Bright lights, large venues, and heavy game action are all part of the typical Las Vegas experience.
For the NBA Summer League, that also translates to the hardwood experience. Media, celebrities, athletes and the entire basketball world descended upon Las Vegas in early July to watch incoming NBA rookies and a few 2nd year players take the court to showcase their talents.
Unlike the recent California earthquakes, the Chicago Bulls Summer League team did not experience many groundbreaking moments or have much of an impact. The team finished with a record of 2-3. However, what we got was a peek into the future potential of a few young Bulls prospects. Let’s recap what we learned about those players who are expected to play a role on the 2019 regular season roster.
Coby White
The Summer League (SL) performance for the #7 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft was a mixed bag. In five games, Coby White averaged 15.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 4.8 APG and 1.4 SPG. However, his dismal field goal shooting (30%) — especially from beyond the arc (10% on 3-30) — was a concern considering his shooting prowess coming out of college. Despite his unexpected shooting woes, White had his best shooting game of the summer against the Pelicans and showed what he is capable of when his shot is falling.
Although his decision making and shooting efficiency in the half court must improve, White flashed the signature hyper-speed transition offense and playmaking skills that made him the Bulls’ top pick. His handles are reminiscent of a young Kyrie Irving and he was mostly able to get to his spots with very little difficulty. This garnered praise from such notable NBA talents as Chris Paul and Donovan Mitchell.
White is also a good team defender but must learn to fight though screens and stay in front of his man. These things should hopefully develop with experience. The Bulls are expected to increase their offensive pace of play this season, which should fit perfectly with White’s skill set. Only time and opportunity will determine how fast he can transition his game and he’ll certainly have plenty of both.
Daniel Gafford
The Bulls selected Daniel Gafford in the 2nd round as a high-motor prospect with length and athleticism. Team management was high on his potential when they drafted him and now we know why. Gafford’s game was a revelation and he was the best player on the team by far, averaging 13.8 PPG, 7.8 RPG and 2.8 BPG – including two games where he averaged over 20 points & 10 rebounds.
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Gafford attacks the rim on offense while still showing a nice soft touch in the paint. On defense, he demonstrated his two-way skill set, relentlessly protecting the rim and viciously swatting shots away (3+ blocks in 3 games). On a few occasions, he even sacrificed his body to get the block or alter an opponent’s shot. Gafford also rebounds fairly well, although he will need to get stronger to battle down low and box out against NBA competition at his position.
As a high-energy prospect, Gafford is still a raw project who will need time to develop his game. However, it’s clear that he already possesses great upside as a rim runner and protector. The hope is that Gafford can build on his SL performance and develop into a Clint Capela-type player at the center position.
Chandler Hutchison
Chandler Hutchison‘s SL performance was just as important as his two rookie teammates. The second year player flashed some promising transition and defensive skill in an injury-shortened rookie season. This season, the team expects him to play a more integral role as the primary backup wing to Otto Porter Jr. and Zach LaVine.
In four SL games, “Hutch” averaged 13.0 PPG, 8.5 RPG, and 1.0 SPG. While his transition offense and rebounding appears to have carried over to his SL play – so did his poor outside shooting. Like White, Hutchison shot just 30% from the field. Defensively, he appeared unfocused and lost at times, leading to some easy transition baskets for the opponent.
The Bulls need Hutchison to take that next step in his development and be a productive player for this Bulls squad. Although he had some positive moments, lets hope for his sake that what happened in Vegas, stays in Vegas.
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