Darius Garland Could Be the Bulls’ Solution at Point Guard
The NBA Draft Lottery is in four days. For many fans, myself included, this will be the most important day of the season. This one singular day in which the Bulls fate will be decided by a combination of ping-pong balls could determine the direction of the franchise for the next couple of years.
If the Bulls land the first overall pick, without a doubt the selection should be Zion Williamson out of Duke. He’s a freak of nature who seems destined to become a superstar at the NBA level. If the Bulls snag the second pick, the easy decision is Ja Morant from the Murray State Racers. Morant is projected as the best guard in the draft–though it wasn’t always that way, we’ll get to that later–and would be a very nice upgrade for the Bulls over Kris Dunn.
Nothing is guaranteed in the lottery system. That is how the NBA designed it, so one must prepare for the worst. In this case, that would be the Chicago Bulls falling out of one of the top three slots in the draft. It wouldn’t be surprising, as the team currently has better odds at picking sixth than any of the top three slots. In fact last year the Bulls won a coin flip with the Sacramento Kings and it ended up costing them the second overall pick–instead of falling to seventh.
So let’s prepare for the worst. It may seem like a waste to not get Zion or Ja, however, there is one prospect who could still fulfill the Bulls’ biggest need.
Meet the former Number One Point Guard Prospect in the NBA Draft, Darius Garland.
Prior to the college season, many believed Garland was the best point guard in the draft. Had it not been for an early season meniscus-tear, that might still be the case.
Even in limited action, Garland was impressive. In five games at Vanderbilt, he put up nearly 17 points per game on 53% shooting–even more impressive was 48% from beyond the arc. He didn’t pile up many assists, but it touted as a team-first player who has been steadily improving his play-making ability. One of the most appealing things about his game is his jump-shot. It would be refreshing for Bulls fans to have a point guard who is capable of getting a bucket from anywhere on the floor.
Garland would fit very well with the Bulls roster. With Garland and Zach LaVine’s steady improvement in playmaking, either could turn into a catch and shoot player when needed. Garland was stellar in that position in his early years. LaVine is a walking bucket.
With his size, the duo of Garland and LaVine may struggle defensively. However, bringing in Otto Porter Jr. and Wendell Carter should help to counteract that.
If you want to win a championship, you need a good point guard. The Warriors have Stephen Curry, the Cavaliers had Kyrie Irving, the Spurs had Tony Parker, etc. The lead guard is of utmost importance and Darius Garland could be the answer the Bulls have been searching for.
Everything depends on those ping-pong balls. Just remember that the Bulls aren’t at a complete loss if they lose out.
Featured Image: Joe Howell, Vanderbilt Athletics
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