After earning their first winning campaign since 2017, the Chicago Bulls are in line to select with the No. 18 pick in the NBA Draft on June 23rd.
With that in mind, I thought I would share my draft notes on several players who could be available in the late teens on draft night. Keep an eye out for a few of these posts as we inch closer to the big night!
– E.J. Liddell, Jalen Williams, Ochai Agbaji
– Tari Eason, Blake Wesley, Walker Kessler
Position: Wing Age: 19 Height: 6’5″ School: Ohio State
One of the best versions of Branham seems to be a cross between Will Barton on the Nuggets and Khris Middleton on the Bucks. Like Middleton, I can envision him being a little bit more present at the free-throw line, as well as involved with some of the playmaking. But I don’t see a world where his shot-creation or efficiency ever reaches Middleton’s level, which makes me think Barton’s current hot-and-cold role could be a bit more in Branham’s ballpark.
Position: Wing Age: 21 Height: 6’6″ School: G-League Ignite
MarJon Beauchamp truly feels like a bigger and younger Javonte Green. Both play an irritant style of basketball that any team can benefit from. Beauchamp should also be far more impactful on the defensive end than he is on offense, so much so that he may disappear at times.
With that said, I do think Beauchamp has a higher offensive ceiling than Green. He is an awesome finisher who should find more consistent production as a cutter, and he could become a driving threat if he tightens his handles.
Matisse Thybulle also feels like a decent comparison.
Position: PF/C Age: 19 Height: 6’11″ School: KK Mega Basket
I see a lot of Franz Wagner in Jovic (aka, the player the Orlando Magic drafted with the Chicago Bulls pick in 2021). While Jovic isn’t nearly as NBA-ready as Wagner proved to be coming into the league, both share a surprisingly comfortable ability to handle the basketball and create offense for their size. Not to mention, they are both high-IQ talents. Jovic is bigger than Wagner, though, which could lead to more of a role for him in the rim-protecting department.
Elias Schuster is the Lead Bulls Writer at Bleacher Nation. You can follow him on Twitter @Schuster_Elias.
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