Chicago Bulls: Intriguing draft lottery outcomes, potential picks and trades

Some how, some way, the Bulls could find themselves at no. 1 overall.

In 2008, the Bulls shocked the world — and themselves — by securing the no. 1 overall pick with less than a two percent chance to do so. They went on to take beloved fan-favorite Derrick Rose out of Memphis, and the rest is history — not necessarily history worth discussing.

Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.

Currently, the Bulls have just over a five percent chance to find themselves at no. 1 overall. If that happens, it’s pretty well assumed we know who they’re taking.

Anybody with the top pick in this year’s draft will undoubtedly be grabbing center Deandre Ayton out of Arizona. Ayton is 7-foot-1, 250 pounds, with a 7-foot wingspan.

Without knowing any better, you may think, “defensive specialist,” at the center position.

You’d be very, very wrong.

Ayton is an offensive juggernaut at his position. Crazy enough, he’s a rare breed who can score with the best of them, regardless of position. Ayton averaged an impressive 20.1 points per game on 61 percent shooting overall.

Here’s the kicker: He shot over 34 percent from three-point range. Say what?

To go along with his offensive game, he still managed to average a double-double with 11.6 rebounds per game. Ayton also averaged just under two blocks per game as well.

Having several different strengths offensively, Ayton is a matchup nightmare at the position. The interesting thing about him, though, is that he played relatively average — if not poor — on the defensive side of the ball last year.

The problem with this assessment, though, is that Ayton was often asked to guard smaller players in college. As a pro, he’ll be matched up mainly with guys his size at the center position, giving the opposing players the inverse effect. As a pro, he will be the matchup problem.