2019 NBA Mock Draft: March Madness is NBA Draft crazy season
24. . F. Virginia. De'Andre Hunter. 4. player
I wrote about Lauri Markkanen and the Bulls for The Step Back this week. Here’s what I wrote about the second-year big man and what his growth in Year Two means for Chicago:
"“NBA rebuilds develop inertia. Teams start down one path, take the wrong player, and the franchise’s fortunes can snowball. The right player can likewise charge a franchise forward several years in an instant. Markkanen could be that player. The Bulls aren’t good right now, but they’re not far away. Strong play from the team’s core and smart moves in-season have set Chicago up to use a likely top-five pick this year to top off its young group rather than be its savior. They are quietly pretty deep with interesting players.”"
To that end, unlocking Markkanen as a legitimate versatile big is key. Markkanen has the tools to make plays from the perimeter and switch on defense — unlocking modern NBA lineups for the Bulls. That means they need to add versatility on the wing to continue building that way.
Hunter is the answer — a four-position defender who can create in isolation and spot up from 3.