2019 NBA Mock Draft: The lottery order is officially official
24. . G/F. Texas Tech. Jarrett Culver. 4. player
After drafting big men each of the last two summers, the Bulls need to balance their roster. Drafting a jumbo wing like Culver gets them most of the way there, but positional balance is not the only way Culver helps Chicago.
It took a midseason coaching change and a drastic return to the basics to push the Bulls ahead of other lottery teams in defensive efficiency, but a scan across their roster shows very little defensive talent. Lauri Markkanen is not anyone’s idea of a strong defender and it remains to be seen how he holds up at power forward. After maxing Zach LaVine last summer, the Bulls still can’t feel great about his ability to hold up on D guarding wings for 82 games every year.
Enter Culver. The Texas Tech sophomore is probably the best perimeter defensive prospect in this class, making the big questions about his offensive fit in the NBA less worrisome. Culver never leaves a defensive squat, directs ball-handlers precisely to where the help joins him, and racks up steals and blocks as the leader of the best defense in the country.
All of that will translate to the NBA. Culver isn’t a pesky jitterbug who will get squished out by bigger men in the pros. He is 6-5 and many believe he is still growing or is actually taller than his listed height. His length is legit, and he’s strong enough to compete against NBA athletes right away.
We saw Shaquille Harrison earn minutes under Bulls coach Jim Boylen this year because he competed on defense and Culver will do the same and stabilize Chicago’s young core.