When It's All Said And Done ...

One of the most valuable picks in the 2006 NBA Draft might end up being a selection by the Chicago Bulls, which isn't surprising, since they famously swindled Isiah "Incompetence" Thomas in the Eddy Curry trade. The surprising part might be the fact that it is the #13 pick, Thabo Sefolosha, and not #4 pick Tyrus Thomas, that could wind up being such a key player.

Sefolosha was a relative unknown coming out of Switzerland and wasn't expected to be much of a contributor this season, but four games into the 2006-07 campaign, he's already forcing Scott Skiles to play him. He's got tremendous instincts, is an outstanding passer and looks like he could be one of the truly great perimeter defenders in the league (he made Michael Redd's life miserable in tonight's game). I know it sounds like a lot of hyperbole, but this guy is legit.

The obvious question is how much Skiles will play his Swiss gem. It is obvious after watching this team for the last few years that Chris Duhon has many photographs of Skiles in compromising positions, because what else would explain all those minutes? In all seriousness, the Bulls need Sefolosha. They need size in the backcourt, they need his passing (outside of Hinrich, this team doesn't have very many good passers), and they need for Duhon to not be the third guard in the rotation.

Sefolosha doesn't solve Chicago's need for a low post scorer, but he gives them a big shooting guard with all the right skills to mesh with Hinrich, Gordon, Deng, and Wallace. Pretty good for the #13 pick in a shallow draft.