This offseason is a critical one for the Chicago Bulls, especially when it comes to their first-round pick in the upcoming 2018 NBA Draft. They have the No. 7 pick in the draft lottery that they hope will land them another franchise cornerstone, but there are still a few prospects the team should steer clear of in favor of other options. Here are three players the Bulls would be smart to avoid with that pick:
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1) Collin Sexton, PG, Alabama Crimson Tide
I think Sexton is going to be a really good player in the NBA but the Bulls would be an absolutely terrible fit for him. Why? He is virtually the same kind of player as Kris Dunn, and while those are guys you want to have, Chicago would not be able to play both together for extended stretches. Because of his size (he's just over 6-foot-1) and the fact that he's more of a scorer than a playmaker, Chicago would be smart to look elsewhere.
2) Miles Bridges, SF, Michigan State Spartans
Chicago has expressed interest in the Bridges and it's easy to see the positives when it comes to the Michigan State product. He is a freak athlete who is excellent finishing around the rim and has shown somewhat of an improved jumper, making him an athletic 3-and-D candidate.
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However, outside of spot-up jumpers and dunks, Bridges' game is largely lacking. He's not good at creating his own shot and often turns the ball over whenever he has to do any playmaking of his own. I project him to be an energy bench guy in the NBA, and that's not the kind of player you want to use a top-10 pick on.
3) Michael Porter Jr., SF, Missouri Tigers
This is a tough situation. Porter was in the running for the No. 1 pick in the draft before he suffered a hip injury that required back surgery and ended his season before it really started. He's a good, fluid athlete who excels on the perimeter and around the basket with his smooth skill set. Essentially, he's a dynamic scorer when he's healthy.
But will he stay healthy? He's a 6-foot-10 wing with a narrow base and is already dealing with back problems - something that has continued to hamper him throughout the pre-draft process. Porter's athleticism was one of his biggest assets and, while he was largely still recovering when he played for Mizzou in the NCAA Tournament, he was extremely stiff on the court and was inefficient.
If that back injury forces him to play a slower game, Porter isn't big or strong enough to become a stretch four. He's a true 6-foot-10 small forward who needs to regain his athleticism to become the star he was projected to be coming out of high school. And, with the health concerns that surround him (along with character and selfishness concerns some teams have), it's far from a guarantee that will happen.
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