Meet The Porters

One Decade After Winning The #1 Overall Pick, Chicago Gets Burned — Or Did They?

Chicago Bulls Owner Jerry Reinsdorf

1.7 percent versus 5.8 percent. Which odds would you prefer? Neither are favorable, but the answer is obvious. 10 years ago, the Bulls lucked into the first overall pick with only a 1.7 percent chance, allowing them to select hometown hero Derrick Rose. This year, the Bulls had a 5.8 percent chance at the top pick, and an 18.3 percent chance at a top-three pick. Despite months of Bulls fans praying to the basketball gods for lottery luck, Chicago got stuck with the seventh overall pick in next month’s 2018 NBA Draft — the same spot where they selected Lauri Markkanen after trading Jimmy Butler to Minnesota. Perhaps the NBA Draft Lottery isn’t rigged after all.

The stigma surrounding the lottery being preordained caused some Bulls fans to almost assume the Bulls would at least crack the top five. The fact that the lottery was held in Chicago for the first time only elevated fans’ hopes of getting lucky. So when news broke that the Bulls slipped to seventh, shock ensued. Bulls lottery representative Michael Reinsdorf donned a mildly disappointed facial expression. Fans on Twitter freaked out — as usual.

As opposed to controlling their own destiny, Chicago now must rely on the six teams before them to pass on the player they covet most. Who is that player? No one knows for certain, but there’s certainly no shortage of opinions. There is, however, a strong case to be made for a certain player that may fall right into Chicago’s lap at pick number seven.

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With Lauri Markkanen poised to be a franchise cornerstone in the frontcourt, the Bulls desperately need help on the wing. While there are several intriguing centers and power forwards at the top of the lottery, skill and switching ability at the small forward position in today’s NBA is more important than ever. Quite frankly, after watching the playoffs thus far, I’m not sure how Chicago could justify drafting another big man. The Celtics had Joel Embiid completely out of gas by the second round. Houston rendered Karl Anthony Towns relatively ineffective. Hassan Whiteside was borderline unplayable. Shooting and switching is required to compete at a high level, and the proof is in the pudding: the four remaining teams in the playoffs consistently and successfully operate with “small ball” lineups.

Meet Michael Porter Jr., commonly referred to as “MPJ”. The wing from the University of Missouri is a polarizing prospect, having played in just three college games (53 total minutes). Porter Jr. received devastating news in November after struggling with back issues in the preseason. MPJ was forced to undergo spinal surgery. He had a successful microdisectomy of the L3-L4 spinal discs and was projected to be out for the entire college season with a recovery time of four months. However, MPJ rehabbed ahead of schedule, and valiantly made an effort to play despite being far from 100 percent. In reality, Porter Jr. had nothing to gain by playing, and a lot to lose. In today’s climate, it’s beyond admirable MPJ played in the SEC and NCAA Tournament. Though he did not play particularly well, his collegiate stats are not worth dissecting due to a microscopic sample size.

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Instead, we’ll focus on what MPJ brings to the table as a prospect. For context, Porter Jr. was the second highest rated high school recruit behind Marvin Bagley III. He was ranked ahead of other highly touted draft prospects Mohamed Bamba, Deandre Ayton, Jaren Jackson Jr., and more. Why? Standing 6-foot-10 with a 7-foot wingspan, MPJ is one of the smoothest athletes scouts have seen in a while. He donned the nickname “Baby KD” early on in his high school year thanks to his superior length and mesmerizing skill considering his size. MPJ’s long strides, effortless explosion, elite scoring ability mirror that of a young Kevin Durant. That’s not to say he will be Durant, but anytime a player earns such comparison eyebrows raise.

Michael Porter Jr. is fundamentally sound. He runs the floor remarkably well and can stop on a dime. He’s a fluid shooter with NBA three-point range and an impressive pull-up game. MPJ can finish over bigs and shoot over guards. His ball handling ability is a work in progress, as is the case with most young players, but he has shown he can run a fast break with ease. MPJ’s athleticism bodes well for his defensive potential.

He will need to add core strength, but he has the length to effectively switch onto power forwards. His quick twitch ability should allow him to effectively switch onto guards. Porter Jr. doesn’t necessarily project as a lockdown defender, but his versatility on D is exactly what NBA teams are looking for. Before his injury, Michael Porter Jr. was widely regarded as the next best wing prospect behind European phenom Luka Doncic, with some draft evaluators claiming MPJ could vie for the number one overall pick. To ease concerns surrounding his back injury, Porter Jr. has said his back is 100 percent:

Michael Porter Jr. could be a steal for the Bulls at pick #7, just like Lauri Markkanen has turned out to be. Another intriguing aspect of MPJ lies not within his ability, but within his bloodlines. His younger brother, Jontay Porter, reclassified one year up to join Michael at Mizzou. Coming out of high school, Jontay Porter was a bonafide five-star prospect ranked 25th in the country, just two slots behind Trae Young.

At 6-foot-11, 240 pounds, Jontay plays more like a traditional big. As a true freshman, he posted impressive stats over the course of 33 college games. He averaged 9.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and nearly 2 blocks. Jontay shot 36.4 percent behind the arc on 3.3 attempts per game. He displayed a keen feel for the game. His 75 percent free throw percentage indicates his potential to grow as a shooter and floor spacer. Jontay will require more time to develop compared to his brother, but his potential is evident.

Jontay Porter is currently projected as a mid to late first-round pick — falling conveniently within the range of Chicago’s 22nd overall draft pick they received from the New Orleans Pelicans. If the Bulls are lucky, Michael Porter Jr. could be ripe for the taking with the 7th pick. John Paxson alluded to selecting the best player available as opposed to drafting solely based on roster fit. If available at seven, MPJ would likely be the best player available and the best fit for this Bulls roster. Jontay is just 18 years old and while he is a raw prospect, his ceiling is yet to be determined. Michael has undeniable star potential and a high floor. Pairing the Porter brothers in Chicago would be a match made in heaven.