NBA Rumors: Are the Chicago Bulls trading up for Chandler Hutchison?
NBA Rumors: As the 2018 NBA Draft approaches, we explore whether the Chicago Bulls could be a candidate to trade up for Chandler Hutchinson
The Chicago Bulls never really tip their hand ahead of drafts, but there have been whispers that they might’ve given assurances to Boise State forward Chandler Hutchinson, as they hold the 22nd pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.
Hutchison is an older college player, having completed all four years of college and gaining a very respectable stat sheet profile with 20 points and 7.7 rebounds a game, and is already 22 years old.
He looks on paper like the kind of glue guy, blue-collar Chicago Bulls player that John Paxson and Gar Forman love. Hutchinson has a 7-1 wingspan with strong defensive skills while shooting 72 percent at the rim over his career. Additionally, the ball doesn’t stick with him and he moves well while attacking the rim on the break.
Just maybe, Hutchison may not be the guy the Bulls are looking at.
Another interesting name that the Bulls could take at 22, or even trade up for, is Miami’s Lonnie Walker.
Walker is a very strong scoring guard attacking the rim and an intense perimeter defender, someone the Bulls need more than another 200 pound wing. Walker can flat out stop the opposing scoring guard and lock him down.
Fred Hoiberg needs guys out there who can help Kris Dunn stunt opposing playmakers, and a Walker-Dunn defensive backcourt could take us back to those days of Jordan, Pippen and Harper – Phil Jackson’s Doberman athletes.
Though, there could be a number of teams eyeing Walker and Hutchinson who are selecting just ahead of the Bulls at 22.
The LA Clippers have back-to-back picks, at 12 and 13, and they could thrown a wrench in the late lottery by taking a chance on a player like Walker.
At the same time, that’s a potential trade up spot for a team like the Bulls. It might cost them a rotation player or two, but could be worth it for the Bulls to snag two lottery players from this draft.
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All things considered, the Chicago Bulls really don’t really tell anyone who they like ahead of time. But if the rumors of the agent connection prove true, it would a shame to pass up on Lonnie Walker with a mid first rounder, unless they pick him with the 7th pick.