The Bulls stepped out of their comfort zone last week, and there’s reason to believe their boldness will pay dividends. Following year after year of drafting pedestrian, ho-hum players, Chicago made a splash. The club traded two picks and another selection for next year to acquire the man they call “McBuckets.”
Doug McDermott got the nickname for scoring like it was going out of style during his four glorious years with Creighton. Now, the Bulls hope his shooting accuracy will show they’ve hit the bull’s eye on Draft Night 2014. Why not? The guy led the nation in scoring with the Blue Jays and did everything a team would ask from a team player. Heck, the McDermotts even forked out a pricey tuition fee so another Creighton player could stay on scholarship. That made Doug McDermott a technical walk-on who routinely ran up his point totals.
The knock on McDermott is he can’t play defense. And? The entire Bulls roster is filled with Dobermans who can stymie the best of them at every turn. It’s offensive punch Chicago lacks. Their high energy, big heart D is great but it’s only gotten them so far. The club needs points from somewhere. McDermott may be able to help pick up that slack. Of course, he can’t do it alone… but that’s exactly what makes this selection so impressive.
Landing McDermott not only gives the Bulls a pure shooter, it keeps the possibility of signing Carmelo Anthony alive and well. Picking McDermott shows Chicago is ready to get serious about Melo. The team would have taken two role guys if the shot at Anthony was deemed farfetched. Adding McDermott makes the roster and bank account Anthony-friendly.
A team featuring Joakim Noah, Derrick Rose (fingers and toes crossed), and now McDermott will attract other free agents as well. Already the Bulls are mentioned as possible suitors for underpaid Chandler Parsons. Just to hear him introduced while the Alan Parsons Project plays in the background is worth the price of admission. Not to mention Parsons would give the Bulls yet another shooter. The team could go from offensively inept to down right potent if the dominos fall just so.
Now the ball is in Carmelo’s court. Is he serious about becoming part of a winner or is it just about the Benjamins? Time will tell. The Bulls however have done their part… creating a better team with better options, all with one slick move on a summer Thursday night.
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