The Bulls added a pair of college standouts in the NBA draft on Thursday, taking Ben Gordon of Connecticut and agreeing to a trade for Duke’s Luol Deng.
The Bulls took Gordon with the No. 3 selection, then got Deng at No. 7 in a trade agreement with the Phoenix Suns.
“We need to start building this team up again,” general manager John Paxson said. “We’ve addressed some needs. We needed scoring and shooting out of this draft.
“With Ben Gordon, we get both. With Luol Deng, we get both.”
The Bulls also added Duke point guard Chris Duhon in the second round.
Gordon joins a young Bulls backcourt that includes Kirk Hinrich, Chicago’s first round draft selection last year and one of the few bright spots on last season’s team.
“[Gordon] will be very difficult to guard one-on-one. We feel that he will be a good compliment to Kirk Hinrich,” Paxson said.
Said Gordon: “I’m a playmaker. I’m a guy who can do both.”
The selection of Gordon could mean the end of Jamal Crawford’s stay with the Bulls. “Maybe they did it to protect themselves in case they lose me in free agency,” Crawford said. “I’m cool with it.”
The Bulls’ selections added to a night of surprises, in which several prospects’ stock rocketed upward–or dove. Even the draft’s inception provided a shock. Choosing potential over experience, the Orlando Magic spent the No. 1 pick on Dwight Howard.
The high school senior beat out favorite Emeka Okafor of UConn for the top spot, becoming the third prep player in the past four years to be chosen first overall. Okafor’s wasn’t the only slight.
Eight high school players were chosen ahead of Jameer Nelson, the college player of the year who dropped to the Denver Nuggets at No. 20 and was subsequently dealt to Orlando for a future No. 1 pick.
Meanwhile, neither of DePaul’s seniors, Andre Brown and Delonte Holland, were drafted.
ASSOCIATED PRESS, REDEYE.
Livingston large
Shaun Livingston became the first point guard to go directly from high school to being an NBA lottery pick when the Clippers took him fourth in the draft Thursday night.
Livingston, who starred at Peoria Central, originally committed to Duke. He twice led his school to the Class AA state championship and last season was chosen as Illinois Mr. Basketball.
The 6-foot-6 Livingston, who turns 19 on Sept. 11, wasn’t the only Illinois high school star making news Thursday.
Chicago native Tony Allen also was selected in the first round. The Oklahoma State and Crane High School star was taken 25th overall by the Boston Celtics.
ASSOCIATED PRESS, REDEYE.
Ben Gordon
No. 3 pick: 6-3 guard, Connecticut (junior)
Career highlights: Averaged a team-leading 18.5 points a game, plus 4.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists. Made a school-record 242 three-point goals and scored 20 or more points 39 times. Was a member of the 2004 NCAA Final Four All-Tournament Team.
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Luol Deng
No. 7 pick: 6-8 forward,
Duke (freshman)
Career highlights: Averaged 15.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks a game. He led all ACC freshmen in scoring and rebounding.
