Fansided

2019 NBA Mock Draft: When trades enter the equation

By Brendon Kleen

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 25: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans stands on the court during the second half of a game against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Smoothie King Center on February 25, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Philadelphia 76ers won the game 111 - 110. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 25: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans stands on the court during the second half of a game against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Smoothie King Center on February 25, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Philadelphia 76ers won the game 111 - 110. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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player. 24. . G. Vanderbilt. Darius Garland. 4

The Bulls have a lot of point guards and yet they badly need a point guard. Chicago is constructing a core in dangerous proximity to Suns territory, wherein ignoring the lead playmaker spot actively limits and hurts the development of other young players on the roster.

Last season, Chicago ran out Ryan Arcidiacono, Walter Lemon Jr., Shaquille Harrison and Kris Dunn at point. Unless you’re a huge Villanova fan, you probably have never heard even one of those names before this point. Dunn is one of the more anonymous top-five picks in recent NBA history and the rest of the guys may not be in the NBA next season. We posited earlier in the season in this space that Arcidiacono may be the answer, but his lack of athleticism and size affects his ability to score and turns him into a turnstyle on D.

So, Chicago needs a point guard. They’re unlikely to get Ja Morant unless they leap up in the lottery (more likely this year than in the past, but the odds are still against it). That leaves them considering Garland, Coby White, or another non-playmaker. Complicating matters is the presence of Zach LaVine, whose huge salary and prodigious talent makes it difficult to draft a bigger combo guard and try to make it work. Instead, the Bulls really just need someone to set up the offense, play good point-of-attack defense, and control pace.

Is that Garland? It could be, but in a limited sample at Vanderbilt, Garland showed far more of a desire to score than anything else. Because of the limitations of his teammates and Garland’s knowledge that college would be an audition for the NBA and nothing more, maybe it’s unfair to assume that’s the only way he can play. However, the Bulls have two all-offense guys already on the roster in LaVine and Lauri Markkanen. They don’t need another.

So Garland will have to convince John Paxson and Gar Forman during the predraft process that despite his size, he can make an impact on defense and that he will be the type of player to maximize the guys around him.

Check out our full scouting report on Darius Garland.

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