As part of our coverage leading up to the 2015 NBA Draft we will provide profiles of more than 60 prospects, including video interviews with each player, what they're saying leading up to draft day as well as their potential fit on the Bulls.
Branden Dawson, F, Michigan State
6'7" | 230 lbs. | 22 years old
2014-15 stats:
11.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, 1.2 steals, 53.5 field-goal percentage
Projection:
Late second round/undrafted
NBA
Quotable:
"A lot of coaches and GMs were concerned about my position, going from the 4 to the 3, but I played the 3 my freshman and sophomore season. And we had to make that adjustment of me going to the 4 because of the team. I've been working on things as far as my weaknesses, my ballhandling, decision making, shooting. I just want to show people that I'm comfortable playing the 3. The 3 for me is not something that I've never been or never played."
Fit for the Bulls:
Size, size, size. That's the No. 1 topic of conversation when it comes to Dawson and his NBA prospects because the 6-foot-7 power forward who led the Big Ten in rebounding last season is telling NBA teams he wants to be a small forward. And that's a smart move because as impressive a big man and rebounder as he was the last two seasons at Michigan State, his 6-foot-7, 230-pound frame likely won't cut it as an NBA power forward. The problem, though, is that Dawson seems to be a much better power forward than a small forward, he's just trapped in a small forward's body. His rebounding and defensive effort — be it stripping the ball or blocking shots on the perimeter — were terrific in college. His offense, though, left a lot to be desired. He came through by scoring inside and hitting floaters in the paint, but among the trees at the NBA level, those ways of scoring the basketball might not work for the 6-foot-7 Dawson. That'll likely scare plenty of NBA teams away this week. As for the Bulls, a small forward is probably going to be on their wish list, but with new head coach Fred Hoiberg brought in to better the offense, it would make sense that the Bulls wouldn't look to Dawson, who has a bunch of offensive question marks.