Cubs News: Getting to Know: Bull second-rounder Julian Phillips |
Everyone knew the 2023 NBA offseason would be a struggle for the Bulls and that Arturas Karnisovas would have his work cut out for him. With no draft picks for the next few years, minimal financial flexibility at best, and a roster that seems stuck in neutral, Karnisovas will have to work his magic.
Then came the NBA draft night, where most Bulls fans expected to sit back and watch virtually every other team improve their roster. There was also a report leaked that Karnisovas and company worked out just nine players ahead of the draft, which is pretty remarkable. Apparently, the Bulls felt enough was enough and didn't wait until their next pick to get a pick as they traded with the Washington Wizards (Boston Celtics) for the No. 35 overall selection and used that pick to select the University of Tennessee Forward Julian Phillips. The 19-year-old Phillips is a wild card when it comes to the pick, but there is a lot to like about him, and the potential is there for him to become a very solid role player at worst. When you watch Phillips play, two things jump out at you. First, he has some of the best athleticism in this year's draft, and we know how important that is at the next level. Second, Phillips is one of those rare two-way players who can be equally as good on offense as on defense. Those are the types of players the Bulls have been looking for, so this selection makes a ton of sense for them. Phillips plays with a high motor that many scouts love, and he is precisely the type of player the Bulls are looking for. Similar to Patrick Williams with his 6-8 frame, his 6-11 wingspan makes him an X-Factor as that allows him to guard multiple positions on the floor. There is no question he already has an NBA-ready frame, and the hope would be that he can turn into the kind of wing-stopper that every team needs in today’s league. Like many players in today's NBA draft, Phillips was a highly regarded recruit coming out of college but was forced to play college due to the age restrictions. He spent one year with Rick Barnes in Knoxville as part of a very talented Tennessee club, putting up good, but inconsistent numbers across the board. Offensively, the numbers will not jump off the page as he averaged 8.3 PPG and 4.7 PPG. Toward the end of the season, Phillips was much better and averaging double-figure points to help the Volunteers close the season strong. He shot just under 42% from the floor, 83% from the free throw line, and 24% from beyond the arc, although he didn't take a ton of threes. That is something the Bulls are hoping he can improve upon once he gets into camp. While there is a lot to like about this pick, there is one big thing to point out, which the Bull's front office failed to address again. That would be the lack of shooting, as Phillips isn't known for his jump shot. The Bulls have too many of those players on their roster already, so adding another player not known to be a shooter is a bit puzzling. Phillips is also a streaky scorer and wasn't as efficient as he could be. People have compared him to Dalen Terry, and there will be some questions about how he can consistently impact the team in the scoring column. Entering the night as the 14th-ranked forward, Phillips saw his mock projections that pegged to fall anywhere between 18 and 50. Getting him at 35 may be higher than some expected, but this is one of those gamble picks that teams take a flyer on. Phillips remains an immense physical talent and passes the eye test as a guy who can stick in the NBA for many years to come.
