We now know where the Chicago Bulls will choose in the 2020 NBA draft which will drop on October 16.
As for the choice of the Bulls, that remains shrouded in mystery as new Bulls executive Arturas Karnisovas and Co. is ready for the fourth pick after the basketball gods finally smiled at the Bulls last week in the lottery.
Let’s take a look at a roundup of several mock drafts that came out right after the NBA lottery order was revealed, so we can get an initial idea of who the experts believe the Bulls will be selecting.
6 feet-7 inches; 180 lbs (Point Guard)
Team: Illawarra Hawks of the Australian National Basketball League
NBL Rookie of the Year
Statistics 2019-2020: 17 points per game with 37.5% of shots from the field; 7.6 rebounds per game, 6.8 assists per game
According to Sports Illustrated writer Jeremy Woo:
The Bulls have moved up to number 4 from number 7 and have an interesting decision to make here compared to what’s already on the roster. Chicago should benefit from a fresh start under a new coach and be able to choose with a clean slate here. GM Arturas Karnisovas arrives in Chicago from Denver, where he was part of a front office that was comfortable – and successful – taking risks and finding talent in all parts of the project. The Bulls don’t have a gaping position hole, but there is a need for a long-term playmaker. The ball is this project’s big bet on talent, and if the Bulls are believers, there’s a reasonable chance it’s on the table here.
In terms of sheer talent, Ball has a case for being the most gifted director in the draft, and his combination of size, grip and vision that creates a reasonable level of player rotation even if he’s not the star some have called him. Not all teams buy their tentative jump shot by improving, and there’s little track record here as far as top winning teams go, but the fact that Ball genuinely loves playing helps. That said, recent history should serve as a warning to the prospect of building a winning team around a main playmaker who can’t consistently hit perimeter shots. The ball is not suitable for all teams and the opinion here is different, but he is a potential top five candidate who is worth the investment in a draft like this.
6 feet-9 inches; 220 lbs (Small Forward / Power Forward)
3 times champion of the Israeli league
MVP of the Israeli league in 2020
Statistics 2020: 13 ppg; 6.1 rpg; 39 percent 3-point shooter
For Bleacher Report writer Jonathan Wasserman:
Seen as a potential top five pick for most of the season, Deni Avdija solidified his case in July, earning Israel’s BSL MVP honors while helping Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Winner’s League championship.
Along with his success in every overseas setting, the certainty about his impressive physical profile and well-rounded skills in handling, passing and shooting have begun to overcome the skepticism that he offers star potential.
With Otto Porter Jr. likely to enter his senior year in Chicago, new executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas should be drawn to Avdija’s versatility and the meeting between Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen.
For Athletic’s Darnell Mayberry:
It could also embody everything related to the championship. Is long. It is versatile. He’s smart. In an era of basketball with no position and unity now dictating multiple directors, Avdija could thrive in Chicago as a secondary director.
It could even double as an ideal fit. With small starting forward Otto Porter Jr. entering the final year of his contract, Avdija can be cured slowly for a year before slipping nicely between Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen. And you can already imagine how the Bulls could take advantage of its size and combine lineups to play big or small.
CBS’s Kyle Boone also predicted the Bulls would take Avdija even though he didn’t offer an explanation.
6 feet-4 inches, 216 lbs (guard)
He has played professionally in France and Germany since high school
2020 stats: 12.8 ppg, 6.2 apg, 39 percent off the ground from 3 points.
From our boyfriend Ricky O’Donnell:
After LaMelo Ball, Hayes feels like the next best bet in the draft to ultimately morph into a top-tier offensive starter. While not the most explosive natural athlete, Hayes is a great 6’5 left-handed guard who already understands the readings and pace of play in pick-and-roll. He answered questions about his wide-range shooting ability during his first season in the German league, showing a better three-point shot while hitting 87% of his free throws. While Ball and Edwards struggled to score efficiently, Hayes ended his season with an impressive 59% real shot. He should also be able to keep his defensive after showing a knack for making ball games.
Despite just turning 19, Hayes also feels like one of the most physically mature prospects in this draft class. He should have the strength to compete in defense early in his career and has shown impressive awareness and an ability to play in the passing lanes. He has already shown flashes of pull-up shooting from the dribble, and it seems that this is the skill that could propel him to become one of the best players in this class if he can consistently hit him with distance. Questions about his raw athleticism might push him down beyond that, but few candidates in this year class offer as many translatable skills as Hayes.
The most likely choice seems to be Deni Avdija.
6 feet-9 inches, 220 lbs (Power Forward)
University of Dayton
Associated Press Player of the Year; Wood Award; Naismith Award
2019-2020 statistics: 20 points per game against 63.3 percent from the field; 7.5 rebounds per game
According to CBS sports reporter Gary Parrish:
Obi Toppin is a former zero-star recruit who earned National Player of the Year honors at CBS Sports after averaging 20.0 points and 7.5 rebounds while shooting 63.3% from the field and at 39.0% from 3 points last season. He’s a super athletic striker who dunks everything – he actually led the nation to dunks – and consistently does jumps in pick-and-pop situations. Yes, the fact that he is already 22 is an issue to be taken into consideration. But it doesn’t – or at least it shouldn’t – obscure the idea that Toppin has a chance to be the most impactful player selected in this draft. In Chicago, he could easily play Lauri Markkanen or Wendell Carter and instantly become another weapon for Zach LaVine and Coby White.
According to Sporting News writer Jordan Greer:
The best player in college basketball averaged 20.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game last season while shooting 63.3% from the field and 39.0% from 3 points. His shooting prowess would have allowed him to play with Lauri Markkanen or Wendell Carter Jr.
Toppin is not a particularly strong defender, but the Bulls finished with the second worst offense in the NBA in 2019-20. It wouldn’t hurt to add the 22-year-old’s scoring punch.
