New Bulls coach Tiago Splitter would like fans to know what kind of team they\u2019ll be watching next season.<\/p>\n
One problem: At the moment, he has no idea who\u2019ll even be on the roster this fall. The Bulls have more than a handful of free agents, aren\u2019t necessarily married to any of their players under contract because of the recent front-office change and have two first-round picks in next week\u2019s NBA Draft.<\/p>\n
All the former Trail Blazers interim coach knows is that there will be a plan in place to develop the Bulls\u2019 infusion of new talent.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is going to be a group effort,\u201d Splitter said. \u201cWe want to be excellent on everything we do. We\u2019re going to create profiles, create goals. We\u2019re going to create the path that we want to develop these players.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got a great chance with the draft now to bring in some young talent and make them the best player they can be. [The front office and I] have the same vision, have the same goal, and that\u2019s a big part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why these upcoming draft decisions are so important: They\u2019ll be the foundation of the rebuild.<\/p>\n
So here it is, the annual Mock Draft Sure to Go Wrong By Pick No. 4:<\/p>\n
1. Wizards<\/p>\n
AJ Dybantsa, F, BYU<\/p>\n
Could Kansas\u2019 Darryn Peterson or Duke\u2019s Cameron Boozer sneak into the top spot? Sure \u2014 it\u2019s the draft, and anything is possible. But Dybantsa is the safest pick, and he could be the most talented on both ends of the floor. He has \u201cstar power\u201d written all over him.<\/p>\n
2. Jazz<\/p>\n
Darryn Peterson, G\/F, Kansas<\/p>\n
On talent alone, Peterson could be the king of the class, but there are a lot of red flags coming out, with rumors swirling about his medical evaluations, how badly he wants to compete and his lone weird season with the Jayhawks, in which he sat out many games and played limited minutes in others because of injuries and cramping. Could he slide to No. 4 and the Bulls? Sure.<\/p>\n
3. Grizzlies<\/p>\n
Cameron Boozer, F, Duke<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Fundamental\u201d has won at every level so far, and it might be time for the Grizzlies to start taking high-character guys into account. Boozer also seems like the best fit for center Zach Edey and a potential double-double threat for the next decade.<\/p>\n
4. BULLS<\/p>\n
Caleb Wilson, F\/C, North Carolina<\/p>\n
Is he the next Kevin Garnett? That\u2019s a tall ask. But Wilson wants to be both a Bull and the face of a culture change. The Bulls are in a great spot to land any of the top four players before the draft sees a slight dip in talent.<\/p>\n
5. Clippers<\/p>\n
Keaton Wagler, G, Illinois<\/p>\n
There have been numerous leaks around the NBA that the Clippers really want Wagler. Is it draft-time smoke, or is there something to it? Wagler worked out for the Clippers, then canceled a handful of other scheduled workouts.<\/p>\n
6. Nets<\/p>\n
Darius Acuff, G, Arkansas<\/p>\n
Tennessee forward Nate Ament makes more sense in this spot after the Nets drafted a bucket of guards last year. However, this is a class that calls for taking the best player available, and Acuff, a master scorer, has a chance to capture New York\u2019s attention when it\u2019s not on the Knicks.<\/p>\n
7. Kings<\/p>\n
Mikel Brown Jr., G, Louisville<\/p>\n
The Kings reportedly covet Acuff and will be hoping for him to slide to them, but Brown is more than just a consolation prize. He has crazy-deep shooting range and sees the floor exceptionally well with positional size. He also would also be a great fit in Dallas with forward Cooper Flagg.<\/p>\n
8. Hawks<\/p>\n
Kingston Flemings, G, Houston<\/p>\n
The run on guards continues. Flemings would bring athleticism and a defensive mindset to Atlanta. His shot is a work in progress, but he\u2019s otherwise another solid piece for the type of team the Hawks are trying to build.<\/p>\n
9. Mavericks<\/p>\n
Brayden Burries, G, Arizona<\/p>\n
This feels like the spot the Thunder will try to jump to, especially with all their draft assets \u2014 three picks this year and a trove of future ones. But if the Mavericks stay the course, there goes another guard. Burries has a two-way mentality that could make him a solid piece alongside Flagg.<\/p>\n
10. Bucks<\/p>\n
Nate Ament, F, Tennessee<\/p>\n
Is this a reach? Maybe. But the Bucks are a team at a crossroads, with a blockbuster trade of two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo possible this summer. They could be trying to pull off a rebuild on the run. Ament has high-ceiling potential.<\/p>\n
11. Warriors<\/p>\n
Aday Mara, C, Michigan<\/p>\n
Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs aren\u2019t going anywhere anytime soon. Mara could be the next 7-3 body another Western Conference team might throw at him. Mara\u2019s stock has been climbing since the Wolverines\u2019 run in the NCAA Tournament.<\/p>\n
12. Thunder<\/p>\n
Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Michigan<\/p>\n
If the Thunder don\u2019t end up shedding picks to move up next week, Lendeborg could be a nice plug-and-play rotation piece on an already deep roster. He turns 24 in the fall, but the Thunder are in win-now mode.<\/p>\n
13. Heat<\/p>\n
Morez Johnson Jr., F, Michigan<\/p>\n
Johnson, another ex-Wolverine, is the perfect fit for Heat culture. Few would be surprised, however, if he\u2019s the first of three Michigan players to go, with the Warriors viewing him as a possible eventual replacement for Draymond Green.<\/p>\n
14. Hornets<\/p>\n
Hannes Steinbach, F\/C,
Washington<\/p>\n
