NBA Draft 2020: Matching top prospects with needs of top lottery teams
By Tim Edmonds
Chicago Bulls: Improved Wing Play — Forward Isaac Okoro, Auburn
After a tumultuous year and a half, the Bulls have finally let go of their embattled head coach Jim Boylen.
Clearly over his skis from day one and accused of stunting the timetable of Chicago’s rebuild, new executive VP of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas had no choice but to fire the second-year coach.
With Boylen out, Karnišovas now wrestles with who to add to his young nucleus under new — and hopefully improved — leadership.
Possessing a promising backcourt in Coby White and Zach LaVine and a talented young forward in Lauri Markkanen, the Bulls can immediately improve long-term by gaining depth and upside at the wing position – enter Auburn freshman forward Isaac Okoro.
Averaging 12.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, two assists and just under a steal and block per game as a true freshman, Okoro flashed elite two-way potential while leading the Tigers to 25 victories. Picking up Second Team All-SEC honors in his only collegiate season, the Atlanta native has drawn comparisons to former Bull Jimmy Butler from scouts around the league-leading up to this year’s draft.
With a clear need on the wing and Okoro’s chance to blossom on both sides of the ball, he makes plenty of sense from a need standpoint as Karnišovas begins his first offseason rebooting these Bulls rebuild.