The 2019 draft day Denver Nuggets-Chicago Bulls trade waiting to happen
Why it makes sense for the Chicago Bulls
The Bulls are always in the market to add more of their favorite type of prospect, cash considerations. This trade would allow for Chicago to pick up some cash considerations while also netting them a young prospect that could actually crack the rotation in 2019-20.
20-year old Jarred Vanderbilt–at 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan–has the potential to be one of the best rebounding forwards in the league and play a decent chunk of minutes as a small-ball five. The Bulls are in the market for this type of player, even better should he fit with their timeline. After trading away Jabari Parker and Bobby Portis, the Bulls had a woeful group of backup forwards.
The Chicago Bulls finished the season using a combination of JaKarr Sampson, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Chandler Hutchison, Otto Porter and even Wayne Selden [Editor’s note: welp] at the backup power forward spot. So yeah, it’s safe to say Vanderbilt would help the Bulls.
Chicago head coach Jim Boylen wants to create a tough, team-first, defense-first culture in Chicago and Vanderbilt fits to a tee. During his limited time at Kentucky, he showed that he could be a net positive player without being a major scoring threat.
With Jarred Vanderbilt on the floor, Kentucky has outscored their opposition by 45 points over last 5 games (per @KyleTucker_SEC). This is largely due to his tremendous rebounding and blocks limiting opposition to just one shot on offense.
— Jason Ence (@jasonuk17) March 7, 2018
UK will truly struggle if he cannot go.
Vanderbilt’s biggest strength is one of the Bulls primary weakness, and also an area the Denver Nuggets don’t need any help in: rebounding. In the 2018-19 season, the Bulls were 27th in the league in rebounding percentage, while the Nuggets finished 2nd (without Vanderbilt being a significant part of the rotation).
On top of the obvious appeal as a rebounder, Vanderbilt has just scratched the surface of his potential as a passer, scorer and defensive force.
https://twitter.com/nbagleague/status/1090773361616130054
His wingspan will ultimately allow him to guard up a position and be a real nuisance for the opposition as a switch defender. Playing on the Bulls extremely young roster, in a low-pressure situation–as opposed to the Nuggets current and very real championship pursuit–would allow Jarred Vanderbilt to grow as a player, while simultaneously looking like the guy who finished ahead of Trae Young and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the 2017 Recruiting Services Consensus Index (RSCI) .