The Chicago Bulls are entering a new era. Bryson Graham arrived in the Windy City with a reputation for being great at finding overlooked talents, and his 'SLAP' philosophy might be just what this team needs to get back on track.
While everyone focuses on Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain (and rightly so), Graham's latest discovery also made a strong impression in the preseason debut. Arizona's Tobe Awaka made a solid case to crash the rotation right out of the gate.
Awaka scored 14 points on 6-of-8 from the floor, 1-of-1 from beyond the arc, and 1-of-3 from the charity stripe, adding 11 rebounds, one steal, and one block in just 21 minutes. It's a limited sample size, but he looked great out there.
The Bulls might have to turn to Tobe Awaka early in the season
Chicago's center depth is a glaring concern. When healthy, Nic Claxton will be the undisputed defensive anchor in the middle, but he's had some injury issues, and he's currently sidelined with a hamstring ailment.
Newcomer Zach Collins should also be a factor when healthy. But again, Collins is also injury-prone, so chances are the Bulls will have to turn to Jalen Smith more often than not. That leaves the door open for Awaka.
At 6-foot-8, he's undersized to play the five, and he's not as great a shot-creator or as laterally quick to play the four. But what he lacks in size, he makes up for with otherworldly instincts, energy, and athleticism.
He's a hard roller and an elite rebounder on both sides of the glass, and while his spot-up shooting is still a work in progress, there's plenty of potential there. Add a 37.5-inch vertical to the mix, and it's hard to believe he slipped through the cracks of the NBA Draft to go undrafted.
Awaka's motor, strength, timing, and positioning should make him a highly productive player in limited minutes. Think Montrezl Harrell or Isaiah Stewart, an athletic and strong enforcer who can be a spot starter when needed.
Of course, Awaka may not have the highest upside, and his size limitations will cap his ceiling, but the Bulls could use a high-motor guy who's not afraid to get dirty and put his body on the line to give his team extra possessions.
And with Taj Gibson working with him and helping him develop a mid-range pull-up jumper, plus the team's woes at the position, they should definitely give him a chance to prove his worth. Graham has found some diamonds in the rough, and Awaka might as well be another one.
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