NEWSLETTER
As uninspiring as the 2024 NBA Draft class feels, it’s only a matter of time before scouts begin to talk themselves into this year’s prospect pool. In fact, that time might be now.
The NCAA Tournament proves vital to the draft stock of players every single season. With Round 1 set to tip-off on Thursday morning, a handful of big names will have an opportunity to show off under the biggest spotlight.
The Chicago Bulls, in particular, will have a big reason to watch closely. Tankathon currently has the team slated 12th in the NBA Draft Lottery. Of course, this could change depending on how the Chicago Bulls perform in the Play-In Tournament, but it’s still far more likely than not that they end up with a selection somewhere in the early to mid-teens.
With that in mind, we might as well start to familiarize ourselves with some of the top first-round names. A few of these players I mention below could definitely end up selected before the Bulls come onto the board, but the draft process is also just beginning. You never quite know how the board will shake out, so it can’t hurt to cast your net wide.
Dalton Knecht
Position: G
School: Tennessee
Age: 22
HT/WT: 6’6″, 204lbs
Stats: 21.1 PPG, 4.7 REB, 1.8 AST, 46.5 FG%, 39.7 3PT%
An electric scorer, few in college basketball have been as consistently deadly as Dalton Knecht this season. The oversized guard can both power his way to the free throw line and string together 3-point shots. Knecht takes 6.2 attempts from downtown a night, and he’s hitting them at a 39.7 percent clip.
His deep scoring arsenal has vaulted him off draft boards as the year has gone on. Still, there are some big questions about his defensive abilities, as well as how well he can contribute as an off-ball threat at the next level. He has the kind of size and physicality that should translate to other areas of the floor, but we’ll see.
Rob Dillingham
Position: G
School: Kentucky
Age: 19
HT/WT: 6’2″, 170lbs
Stats: 15.4 PPG, 3.9 AST, 2.8 REB, 1.1 STL, 48.2 FG%, 44.9 3PT%
Unlike Dalton Knecht, Rob Dillingham will be one of the younger prospects in this year’s draft. The guard is another highly-explosive and efficient scorer at the position. He’s both quick and crafty, showing the potential to be a high-level bucket-getter at the next level.
Unfortunately, however, there will always be concerns about Dillingham’s size. He stands just six-foot-two and could turn into a target defensively. That isn’t to say he doesn’t try hard on that end of the floor, but he might prove to be another one-dimensional asset.
Ja’Kobe Walter
Position: G/F
School: Baylor
Age: 19
HT/WT: 6’5″, 195lbs
Stats: 14.2 PPG, 4.4 REB, 1.5 ASt, 1.1 STL, 37.3 FG%, 34.0 3PT%
The potential is easy to understand with Ja’Kobe Walter. He’s your typical 3-and-D prospect with a lot of room to grow on both sides. Nothing about his game is efficient right now, but he embraces physicality around the rim and is always looking for ways to score off the ball. There is a lot of talk about his fire and competitive spirit, which could make him stand out in pre-draft interviews.
Whichever team drafts Walter will get someone with pretty tremendous upside, but he’ll also be a project. Again, the shotmaking needs to be more efficient, and he also has to prove that he can shoot the 3-ball consistently. The off-the-dribble shot creation isn’t anything special right now.
Ps: I could see the Bulls front office falling in love with this guy, for what it’s worth. They love their high-energy guys who can’t really handle the ball …
Stephon Castle
Position: G
School: UConn
Age: 19
HT/WT: 6’6″, 215lbs
Stats: 10.8 PPG, 4.5 REB, 2.9 AST, 46.8 FG%, 28.1 3PT%
Yes, there are a lot of guards on this list and the Bulls have received breakout seasons from Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu. But (1) this franchise isn’t necessarily in a position to draft for need and (2) a lot of these guys could be multi-positional, including this one here.
