With the 7th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls select…
The Chicago Bulls will have the 7th pick in the upcoming 2018 NBA Draft, with this pick I believe they will select center Jaren Jackson Jr. our of Michigan State University.
Pros:
At 6′ 11″ in height, plenty of scouts believe Jackson has the potential to become the best player in this class. He shot the three pointer very well in his one year of college (39.6%) and was efficient in the post, scoring 1.22 points per possession on his post-ups. Owing to his height and shooting ability, Jackson could become deadly in the pick-and-roll or pick-and-pop. Overall, his offense has lots of potential versatility.
Jackson was a beast on the defensive end in college, averaging 3 blocks per-game. His agility helped him defend guards on the perimeter which will allow his team to switch more on defense. His massive 7′ 5″ wingspan and defensive instincts give him potential to become a lock-down defender in the NBA.
Cons:
Despite his great potential, Jackson is a very raw prospect and will take a few years to fully develop and fill out his lanky frame.
Jackson only averaged 10.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per-game last season which is subpar for his talent level. But these stats are misleading because he played 22 minutes per-game, much less than other star college players. A reason for the lower minutes is his tendency to get in foul trouble, averaging a very high 8.6 fouls per 100 possessions last year. He will have to become more disciplined at the next level.
Conclusion:
Jackson is one of the youngest prospects in this draft and filled with untapped potential. While he will likely require more patience than some other prospects, his enormous upside is worth the wait. His shooting and athleticism gives him a perfect fit in the modern NBA. He continuously improved in his one season with Tom Izzo at MSU and is only scratching the surface of his potential. My player comparison for Jackson is Myles Turner.
With the 22nd pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls select…
With the 22nd pick the Bulls should have a couple intriguing options. One possible choice is guard Anfernee Simons. Simons entered the draft after foregoing his collegiate eligibility because he satisfied the requirements of being one year removed from his high school graduation and meeting the age requirements as well. The last place he played was boarding school IMG Academy.