Chicago Bulls: 2020 NBA Draft Preview

The Chicago Bulls — with Zach LaVine, Lauri Markkanen, Wendell Carter Jr., Otto Porter and Coby White — have one of the better young cores and there’s really no excuse for them to have finished the 2019-20 with a 22-43 record aside from Porter only playing 14 games.

As ‘The House That Jordan Built,’ the Bulls are expected to be a far more competitive club than they have been since the end of the Derrick Rose Era. Yet, despite their collection of talent, they’ve been unable to get the results they want on the floor.

The fix could be simple though.

Offensively, Chicago needs to improve drastically, ranking 27th in points per game (106.8), 26th in field goal percentage (.447) and 22nd in 3-point percentage (.348) by the end of the 2019-20 season.

Related: Full Chicago Bulls Salary Cap Preview

2020 NBA Draft Picks

No. 4 overallNo. 44 overall

Bulls Draft Needs

With the fourth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Chicago isn’t in the best position; prospects between picks 3 and 10 having the look of high-quality starters but not of future stars and the latter may be what the Bulls need most.

Yet, Chicago will be able to find their point guard of the future in this draft, as many of the prospects projected to be selected in the top-10 are lead guards.

Although Kris Dunn did an admirable job as the starting point guard over the past few seasons, his throwback style doesn’t lend itself to the Bulls maximizing their scoring potential. White is the type of scoring guard that’s flourishing in the league but he has the look of a combo guard and sixth man for the foreseeable future.

Getting ‘the guy’ at point guard, one of the two most important positions in the league, should be Chicago’s main focus. From there, the Bulls should improve their frontcourt, looking to add a fluid athlete that complements Markkanen and Carter.

2020 NBA Draft Prospect Watchlist

No. 4 overallNo. 44 overall
PG LaMelo Ball, IllawarraF-C Zeke Nnaji, Arizona
F Deni Avdija, Maccabi Tel AvivPF Reggie Perry, Mississippi St.
G-F Isaac Okoro, AuburnPF Paul Reed, DePaul
F Patrick Williams, Florida St.C Daniel Oturu, Minnesota
PG Killian Hayes, RatiopharmC Nick Richards, Kentucky

What The Mocks Are Saying

The RingerDeni Avdija (No. 4)
The AthleticDeni Avdija (No. 4), Jordan Nwora (No. 44)
USA TODAY SportsDeni Avdija (No. 4)
CBS SportsDeni Avdija (No. 4)
The ScoreObi Toppin (No. 4)

Projected Roster

GCoby White
PGTomas Satoransky
PGRyan Arcidiacono
SGZach LaVine
SFOtto Porter Jr.
SFChandler Hutchison
PFLauri Markkanen
PFThaddeus Young
F-CCristiana Felicio
CWendell Carter Jr.
CLuke Kornet
CDaniel Gafford

Team-by-Team NBA Draft Guides

AtlanticCentralSoutheast
BostonChicagoAtlanta
BrooklynClevelandCharlotte
New YorkDetroitMiami
PhiladelphiaIndianaOrlando
TorontoMilwaukeeWashington
NorthwestPacificSouthwest
DenverGolden StateDallas
MinnesotaLA ClippersMemphis
Oklahoma LA LakersNew Orleans
PortlandPhoenixHouston
UtahSacramentoSan Antonio

More: SLAM’s 2020 NBA Draft Preview