NBA D-League preview: The Windy City Bulls could surprise some folks

Over the next couple of weeks, The Step Back will examine each of the 22 NBA D-League teams and bring bringing you an in-depth look at their roster as well as any potential storylines to watch for. Teams can retain up to 12 players, while only 10 will be active for games. This is your first look at the prospects to watch out for all season.

Roster Breakdown

Affiliates: Spencer Dinwiddie, J.J. Avila, Thomas Walkup and D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera
Returners: Wesley Saunders and Alec Brown (trade)
Draftees: Sterling Gibbs and Aaron Thomas
Tryouts: Coreontae DeBerry, Alfonzo McKinnie and Corbin Thomas
Potential NBA Assignees: Paul Zipser and Denzel Valentine

Fear the untamed beard

Thomas Walkup is a rookie out of Stephen F. Austin who was catapulted into basketball fans’ hearts during last year’s March Madness extravaganza. Every year, some relatively obscure player goes through this phenomenon and Walkup was the 2016 version. Walkup still went undrafted, but after a strong showing for the Golden State Warriors during summer league, the Chicago Bulls swiped him for training camp.

Read More: Thomas Walkup is on his way

Walkup is a do-it-all type of wing and at 6-foot-4 can handle the ball, slash to the rim and make plays for others from the perimeter. That skillset led him to earning the Lou Henson Award, which is the Mid-Major Player of the Year honor. Now, he gets to essentially start over and prove his worth all over again — and he’s up for it. The eye test easily shows Walkup is a player. He makes quality decisions with the ball, he gives effort on both ends of the court, he’s coachable and he stays in his lane.

Pundits might point to his lack of 3-point shooting as a huge weakness. While he wasn’t prolific from outside in college (made 40-of-131 in four years for 30.5 percent clip), he can still hit that shot when open. His decent free throw percentage and shot mechanics tend to point to his lack of shooting these shots as a choice, not necessarily because it’s a weakness. Still, that percentage will undoubtedly have to improve for him to viable at the NBA level. Walkup is one of a handful of free-flowing playmakers Windy City has on their roster, but he should be the most fun to watch.

From Ivy League to D-League breakout player

Wesley Saunders did not have the rookie season he likely envisioned for himself. He spent time last year with both the Westchester Knicks and Austin Spurs but only averaged 17 minutes a game. Now with the expansion Bulls, Saunders should get his time to breakout and show he can contribute at this level after having a wildly successful career at Harvard.

At 6-foot-5, Saunders excels when attacking the rim. He finishes well with either hand and while he plays mainly below the rim, his strength pushes him through contact. During his senior season at Harvard, he even extended his range to the 3-point line and knocked down 42.5 percent — albeit with a small sample size of 73 attempts. In his 38 D-League appearances last year, however, he only took nine outside shots.

Most opposing teams will come into games with Windy City focused on stopping Spencer Dinwiddie, Walkup and J.J. Avila, so Saunders should get some open looks and be able to sneak under the radar; at least at the start of the season. Saunders needs to show he can develop a consistent outside shot, effect the game on the defensive side of the ball and work within the Bulls’ complex schemes.

If he can, then watch out.

Pick-and-pop combo from hell

Dinwiddie has been on the tips of NBA fans’ tongues for years now. He’s a 6-foot-6 point guard who looked the part in the college ranks but simply hasn’t been able to put it together in the pros yet. The main issue has been Dinwiddie’s lack of shooting efficiency. In his two years with Detroit — albeit in spot minutes — he shot 31.4 percent overall and 17.3 percent from deep. Rhythm is a real thing in sports and it’s difficult to gain momentum as a shooter when minutes aren’t consistent, but that’s the chore as a rotational bench player in the NBA.

Avila is a second-year pro out of Colorado State who spent his rookie year in Belgium. Now he’s back for a look at the NBA, and Windy City could be the vessel to get him there. Avila is a crafty, 6-foot-8 power forward who utilizes footwork and intellect to outmaneuver his opponents. He’s not a high-flyer, so this is his lot in terms of offense. His shot mechanics are solid, and he’s able to get his shots off quickly and accurately even with a slingshot motion. Avila is a stout 250 pounds, so he’s able to bang in the post and finish with either hand around the basket as well.

The combo here could be deadly for the Bulls. Working out of pick-and-roll sets in the NBA is akin to breathing, so showing success in those scenarios is vital for prospects. With Dinwiddie being just 23-years-old while Avila is 25, both are still developing and hopefully improving their games. The Bulls also have 7-footer Alec Brown on the roster, so Avila can slide next to him at the 4 spot and work the pick-and-pop game to death with Dinwiddie.

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