2017 NBA Draft: Top small forwards Chicago Bulls should target

Kyle Kuzma, Utah (6-foot-9, 223 pounds)

Kuzma’s stock soared after the NBA Combine. Many had him going late in the first round or early in the second, but his performance has him rising fast.

Kuzma is a Flint, Michigan native who adds offense wherever he goes. He averaged 16.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. He shot 55.7 percent from 2-point range and 32.1 percent from beyond the arc.

In the 5-on-5 competition, Kusma shined. In his first game, he scored 20 points on 8-for-10 shooting. He shot 4-5 from 3-point range and showed a variety of shots in his repertoire, draining threes, making shots off the dribble, and attacking the rim. He also found his teammates on the move well.

Kuzma is another one of those experienced players that the Bulls like going for in the draft. He is 21 years old and is a junior. While other teams shy away from those types of players, the Bulls have no qualms drafting them.

Something that hampers Kuzma is his defense. He needs some work to do to become a good defensive player. Also, he appears to be a tweener. He is big for a small forward but too small to be a power forward. He uses his length to be a factor around the rim and shows good instincts, but he needs to be more consistent.

Kuzma has good quick feet, and he has long strides. That makes him effective in transition, helping him get downcourt quickly. His cutting skills are good and he moves well without the ball.

The knock on Kuzma is that at this point he hasn’t put his game together yet. At the Combine, however, he did a good job of doing just that. The question is whether that was just for the Combine or if he could do it at the next level.