2017 NBA Mock Draft, Week 12: The Lakers keep their pick

The Chicago Bulls’ experiment of signing a bunch of guards who can’t shoot has failed, but in the process the team has found itself a legitimate superstar to build around in Jimmy Butler. Going forward, it would make sense for the Bulls to surround Butler with complimentary pieces that can accentuate his talents. Texas A&M’s Robert Williams is a high energy big man who won’t get in Butler’s way on offense and will provide an interior presence that can protect the rim on the other end.

Offensively, Williams is far from a finished product. Although he has scored in double figures in four of his last five games, the 19-year old still largely collects his points on putbacks after offensive rebounds, as a dump off man down low or diving to the rim in pick-and-rolls. There’s still plenty of room for him to grow.

On defense, Williams is likely this draft’s best rim protector. At 6-foot-9, but with a 7-foot-4 wingspan, he is averaging 4.4 blocks per 40 minutes with an 11.7 percent block rate. He still plays like a young defender, chasing every potential shot that comes anywhere near his radius, but with some coaching and maturation, that can change. Right now, that bad habit mostly impacts him on the defensive boards where he is often out of position to grab a missed shot.