Chicago Bulls: Must-watch players in 2019 NCAA Tournament
By Ryan Heckman
Guard /Forward R.J. Barrett, Duke
The best pure wing in the draft has to be R.J. Barrett out of Duke. Coming into the regular season, he was arguably the clear no. 1 overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft. Of course, one of his teammates may have stolen that honor away from him, but we’ll get to that later.
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This past season, Barrett posted a line of 22.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists as a 6-foot-7 swingman. The freshman is sure to go in the top three picks of the draft, meaning the Bulls would have to finally secure some luck in a draft lottery to nab him.
Barrett is one of the more physically gifted players in the draft, being able to play and guard multiple spots. He’s incredibly strong and isn’t your average wing. What makes him a much better prospect than someone he’s been compared to in Andrew Wiggins is pretty simple: His effort. Barrett is out to prove he’s the best player on the court, while also maintaining a team-first mentality. He’s a proven winner and won’t back down, period.
I believe Barrett is the second-best player in this draft, and if the Bulls are lucky enough to get the no. 2 pick, they have to take him. Regardless of already possessing Zach LaVine and Otto Porter Jr., you have to take the best player available if you’re a rebuilding franchise like the Bulls.
Duke begins the tournament on Friday as a no. 1 seed — shocker. They are a heavy favorite to win it all this year, and Barrett will be a big reason why, should they take it home.