2024 NBA Draft: Should the Bulls Take a Chance on Illini's Terrence Shannon Jr.?

The NBA is set to welcome its next wave of players to the league when the 2024 draft takes place June 26-27. Many in league circles have labeled this year's draft as one of the worst in recent memory with few prospects considered franchise-changing players. The lack of "can't miss" prospects leaves the door open for the Chicago Bulls to consider various options to fill their current roster needs such as more shooting and size.

The Bulls currently hold the 11th overall pick and have been linked to Kentucky's Rob Dillingham, Tennessee's Dalton Knect, and Chicago native and G League Ignite member Matas Buzelis .

Another player of similar stature and skill set as the players mentioned above is Illinois' Terrence Shannon Jr . Amid his second season of a standout stint in Champaign, Shannon Jr. was arrested and charged with felony rape and aggravated sexual assault. Legal questions clouded the home stretch of his collegiate career, but Shannon Jr. was found not guilty last week in a Kansas courtroom.

The 23-year-old averaged 23 points per game on 47.5 percent shooting from the field in 2023-24 and helped lead the Fighting Illini to their first Elite Eight in 19 years. Many mock drafts have ranked Shannon Jr. as a top-25 prospect, and he could further climb draft boards after being cleared of his charges.

So is he a potential target for the Bulls?

What Would Terrence Shannon Jr. Bring to the Bulls?

The Bulls need size, which Terrence Shannon Jr. can provide at the shooting guard position with his 6-foot-6, 225-pound frame. As of this writing, DeMar DeRozan is expected to be back with the Bulls while Zach LaVine's future with the team is in question . Shannon Jr. could help in the scoring department as he shot 47.5 percent from the field and 36.2 from beyond the arc this past season. He also displayed an electrifying ability to score from anywhere on the floor by utilizing his athleticism and speed, showing that he can get his points even if his shot isn't falling.

We've seen the Bulls look to Champaign for talent previously as they selected Ayo Dosunmu in the second round of the 2021 draft. Shannon Jr. and Dosunmu are comparable players regarding their ability to impact the game defensively and overall effort. Like Dosunmu, Shannon Jr. has the potential to be a day-one rotation player who can bring energy and scoring off the bench for a team that desperately needs it.

However, Shannon Jr. may be a reach for the Bulls at No. 11. He's a prospect who can score in bunches and take over a game offensively, but he lacks a consistent shooting stroke and can go from hot to cold very quickly. This was on display in the NCAA tournament as Shannon Jr. dominated in his first three games when scored at least 26 points in each contest while shooting over 50%. However, his eight-point performance on 16% shooting against UConn in the Elite Eight shows what can happen if his offense isn't there.

Furthermore, there could be a negative public perception of Shannon Jr. in some circles due to the charges he was ultimately acquitted of. Even with his acquittal, there's still the potential for backlash from those who labeled him guilty from the very start.

At the end of the day, Shannon Jr. profiles as a high-floor, high-ceiling prospect who can impact the game in a variety of ways. And like his Illini brother Ayo Dosunmu, Shannon Jr. will play hard and show heart no matter the score or his stat line. Shannon Jr. could be an excellent fit with Chicago at No. 11 if the Bulls are willing to take a chance on him in a draft that could be wide open.

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