He\u2019s not the rim protector the Hornets would prefer, but he\u2019s a high-IQ big who could make an impact with one of the more exciting young rosters in the Eastern Conference. Kentucky\u2019s Jayden Quaintance, a pure shot blocker, is another possibility.<\/p>\n
15. BULLS<\/p>\n
Cameron Carr, G, Baylor<\/p>\n
He\u2019s a strong SLAP guy \u2014 size, length, athleticism, physicality \u2014 according to the scouting philosophy of Bryson Graham, the Bulls\u2019 new executive vice president of basketball operations. He\u2019s also one of the few true wing players with two-way potential in this class. The Bulls could go for more size with Quaintance or Houston\u2019s Chris Cenac Jr., but Carr has been an intriguing target since a stellar showing at the combine.<\/p>\n
16. Grizzlies<\/p>\n
Labaron Philon, G, Alabama<\/p>\n
Unlike Carr, Philon didn\u2019t have the greatest combine week, but his film from this past regular season with the Crimson Tide doesn\u2019t lie \u2014 he had a solid showing. With so much uncertainty about the future of troubled guard Ja Morant, drafting a possible replacement would be smart.<\/p>\n
17. Thunder<\/p>\n
Karim Lopez, F,
New Zealand Breakers<\/p>\n
Lopez\u2019s skills point to a lot of upside, but he\u2019s likely a developmental piece more than plug-and-play. Guess which team has the depth and time for development?<\/p>\n
18. Hornets<\/p>\n
Christian Anderson, G, Texas Tech<\/p>\n
LaMelo Ball seems to be moving into adulthood on the court, which is huge as the Hornets continue to be a threat. He also has injury issues. Anderson can make plays and is a three-point assassin.<\/p>\n
19. Raptors<\/p>\n
Ebuka Okorie, G, Stanford<\/p>\n
Few point guards in the class can match Okorie\u2019s handles and on-the-ball scoring, but there are concerns about his size. Either way, expect a second run on points guards at this point in the draft.<\/p>\n
20. Spurs<\/p>\n
Jayden Quaintance, C, Kentucky<\/p>\n
Things were noticeably different for the Spurs, especially on defense, whenever Wembanyama wasn\u2019t on the court. Quaintance would make them much tougher. He\u2019s an elite shot blocker whose offensive game could develop further if he can stay healthy.<\/p>\n
21. Pistons<\/p>\n
Bennett Stirtz, G, Iowa<\/p>\n
Another point guard finds a home as Stirtz heads to Detroit to back up Cade Cunningham. Bear in mind, there are growing rumors that a team drafting in the top 20 \u2014 perhaps the Raptor or Hornets \u2014 has become a serious fan of Stirtz.<\/p>\n
22. 76ers<\/p>\n
Chris Cenac Jr., C, Houston<\/p>\n
Joel Embiid looked 60 years old in the Sixers\u2019 playoff series against the Knicks and seldom stays healthy these days. Cenac has a ridiculous 7-5 wingspan and can be much more than just a rotation piece.<\/p>\n
23. Hawks<\/p>\n
Dailyn Swain, F, Texas<\/p>\n
A versatile slasher would fit right in with the Hawks in the post-Trae Young era. Swain has a lot to work on in his offensive game but brings more defensive upside to a team leaning in that direction.<\/p>\n
24. Knicks<\/p>\n
Henri Veesaar, C, North Carolina<\/p>\n
All signs point to big man Mitchell Robinson as the odd man out, not only because he\u2019s a free agent but because the Knicks\u2019 payroll is headed into heftier territory. Veesaar would give the champs another versatile big with a solid outside touch.<\/p>\n
25. Lakers<\/p>\n
Meleek Thomas, G, Alabama<\/p>\n
Life without LeBron James, 41, could be reality sooner than later for the Lakers. Even if he returns for a final season, the Lakers need three-point shooting. That\u2019s where Thomas comes in, adding scoring off the bench and stretching the defense.<\/p>\n
26. Nuggets<\/p>\n
Allen Graves, F, Santa Clara<\/p>\n
His numbers don\u2019t jump out, which makes him a perfect fit for the Nuggets. Graves seems to be a jack-of-all-trades but a master of none.<\/p>\n
27. Celtics<\/p>\n
Isaiah Evans, G, Duke<\/p>\n
What does a team that can bomb three-pointers for four quarters need the most? That\u2019s right \u2014 more three-point shooters. Evans, attacking the rim at times, has showed glimpses of becoming an on-the-ball playmaker. But who needs that in Boston?<\/p>\n
28. Timberwolves<\/p>\n
Koa Peat, F, Arizona<\/p>\n
Peat almost went back to school after a subpar combine and needs a ton of time to develop. Fortunately, the Timberwolves have a veteran front-court that would give him that time.<\/p>\n
29. Cavaliers<\/p>\n
Tarris Reed Jr., C, Connecticut<\/p>\n
A recent fast riser, Reed has been stellar in his private workouts and would give the Cavs another rotation player in their frontcourt.<\/p>\n
30. Mavericks<\/p>\n
Sergio De Larrea, G,
Valencia International<\/p>\n
At 6-5, De Larrea is a big point guard with swagger and smarts. He could stay another year overseas as a draft-and-stash. But he also could join the Mavericks to be mentored by Kyrie Irving for at least a season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"New Bulls coach Tiago Splitter would like fans to know what kind of team they\u2019ll be watching next…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":715617,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[64],"tags":[355,99],"class_list":["post-715616","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nba","tag-nba","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/715616","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=715616"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/715616\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/715617"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=715616"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=715616"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=715616"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}