5 Players Bulls Should Target in the Draft

The Chicago Bulls entered a brave new world this offseason when they acceded to their fans' wishes and fired general manager Gar Forman while transitioning John Paxson to a different, less important role within the organization.

Now, Arturas Karnisovas is calling the shots as the executive vice president of basketball operations. Chicago also hired Marc Eversley as GM in May.

Together, they have the opportunity to begin remaking the Bulls' roster, starting with the 2020 NBA draft. Where the team needs to upgrade is apparent, but that doesn't take into account how the new-look front office could view any one of Zach LaVine, Coby White, Lauri Markkanen or Wendell Carter Jr. differently from the old regime.

The Bulls have the No. 4 overall pick in the first round, so they'll have some options with how they approach their first selection.

Deni Avdija, SF, Maccabi Tel Aviv

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In his most recent mock draft, The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor noted that Israeli international Deni Avdija "could be the playmaker the Bulls covet."

The 19-year-old averaged 12.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 33 Israeli Basketball Premier League games. He also shot 66.5 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from beyond the arc.

Maccabi Tel Aviv didn't lean as heavily on Avdija when the level of opposition toughened in the EuroLeague, which illustrated that he's not the same kind of talent Luka Doncic was when he made the leap to the NBA.

Still, the tools are all there. He is a 6'9" forward who can score, shoot, rebound and pass to varying degrees, making him a perfect fit for today's game. 

Maybe the potential never materializes and he's the second coming of Dragan Bender. Assuming he's still on the board, though, the Bulls still might as well swing for the fences on Avdija in the hope he blossoms into an All-Star.

Killian Hayes, PG, Ulm

The Bulls selected Coby White with the No. 7 pick in 2019, but point guard would be a smart position to target nonetheless.

White averaged 2.7 assists as a rookie and 4.1 assists in his lone season at North Carolina. He profiles as more of a combo guard rather than a traditional playmaker who runs the offense.

That's not a bad thing, but adding a stereotypical floor general would allow the 20-year-old to play to his greatest strengths while improving the Bulls' offense as a whole.

Killian Hayes averaged 11.6 points and 5.3 assists in 20 domestic appearances for Ratiopharm Ulm. He only shot 21.8 percent from beyond the arc, which raises obvious flags.

Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman ranked the 19-year-old No. 2 in his most recent big board:

"At 6'5", he's an excellent passer and efficient scorer who uses pull-ups, floaters and finishes. And he's made a notable jump as a shot-creator around the perimeter. He took a step as a shot-maker as well, doubling his three-point makes from the previous season, though three-point shooting is still the weaknesses that's causing hesitation from scouts."

The Bulls were 11th in three-point percentage (35.1) despite former head coach Jim Boylen probably holding back their offense. Even if Hayes' shooting never reaches the point where he's connecting on his threes at a rate in the upper 30s, Chicago should have the pieces around him to make things work.

Tyrese Haliburton, PG, Iowa State

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The calculus with Tyrese Haliburton is the same to that of Hayes.

Haliburton's scoring average took a big step forward from his freshman year (6.8) to his sophomore season (15.2). The same could be said of his assist numbers as he averaged 3.6 dimes in 2018-19 and then 6.5 in 2019-20.

Wasserman cited "concerns about his scoring potential since he doesn't have blow-by speed or a pull-up game" for why he had the 20-year-old in the No. 10 slot.

The former Iowa State star should have a pretty high floor in the event he doesn't grow into a volume scorer. He was a 42.6 percent three-point shooter with the Cyclones. Combine that with his passing ability and you get a dependable guard for years to come.

Isaac Okoro, SF, Auburn

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Otto Porter Jr. has a $28.5 million player option for 2020-21, which he'll presumably pick up given the financial state of the NBA due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Perhaps Porter's expiring deal makes him a trade asset. Should Chicago instead want him to remain in the fold in order to make a playoff push, nobody can say for sure whether he stays with the team beyond 2021.

That would create a void on the wing, one that Isaac Okoro could fill.

The 19-year-old made just 28.6 percent of his long-range jumpers in 2019-20, and his effectiveness inside as a scorer is somewhat undercut by his 67.2 percent clip on free throws. The former Auburn forward doesn't classify as a three-and-D wing.

Okoro at least does the second part of that description well, possessing the ability to guard both forward positions and handle his own in the backcourt.

LaMelo Ball, PG, Illawarra Hawks

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LaMelo Ball is considered by many to be the best player in the 2020 class. Nobody will be shocked if he's still available when the Bulls are on the clock, though.

Ball was limited to 12 games with the Illawarra Hawks in Australia's National Basketball League, but his move abroad was a success as he solidified himself as a surefire top-five selection.

The 19-year-old's performance was a bit of a mixed bag as he averaged 17.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.8 assists. He only shot 25 percent from beyond the arc, though, and his defense is obviously a work in progress.

Ball is a 6'7" guard who possesses a seemingly innate ability to read the floor and thread the ball through passing lanes. The Bulls shouldn't have to think too hard about this if they have the opportunity to select him.