Bulls: Has Chicago been holding back this budding star?

The beast has finally been unleashed. Do the Chicago Bulls have something special on their hands here with rookie Daniel Gafford?

Although it took injuries to some of the worst frontcourt players in the NBA in Cristiano Felicio and Luke Kornet to reach our destination, the Daniel Gafford show has finally arrived. In his first real outing with the Chicago Bulls, Gafford put the league on notice that he could become a real difference maker one day.

Drafted No. 38 overall in the second round of the 2019 NBA Draft, not many people had high expectations right out of the gate for the big man out of Arkansas. The league keeps transitioning to 3-point oriented offenses that can stretch the floor and light it up from deep. What value does a rim running center have in this day and age?

Like we’ve seen with elite running backs in the NFL lately, top talent can change the game regardless if the league values them properly or not.

While Gafford had technically appeared in four games already, he had only played a dozen minutes to date, all coming in garbage time when the game’s result had already been decided. Monday night provided our first real look at Gafford’s ability, and he certainly did not disappoint.

In just 20 minutes of action, Gafford scored 21 points and dominated the paint. Despite only grabbing five rebounds, he achieved a game-high four rebounds on the offensive glass. He also blocked two shots, showing potential to be a positive presence in the low block on both ends of the court.

Don’t be fooled, this was hardly beginner’s luck. Gafford surprised many with his performance in the Las Vegas Summer League, where he put up 21 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocks in a dominant win over the Lakers.

He carried this positive momentum into the 2019-20 season, where he was relegated to playing with the Bulls’ G League affiliate until he properly learned Chicago’s defensive schemes. In three games with the Windy City Bulls, Gafford posted ridiculous averages of 17.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.7 blocks and 2 steals per game.

This raises the question, what exactly was this exceptionally talented player doing at the end of the bench while the Bulls ran out some of the most incompetent players the NBA has to offer at the center position?

In the past, head coach Jim Boylen has cited unpreparedness on Gafford’s part for not becoming an immediate member of the rotation. It’s safe to say that after Monday’s performance, this was just yet another weird decision that further showcases Boylen’s incompetence at effectively managing this team’s rotations.

With no other true centers in the rotation behind Wendell Carter, there’s no reason for Gafford to not see an increased role moving forward, allowing him to showcase his talent and what he can help contribute to the team for years to come.