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Asa Newell could be a draft target for the Chicago Bulls

The NBA Draft is rapidly approaching. The Chicago Bulls will be looking to add another highly talented young player to their rotation.

In a recent mock draft from Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report, the Bulls were projected to select Asa Newell out of Georgia. Newell is a 6-foot-9 forward with a pro comparison to John Collins.

“Workouts will give Asa Newell a chance to further sell teams on his shooting, which could unlock a coveted archetype and higher level of upside,” Wasserman wrote. “He was the only player in the country with 50 dunks and 25 threes last season, and certain teams will surely be drawn to adding a springy finishing weapon who can stretch the floor and move defensively.”

The Bulls need some new talent at the forward positions. Newell would provide Billy Donovan with a multi-skilled big man who has long-term upside. It’s unclear whether the Georgia product could ever emerge as an All-Star. However, he is certainly capable of developing into a starting-level forward at the NBA level.

Still, the fact that Newell projects to be a potential three-level scoring threat could make him the perfect addition to help expedite the Bulls’ rebuild.

Bulls Could Get Lucky in the Upcoming Draft

In Zach Harper’s recent mock draft for The Athletic, the Bulls strike gold, landing Ace Bailey with the 12th overall pick.

“There are some draft nights in which a player falls for odd reasons, and it invites some very intriguing chaos,” Harper wrote. “We saw it with Cam Whitmore falling to the Rockets at No. 20 in 2023. I’m wondering if Bailey measuring at 6-7 1/2 without shoes after everybody thought he was 6-10 at Rutgers is going to impact his draft stock. It very well could. Enough to fall all the way down here?”

Harper continued.

“That seems dramatic, but I could see him taking a bit of a dive if a team like the Sixers isn’t sold on him helping it win now, or if Charlotte or Washington believe he doesn’t fit with their wings. He projects now as a wing rather than a 6-10 scoring forward. It doesn’t sound like a huge difference, but it could be.”

The Bulls are unlikely to get lucky enough to select Bailey. However, if he is still on the board, Chicago should certainly roll the dice.

Bulls Could Also Look at Other Forwards

In a June 3 mock draft, Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report predicted the team would select Collin Murray-Boyles out of South Carolina.

“Collin Murray-Boyles’ measurements lined up with South Carolina’s listing, the eye test and general expectations,” Wasserman wrote. “He’s built different with a wing’s height and a big’s bulk and a 7’1″ wingspan. While he didn’t shoot the three-ball well in Chicago, he did look very comfortable with his mid-range touch. And that could be enough to unlock significant scoring ability when paired with his physicality around the basket and quick, decisive face-up game attacking in space.”

Whoever the Bulls acquire through the draft will need to earn their spot in the rotation. Donovan may be coaching a rebuilding team, but he will undoubtedly expect the roster to be competitive in the fight for minutes. Therefore, the front office must ensure it does its due diligence.

Chicago has a genuine opportunity to add a future piece to the rotation in the draft. It can’t afford to fumble the selection.

Adam Taylor is a basketball reporter covering the Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns for Heavy. He has also written for CelticsBlog, USA Today, Yardbarker and FanSided. Adam has a bachelor’s degree in creative writing from Open University. More about Adam Taylor

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