NBA Draft rumors 2022: 5 targets for the Chicago Bulls
1. Malaki Branham
If the Bulls want to make a former Buckeye their first-round selection they should opt for Branham over Liddell. He’s not nearly as ready to play right away but his smooth jumper gives him a chance to grow into a star if things break right during his professional career.
It’s worth mentioning that Branham is three years younger than his Ohio State teammate. At 19 years of age he has multiple years of serious growth still ahead of him. The Bulls should be drafting Branham based on what he can become by the end of his rookie deal as opposed to what he can give them next year.
The 6-foot-4 wing has the makings of a jump shot that can be an elite weapon well past the three-point arc. He also flashed a high degree of shot versatility during his collegiate career. It’s easy to envision a scenario where he develops into a high-level 3-point shooter off the dribble.
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It’s fair to criticize Branham for not creating enough opportunities for his teammates in college but that won’t be his role at the NBA level anytime soon. He’s wired to score and that’s just what the Bulls are going to need off their bench. Landing Branham would be an excellent outcome for Chicago at 18.