Offense has not been a problem for the Bulls in 2024-25. Chicago is sixth in the NBA in scoring, posting 117.7 points per game. The team has attempted the third-most threes in the league (42.1 per game), behind only the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors, which factors in a drop to ninth after the All-Star break (40.2).
Chicago is also second in the NBA in pace and has earned more possessions than any other team.
The Bulls have been inept defensively, though, to put it nicely.
Chicago has allowed an average of 120.1 points to its opponents, good for third-worst in the league and better than only the Washington Wizards and Utah Jazz who are unabashedly trying to Capture the (Cooper) Flagg.
The Bulls allow more points in the paint than any other team in the league; their defensive rating of 115.5 is eighth-worst; and they’re in the bottom third in points allowed off turnovers and second-chance points.
It’s crystal clear that Chicago’s front office needs to spend this offseason attempting to fix its defense, whether that’s through free agency or the draft. They need a specific kind of player to accomplish that, though, and one of them just became available.
Georgia’s Asa Newell has the potential to anchor Bulls’ future defense
A member of the All-SEC Freshman Team this season, 6-foot-11 forward/center Asa Newell officially declared for the 2025 NBA Draft on April 9.
Newell started all 33 games last season and averaged 15.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.0 blocks while playing 29.0 minutes per game. He led Georgia to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015 before the Bulldogs bowed out in a first-round loss to Gonzaga. Newell had 20 points and eight rebounds, including six on the offensive end, in the loss.
The 19-year-old possesses an intriguing combination of size, length, lateral mobility, athleticism and intensity that points to a high-level, switchable defender. His 26 made threes and efficiency from the free-throw line give him upside on the offensive end as well, in addition to his propensity for crashing the offensive glass.
If all goes well, Newell could be the exact two-way big man Chicago needs to cover up its porous defensive backcourt.
The Montverde Academy graduate sits in the 15-20 range on most draft big boards, so he could be available when the Bulls’ choice comes around, even if it doesn’t land in the lottery.
