Chicago Bulls have three top 100 NBA players

The Chicago Bulls may not be an elite team, but they do have three star players worthy of praise. Nikola Vucevic, who may end up being traded sooner rather than later, is on the list with Josh Giddey and Coby White. It’s plausible, too, that this time next year will see Matas Buzelis on the list.

Vucevic was first up at 85 overall. Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley wrote, “Chicago’s endless cycle of mediocrity has somewhat distorted perceptions of Vucevic as a player. That’s not to say he’s blameless in the team’s inability to climb the Eastern Conference ladder, but these perpetual pushes for play-in participation have furthered the notion that he doesn’t positively impact winning.”

If the trade does eventually happen, the perception of Vucevic would likely change. He’s very limited on defense, but he is “absurdly skilled” on the other end of the floor. “He was basically chasing nightly 20-point double-doubles last season while shooting 53 percent from the field and 40.2 percent from three,” Buckley noted.

Up next is Coby White, the star guard who ranked 78th. Buckley wrote, “He is now two years deep into a full-fledged breakout, shining as a featured scorer in Chicago and one who is potent both on and off the ball. His handles are slippery, his burst is special, and his splash rate stays above-average every time he adds to the frequency of those looks.”

If White can have another strong season, he could be in line for a really big payday. That may not be in Chicago, but he’s good enough to warrant a lot of money. The Bulls would likely be wise to continue with him alongside other young talent.

Finally, Josh Giddey was ranked 71. “Giddey should feel as comfortable as ever entering the new season. He feels as close to an established centerpiece as the Bulls have, an organizational standing solidified by the four-year, $100 million pact he inked this summer,” Buckley said. But to maintain that, he will need to evolve a little bit. Filling out the stat sheet isn’t enough. Can Giddey shoot better or score more in general? What about using his plus size at the guard spot for some better defense?

“He’s been a solid starter to this point, but the Bulls just placed a nine-figure bet on his ability to climb closer to stardom,” Buckley concluded. This is a fine ranking for the guard now, but the Bulls will hope he can continue to rise.