It’s not a debate that will go away anytime soon.
Evaluating point guards as they make that leap to the NBA seldom does, but the 2020 class complicates it even more with no clear, dominant standout.
There’s the flash and ridiculous positional size of LaMelo Ball, the through-the-roof basketball IQ of Tyrese Haliburton, and then the international man of mystery that is Killian Hayes.
Even the second tier of players at that position are intriguing with Cole Anthony, RJ Hampton and Theo Maledon.
The bigger question, however? Why are the Bulls still shopping in the point guard aisle?
They traded away the two best players that could handle that position in Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler. They banked on Kris Dunn living up to his hype as the fifth overall pick in the 2016 draft when they went rebuild, and then when that didn’t pan out they drafted Coby White No. 7 overall last year, despite the fact that he is naturally a shooting guard moonlighting at the point position.
What new executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley have to decide is do they have enough in-house point guard play that they can look elsewhere come the draft?
Dunn’s qualifying offer price tag bumped up to $7.1 million thanks to the coronavirus salary cap modification, so the Bulls could get one more season with Dunn, especially if defense is the identity they want to build with this group. And while White is raw at the point, maybe the ceiling is a high one with the score-first combo guard.
Whichever path is chosen, one thing has become very clear: The Bulls need consistency at the point guard position or might want to start thinking about buying a home in the lottery neighborhood rather than just renting.
1. LaMelo Ball – Illawarra: Well, it hasn’t been the developmental journey most prospects take, going from California to Lithuania to Ohio and then Australia, all the while living in the Big Baller shadow cast by never boring dad, LaVar, but LaMelo made it.
At 6-foot-7, the younger brother of Lonzo Ball, LaMelo controls the game with a unique change of speed, as well as uncanny court vision. His outside shooting is a work in progress, but he is a willing defender and great rebounder. Each time he steps on the court he’s a triple-double waiting to happen.
2. Killian Hayes – Ulm: Need a left-handed finisher with an improving outside jumper? Hayes is your guy. He’s not the athlete that Ball is, but Hayes has shown that he can see the floor, play-make and get his own basket when needed.
Scouts feel that his right hand will come, as will his toughness on the defensive end, and Karnisovas is well-versed when it comes to breaking down the game of international players.
3. Tyrese Haliburton – Iowa State: This might actually be the best fit for the Bulls backcourt, simply because he’s there to allow scorers to score, first and foremost. A winning player that knows where and when to get teammates the ball.
He did struggle at times beating better athletes off the dribble and needs to be more accepting of contact, but would make Zach LaVine’s life much easier, especially late in games.
4. Cole Anthony – North Carolina: Anthony is going to make some team’s bench better right away, but is an awful fit for the Bulls. Not only does he share the same powder blue college pedigree as White, but is a White clone looking to shoot first and ask questions later.
He’s the fourth-best option on most boards, but the Bulls already drafted this guy last season.
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July 08, 2020 at 10:13PM
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Bulls NBA draft talk: Is it time for a point guard ‘Ball Show’ or stay in-house? - Chicago Sun-Times
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