I think I disagree with this assessment, and the other one you posted. People don't realize how big NBA post players are. 6'10.5"/7'2" isn't really long enough to protect the rim. The Bulls drafted another stretch four, who is big enough to rebound and apply some pressure around the hoop. But he's not going to shut down opposing scoring in the paint like Noah, Gibson and Gasol.
For comparison, Portis is about an inch, maybe inch-and-a-half taller than Carlos Boozer, and has the same wingspan. To me, that means he's only tall enough to be successful in the post in certain situations. Here's a link to his game verses Iowa State from this season:
Seems like he could be a decent role player on a "win later" team. Good motor, instincts and shot. Not a game changing athlete or rim protector. Will the motor overcome the physical deficiencies at the NBA level? Stay tuned. PG: ? SG: Butler SF: McDermott (if he can play NBA basketball well) PF: Mirotic C: ? Bench Portis Snell Titletown, baby.
Good to see some folks didn't miss this chance to be negative. The Bulls picked Portis at #22. When you pick that late, it's not going to be a "win now" thing. I mean hell, the Bulls had the guy who finished 2nd in ROY this past season and he was 9th on the team in minutes per game. Derrick Rose was the last ROY whose team made the playoffs. I hope Portis sticks and can contribute down the road. That would make last night a good night for the Bulls.
I think everyone is hoping he at least sticks in the league and perhaps can contribute positively in the next 4 years. Drafting at #22 the expectations need to be pretty low for getting an impact player. Last 5 #22 draft picks Jordan Adams Mason Plumlee (not bad!) Fab Melo Kenneth Faried (motor guy! great athlete too though / less skilled) Elliot Williams
The Bulls have proven themselves to be pretty good at drafting players with raw ability and then developing them up to where their making the most of that talent.
Why do the expectations have to be low? I set my expectations by whether I like the player, not by where he was selected.
If there was a Mt Rushmore of Bulls coaches, he would certainly be on it. The last 5 years almost all the picks / acquisitions have panned out for the most part and the Bulls have been legit NBA Title contenders. From Jimmy Butler, to Omer Asik to Nate Robinson. How much of it was the astute player evaluation of GarPax versus the masterful coaching / motivation by Thibs? We'll see how the next 5 years go.
You can have your expectations wherever you want. I don't fancy myself a NCAA to NBA prognosticator so I don't really make any judgements until I see them play in the NBA for a while. I adopted this strategy after being excited about the Marcus Fizer pick. If the scouting reports are to be believed we have a high motor big guy with a jump shot and a NBA body, but perhaps less than NBA athleticism and lacking defensive rebounding, shot blocking and a post game. We'll see how it pans out. When you are picking at #22, sometimes you just have to hope you get lucky.
If I have some credible basis for liking a player, I use that first. In Portis's case, I've watched almost no game action. I've read very little of him. I've got his stats, his measurables, where he was projected to be picked and where he got picked.
I knew he wouldn't give a straight answer. Fact is, the Thibs hagiography is nauseating, and in all the basketball circles I walk, there are only two people who do it. Fact is too, Thibs was outstanding at perhaps two facets of his job, and between piss-poor and good at the rest. He's probably not even the best coach sitting on the sidelines waiting for his next NBA gig. Eminently replaceable, eminently fireable. He'll be fired from his next job too. It's the nature of the beast. (And yes, Hoiberg too will be fired one day.)
I took away from the piece that he was a good man and help defender, not necessarily a rim protector.
