With the current state of their roster, the Chicago Bulls need to focus on adding a healthy mix of win-now talent and youth. Arturas Karnisovas seems intent on running it back with the same core and competing for the playoffs, but with how talented the East is, Chicago also should be looking to improve its future by adding youngsters.
At the 2023 NBA draft, the Bulls traded into the event to select Tennessee forward Julian Phillips. After the draft, they added another rookie, signing UConn big man Adama Sanogo to a two-way contract. In the summer league, Sanogo has been great.
Will Gottlieb of CHGO is high on the young prospect, noting he has the potential to turn into a quality NBA player. Defensively, Sanogo has been solid.
“Sanogo has been productive throughout his three-game Summer League stint, but this may have been his best game,” Gottlieb wrote. “The counting stats speak for themselves, but his activity on the court was just as encouraging.
“Sanogo displayed a good sense of awareness and positioning on the defensive end, primarily playing in drop coverage. He kept ballhandlers in front of him, deterred shots at the rim and even slid over to take a charge.”
And offensively, he’s shown some solid tools, too.
“Offensively, Sanogo is known for his ability to finish around the rim, and has been fantastic in that regard after his 2-of-8 first game,” Gottlieb wrote. “Since then, he’s got 24 points on 10-of-15 shooting.
“Sanogo has the outline of a decent jumpshot, albeit a funky looking one, but his primary skill set is rolling to the basket. Though he’s not a traditional high-flying lob threat, he has soft touch and barrels his way through most defenders.”
It’s early, but the Bulls may have found an undrafted steal.
