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2015 NBA Summer League: Bobby Portis Shows Strong Offensive Skills in Vegas

By James Fitzgerald

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Arkansas’ Bobby Portis was one of those players in the draft that you knew would be a solid basketball player for whoever drafted him and who had very little to zero bust potential.

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At 6-foot-11, 246 pounds, he already has the physical makeup

to take the NBA punishment. With the intensity and determination with which he plays on the court, he has the capability of giving that punishment right back.

It was amazing to see Bobby Portis fall the way he did in the 2015 NBA Draft. There was plenty of sentiment that felt Portis would be either a lottery pick or fall no further than pick No.16 to Boston.

When Boston decided to take point guard Terry Rozier out of Louisville, you pulled out your “draft steal” stamp and waited to see which team was going to receive the seal of approval.

That team  was the Chicago Bulls at pick No. 22. This was a case of the rich getting richer.

Making the playoffs has not been an issue for Chicago. What has been an issue is sustaining offense, defeating LeBron James in the playoffs, and injuries.

Jan 27, 2015; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks forward Bobby Portis (10) reacts to a call during a game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Bud Walton Arena. Arkansas defeated Tennessee 69-64. Mandatory Credit: Beth Hall-USA TODAY Sports

The addition of Bobby Portis to the Chicago Bulls roster helps the Bulls get younger, healthier, and more athletic on their frontline all in one pick.

Being an understudy to Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol is going to be beneficial to Portis. Plus, with the type of offense newly hired head coach Fred Hoiberg likes to run, Portis will end up being a better fit than one or both of them.

Besides, Joakim Noah is in the last year of his contract and Chicago should be looking to trade him so they can get something for him in return instead of watching Noah walk for nothing in 2016 Free Agency.

Portis has shown that he can knock down shots with range in the “pick and roll” game, be relentless on the boards, and finish around the basket.

During the Las Vegas Summer League, Portis averaged 14.5 points and 8.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots while shooting 42.1% from the floor and 41.7 % from three-point range.

In his last Summer League game on Saturday night, Portis finished with 25 points and 15 rebounds.

We already know that critics are going to be quick to say that the level of competition that Portis was playing against is nowhere near what he is going to be encountering once the real bullets begin to fly in training camp, preseason and the regular season.

All of that would be 100% correct! He is going to obviously face stiffer competition when from the time training camp hits and well into the regular season.

But it is not so much about dominating the Summer League as it is being able to use your tools effectively in the Summer League.

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    • Bobby Portis was one of the draft picks in Vegas that was able to show his repertoire and be effective in the process.

    Also, it is going to help that Fred Hoiberg saw what Portis is capable of during the Summer League. So you better believe he is going to find some floor time for his young player as the regular season goes on in order to give his veterans needed rest.

    Las Vegas Summer League was pretty productive for Bobby Portis. No one is saying he is going to be a Hall of Fame player. But we are definitely not saying he is going to be a bust either.

    What we are going to say is that in Chicago with what Fred Hoiberg is proposing to do with the Bulls offensively, Portis is going to be a fit and do some significant damage.

    That can be said with confidence.

    Next: Willie Cauley-Stein Will Spark Excitement in Sacramento

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