2017 NBA Draft: Top small forwards Chicago Bulls should target

Jonathan Isaac, Florida State (6-foot-11, 205 pounds)

Isaac may be the most interesting prospect in this draft. He has good height for his position, but he also has a 7-foot-1 wingspan. His athletic ability is off the charts. His length is good enough to play big but his quickness and footwork allow him to cover guards as well. He is the epitome of today’s NBA game where you need to be quick enough to cover a guard off a pick-and-roll but also be big enough to take on centers and power forwards.

Isaac stuffed the stat sheet at Tallahassee. He averaged 18.3 points, 12 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.8 steals, and 2.3 blocks per 40 minutes.

At 205 pounds, Isaac needs to fill out his body a little. The rigors of the NBA play wears on a player, especially a young player not used to the nearly nightly banging.

Isaac’s combination of length and quickness and athleticism makes scouts salivate over his potential. If he continues his ascent into the pros, his defensive ability could be off the charts. He could pressure the man with the ball and force turnovers or drop back and have the length to still contest a shot. Also, he works the glass well, averaging 8.9 defensive rebounds per 40 minutes. That gives his team more shots at scoring, something the Bulls desperately need.

If Isaac can improve his three-point shooting, he could be a newer version of Chris Bosh. He could take the big man out of the paint, opening things up for the penetrators.

In order for the Bulls to have a shot at drafting Isaac, they need to swing a deal. Yes, there is that deal with the Boston Celtics for the number one pick that may be offered again. However, Tom Thibodeau and the Minnesota Timberwolves expressed interest in Butler as well. They have the seventh pick in this year’s draft. If they can get the other assets in order to make a deal that makes sense, perhaps Butler reunites with his first professional coach and the Bulls can get Isaac.