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Initially with this pick my plan was to take a point guard. With Derrick Rose's future uncertain as it is, the Bulls could be looking to add there. But then with the 16th pick in the draft, Tanner filled that hole by selecting the wonderful Elfrid Payton.
So instead of loading up on point guard and selecting Tyler Ennis here, the Bulls will seek to improve on the wings as well and will select Duke small forward Rodney Hood. From Draft Express:
LB Draft Coverage
LB Draft Coverage
Hood looks the part of a NBA wing, standing 6-8 in shoes with a lanky build and smooth and fluid (but not incredibly explosive) athleticism. He made 42% of his 3-pointers on the year and is one of the better shooters in this draft class, showing excellent mechanics and a high release point, to go along with deep range, and being capable of knocking down jumpers with his feet set or off the dribble. He hit 37 of the 85 pull-up jump-shot attempts he took on the season (43%), which ranks #1 among college prospects in our Top-100 Rankings.
Hood specializes in efficiency on offense, something much needed in Chicago as the Bulls were 28th in the league in offensive efficiency last season, behind only the Magic and the Sixers. While Elfrid has some offensive weaknesses, he gives them a pick-and-roll threat, but his outside shooting is questionable. There are no shooting questions when it comes to Hood. And the Bulls, among other things, need shooting. Something about Mike Dunleavy's 12.6 PER wasn't getting it done.
I reached out to Bulls blogger and all-around hoops wiz Ricky O'Donnell for input on this pick, and he was kind enough to supply the following comment.
Hood can shoot, and the Bulls need shooters. For that reason alone, he wouldn't be a bad pick for Chicago with one of their two first round selections. The question with Hood is: does he do anything else? For a player who is supposed to be a solid defender, he didn't rack up many steals or blocks. Part of that is because of Duke's conservative man defense. Part of it might be because Hood's wingspan is proportional to his height.
Defense can't be totally captured in statistics, and it's worth noting Hood defended T.J. Warren in the ACC Tournament about as tough as anyone did all year. If he can turn himself into a three-and-D player, he'll be a great value pick at this point in the draft. If he struggles on that end and proves he's closer to the 36 percent three-point shooter he was at Mississippi State than the 42 percent marksman he was at Duke, he could be a bust. It's a risk some team will have to be willing to take. With a need for shooting as obvious as it is in Chicago, the Bulls could very well roll the dice.
Up next Jake P. will make select on behalf of the Toronto Raptors. Some lucky ball player is about to become teammates with Jonas Valanciunas.