Chicago Bulls 2017-2018 player preview: Ryan Arcidiacono

Add Ryan Arcidiacono to the list of names the Chicago Bulls could try at point guard in the post-Derrick Rose era.

At DaWindyCity.com, we’re previewing every player on the Bulls before the 2017-2018 season. Looking at the list of players left to cover, it was a no-brainer for me to sign up to write about Ryan Arcidiacono. because for the last four years, I haven’t liked Ryan Arcidiacono.

Why? Because for the last four years, I haven’t liked Ryan Arcidiacono.

It’s not his fault; more to his credit actually. See, I went to Syracuse, and I was there when we were still in the Big East with Arcidiacono’s Villanova Wildcats. I was a freshman when Arcidiacono did this and haven’t been much of a fan since.

But if you made me be honest about it, I’d admit that, in college, Arcidiacono was the player you hated to play against but secretly would love to have on your team. Now, he’s on my hometown Chicago Bulls, and I’m hoping his play can make him a guy everyone loves to have on their professional team.

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But for Arcidiacono, who went undrafted in 2016, the big question is if he can make it in the NBA.

Last season

After going undrafted, the San Antonio Spurs signed Arcidiacono to their D-league (now Gatorade “G” League) affiliate, the Austin Spurs. In 47 games for Austin, Arcidiacono started 34 games and had per game averages of 6.5 points on 47% shooting (42% from three), 3.8 assists and 3.7 rebounds.

While the stats aren’t gaudy, Arcidiacono showed the same skills in the D-League that made him such a solid college player and a NCAA champion. Namely, those skills are great vision, strong spot-up shooting ability and steady skills as a ball handler and floor general. And take it from a Syracuse alum whose college team played Arcidiacono four times, he can be a real hound on defense.

What to expect this season

After a worthy showing for the Bulls’ summer league, the Bulls signed Arcidiacono to one of their two two-way contracts, so expect Arcidiacono to spend most of his time with the Bulls organization in Hoffman Estates playing for the Windy City Bulls of the G League.

Last year, the Bulls spent the entire season looking for an answer at point guard, using a bloated rotation of mediocre talent. Rajon Rondo played like his former All-Star self in the playoffs against the Celtics until he went down injured. The Bulls went on to lose the series, and Rondo is now a New Orleans Pelican.

Plus, Cameron Payne and Zach LaVine also need to be highlighted when projecting Arcidiacono because they’re both supposed to be in that young guard rotation for the Bulls. However, both are coming into the season sidelined with injuries. So, perhaps not because of his skill alone, there could be a path for Arcidiacono to see some time on the United Center floor earlier than he might have with those two out injured.

And if the former Nova Wildcat does see time for the Bulls, with no prior NBA experience yet, it’s less of an expectation and more of a hope that he can be a model of the player he was in college and for the Austin Spurs. If Arcidiacono can come in and knock down open shots, move the ball and be active on defense, he could carve a role out on the end of the Bulls’ bench.

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