The NBA offseason draft dates are set.
Tentatively.
The Bulls currently sit in the No. 7 spot.
Tentatively. [There’s always the draft lottery to change that.]
The draft itself?
As far as new executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas was concerned, there’s nothing tentative about it.
Despite the overwhelming opinion that this will be a weak draft class, the man now running the basketball side of Bulls business thinks otherwise.
“I disagree that it’s a weak class,’’ Karnisovas said recently. “I like the players. I like a lot of players that are in our range. I think we’ve done a lot of work studying. That’s why the excitement is coming from studying those players and interviewing them and looking at the video. So I think we’ll add a good player to our roster next year.’’
Made easier if the Bulls can get the balls to finally bounce their way rather than get stuck at the No. 7.
Not that the numbers will be in their favor.
The draft lottery is scheduled for Aug. 25, with the actual draft supposed to go down Oct. 15. The Bulls currently have a 7.5 percent chance to hit No. 1, a 23.4 percent chance on a top three pick, and 31.9 percent on a top five.
The hope is the Bulls are due.
Jumping into that top three could be an organizational changer. Not only because of the player they can land, but maybe more importantly, it will show their hand on what they really think about the current roster.
So while center isn’t a position of need necessarily, sitting in a top three seat and having the chance to draft James Wiseman could force the Bulls to pivot.
Here’s a breakdown of the center prospects, where it’s Wiseman and everyone else:
1. James Wiseman – Memphis: His college tape is Oscar worthy, but only eligible for the short film category. He played three games for the Tigers before a suspension by the NCAA forced him to call his college career over.
Not that he didn’t impress, as he played all of 7-foot-1 with a 7-6 wingspan, averaging 19.7 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocks in 23 minutes per game.
He fits the modern NBA with a big enough presence to be a rim protector, but also good enough feet on the perimeter to switch on a guard and not look like he’s on ice skates.
The concerns?
There’s a little Deandre Ayton in Wiseman, from the standpoint of neither always looked engaged at certain times of the game. That always leads scouts to question competitiveness. There’s also moments where he doesn’t scream toughness, but again, being so dominant at the high school level sometimes leads to passiveness.
The drafting of Wiseman by the Bulls would be beyond interesting, however, signifying that either Wendell Carter Jr. or Lauri Markkanen may have to eventually go elsewhere.
2. Vernon Carey Jr. – Duke: USC’s Onyeka Okongwu and Memphis’ Precious Achiuwa are each lottery picks with an ability to moonlight as centers, but on the right roster would be better suited for the power forward spot.
That leaves Carey as the next available big man, and even he is a bit undersized at 6-10. There are questions about his athleticism, but he can answer those in the draft process.
3. Isaiah Stewart – Washington: For now he remains behind Carey, but that could change quickly. Yes, he’s undersized, but his physicality and toughness will be embraced by teams, especially if the NBA does throw some sort of draft camp together in August.
