Drafting for Keeps or Trading for Improvement?

It seems like only in the last 24 hours has attention slightly shifted away from the Bulls trading their two first-round picks in tonight's draft and towards who they should pick for themselves.  Although it's a stacked draft, there's not a lot of hype surrounding players beyond the likely lottery selections.  You have some good names there like Adreian Payne from Michigan St., Tyler Ennis from Syracuse and T.J. Warren out of N.C. State.  They and others were all great contributors to the college game, but whether that can transition to the pros remains to be seen.

In the final mock draft on NBADraft.net, one of my favorite basketball sites and my go-to site whenever I want to research it, the Bulls are predicted to take UCLA guard Zach LaVine with the 16th pick and UConn leader Shabazz Napier at 19th.  I would have no problems if the Bulls wished to find young offensive talent to compliment Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler.  The names in the first paragraph are guys who have all been linked to the Bulls on that site previously.  Again, I wouldn't mind players from programs with great reputations.  That would fall right in line with how Gar Forman and John Paxson have approached draft night in the past.

Of course, it will all be a crapshoot once the Bulls are scheduled to pick.  That's why if I'm captaining this boat, I'm looking to move one or both of those selections to either move up or acquire veteran scoring help.  Arron Afflalo, who was recently linked to Bulls rumors, was just dealt from Orlando to Denver, so he's off the board.  Guys like Lance Stephenson, Nick Young and J.R. Smith could be sought-after targets and all three could help the team put points on the board in their own ways.  The Bulls need offensive help and plenty of it.

This will be my final pitch for GarPax to trade both picks to move up in the draft so they can select Doug McDermott between the 11th and 14th selections.  I've lost track of how many times I've said the Creighton product, who happens to be the National Player of the Year, would fit right in with this Bulls regime.  He comes from a great program and can score, but more importantly, he has terrific long-term potential which could provide big dividends to this type of organization at some point.  Butler and Taj Gibson were unheralded on their draft nights, but I truly believe McDermott is worth all the hype he has received.  Not since Rose have we been able to say that about a potential Bulls pick.  This could all be a pipe dream of mine, but the front office needs to at least try and work their magic regarding this player or one who's already proven himself in the league.

As we all know, this is just a prelude to the true craziness that will begin once the calendar flips to July on Tuesday.  The Bulls are one of three teams Carmelo Anthony will meet with (Houston and Dallas being the others).  Kevin Love remains a possibility and while it's unlikely, LeBron James has a chance to end up here as well.  This is still an important night as what the Bulls do could be the difference between one of these players signing a contract and the organization coming up empty as they did four years ago.  Make yourself as marketable as possible in the final days of June.  You need to show a commitment to winning before making yourself a true NBA title contender.  Go out and do it, men.  Chicago is counting on you.