Bulls Expected To Focus On Point Guards In Thursday Draft

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Jun 25, 2015 4:40PM

The NBA Draft takes place Thursday night, and the Bulls have the 22nd selection in the first round. As the team embarks on the Fred Hoiberg era, they look to add another piece or two to a roster that's in pretty good shape.

With four quality big men on the roster, rising star Jimmy Butler at shooting guard and a couple of young small forwards, the team is expected to find a backup to Derrick Rose when its turn comes.

We're all too familiar with Rose's history of injury, and the team needs to begin looking forward to a time when he's no longer here or no longer able to play at the level he once did. Kirk Hinrich is mostly duct tape and twine at this point, and some new blood at the one guard spot might make more sense than trying to find yet another rebuilding project. The team's found success with Nate Robinson, D.J. Augustine and Aaron Brooks as capable back-ups able to ignite the sometimes moribund offense. But now is the time to find a longer-term back court solution.

The top point guards available tonight include Emmanuel Mudiay, who played in China in lieu of spending a year in college, Cameron Payne from Murray State, and Duke's Tyus Jones. But those players are unlikely to be available when the Bulls are on the clock. Jerian Grant from Notre Dame, Delon Wright from Utah, and Louisville's Terry Rozier appear to be the point guards most likely to interest the Bulls when the team picks.

The hope is that the brain trust of John Paxson and Gar Forman can strike gold yet again late in the first round. In spite of low first-round selections, they've hit as often as not, finding Taj Gibson with the 26th pick in 2009 and Jimmy Butler at 30 in the 2011 draft. But they've also missed on James Johnson and Marquis Teague, their last attempt at drafting a point guard.

We'll have our take on their picks tomorrow.