The Chicago Bulls are focused on the upcoming NBA draft on Sunday. VP of Basketball Operations Bryson Graham must determine what he’ll do with the #4 and #15 picks in the 1st round. Right now, expectations are that North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson is the likely choice at the 4th spot. The 15th is tougher since buzz has pointed in multiple directions, but it feels like they’re hoping to land a quality guard. If it plays out that way, the Bulls will have done some good work. However, it leaves them with a problem. What do they do about their presence in the paint? That is where Walker Kessler comes in.
Chicago was one of the worst teams in the NBA last season at defending the paint, averaging 54.1 points per game allowed, good for 27th overall. Kessler would be an ideal solution with his 2.4 blocks per game. That kind of rim protection would make life much easier for the Bulls’ perimeter defense and also improve their rebounding. The obvious snag is that many felt the Utah Jazz were all but certain to retain Kessler on a new deal. Yet, based on what Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports says, the two sides are not in a good place with negotiations.
Not only that, but Chicago is the team to watch if he gets to the open market.
Walker Kessler is just who Tiago Splitter would want.
Part of what made the new Bulls head coach’s season in Portland so successful was his ability to maximize the front court. A key part of it was big 7’2″ center Donovan Clingan, who served as a double-double machine with 12.1 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game. Kessler is basically the same player. He’ll give you points every game from offensive rebounds while serving as an enforcer down low. Splitter made full use of that presence, freeing up his wings and guards to play more aggressively on the perimeter. This is why Portland ranked 7th in turnovers forced per game.
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The obvious question is whether Kessler is worth more than the supposed $28 million per year he was offered by Utah. Any higher and he’ll be making the same money as Jarrett Allen, an All-Star, and Isaiah Hartenstein, an NBA champion. Kessler can’t boast any such accomplishments, and he also missed most of last year with a torn labrum in his shoulder. The big man has yet to start 60+ games in a season. Gambling that much money on someone so inconsistent is dangerous.
This would be something new for sure.
Keep this in mind. If the Bulls were able to land Walker Kessler, he would become the first starting center who stood 7’0″ or taller since Tyson Chandler way back in 2006-2007. The average size of Bulls centers since he departed is 6’10”. They haven’t operated with a legitimate big man in the middle for close to 20 years. Kessler would also be the first one to clear 7’1″ since 1992. Size, length, athleticism, and physicality. He checks all the boxes for Graham and can play a role Splitter wants.
Chicago certainly has the cap space necessary to pay him. It comes down to whether they want to sink that much money into a player who isn’t a star and has some legitimate health questions. It would be a bold risk. If he plays at the same level he did before getting hurt, then it would be worth it. This may not make the Bulls contenders, but it would lay a nice foundation for competitiveness down the line.
