Full Scouting Report for Chicago Bulls' Top 2015 NBA Draft Targets
During Fred Hoiberg’s introductory press conference, Chicago Bulls general manager Gar Forman admitted that this summer’s free-agency period will be more restrained than the previous one, relayed by the Chicago Tribune. This makes the 2015 NBA Draft especially essential to shoring up the roster.
Numerous sports journalists have submitted and revised their opinions as to whom they think each team will select. The criteria isn’t an exact science but tries to find the sweet spot between a specific team need and the best player likely available for its selection.
The Bulls can go in a number of directions when their turn in the 22nd slot comes up. Mike Dunleavy and Aaron Brooks are both unrestricted free agents, and Kirk Hinrich could join them should he decide to forgo his player option for next year. This makes the case for small forwards and point guards to be prime targets.
Taj Gibson’s ankle surgery, reported by the Chicago Tribune, highlights fragile frontcourt health, especially when coupled with Joakim Noah’s underwhelming 2014-15 campaign. He had to deal with lingering issues that stemmed from his May 2014 knee surgery. That said, it would not be too far-fetched to assume that a big man could also be in consideration.
There are varying suppositions as to whom the Bulls will take. Using a sampling of those postulations, an analysis that includes strengths, weaknesses and fit into Hoiberg’s system will be laid out for some of those potential prospects.
What the Mocks Are Saying
This chart displays the picks from mock drafts posted on the sites of a few major media outlets.
| Writer/Media Organization | Pick | Position | Height | School |
| Jonathan Wasserman: Bleacher Report | Sam Dekker | SF | 6'9" | University of Wisconsin |
| Johnny Givony: DraftExpress.com | Rondae Hollis-Jefferson | SF | 6'7" | University of Arizona |
| Chris Mannix: Sports Illustrated | Delon Wright | PG | 6'5" | University of Utah |
| Zach Harper: CBS Sports | Delon Wright | PG | 6'5" | University of Utah |
| Chad Ford: ESPN | Rashad Vaughn | SG | 6'5" | University of Nevada, Las Vegas |
This collective forecast reinforces that wing and backcourt positions are big areas of need. Not only is this due to the impending contract status of some players but also because of Hoiberg’s offensive system, which emphasizes ball movement, multiple screens and generating open looks behind the three-point line.
In some capacity, each of these projected players has something useful to contribute to the franchise’s new vision, although to what degree remains to be seen.
Chicago is fresh off of a coaching tenure that did not give much playing time to first-year players. Hoiberg’s NCAA experience may make him more empathetic to rookies adjusting to playing at the professional level, but it is also uncertain if he’ll be more open to giving minutes to the novices unless they show a lot of aptitude.
These listed players each has a distinctive skill set that would bolster something in this team's soon-to-be new attack. Let’s take a closer look.
Sam Dekker
Sam Dekker was a key contributor in the University of Wisconsin’s run to the 2015 NCAA Championship Game. His position in the aforementioned mock drafts varies greatly: He is projected to go as high as No. 8 in one and as low as No. 23 in another.
Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman made interesting observation in relation to why he thought the 6’9” forward could fall to the latter end of the first round: “Sam Dekker hasn't been working out for many teams outside the lottery. ... This could ultimately increase the chances of him sliding if one of those lottery teams doesn't pick him.”
Dekker’s skill set pegs him as someone who could replace Dunleavy should the young man be available when the Bulls are on the clock. He has nice outside touch, and although his three-point accuracy was a lukewarm 33.1 percent last season, he has the range and the mechanics to develop an NBA long ball.
The most intriguing aspect of this young man is his size. His frame makes him more of a small forward at the professional level, but his college usage makes him capable of playing the 4 in small-ball or stretch situations.
Dekker’s work ethic and IQ are NBA ready, but the Bulls are not lacking in that department. In order to be effective for Hoiberg, he has to become a more reliable long-range shooter. The rest will ensure that he turns into a pretty solid contributor.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is what one would call a project. He is a phenomenal athlete, but a lot of his skill set, or lack thereof, doesn’t translate well to the NBA.