Stephon Castle is a freshman with the reigning national champs and No. 1 seed. Despite UConn having several returning cast members, Castle has carved himself out a significant role. He’s started the last 22 games of the year and has started to look far more like the five-star prospect the team expected. What makes Castle so special is his size. He can switch onto almost every position on the floor and hold his own thanks to his 215-pound frame.
The problem for Castle is his jumper. It’s just not a reliable tool right now, which is highlighted by his 28.1 percent clip from downtown. We have reason to believe this can trend in the right direction, though. I really like this dude overall. The lack of an elite skillset is a tad concerning, but he’s also a freshman. Few players can do what he does at his size, and that’s valuable within itself.
Kyle Filipowski
Position: C
School: Duke
Age: 20
HT/WT: 7’0″, 230lbs
Stats: 17.1 PPG, 8.2 REB, 2.4 AST, 1.6 BLK, 51.1 FG%, 35.0 3PT%
Hey, look, a modern NBA big man! Kyle Filipowski’s first year at Duke didn’t necessarily go as planned, but he’s come into his own during his sophomore campaign. The seven-footer has the elite size you want at the center position, but he also possesses the floor-spacing ability that’s so desperately needed in today’s league.
Filipowski projects to be a serviceable 3-point threat who can also put the rock on the court and create a little. He may not be the most overpowering presence in the post, but his sheer height will make him an asset in the rim-protecting department. This is especially true when we consider how well he moves his feet.
For a Chicago Bulls team that needs to think about the future of its center position, they could do WAY worse than Filipowski, if he’s available.
Donovan Clingan
Position: C
School: UConn
Age: 20
HT/WT: 7’2″, 218lbs
Stats: 12.5 PPG, 7.2 REB, 1.5 AST, 2.3 BLK, 63.8 FG%
Let’s keep the big man talk going! Donovan Clingan entered the NBA Draft discussion last season during UConn’s run to the national title game. He played an increasingly important role as the year went on, proving to be one of college basketball’s best rim protectors. Clingan will enter the NBA and be an immediate threat to swat shots and keep teams out of the paint.
While he doesn’t possess the mobility of someone like Filipowski, he’s probably the superior screener and roll man. I can already see him turning into a consistent lob threat with the right facilitator. Not to mention, Clingan could become a real second-chance points creator.
In a league that is dominated by bigs like Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Joel Embiid, teams may be looking more and more for reinforcements. Clingan is a fearless player who could fill that hole.
Johnny Furphy
Position: F
School: Kansas
Age: 19
HT/WT: 6’9″, 202lbs
Stats: 8.8 PTS, 4.7 REB, 47.6 FG%, 35.4 3PT%
Most recent mocks thus far have Johnny Furphy going lower than where the Chicago Bulls are currently slated to pick. But, hey, that could easily change with a big-time NCAA Tournament appearance.
Furphy has great size and plays with a willingness to do the little things. He’s a strong 3-point threat who moves well off the ball to create opportunities for himself. While the idea of Furphy is a lot better than the actual product, the flashes of what he can do in an expanded role have been there. Does he project to be more of a role-play than a star? Yup. But getting that in the draft is still a major win.
Also, I don’t know what it is, but the name Johnny Furphy just sounds like a Bulls draft pick.
Yves Missi
Position: C
School: Baylor
Age: 19
HT/WT: 6’11”, 235lbs
Stats: 11.1 PPG, 5.8 REB, 1.6 BLK, 61.9 FG%
Yves Missi catches your eye immediately. He’s a rim-running big man who is a far more fluid athlete than clunky. He’s got a massive wingspan that can help him block shots on one end and create extra possessions on the other.
What remains most intriguing about Missi is simply the way he moves. I’m not sure many guys can cover the floor in the way he does. His offensive upside feels limited, as everything will have to come around the rim, but he’s pretty efficient and still super young. If the Bulls want to take a flyer on a young springy big man who (literally) jumps off the screen, Missi could be it.
