With the 9th Pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, The Chicago Bulls select…

Joakim Noah from the University of Florida!

Chicago is looking to rely on youth to try & improve on their 49-33 record, which included a 1st round sweep over the defending champion Miami Heat.

Some of their recent 1st round lottery picks have panned out: Ben Gordon (1st rd, 3rd overall pick in ‘04 Draft), Kirk Hinrich (1st rd, 7th overall pick in ‘03 Draft) & Elton Brand (1st round, 1st overall pick in ‘99 Draft) while others have not:

Others have not, which includes Jay Williams (1st rd, 2nd overall pick in ‘02 Draft), Marcus Fizer (1st rd, 4th overall pick in ‘00 Draft) & Chris Mihm (1st rd, 7th overall pick in ‘00 Draft).

Noah was named the 2006 NCAA Men’s Division I Most Outstanding Player, putting him among players such as Emeka Okafor & Carmelo Anthony who have won the MOP award in this decade alone.

I do believe that Noah will help Chicago improve next season in the frontcourt, but the Bulls are still lacking a low-post scorer.

Veteran guys like Chris Webber & Jamaal Magloire are still available, but bigger-name players are starting to get snatched up very quickly or generating interest from other teams. (Zach Randolph & Kevin Garnett.)

Chicago also selected Aaron Gray from Pittsburgh with the 49th pick of the 2nd round & Jameson Curry from Oklahoma State for the 51st pick.

I’ll have a blog tomorrow breaking down all the draft-day deals, which includes trades involving Ray Allen, Jason Richardson & Zach Randolph.

Until then,

Mattie T

Sports Writer for BMS Radio Chicago

www.BMSRadio.com

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