Bulls Season Predictions: Center |
We have reached the final position of our season prediction series, which falls again on the frontcourt. Today, it is all about the Center position, which could be this team's biggest area of concern. Sure, having Nikola Vucevic back on a fresh new three-year deal is nice, but there is little depth to be had apart from him.
One of the Bulls most significant issues the past few seasons is not only the lack of depth at some positions but the lack of size that this team has. Sure, the Bulls have a pair of players at least 6-10, but that is it. When you look at the NBA landscape and the size of some of these teams across the league, it is hard to win when you don't have a tone of size, which leaves you vulnerable to certain teams.
When the Bulls traded for Vucevic three seasons ago, the move was made to add an excellent offensive center into the mix. This was after a long run of Joakim Noah and Wendell Carter Jr playing the Center position, as neither would give you more than 10-12 points per game. Vucevic was not only a 20-plus point scorer during his tenure with Orlando, but he was the primary offensive option for the Magic, a rarity in today's game. After coming to the Bulls, Vucevic continued to give you good offensive numbers, but not quite as good as his Orlando days, as he was no longer the focal point of an offense. You started to see him get more involved last season, which led to an uptick in scoring, but his lack of defense made it hard to keep him on the floor late in games, which is something he hopes to work on this season. Prediction: 80 games, 18.1 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 3.1 APG: Not only is Vucevic one of the more consistent offensive Centers in the game, but he is also one of the more durable players which is what made him a rather hot commodity this offseason. Knowing that Chicago gave him a brand new three-year 60 million dollar deal as he will look to finish his career in Chicago. Vucevic will put up very good offensive numbers, but he would like to be more of a focal point this season or at least have the offense run through him. That was the case in Orlando, and for the most part, he was the most consistent scorer on that team. If he can improve his defense even a little bit, look for his offensive numbers to climb this season, as he will get more minutes in crunch time.
There was a time when the Bulls had three if not four, players capable of playing the Center position, but those days are long gone. Now, it is Vucevic and his counterpart, Andre Drummond, coming off the bench. After not getting the minutes he expected last season, many felt that Drummond would decline his option and hit the open market. He surprised all of them by exercising his option, which is a massive help to the Bulls. Drummond has had some great offensive years in the past, especially with Detroit, but those days are not in the equation anymore. Now, you are getting a physical player who is a rebounding machine who reminds many people of Dennis Rodman when he pulled down boards for Michael Jordan. If Billy Donovan gets him more involved, you could see a lineup where Vucevic and Drummond are simultaneously on the court. Prediction: 70 games, 8.7 PPG, 9.1 RPG: Drummond may not get the minutes he once had, but look for him to get way more minutes this season, which should help him get into a better rhythm. From an offensive side of things, Drummond will live in the paint and be one of those guys who hauls down rebounds and puts shots back in the hoop. Defensively, he is a physical specimen that doesn't take crap and is one of the best rebounders in the league if you average out his rebounds per 48 minutes. Drummond could also find his name on the trade block this season should things go south, and he would be an excellent addition to any team.Nikola Vucevic
Andre Drummond
