Thursday night, the Chicago Bulls have an opportunity to infuse even more talent into this roster. The 2022 NBA Draft takes center stage, where the Bulls have the 18th overall pick.
One of the areas the Bulls could look to address during the draft is in their front court. Returning to the Bulls this next season will be starters Nikola Vucevic and Patrick Williams, barring any trade of course.
But, behind them, the Bulls have struggled to find quality reserves. This is where they could choose to draft someone like Ohio State power forward E.J. Liddell with that 18th selection.
Returning to Ohio State for another season after nearly entering the 2021 NBA Draft, Liddell did himself justice by playing another year and seasoning his game further. He’d be a quality pick for the Bulls.
By drafting Ohio State power forward E.J. Liddell in the 2022 NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls would bolster a position of need.
This past season did wonders for Liddell’s game, and he was able to evolve into an all-around power forward which NBA scouts should be intrigued by.
In just one season, Liddell improved his three-point shooting and defensive prowess in a big way. He was already an effective rebounder and scorer inside the arc, but Liddell took it up a notch in preparation to become a first-round pick.
The 6-foot-7 forward is a little undersized, but he packs some muscle. He weighs in around 247 pounds and can be a force in the paint. Liddell went from being a solid inside scorer to now being a presence on both ends of the floor, finishing last year with a whopping 2.6 blocks per game to go along with 19.4 points, 7.9 points and 2.5 assists.
One other area Liddell took a step last year is from beyond the arc, where he improved to shoot over 37 percent. Being able to offer that extra dimension to his game is something that NBA forward need in today’s game.
With Derrick Jones Jr. becoming a free agent, the Bulls could opt for a younger replacement in a guy like Liddell. He could immediately come in and spell Williams for a few minutes per game, giving the Bulls yet another well-rounded forward.
Liddell is a player who improved every year in college, and especially brings it on the defensive side of the ball. He’s able to guard multiple positions and do it well.
