In Chad Ford's latest Mock Draft (version 6.1), he has the Bulls selecting a guy I've had my eye on for a while, Alabama big man, Richard Hendrix.  Here's what Ford says about the pick:

39. Chicago Bulls
[Updated 6/25] Hendrix isn't flashy, but he is tough in the paint, can rebound and has the potential to be a solid player off the bench for the Bulls.

Richard Hendrix | PF | Alabama

Now, I would absolutely love the Bulls to get Hendrix here.  He's been a very productive player throughout his college career.  He has an NBA body and he scored with an eFG of right around 60% every year he was in college.  The ESPN Insider Scouting Report on him lists his positives and negatives:

Positives:

A man child. NBA body and huge catcher's mitts for hands. Physical
player who works hard on the boards. Long arms allow him to play taller than he is. Good athlete. Developing a nice midrange game.

Negatives: Lacks great foot speed. Undersized for his college position for center.

Summary: Hendrix had an excellent junior season at Alabama, but NBA scouts have been skeptical in the past. They think Hendrix succeeds because of his strength. Once he gets to the NBA, he'll look much more average. Still, given the numbers he's put up at Alabama, you have to give him a look.

 

 

He looks like a bruiser down low in the Paul Millsap mold, and indeed, Draft Express has written the following about him with regard to his workout for Golden State:

Hendrix did everything he possibly could to help himself reportedly, blocking shots, rebounding well, scoring points both inside and outside, running the floor and playing strong defense. This is not the first strong report we’ve received from a workout he’s been in-- others have mentioned how much better he’s shooting free throws and mid-range jumpers, as well as the confidence he exudes and how impressive he is off the court as well. As we’ve discussed before, Hendrix’s numbers and overall profile compares favorably with Carlos Boozer’s at the same age, and even though we might not ever become an all-star like Boozer, he could develop into a Paul Millsap type steal if he falls into the second round.

And during the Orlando Pre-Draft camp the DX guys had this to say:

Richard Hendrix again did his best Paul Millsap impression, doing yeomen’s work on the offensive glass, picking up 6 rebounds on that end in just 22 minutes. He struggled to finish most of his shots inside, though, being unable to elevate quite high enough in traffic. He did have a nice move on the block in which he finished with a pretty jump-hook, and also did his typical work in transition and with simple finishes around the rim. Again he impressed with his passing ability and overall unselfishness, something that you rarely see out of any of the big men here.

I think that anytime you can get a guy with an NBA-body, with back to the bucket moves that rebounds the ball very well, and has consistently scored over 20 pts. per pace adjusted 40 mins at a very efficient clip (eFG% of  60%) in the second round, that you do it.  I really love this guy and I haven't really understood why he's a second rounder when JJ Hickson from NC State is projected about 15 spots ahead of him and does most of the same things.  Anyway, let me know what you guys think of Hendrix, I've admittedly never seen him play more than a few minutes of ball, but from what I read and the numbers he's put up in his sophomore and junior season, I'm intrigued and would love to see the Bulls nab a Millsap clone (or best case scenario the next Boozer-like steal).