New Chicago Bulls rookie big man Daniel Gafford says he's been getting compared a lot to Houston Rockets starting center Clint Capela since his freshman year at the University of Arkansas.
At his introductory press conference with the Bulls on Monday at the Advocate Center in Chicago, Gafford said he doesn't want to be called the next Capela because he wants to make his own name in the NBA.
Gafford: "Position-wise, I'm mainly a center. I've been getting compared to Clint Capela since my freshman year. I wouldn't say I'm the next Capela – I'd say I'm the first Daniel Gafford, because I'm still working on myself." pic.twitter.com/6C4S1C7Unk
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) June 24, 2019
Like Capela, Gafford is a high-flyer who plays above the rim. The Bulls rookie, though, may be more athletic and agile than Capela.
This past college season, Gafford averaged 16.9 points and 8.7 rebounds at Arkansas. He shot 66.0 percent from the field. With the Rockets, Capela gets all of his baskets at the rim off of lob passes from guards James Harden and Chris Paul. The Bulls are hoping Gafford won't be reliant on guards to be successful. Ideally, Chicago would like Gafford to develop a post-up game and create offense for himself.
Bulls head coach Jim Boylen wants to play fast this season. Gafford showed in college he's an excellent rim runner and a guy who loves to run with guards in transition. Chicago drafted North Carolina point guard Coby White with the seventh overall pick in the draft. White is a blur in transition and pushes the pace off makes and misses.
Gafford and White should be running every game for the Bulls in 2019-20 to generate easy offense.
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