NBA draft

[Da Coach]

The 2018 NBA draft is starting soon. This might be one of the deepest drafts in a few years, especially in quality big men. The Bulls have 2 draft picks in the first round, #7 and #22.
However, there are a lot of rumors that the Bulls are trying to move up to #3 or #4-

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2781968-bulls-trade-rumors-chicago-looking-to-move-up-to-3rd-or-4th-pick-in-nba-draft

Former MVC player Landry Shamet, is projected to be drafted as high as at the end of the 1st round or possibly as low as mid to late 2nd round.
MVC Preseason POY Alize Johnson is projected in most mock drafts to go in the 2nd round, though I'd like to see him slip into the first round..

[Da Coach]

The Chicago Bulls draft Duke's 6'10" Wendell Carter with the #7 draft pick-

https://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/players/playerpage/2892260/wendell-carter-jr

[LongTimeFan]

The Bulls have trouble even tanking.

[Da Coach]

The Bulls have trouble even tanking.

Yep, but part of the problem is the Bulls lead the NBA in attendance last year for the 9th season in a row!

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/ct-spt-bulls-united-center-attendance-20180307-story.html

It is easier to tank when your fans aren't paying good money to watch the team.
Like most Bulls fans, I wish they would have lost a few more games. Just 3 more losses, and they would have been drafting 3rd tonight! 5 more losses would have put them 2nd, and 6 more losses could have meant the 1st pick!

[wily coyote]

Does anyone know did Jalen Brunson pull his name out of the draft. I have not heard his name mentioned one time tonight.

[Da Coach]

The Bulls take Chandler Hutchinson, a guard from Boise State, with their 22nd pick in the 1st round-

http://www.nba.com/draft/2018/prospects/chandler_hutchison#/

Jalen Brunson is still in this draft. Most places I have seen have him projected in the late 1st or early 2nd round-
http://www.nbadraft.net/2018mock_draft (pegged here in 2nd round at #33 overall)

After the 22nd pick by the Bulls, ESPN.com has Brunson rated as the 15th best available prospect remaining, which would also put him in the early 2nd round.

I was hoping the Bulls would draft Keita Bates-Diop from Normal, IL (University High School) and Ohio State, but they were known to covet Hutchinson if he was available at #22.

[Da Coach]

Former MVC player Landry Shamet is drafted at #26 in the first round by the Philadelphia 76ers.

[Chibearsfan10125]

Alize Johnson goes #50 to the Indiana Pacers

[tornado]

Shamet proves the value of a big point guard but wonder if Shamet can hold up to the physical demands of the NBA..getting hammered by guys like Lebron & Dwight Howard every night, playing 100 games per year, etc...

he's been injured a lot, has missed 33 games over his 3 years at Wichita

..a couple other former MVC players, Zach Lofton, MiKyle McIntosh, & Donte Ingram have supposedly signed or will sign to play in the NBA Summer League

[Da Coach]

Jalen Brunson was picked #33 overall (3rd pick of the 2nd round) by the Dallas Mavericks.

As noted, Missouri State's Alize Johnson gets picked 50th by the Indiana Pacers (20th pick of the 2nd round).

LiAngelo Ball was not picked.

Draft-

http://www.nba.com/draft/2018/board#/

And here is ESPN's list of the best players available after the draft was complete-

http://www.espn.com/nba/draft/bestavailable

Former ISU player MiKyle McIntosh is 34th on that list. No LiAngelo Ball.

[tornado]

.. No LiAngelo Ball.

what, did you expect him to get drafted?
I have never heard nor seen a single informed opinion ever saying they thought he'd be drafted. Only one or two of his friends ever said so...
Not even his father LaVar Ball ever said he thought his middle son would get drafted...
the kid is just finishing what would be his college freshman year, and had he played college ball, he would have been a good college freshman player - and had he played midmajor like MVC, I think he might have even been in the ALL-MVC talk... but he is nowhere near an NBA player at this time and nobody has ever said he was.

[Da Coach]

what, did you expect him to get drafted?
I have never heard nor seen a single informed opinion ever saying they thought he'd be drafted. Only one or two of his friends ever said so...
Not even his father LaVar Ball ever said he thought his middle son would get drafted...
the kid is just finishing what would be his college freshman year, and had he played college ball, he would have been a good college freshman player - and had he played midmajor like MVC, I think he might have even been in the ALL-MVC talk... but he is nowhere near an NBA player at this time and nobody has ever said he was.

I knew he wouldn't get drafted, and I wasn't afraid to make that prediction over a year ago-

http://bradleyfans.com/vb/showthread.php?p=825139922#post825139922

His father Lavar did brag that LiAngelo would be drafted and as recently as March claimed he "could be a lottery pick"-

https://sportando.basketball/en/usa/nba/269497/lavar-ball-liangelo-could-be-a-lottery-pick-in-upcoming-draft-but-they-won-t-let-it-happen.html

Lavar even "threatened" the Lakers that if they didn't draft LiAngelo, that Lonzo would leave and play for another team

https://www.myajc.com/sports/lavar-ball-says-son-lonzo-will-leave-lakers-they-don-sign-his-brothers/kyTCV1kasJu5fGJ8EVh1wM/

[Da Coach]

Loyola's Donte Ingram has been invited to play on the Bulls summer league team.

[egib52]

... 5 more losses would have put them 2nd, and 6 more losses could have meant the 1st pick!

Actually a little better luck would have had them at second. They won the coin flip with Sacramento giving them I believe an extra lottery ball, and a different number. However, it was Sacramento that ultimately won as they moved up to 2nd.

[Da Coach]

J
As noted, Missouri State's Alize Johnson gets picked 50th by the Indiana Pacers (20th pick of the 2nd round).

Draft-

http://www.nba.com/draft/2018/board#/

The Indiana Pacers played their first game in the NBA Summer League this afternoon and former MVC star Alize Johnson got his first professional playing time off the bench for the Pacers.
He scored 15 points in 16 minutes of play and was very impressive.

https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nba/pacers/2018/07/06/aaron-holiday-alize-johnson-standout-pacers-summer-league/764405002/

Video clips-

https://twitter.com/BBallSociety_/status/1015335041440903168

https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1015335948698243073

https://twitter.com/iPacersblog/status/1015341730047119361