Should Chicago Bulls consider trading up for rising prospect Jaren Jackson Jr.?
Could the Chicago Bulls be one of the teams expressing interest in trading up for talented young big man Jaren Jackson Jr.?
As the lead-up to the 2018 NBA Draft intensifies, it seems clear that all is not lost for the Chicago Bulls just because they missed out on a top-three pick after an unfortunate draft lottery.
Several impactful stars like Trae Young, Michael Porter Jr. and Mikal Bridges could all be available for the Bulls with the No. 7 pick in the draft. And each of those players should see playing time almost immediately for the still-rebuilding Bulls and fit in with their young nucleus.
But that doesn’t mean that the Bulls won’t consider making a risky play for a higher-upside talent. And though nothing has been confirmed or denied on their end, there’s a non-zero chance that they might be taking a closer look at trading up for Michigan State big man Jaren Jackson Jr.
If you’ve been following the pre-draft process, you’ve probably already heard about Jackson Jr. annihilating his workout with the Phoenix Suns, who hold the No. 1 pick in the draft this year. And the buzz from his performance has set some possible wheeling and dealing in motion for teams outside the top four.
Sources: Jaren Jackson Jr., had a monster workout for Suns on Sunday, and continues to be the long-term prospect those outside Top 4 are working to move up and select in draft. Offers to Sacramento, Atlanta and Memphis may become increasingly aggressive between now and June 21.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 12, 2018
Wow. That good, huh?
Now, barring something groundbreaking, it still seems fairly likely that some combination of DeAndre Ayton will go with the first pick of the draft. After that, things could get really interesting.
You can’t forget about Marvin Bagley, who would be my odds-on guess for the No. 2 pick. And Luka Doncic should be a top-three pick (and I expect that he will), but we have to see if any foreign bias against him could cause him to slide.
Furthermore, guys like Bamba and Wendell Carter are also being weighed as possible options for top-five picks. Bamba, in particular, has physical traits that you can’t teach as well as an improved jump shot.
But Jackson’s versatility, both offensively and defensively, relative to some of his competition makes him a hot commodity.
Could the Chicago Bulls have some notions on taking a chance and moving up to Jackson Jr. in the 2018 NBA Draft?