From John Paxson’s point of view, the Bulls can’t go wrong with the 16th pick in Wednesday’s NBA draft.
“We think we’re going to get something there, whether it be a position we need or there could be a younger player that we are intrigued by that might make sense for the future,” the general manager said last week. “I like 16, to be honest with you.”
Barring a trade, Paxson will make the second overall pick, for which Tyrus Thomas and LaMarcus Aldridge are considered front-runners. Afterward, he and his staff will watch how the third through 15th picks shake out.
“When we see … what settles down in the 14 to 18 area, there are a lot of players in that area we like, that we think could help us regardless of position,” he said.
There is a belief the Bulls will look for a tall guard at 16, but Paxson dismissed the theory.
“That’s one where maybe more than anything I would not worry about position,” he said. “We’d take the guy we really like, the really good player.”
That leaves the Bulls with plenty of possibilities at 16, ranging from Duke star J.J. Redick to the unfamiliar Saer Sene, a 7-footer from Senegal.
Potential Bulls
J.J. Redick: Duke’s prolific shooting guard was expected to be a lottery pick despite questions about his athleticism. Two weeks ago he was charged with drunken driving and his stock plummeted, but the Bulls can look past the blunder.
“I would guess there are a lot of 21-year-olds who have done what J.J. Redick has done,” Paxson said. “The kid made a mistake.”
Redick’s availability may depend on Utah, which has the 14th pick.
Saer Sene: He’s an absolute project, especially on offense, but Paxson and other general managers find him intriguing. He has a wingspan of 7-8 1/2 and a standing reach of 9-5.
“You do say to yourself, `If he gains over time 20 or 30 pounds …'” Paxson said. “It’s that old thing–you don’t teach height.”
Paxson said he wouldn’t be discouraged by Sene’s “project” status.
“I have confidence in our staff that we have the ability to help players become better,” he said. “I like how our coaches work with players.”
Sene last played for Verviers-Pepinster in Belgium.
Hilton Armstrong: He’s a 6-10 post player from Connecticut who averaged 3.1 blocks per game and was named Big East Defensive Player of the Year. Armstrong averaged 9.7 points for a balanced Huskies team that featured Rudy Gay and Marcus Williams.
Thabo Sefolosha: The 6-6 guard from Switzerland is coming off his first season for Angelico Biella in Italy’s top division. He is long, athletic and is said to be more of a role player than a star. This makes him a good fit for a backcourt rotation that includes Ben Gordon.
Moving up, out of reach
Ronnie Brewer: The 6-7 guard from Arkansas had looked like a possibility, but he has moved up in mock drafts thanks in part to outstanding athletic test results at the predraft camp.
Rodney Carney: Scouts like Carney’s potential and perimeter shooting, which probably will override questions about the 6-6 Memphis swingman’s ballhandling and inconsistency. He did not participate in Monday’s workout with the Philadelphia 76ers because of a sprained right ankle.
Cedric Simmons: He just completed his sophomore season at North Carolina State and will need time to develop. He’s 6-10 and athletic, which means someone is likely to take him before 16.
Fading fast
Mardy Collins: At 6-6, he has size the Bulls need in the backcourt but nothing remarkable came out of his workout and the former Temple guard didn’t test well at predraft camp.
NBA draft order
ROUND 1
1. Toronto
2. BULLS
3. Charlotte
4. Portland
5. Atlanta
6. Minnesota
7. Boston
8. Houston
9. Golden St.
10. Seattle
11. Orlando
12. New Orl.
13. Phila.
14. Utah
15. New Orl.
16. BULLS
17. Indiana
18. Wash.
19. Sacra.
20. New York
21. Phoenix
22. N.J.
23. N.J.
24. Memphis
25. Cleveland
26. Lakers
27. Phoenix
28. Dallas
29. New York
30. Portland
ROUND 2
31. Portland
32. Houston
33. Atlanta
34. Clippers
35. Toronto
36. Boston
37. Minnesota
38. Golden St.
39. Milwaukee
40. Seattle
41. Orlando
42. Cleveland
43. New Orl.
44. Orlando
45. Indiana
46. Utah
47. Utah
48. Wash.
49. Denver
50. Charlotte
51. Lakers
52. Clippers
53. Seattle
54. N.J.
55. Cleveland
56. Toronto
57. Minnesota
58. Dallas
59. San Ant.
60. Detroit
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mxgarcia@tribune.com
