New Ford Mock

ESPN’s Chad Ford has released another updated mock draft as next week’s NBA Draft readily appraoches.  Ford has slotted Ohio State center B. J. Mullens 16^th to the Bulls, citing the rumored promise mentioned yesterday on this blog.  “There’s been talk that the Bulls might take a look at Tyler Hansbrough and DeJuan Blair, if available,” Ford writes.  “Both are definitely the kind of player John Paxson likes.  But the word around the league this weekend was that the Bulls might have made a promise to Mullens, who has the most long-term upside of any remaining center, a position at which Chicago needs help.  He’s raw, but it’s rare to get a talent like this after the lottery.”

Ford is still projecting that the team would select Florida State guard Toney Douglas with the 26^th pick.  ”Douglas would be an insurance policy should Ben Gordon bolt this summer,” Ford wrote.  “He’s not as talented a shooter, but he’s good enough to play both backcourt positions in Chicago, and his defense would earn him minutes right from the get-go.”  Gordon leaving this summer is a real possibility as we all know he’s seeking dollars more than anything else.  There’s a rumor that the Pistons have promised to make him a lucrative offer once fee agency begins; more on this tomorrow.

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