The Bulls Play It Safe — Again
Chicago Selects Chandler Hutchison With The 22nd Pick
The NBA Draft is undeniably the most important off-the-court moment for each professional team — some more than others. Exactly one month ago, the Bulls laid out their hand of cards during the most high-stakes game of poker all season. Chandler Hutchison withdrew from all combine activities and workouts when he allegedly received a promise from a team in the 18 to 24 range, as Kevin O’Connor details.
Enough people had connected enough dots. Hutchison signed with agent Mark Bartelstein, a close friend of Jerry Reinsdorf, and it was game over. Chandler Hutchison was going to be a Bull, and everyone knew it.
Low and behold, Chicago selected Hutchison with the 22nd pick of the 2018 NBA Draft. This selection capped off an evening of underwhelming events for the Bulls. Chicago was unsuccessful in all attempts to trade upward and select European phenom Luka Doncic. Bulls fans on Twitter were hoping the team would make an effort to move up from the 22nd pick, however, that hasn’t been in the cards for over a month. So, what kind of player are the Bulls getting in Chandler Hutchison?
The video above shows footage of Hutchison splashing seven 3-pointers and dropping 44 points against San Diego State — setting a school record. The small forward from Boise State University is a 6-foot-7, 200-pounder with a 7-foot-1 wingspan. “His athleticism overall jumps off the screen,” Cole Zwicker wrote in his in-depth breakdown of Hutchison: This is a must-read for Bulls fans. The 22-year old has improved his shooting mechanics and his feel for the game each season of his four-year college career.
Chandler Hutchison’s 3-point and free-throw shooting percentage increased each season at Boise State. By his senior year, Hutchison averaged 20 points a game to go along with 3.5 assists, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.5 steals. He shot almost 36 percent from 3-point range and nearly 73 percent from the free-throw line. He fulfills a desperate team need at the wing position, although there were several wings selected within Chicago’s range. If Hutchison can continue to improve as a shooter and passer, he will be able to contribute to the Bulls immediately.
The blemishes in Hutchison’s game are evident. As laid out thoroughly by Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report, Hutchison has a plethora of offensive weaknesses:
“Hutchison has a weak in-between game, showing little off-the-dribble scoring ability that doesn’t result in a layup. He shot a dreadful 18.8 percent on 64 pull-ups, and he was just 11-of-40 on runners. His handle is too high, limiting him as a shot-creator. Hutchison often relied on getting to the free-throw line (9.3 times per 40 minutes), which he won’t get away with next season. He’d force the issue trying to get to the basket, leading to 4.3 turnovers per 40 minutes. Despite the career year shooting from three, he only hit 46 in 31 games (31.0 minutes per game) at a 35.9 percent clip.”
Yikes. That’s not what we’re looking for in today’s NBA. Defensively, it’s a mixed bag for the Boise State prospect. Hutchison showed flashes of great defensive potential, and given his athleticism, he should be able to effectively guard the small forward position. He does not possess elite instincts or ability to switch and guard bigs in the post. Although it appears he is quick enough to defend guards on switches.
If all the cards line up for Hutchison, he might be a very serviceable wing for the Bulls in the future. While it doesn’t make any sense whatsoever to tip your cap a month before the draft, the Chicago Bulls are the Chicago Bulls. Some things never change, and the Bulls’ front office has proved it’s not afraid to make questionable decisions. While taking Wendell Carter Jr. was considered the safe and smart pick, Chicago played it too safe with their 22nd pick. Not because Hutchison is a bad pick, but because it’s bad business to let the whole world know your plans a month before the draft. Regardless, Bulls fans will be rooting for Chandler Hutchison to succeed and enjoy calling Chicago his home.