As noted in his scouting video, Hollis-Jefferson has a great frame, is very explosive and runs the floor well. Hoiberg’s offense is very uptempo; the former Arizona Wildcat would fit in well if the team wanted someone who could thrive in transition instances.
Hollis-Jefferson’s 7’1” wingspan makes him an intriguing defensive prospect. With that reach and his 220-pound build, he could come in and immediately start working toward becoming a solid defender with Jim Boylen.
It is on the offensive side of the ball where Hollis-Jefferson needs to improve the most. Although he is fantastic in the open court, he is extremely limited in the half court, as his shot mechanics, range and ability to create are lacking in effectiveness.
He would be the guy who makes it 4-on-5 whenever Chicago has the ball. His inability to consistently hit his jump shot, coupled with his weak ball handling, would render him all but useless should the Bulls have to take some time to run a play.
Overall, Hollis-Jefferson would need some time to develop. He seems to fit best as a spark plug coming off of the bench who can help push the tempo with his ability to run the floor while providing solid perimeter defense.
Delon Wright
Delon Wright is consistently projected to be a late first-round pick. He is a tempting prospect, as he could bring some stability to the carousel that has been the Bulls’ back-up point-guard slot.
There are some intriguing things about Wright that would make him hard to pass on if he’s available. The first of which is his size. As a 6’5” point guard, he would almost always have the height advantage over opponents, allowing him to see the court very well. He is also effective in pick-and-roll decision-making, a staple in Hoiberg’s set.
He would be another prospect who would benefit from Boylen’s tutelage. Wright can defend both guard positions. He does well staying in front of his assignments and challenging shots, which would be especially effective when he is defending other point guards.
On the other hand, he is liability if he is expected to score. He does not have a reliable outside shot, and he is too frail to be effective if he is taking a lot of contact. He is more of a facilitator than anything else; that type of point guard doesn’t really thrive in Hoiberg’s schemes.
Kelly Scaletta, a Bleacher Report featured columnist writing for TodaysFastBreak.com, recently interviewed coaching consultant Randy Sherman. In the piece, Sherman explains that Hoiberg frequently used his forwards as facilitators at Iowa State.
With a very limited scoring repertoire, that might leave Wright on the outside looking in unless he can shore up his jump shot.
Rashad Vaughn
Rashad Vaughn is a wing who has the tools to effectively contribute under Hoiberg. He was a solid scorer at UNLV and has abilities that should translate well at the next level. He also has some habits he needs to refine.
Let’s focus on the positives first. During his stint with the Running Rebels, the 6’5” guard dropped 17.8 points per game and shot 38.1 percent from behind the arc. As noted in the embedded video, he is good in catch-and-shoot situations. Within the context of how Hoiberg likes to use screens to get open looks, that is a vital skill to have.
DraftExpress.com noted Vaughn’s weaknesses, and there is one thing that brings cause for concern. Though he is a good scorer, his decision-making and shot selection are not top notch.
This is especially critical, since Hoiberg employs a lot ball movement coupled with effective screens and cuts to create scoring opportunities. Vaughn needs to have a certain aptitude in order to flourish in such a free-flowing scheme. He can't afford to make poor decisions or get selfish if he gets the opportunity to play.
The Bulls’ core guys are high-character types, and that influence would be needed for a youngster such as Vaughn.
In the End
With very few means to play a major part in the free-agent market, the Bulls must approach the draft with the intention of selecting a player who fits in with what the team is trying to do both presently and down the line.
It is going to be a tricky situation putting a team together, as there is the big task of first securing the services of Jimmy Butler. The former Marquette Golden Eagle earned himself a huge payday thanks to his 2014-15 All-Star performance, and his retention is going to affect how Forman can operate in regard to rounding out the roster.
This year’s pick can’t be someone who is going to languish and given little opportunity to develop for a season or two; he has to be a player with a legitimate shot at growing into a regular contributor. There are some examples of Forman getting it right with late-first-round picks. He’s going to have to do it again this time around.
All scouting videos produced by DraftExpress.com.
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