Chicago Bulls: The case for Trae Young over Mikal Bridges

Defense

As aforementioned, Bridges is categorized as a ‘three-and-D’ player. Bridges is one of the better defense wings in the draft, so it’d be tough to put up an argument against him and Young head-to-head.

But Bridges’ defense comes easier than Young’s. What I mean is as a point guard, chances are Young is guarding the man with the ball more than half of the time. As a wing defender, Bridges would be playing defense primarily off the ball.

Young still outdid Bridges in the steals per game category, averaging 1.7 to Bridges 1.5, while Bridges averaged a block per game to Youngs 0.3.

Fortunately for the Bulls, elite defenders down low (Markkanen, Robin Lopez, Bobby Portis) take the weight off of the guards when it comes to getting big stops. Rose wasn’t exactly known for his defense, but he turned out just fine (for a little while).

As for rebounding, Bridges averaged 5.3 per game this past season at Villanova. Young, despite being a point guard, averaged four rebounds per game for the Sooners.

Russell Westbrook excluded, your point guard should never be your top rebounder. Young isn’t that, but he doesn’t have to be. Especially if Markkanen and Lopez hold their own down low.

Next: Chicago Bulls: 3 reasons to draft a point guard

I can’t emphasize this point enough. You don’t lose a full season just to add a small piece of the puzzle. Mikal Bridges is just that, hence the reason why I don’t want to see him in a Bulls uniform, or hat come this NBA Draft.

Are Michael Porter Jr. and Mo Bamba potential franchise-changing pieces? Sure.

But, Trae Young is the biggest impact-maker that could be available at seven, and if he is, I would love nothing more than for the Bulls to draft the future superstar point guard.