The 2021 NBA Draft Guide: Chicago Bulls

The NBA Playoffs are officially over. Now, it’s time to get into the offseason. Thursday, on July 29th, the NBA Draft will take place. As of right now the Bulls pick at 38. They only have their second round pick, as they traded the now 8th overall pick which belongs to the Magic in the Nikola Vucevic trade. The Bulls really need to improve this offseason, and while they can do that in free agency as well, let’s see some of the options they have to make their team better in the draft.

Miles McBride: 6’2” 200 lbs. Point Guard from West Virginia

Miles (Deuce) McBride is an undersized but physically strong guard who took a big leap his sophomore season. He’s coming off a season averaging 15.8 points, nearly 5 assists, and shooting 43% from the field and 40% from three. He’s a great scorer but doesn’t need to be the first or second option to contribute, because he’s a good on-ball defender who can pickpocket (shown by his 1.9 steals a game); additionally, due to his sturdiness and 6-8 wingspan he can cover stronger 1 and 2 guards without being backed down or blown past. 

So how can the Bulls get him? Well, McBride is projected to be a late first round talent so the Bulls will have to trade up for him. It should be worth the trade up because McBride is the facilitator and defensive guy the Bulls have been looking for on their offense. The Clippers pick at 25 in the first round, so the Bulls can trade point guard Tomas Satoransky, who the Clippers are rumored to be interested in, and pick 38 to acquire that first rounder. The Bulls have worked out McBride, so don’t be surprised if you see a trade up this coming Thursday.

Ayo Dosunmu: 6’4” 200 lbs. Combo Guard from Illinois

A plethora of Bulls fans have been very fond of junior player Ayo Dosunmu. Not just because he’s from Chicago and played at Illinois, but his game is hard not to admire. He’s a great scorer who can take over the game when he needs to. His explosiveness, composure in transition, quick first step, and astounding finishing ability are a few things that elevate him to having one of the best offensive games in the class. He’s also a solid defender who has the lateral quickness to stay in front of good ball handlers. Many say his NBA comp is Jrue Holiday. Ayo’s jumpshot is something for him to fix but he has time to work on it and his release is fast so his shooting is fine for now. 

Ayo is another player the Bulls would most likely have to trade up to acquire. The Nuggets or Lakers are most likely to pick him. They could package Tomas Satoransky or Thaddeus Young for one of those picks or use future picks. He isn’t as much of a fit as McBride is; even so, he’s not one of those talents you can pass up easily.

Josh Primo– 6’6” 190 lbs. Combo Guard from Alabama

Josh Primo is one of the youngest players in this year’s draft class at 18 years old. While his game has not flourished completely he has upside on both sides of the ball. He can catch and shoot from any range beyond the arc and is already ready to receive the ball and get into shooting motion. In a high tempo offense with another scoring guard (like Zach Lavine) he can thrive best. At 6’6” he can use his length as an advantage on offense and defense. What he lacks in athleticism he makes up in creativity. 

Primo is projected to go from late first to mid second round. It may not be worth the trade up, but if he’s there at 38 the Bulls should definitely consider taking him. He may be the 3 & D guy they need. 

Greg Brown- 6’9” 205 lbs. Forward from Texas

If you’re looking for an explosive and athletic player, then Greg Brown is your guy. His rim protection, finishing in the paint and rebounding skills are undeniable; in addition he is very young at 19 years old so he can grow with Patrick Williams. With a versatile dunk package, a vertical of 44 inches and a developing jumpshot, the sky’s the limit. His post game isn’t the best but if he is placed at the 3, which he most likely will be, and plays the game at a slow pace, it shouldn’t be that much of a problem. 

Greg Brown is projected to go early second so the Bulls may have the chance to pick him. Brown is not really the 3 & D player the Bulls are looking for; he’s more of an upside or a potential type player but still it would be a great move in the long run. 

Rokas Jokubaitis- 6’5” 195 lbs. Point Guard from Lithuania 

Artūras Karnišovas is known for drafting Euro League players. He drafted this year’s MVP Nikola Jokić, and selected Marko Simonović in last year’s draft. With that being said, don’t be surprised if he pulls the trigger on Lithuanian player Rokas Jokubaitis. This past season Jokubaitis played for Zalgiris, a Lituanian professional basketball team, averaging 7.3 points per game, 1.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists shooting 46% from the field and 35% from three. That may not look like much, but he wasn’t the primary ball handler and he didn’t shoot bad percentage shots at high volume. 

Jokubaitis could be a catch and shoot guy if he really needed to score, but his IQ and passing game is one part of his game that stands out. His decision making and feel for the game is good, and he’s always moving off the ball to get into a better position. His versatility is nothing special but the playmaking is one thing the Bulls need at the guard position. Another thing they need is defense, and he looked in sync on that side of the court. He does get beaten and blown past by a lot though, so he needs to learn how to stay in front better. 

Jokubaitis recently signed with Barcelona so if the Bulls picked him he would most likely play with Barcelona his first year, being a draft and stash guy unless the Bulls wanted him immediately. If they wanted to do that they would have to add cash considerations, therefore it is highly unlikely. He should be there at 38 though, and you can’t rule out every option.

Jeremiah Robinson-Earl. 6’9” 230 lbs. Power Forward from Villanova

The Bulls need some defense on their team, so Jeremiah Robinson-Earl could definitely be of use to them. He can guard the 1-4 positions, play help defense, and has an instant impact on the boards. His good technique is noticeable, especially when closing out. His offense game is a work in progress but still very solid. He can play make and find the open man without having to do extra, and he finishes nice at the rim. 

Robinson-Earl is projected to go in the second round and almost undoubtedly should be there at 38, though anything can happen in the second round. If he develops an outside shot and rim protection skills he could be a good fit for depth at the 4 for the Bulls. 

Quentin Grimes– 6’5, 205 lbs. Wing from Houston. 

If you looked up the definition of a 3 and D player, Quentin Grimes‘ name would pop up. Not really, but he’s one of the closest to that type of player as you can get in this draft class. In his junior season, he averaged 17.8 points, shooting 41% from the field and 40% from three, 5.7 rebounds and 2 assists. His release is quick, and when he finds a rhythm he can get going. Also his on ball defense looked great, using his length and lateral quickness to allow him to stay in front and block shots. His rebounding is another add on to his game that makes him a perfect fit in Chicago. If you want a comparison, he would be Mikal Bridges with a better jumpshot or Klay Thompson LITE. Grimes’ draft stock has been rising these past few weeks, so him being there early second might be a stretch, but there is no way you pass up a guy like this at 38. 

Jason Preston- 6’4” 181 lbs. Guard from Ohio. 

Jason Preston is another person that has been rising up draft boards recently, due to his combine performance. He has intangibles and some really good playmaking and IQ. You can back that up by his average of 7.2 assists per game in his junior year. He uses his craftiness and size to score on the inside, and has the upside to become a Lamelo Ball level passer. His defense looks solid on film, especially in the game against Illinois in the regular season and Virginia in the NCAA tournament He doesn’t have a lot of athleticism or the first step that most guards have and his jumpshot is something to work on but he still wouldn’t be a bad selection at 38.