NBA Rumors: Chicago Bulls To Draft Wade Baldwin In 2016 NBA Draft
The Chicago Bulls currently hold the No. 14 overall pick in Thursday night’s 2016 NBA Draft, and there are many different players they could target. It is hard to predict this year’s draft, due to all the talent in the middle of the first round that could be chosen. Chicago has a few different needs to fill, but there is one player they sound extremely interested in.
Wade Baldwin IV is one of the best combo guard options in the entire draft. He stands in at six-foot-four and will be able to play either point guard or shooting guard at a starting caliber level at some point in his career.
Parker Hurley of FanSided mentioned that Baldwin is one of the top options that the Bulls have to choose from.
Chicago has been rumored to have both Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler available in trade talks. There is no guarantee that either of those two players will be traded, but Baldwin would help replace them if one was. He has a solid all-around offensive game, although he has struggled defensively.
Last season with the Vanderbilt Commodores as a sophomore, Baldwin ended up averaging 14.1 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per game. He shot 42.7 percent from the field overall and knocked down 40.6 percent from behind the three-point line. Adding more consistent three-point threats is something that the Bulls have to do this offseason, and Baldwin seems like a good shooter himself.
Should the Bulls choose to go with Baldwin at No. 14, they will have some decisions to make. Do they look to move one of their stars and plug Baldwin into a serious role in the rotation as a rookie? Will they hold onto both Rose and Butler and allow Baldwin to be one of their key bench pieces?
Only time will tell what the Bulls choose to do, but Baldwin certainly seems like one of the Bulls’ best options in the draft this year.
There is always a chance that the Bulls could trade up or down in the draft as well. They could look to move up for a player like Kris Dunn, which would likely involve trading Butler to a team like the Minnesota Timberwolves for the No. 5 overall pick. Trading down could net them a future pick or an NBA-ready player.
One thing is for sure: The Bulls need a legitimate backup point guard and shooting guard coming off the bench.
Fred Hoiberg needs players in the second unit he can count on to bring offensive firepower each and every night. He needs players who bring energy to the court, which fits Baldwin’s game as well.
Looking at the other prospects that the Bulls could consider with the pick, Baldwin seems to be the best potential selection. He has the potential to work his way into a star at the NBA level while also having the work ethic to back that potentially up. With the right coaching staff molding his game, the sky is the limit for Baldwin.
Expect to see a lot of teams show interest in Baldwin as the draft continues to draw closer. He may slip past the Bulls if they choose to go a different direction, but it isn’t likely that he will slip too far. Baldwin is a lock for the first round at this point, and the teams that pass on him will regret the decision.
Do you think the Chicago Bulls should target Wade Baldwin IV with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft? Is he the type of piece that the Bulls were missing off the bench last season? Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below!
[Photo by Mark Humphrey/AP Images]
