players Bulls must avoid in 2022 NBA Draft
Kennedy Chandler- Guard Tennesse
A 19-year-old guard from Tennesse, Kennedy Chandler has an elite burst but a concerning frame. Standing at 6′ tall and with a game built around attacking the basket, there are some red flags surrounding the prospect. He creates a good amount of space with his elite first step when attacking and uses his 6'5″ wingspan to help him score around larger defenders. Chandler is at his best when attacking the basket but shot just 60.6% from the free-throw line this season.
In total, Chandler averaged 13.9 points, 4.7 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game this season. While he still could get overpowered at the NBA level, Chandler has impressive instincts on the defensive end. His quick hands and good reads allow him to get in passing lanes and make up for his lack of size. He is a patient player who makes the right read offensively and plays within the role of the offense.
Given his size and ball-handling abilities, Chandler's natural fit is as a point guard. While this would be a diffiuclt fit in Chicago, Kennedy Chandler did show some flashes of off-ball ability. If they fall in love with Chandler's talent it could potentially be workable, but there are cleaner prospect fits that will be on the board.
Nikola Jovic- Point Forward Serbia
One of the bigger question marks in the draft, Nikola Jovic is an interesting prospect. He stands 6'10” with a versatile game. Jovic is a capable perimeter shooter with intriguing passing potential. He excels in transition and has an advanced overall feel of the game. The Serbian has a crafty handle and is at his best with the ball in his hands.
The biggest question mark is on the defensive side of the ball. He possesses impressive size but doesn't move particularly well laterally. It also is unclear what the best positional fit will be for Jovic at the NBA level. There are multiple wing options set to be selected near the 18th pick. While Nikola Jovic could certainly end up being a solid NBA player, Chicago would be better off selecting a wing with a larger defensive impact.
TyTy Washington- Guard Kentucky
A Kentucky guard who falls into the late first-round and outplays his draft slot has become a theme in the NBA Draft. While TyTy Washington is certainly a candidate for this to be a case, the fit next to Lonzo Ball and DeMar DeRozan is a concern. In his sole season with the Wildcats, Washington averaged 12.5 points, 3.9 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.3 steals. He also shot 45.1% from the field and 35% from beyond the three-point arc. Washington also etched his name in the Kentucky record books by tallying 17 assists in a matchup against Georgia.
It will be interesting to see where TyTy Washington fits at the NBA level. He is a bit of a tweener between the two guard positions. While an ankle injury limited his explosion to some extent, there appears to be a lack of explosion in his game. Washington has an impressive in-between game and the best floater in the draft. However, he lacks lift on his jumper and struggles to get it off against larger defenders. Washington seems to be a fine target as a long-term combo guard. However, his role may be best running a bench unit rather than connecting with the starters. TyTy Washington would be a decent addition for the Bulls. However, there are several win-now wings set to be on the board that they would be passing on with the selection.
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