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Is Isaiah Collier the Right Pick for the Bulls at No. 11?

Originally posted on On Tap Sports Net | By Matt Berklan | Last updated 5/17/24

The ping pong balls didn't fall in the Chicago Bulls' favor at the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery as they landed the 11th overall pick. While their position isn't as ideal as their last few trips to the Lottery, the Bulls can still land a quality player just outside the top 10. Several 2024 NBA mock drafts project the Bulls to select USC guard Isaiah Collier.

This past season at USC, Collier averaged 16.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game in a lead role alongside Boogie Ellis for the Trojans. He was also teammates with polarizing draft prospect Bronny James, the son of LeBron James. Despite their efforts, the Trojans failed to make the NCAA Tournament.

Collier is a dominant scorer who can attack the rim, but he needs to further develop his jump shot. His facilitation ability is his strongest trait, a rare quality for a rookie guard to possess if it can translate to the NBA.

On the defensive end, Collier is a mystery. He has the athleticism to be a solid defender, but his 6-foot-4 frame will likely limit who he can guard at the next level. NBA offenses could take advantage of this by running actions to get him switched to defending a larger wing.

Do the Bulls Even Need Isaiah Collier?

Collier would be a nice fit with some growth potential in any backcourt, but is the pick worth it for the Bulls given the organization's circumstances?

Chicago must transfer its 2025 first-round pick (top-10 protected) to the San Antonio Spurs as a condition of the DeMar DeRozan trade. The Bulls have also committed to their young core of Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu guided by Alex Caruso's veteran presence in the backcourt.

Collier would further crowd the rotation. As the Bulls know from experience, guard development takes time and ample minutes, especially on the defensive end.

By the time Collier develops into an impact player, the Bulls' contention window with this core would be nearly closed. Selecting Collier doesn't fit the Bulls' direction of retooling.

Instead of chasing a guard, the Bulls must hope a more NBA-ready player falls in the draft, preferably a frontcourt prospect who will see more minutes to develop in the rotation.

This article first appeared on On Tap Sports Net and was syndicated with permission.

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