The Bulls are looking for someone to score on either the wing or at the point. Derrick Rose can't do it by himself, especially with his health a constant question mark. The club would also like to find someone who might help spread the floor on the perimeter. But with only one pick, Gar Forman and John Paxson will have to choose which area they want to address more in this fashion. If they'd rather save one of them for free agency, they'll have to be smart with the more inexpensive draft.
A popular choice for the Bulls seems to be Jerian Grant of Notre Dame. The point guard is quick, athletic and knows how to score. However, it's unlikely this perfect backup for Rose will be available by the time the Bulls are on the clock. So here are the names more closely connected to the team:
Delon Wright - G (Utah): Many have the Bulls taking Wright and I would do the same. He's a lot like Rose in that he can take control of an offense and finish at the rim with his athleticism. He may not be everything Rose is and he won't have the same creative freedom he did in college, but playing both with the former MVP on the floor and behind him on the depth chart could be useful. Selecting him would signal the Bulls are definitely ready to move on from annually moving the backup point guard.
Rashad Vaughn - G (UNLV): The Minneapolis native won't turn 19 until August 16, but he could be a good long-term solution on the bench. He's known for scoring and if he develops his shooting to last in the NBA, he might have a great teammate in Doug McDermott to create chemistry with. First, he'll have to learn not to force shots as he's prone to do. A coach like Fred Hoiberg could be the perfect one to show him how to specialize as an NBA shooter and do everything else to last in the league for awhile.
Kevon Looney - F (UCLA): NBADraft.net, my go-to site for this event, has the Bulls taking this kid from Milwaukee. He's physical and really knows how to attack the glass on the offensive end. It would ease the pressure on Taj Gibson and Joakim Noah, but the 6-9, 222-pound forward needs to build his strength and learn how to score away from the rim to succeed. If the Bulls would rather wait until free agency to sign scoring help, they might pick Looney, although it may not be a popular move with fans.
R.J. Hunter - G (Georgia State): You may recall Hunter from his long 3-pointer during March Madness which gave his 14th-seeded Panthers a win and his head-coach father a good reason to fall out of his chair. That let everyone know this kid can shoot and many say nobody in this draft class does it purely better than him. His problem is he doesn't get open very often, so Hoiberg would really need to plan accordingly for times he's on the floor. Still, if the Bulls are looking for another Tony Snell, they can't possibly do better than Hunter.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson - F (Arizona): He can be seen as a more physical Butler who uses his body to take explosive runs at the basket. Hollis-Jefferson could at least compete with players like LeBron James and Paul Millsap down low as he tries to win the little battles. However, he could also morph into Tyrus Thomas 2.0, meaning a limited offensive game, particularly outside the paint. If the Bulls want to take him, he might have to settle into a Nazr Mohammed role until he can contribute more to Hoiberg's game plan.
Justin Anderson - G/F (Virginia): This is the all-purpose NBA player. Anderson is best when he can take advantage his athleticism and wingspan, but if you ask him to do something, chances are he'll do it. There's not one aspect of his game that stands out though, so don't count on him ever approaching All-Star status. Even so, most rookies have no choice but to abide by the role their coaches give them until they really show their potential, so Anderson could adjust to any assignment Hoiberg gives him.
I'm not too fond on the pure forwards that could be on the board late in the first round, so I would go for scoring help in the backcourt. When Rose and Butler can't cut it at certain times, somebody needs to help them. It's going to happen during an 82-game season, even for stretches longer than anyone would like. When your star power mainly exists at guard, you have to help it.
Whether the Bulls take one of the above players or someone else, they'll need to make a selection that will help Hoiberg succeed in his first season. After all, they went to a lot of trouble to get him here, especially after dealing with the end of Tom Thibodeau's tenure. There's no way they would pick a player they had doubts about. The pressure is on the front office too, so a lot is riding could be riding on this, including and especially reputations.
UPDATE: The latest person to feel this pressure is former Bull Pete Myers, who has just been hired for his second stint as assistant coach. While it may seem like old ideas to some, it's completely new for many currently in the organization. It's the first sign of Hoiberg's influence starting to take over. We'll find out later just how much impact it might have had on the upcoming draft selection.
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