NBA Draft 2020: Top 3 options for Chicago Bulls to pick in 1st round

Possible NBA Draft target for Chicago Bulls – Tyrese Haliburton

Guard – Iowa State – 6’5  – 20 years old

If the Bulls want to find a long term fit next to White, who turned 20 recently, they need a guard that can distribute and defend both guard spots. LaMelo Ball and Killian Hayes both fit that mold, but considering the Bulls only have a 32 percent chance at landing in the top four, they will probably not get the chance to draft either.

That’s why I think Iowa State guard Tyrese Haliburton is a great backcourt pairing next to Coby White. At 6’5, it’s conceivable Haliburton can defend point and shooting guards at the next level if he adds to his frame. He’s a plus team defender who knows where to be at all times.

Offensively, Haliburton is a basketball savant. He’s got keen awareness of the court, consistently making passes that only he can see. As a freshman, he excelled in his role as the fourth option on the Cyclones, posting an absurd 4.5:1 assist to turnover ratio.

Haliburton really broke out last summer when he helped lead the USA U19 team to the gold medal in the FIBA World Cup. Haliburton averaged eight points on 68 percent shooting from the field, 55 percent from three, a team-high 6.9 assists and 2.3 steals per game en route to making the all-tournament team.

Haliburton continued that success to his sophomore season at Iowa State. Despite the team’s struggles, the lanky guard led the conference in assists per game (6.5), while boosting his scoring to over 15 points per game on 41 percent shooting from deep. He was fifth in the country with a plus 11.9 box plus/minus, which is super impressive when you factor in how bad the Cyclones were.

It’s unclear if Haliburton can be the primary facilitator for a team at the next level. He has a lack of burst and his poor free throw rate is a concern. These certainly limit his ceiling, but Haliburton still has a super-high floor. There are concerns with his jumper, as his mechanics are a bit awkward, but his raw catch and shoot numbers are excellent and I believe he’ll be a good shooter in the NBA.

Haliburton would fit in nicely next to White or Lavine. He would instantly be the best passer on the team and could thrive in a lineup with multiple shooters. Haliburton is also a high-character guy who would likely be comfortable deferring to the Bulls more ball-dominant guards when needed. He’s probably never going to be an All-Star given his limitations but in a weaker draft class, taking a guy who can be a plus role player throughout his career seems like a wise decision.