Bulls Draft 2009

The Chicago Bulls currently own two selections in NBA Draft 2009, both in the first round, No. 16 and No. 26.

This summer's draft will be held on Thursday, June 25. Chicago acquired the No. 26 pick on Feb. 19, when the Bulls sent guard Thabo Sefolosha to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for the first-round pick. The selection originally belonged to the Denver Nuggets.

mild sauce wrote:My hopes for this draft:
18 (after a trade of Hinrich for #18 and Mike Miller) - Tyler Hansbrough

The Bulls will send their No. 16 and 26 picks to New Jersey for the No. 11 selection.

This has been discussed, but hasn't really heated up. There has been talk that the Nets like North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough, who should be available at 16. So it's possible New Jersey is more interested in moving down than the Bulls are in moving up.

This is generally regarded as a weak draft, so the Bulls have to ask themselves if it's really worth giving up that No. 26 pick, which could bring a backup point guard like Toney Douglas or Darren Collison, or an extra big man.

Bulls likely thinking 'big' on draft day
Bulls may go big, but team has options with 2 1st-rounders

By K.C. Johnson, Tribune reporter, June 23, 2009

B.J. Mullens and DeJuan Blair arrived in town late Monday for an important big man workout at the Berto Center on Tuesday, affording the Bulls a second look at those players who could be joined by James Johnson and Earl Clark.

So they're surely taking a big man in Thursday's NBA draft.

"We may take a point guard if we feel that's the best player available," general manager Gar Forman said at a Berto Center news conference. [...]

Blair, Mullens, Johnson on list
Trio asked back for a second look
June 23, 2009, BY BRIAN HANLEY bhanley@suntimes.com

After conducting workouts which included approximately 50 prospects, the Bulls were hoping to bring back three forwards for another Berto Center session before the Thursday draft.

The trio warranting a second look by general manager Gar Forman and his staff are Ohio State center B.J. Mullens, Pittsburgh forward DeJaun Blair, and Wake Forest forward James Johnson.

The Bulls, who have two first-round picks (Nos. 16 and 26) might also try to schedule a visit by Louisville's Earl Clark, who cancelled a Sunday workout due to a hamstring injury.

Forman said the Bulls will spend the next two days dissecting video and scouting reports on a group of ''five or six players'' they believe will be available at No. 16.

That's assuming the Bulls keep their draft picks.

16. Bulls/Lindsey Hunter select ...

DeJuan Blair, C/PF, Pittsburgh

"He's just a flat-out beast inside," says guard Lindsey Hunter. "He brings that brute force that could help us down low right now, on offense and defense. I saw him play UConn, and he owned Hasheem Thabeet. But I like his soft touch around the basket. He's got the potential to score, too."

Doug Says: "His knees are definitely a question, but Blair is a beast."

26. Bulls/Lindsey Hunter select ...

Wayne Ellington, SG, North Carolina

"He's by far one of the best shooters in the draft," says reserve sniper Lindsey Hunter. "Coming off a pick, stop and pop, or catch and shoot, he's going to knock it down. He was great at Carolina, but now he'll have to create off the dribble. If he can do that, he'll be a force."