Chicago Bulls: Texas’ Mo Bamba would be a great first-round pick

The Chicago Bulls have exceeded expectations so far this season, and now project to pick outside the Top-5 in next summer’s NBA Draft. Would Texas big man Mo Bamba be the right fit?

Winning isn’t always a good thing, especially if you’re the Chicago Bulls right now.

Chicago Bulls came into the 2017-18 season expecting to lose. That hasn’t really been the case as of late January.

A few weeks away from the All-Star Game, the Bulls sit at 18-28, just 5.5 games out of a playoff spot.

The Bulls would currently pick ninth (without the lottery), leaving big names such as Deandre Ayton, Marvin Bagley and Luka Doncic out of the mix.

It’s time to start looking elsewhere. Fortunately, this is a deep draft. There’s talent everywhere, particularly at the center position.

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Specifically, I’m talking about someone whose team isn’t in the Top-25. I’m talking about a guy who has flown under-the-radar this season despite being a five-star recruit.

I’m talking about Texas’ Mohamed Bamba.

Bamba, the #4-ranked recruit in the Class of 2017 by ESPN, is a 7-foot center from Westtown School in Harlem, New York.

Bamba is most well-known for his 8-foot wingspan, which will be an NBA Draft Combine record once he participates come this summer.

Bamba’s freakish wingspan allows him to block shots at an unbelievable rate. As of now, Bamba ranks second in all of Division-1 basketball with 4.5 blocks per game.

While his college stats won’t transfer directly to the NBA, it’s worth noting that a Bulls player has never averaged more than 3 blocks per game (Artis Gilmore). Also, no Chicago Bulls player has ever led the NBA in blocks per game.

In addition to his stellar defense, Bamba averages 11.8 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. Bamba’s defensive impact coupled with averaging a double-double per game makes him a stellar prospect.

Besides, the Chicago Bulls direly need a young center. Zach LaVine and Kris Dunn have the future point guard spots locked up, leaving an open spot at the five next to Lauri Markkanen at the four.

Bamba can learn behind Robin Lopez, who also specializes in rebounding and blocking shots, before taking over as the Bulls franchise centerpiece. That, of course, assumes the Bulls don’t trade Lopez.

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Sure, Bamba could end up a bust like anyone else could. Scouts compare him favorably to 2009 2nd-overall pick Hasheem Thabeet, who like Bamba specialized in dominance down low with a 7-foot plus wingspan. Thabeet washed out of the NBA really quickly.

But the superstar potential of Bamba is something that the Bulls can’t pass up. The NBA has never seen a big man as lanky yet agile as Bamba. His domination on offense and defense gives him the potential to be a franchise changer.

The Chicago Bulls could use that.