GM Forman expects Bulls to have
plenty of options on draft night

The Bulls and General Manager Gar Forman own the rights to the 16th and 26th picks in Thursday’s NBA Draft 2009 (6 p.m. CT | ESPN).

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With the 16th pick, Forman said that the team has targeted about five or six players at that spot and doesn’t have the mentality of addressing any one particular need. (Adam Fluck/Chicago Bulls)

By Adam Fluck | 06.22.09 | 4:15 p.m. CT

Meeting with the media for the last time before the NBA Draft 2009, General Manager Gar Forman did little to tip his hand on the direction the Bulls might go with the 16th and 26th picks on Thursday night.

After bringing in close to 50 draft prospects for private workouts at the Berto Center, Forman said on Monday that they are prepared for a number of different scenarios come draft night and will most likely select the best player available.

“People say that this draft is not particularly strong, but I think I would disagree with that in this sense: I’m not sure that it’s top-heavy, but I do think it’s pretty deep,” explained Forman. “We feel pretty optimistic that if we stay at 16, we can get a good, productive player, a guy that can play a role for us. And, really, we feel that way at 26 also. We think there will be some intriguing prospects on the board there.”

Though it is his first draft since being promoted to General Manager in May, Forman joined the organization as a scout in 1998, and said little about the pre-draft process in recent years has changed this summer.

He did acknowledge that he is having more conversations with other teams this time around, but that the Bulls’ process remains a team-oriented one that relies heavily on intelligence gathered by scouts and game film to target prospects.

With the 16th pick, Forman said that the team has targeted about five or six players at that spot and doesn’t have the mentality of addressing any one particular need.

“We’re just looking for who we feel is the best fit and the best player for our system,” he said. “One of the things we’ve talked about in the past is a low-post scorer. But, when you get that deep in the draft, I’m not sure you can pinpoint a specific need and meet it. If we can, and there’s someone that we like in that area, then we would go ahead and address it.”

Forman added that he expects it to be a “very active” draft: “After the top five or six guys, the same guy that goes nine or ten could go 20 or 21.”

While there is uncertainty surrounding unrestricted free agent Ben Gordon, who reportedly will receive interest from the Detroit Pistons among other teams once free agents are allowed to begin negotiations on July 1, Forman said that will not play into the decision-making process on draft night.

“We’re analyzing this draft by itself,” he stated. “I know it’s said all the time in drafts, are you drafting for a particular need or are you drafting the best player available? Our philosophy going into Thursday night is—with where we’re picking, because maybe if you’re drafting higher up you can address certain needs—more than likely we’ll draft the best player available.”

Whereas last summer the Bulls held the No. 1 pick and it was essentially a two-horse race between Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley, this year’s draft presents a much more complicated process with having two picks in the first round.

“There are so many scenarios that could play out,” Forman said. “We’ve done our work all year in terms of our scouting and evaluation; now our job is to line up for any possibility that comes, whether it’s the order that guys are coming off the board or whether there are trade possibilities that will come. We’ve obviously had talks with some teams about moving up; we’ve also had some talks with teams about moving back. We’ve also had talks with teams where one or both of our picks are moved out. Our options will be clearer as the week goes on.”

Forman also touched on the pre-draft workouts and the value in spending time with players off the court, saying it is rare to have one workout carry greater weight than a player’s overall body of work, and stressing the importance of acquiring players who will fit with the current group.

“After making the trades in February, we feel we’ve got a really good locker room and we’ve got really good guys,” he said. “Our make-up and character is good and that’s important to us. So an important part of this process is spending time with these guys when they come in.”

Forman acknowledged that clearly Derrick Rose is the team’s centerpiece for years to come. But at the same time, he said, that would not rule out selecting a point guard at No. 16 if he is the best player on the board.

“We like our young core and the direction that we’re headed,” stated Forman. “At the same time, each and every day, whether it’s via trade, draft or free agency, we’re always trying to see if we can get better.”