The Running of the Bulls!
The Bulls had a very successful outing at the NBA Draft! They got their guy, without having to give up future assets to do so.
A crowd of Bulls fans at a draft party in Chicago erupted into cheers, as the Bulls with the # 7 pick took North Carolina point guard Coby White. The Bulls not only drafted for positional need, but they also took the best player available. While some thought the Bulls might try to trade up in order to select Vanderbilt point guard Darius Garland.
White had been on the Bulls radar ever since GM Gar Forman, attended the Las Vegas Inventional early in the NCAA season. White’s play was so impressive, Forman was blowing up VP John Paxson’s phone with texts about the Tar Heels lead guard.
Photo: Bulls.com
White brings speed and shooting to the Bulls, and at 6’5, he can be slotted at either guard spots. His ability to play off the ball will allow Zach Lavine room to operate. When Zach is initiating the offense, White will keep the defense honest with his solid outside shot, and his speed and driving ability will also provide more space for Lavine and Lauri Markkanen to attack the defense.
As the league continues to move in the direction of position-less basketball, the Bulls are finally getting with the times.
The Bulls are constructing a team capable of playing the modern style of today’s NBA teams. By bolstering a roster of player’s who can play multiple positions, players like White, Lavine, Markkanen, Wendell Carter Jr. and Otto Porter Jr. can all play up or down a position, giving the Bulls the flexibility and diversity to adjust their line ups according to opponent and flow of the game.
Photo: Bulls.com
With the addition of White, the Bulls will also look to play at a faster pace. A lot of criticism was thrown at Boylen when he took over the team mid-season last year. Boylen had the Bulls playing at a slow pace, and running a lot of his offense through the post. A style that was deemed old school and out of touch with today’s league.
However, Boylen always intended for his team to run eventually, maintaining that he wanted his team to get the basics down, before opening up the floor for his players. The Bulls did play with a quicker pace in the 2nd half of the season, a pace that will become even faster with White leading the charge.
“The most important thing for us is that when the ball is in (Coby)’s hands, we have to run with him. We have to play smart, but faster, where it’s appropriate. We have to get the rest of the team to run with him. That’s our job.”- Jim Boylen
The Bulls also made good use of their 2nd round pick, by selecting Arkansas center Daniel Gafford at number # 38.
Photo: Bulls.com
Gafford gives the Bulls a young, athletic big man capable of running the floor and finishing around the rim, as well as protecting the basket on the other end of the floor with his reliable defense. Gafford’s game is already being compared to that of Houston Rockets center Clint Capela, and his energy is being compared to another player who played at Arkansas and was drafted by the Bulls, in Bobby Portis.
Basically he’s everything Cristiano Felicio is not, and hopefully, Gafford will immediately take over the role as the backup center. Gafford will give the Bulls a boost of energy and hustle off the bench, and adds to their overall athleticism and length.
Photo: Bulls.com
Boylen praised both of the Bulls rookies’ ability to be coached and wanting to get better, which is evident by both players working out together in Chicago the very next day after their introductory press conference. Both players have stated their main goal is to come in and try to win games.
They can start winning as early as July 5th, as White and Gafford will be apart of the Bulls NBA Summer League team, as they take on the LA Lakers on ESPN.
Featured Image: Bulls.com
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