Top 5 options for the Chicago Bulls in the 2022 NBA Draft

Mark Williams is by far the best-case scenario for the Chicago Bulls

There is no question about it: Duke center Mark Williams is the dream scenario for the Bulls at pick no. 18. At the moment, he is ranked as the number 14 overall player in the draft, per ESPN. He is ranked similarly by other outlets, as well, and could even end up in the top 13 as a lottery pick.

But, as we’ve established, once the draft gets past pick seven or eight, it’s going to get a little murky. There is no telling what other teams could end up doing based on need or whom they view as the best player available.

Williams, though, fills an immediate need for the Bulls. It is a need that was apparent all last season, as the depth behind Nikola Vucevic was little to none in terms of impact. For a little while, it was Tony Bradley, and Bulls fans were driven over the edge by just how bad he was when on the floor.

The Bulls then signed Tristan Thompson after he hit the buyout market, and Thompson provided a little spark here and there. But, he had no defensive impact whatsoever.

That’s where Williams shines. He was last season’s ACC Defensive Player of the Year, averaging a whopping 2.8 blocks per game to go with his 11.2 points and 7.4 rebounds. Williams brings the energy on defense every single possession, and would be an instant upgrade behind Vucevic.

He’s also effective in the paint, where he shoots over 72 percent from the floor. He’s more of a true center inside and offers nothing from beyond the arc. But, Williams has the chance to be a very good player in this league, and is by far and away the best option for the Bulls, if he were to fall.