Chicago Bulls snag UNC forward Justin Jackson at No. 16 in latest DraftExpress 2017 NBA mock draft
The Chicago Bulls make an interesting pair of selection in the latest DraftExpress 2017 NBA mock draft.
The 2017 NBA Draft is right around the corner and the Chicago Bulls will have two selections that night. On Thursday, June 22nd, the Bulls will hold the 16th and 38th overall picks in the draft. While the elite talent will be gone by the time the Bulls go on the clock, they will still have an opportunity to add good, young players to their roster mix.
In the latest mock draft update by the NBA draft gurus over at DraftExpress, the Chicago Bulls bring in a pair of talented players with big upside. At number 16, the Bulls landed UNC forward Justin Jackson and followed that up with the selection of Baylor big man Johnathan Motley at number 38.
In the previous DraftExpress mock draft, the Bulls took three-point marksman Luke Kennard from Duke at number 16 and followed that up with his Blue Devil teammate point guard Frank Jackson at 38. With his elite outside shooting, Kennard has always made a ton of sense for the Bulls. However, his recent workouts have vaulted him all the way up to the Charlotte Hornets at 11 in the recent mock. Kennard may now be out of the Bulls’ reach.
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Jackson at 16
While this combination of players is not my favorite for the Bulls to land on draft night, Jackson and Motley would both be strong additions to the Bulls’ mix. Jackson was the ACC Player of the Year for the Tar Heels last season, averaging 18.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. Jackson really took a step forward as an outside shooter last season, hitting 37-percent of his three-pointers.
He is not an elite outside shooter but Jackson showed great improvement last season on the perimeter. His athletic upside is relatively limited but at 6-foot-8 with a 6-foot-11 wingspan, Jackson does have elite size on the outside. A fantastic overall player who really turned it on last season, Jackson would be a solid pick for the Bulls at 16.
Motley at 38
In the second round of this mock draft, the Chicago Bulls find an interesting big man in Johnathan Motley. The 22-year-old Baylor product averaged 17.2 points and 9.9 rebounds for the Bears last season. He is a physically imposing player at 6-foot-9, 238 pounds but his 7-foot-4 wingspan is what really stands out.
Motley is a quick and powerful player who is a fantastic fit to play small-ball five at the next level. He does not have much of an outside shot but he is a great overall defender, fantastic rebounder and can finish well around the rim.
Motley would undoubtedly be a nice addition to the Bulls’ mix of inside players. The Bulls need to find a way to make their roster more modern and Motley’s well-rounded skillset would undoubtedly be a step in the right direction.
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When it comes down to it, I like this combination of players for the Bulls. I would give the Jackson pick an above average grade and the Motley choice an extremely high one. It could be better (UCLA shot blocking extraordinaire Ike Anigbogu went No. 17) but this would be a nice haul for the Chicago Bulls on draft night.