Doug McDermott sat out the 2013 NBA Draft, electing to return to Creighton and finish off a storied four-year career. That decision benefited McDermott Thursday night, as the Bluejay senior was drafted 11th overall by the Denver Nuggets. But before he could get comfortable in the baby blue, McDermott was on his way to the Windy City, as he was subsequently traded to the Chicago Bulls for the 16th (Jusuf Nurkic, Croatia) and 19th (Gary Harris, Michigan State) picks in the first round.
Doug McDermott is headed to the Chicago Bulls after a draft-night trade (WBR/Mike Spomer) CLICK PHOTO TO BUY
Projected last year to be a mid- to late-round first pick, McDermott collected player of the year award after player of the year award (and possibly an ESPY Award for College Athlete of the Year) and elevated his stock for the 2014 draft. McDermott, who was surrounded by his parents, grandfather, brother, and sister at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, proved his worth when the Bulls gave up 2 first round draft picks to acquire the Creighton forward, forward Anthony Randolph, and a future 2nd round pick.
McDermott became Creighton’s 4th player drafted in the first round of the NBA draft and the first player drafted since Kyle Korver (former Bull) in the 2nd round of the 2003 NBA draft (pick #51). McDermott joins former CU first-rounders Benoit Benjamin (3rd pick in 1985), Cyril Baptise (3rd pick in the 1971 Hardship draft), and Bob Portman (7th pick in 1969).
Creighton’s all-time leading scorer, McDermott will join a Bulls team that also has former MVP Derrick Rose (coming off a knee injury) and All-NBA first team player Joakim Noah. The Bulls lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Washington Wizards.
What Doug McDermott Can Expect in 2014-2015
How much money will Doug get paid?
- The first thing that comes to mind when a player gets draft is, “he’s rich”. While it is true, higher draft picks are paid more than lower picks. Round 1 selections are guaranteed money based on when they were selected while round 2 selections are not guaranteed a contract.
- The NBA rookie scale* for the 11th pick in years 1 and 2 are $1,898,300 and $1,983,700, respectively. Rookie contracts have a team option (the team can exercise that option and resign the player) for the rookie’s 3rd and 4th season. The 3rd year option salary pay scale is $2,069,200. The 4th year option salary is an increase of 32.7% of the year 3 salary. What does this mean? Doug could sign a contract for as much as $10.4 million over 4 years.
- Looking back to the 2013 and 2012 NBA drafts, Michael-Carter Williams (Philadelphia) and Meyers Leonard (Portland) both signed their rookie contracts to 120% of the rookie scale amount for their respective years. We’ll see if Doug does the same.
- *Salaries can be as high as 120% of the rookie scale salary or as low as 80%.
When will fans see McDermott in a Bulls jersey?
The 2014-2015 season will begin October 28, 2014, and there are preseason games leading up to it. However, the first crack to see Doug playing may be in the Las Vegas summer league with the Bulls. This leagues runs from July 11-21 and the schedule is already set. If you’re in Vegas and want to beat the heat, why not enjoy some hoops indoors?
Will Doug wear #3?
- The current Bulls roster does not have a player wearing #3. If he chooses #3, it is there for the taking.
How did the Bulls do in 2013-2014?
- The Bulls finished 48-34, 2nd in the Central Division behind the Indiana Pacers. They were the #4 seed in the playoffs where they lost to the Washington Wizards 4-1. Derrick Rose played in 10 games before a knee injury forced him to miss the rest of the season.
What does the Bulls roster look like for 2014-2015?
- The Bulls currently have 8 players under contract; Derrick Rose, Carlos Boozer, Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson, Mike Dunleavy, Tony Snell, Jimmy Butler, and Greg Smith for a total salary of $63.4 million. Excluding team options and qualifying offers, Boozer, Dunleavy, and Smith are on the last year of their contract. Gone from last year’s team are Kirk Hinrich ($4 million), Nazr Mohammed ($1.4 million), D.J. Augustin ($600K), Jimmer Fredette ($240K). The Bulls also acquired Anthony Randolph from the Nuggets and his $1.8 million salary.
- Why do I mention salaries? The salary cap for 2014-2015 is expected to be $63.2 million. With a salary over $77 million, teams are subject to a luxury tax (without much explanation, it’s a tax teams pay into the league for being over the salary cap). As reports indicate, the Bulls are attempting to make salary room to sign free agents Carmelo Anthony or LeBron James. In order to do so, it may require trades or an amnesty of Carlos Boozer and/or Mike Dunleavy. McDermott looks like an upgrade to Dunleavy.
- Their potential starting line-up (not factoring in any players added or lost): Rose G, Butler G, Dunleavy/Snell/McDermott F, Boozer F, Noah C
Who coaches the Bulls?
- For the first time in 4 years Doug won’t be coached by his dad. The Bulls are coached by Tom Thibodeau, who completed his 4th year with the Bulls after serving as an assistant coach for 20 years (6 different teams) including the Boston Celtics, with which he won an NBA title in 2008. Known as defensive minded coach, Thibodeau won the 2011 NBA Coach of the Year award.
How about the Bulls franchise history?
- Everybody knows that Michael Jordan played for the Bulls, teaming up with Scottie Pippen and coach Phil Jackson to win 6 NBA titles, 3rd most in NBA history behind the Celtics (17) and Lakers (16). In total, the Bulls have made the playoffs 33 times in their franchise history, which dates back to 1966. More recently, Da Bulls have been to the playoffs in 9 of the last 10 seasons.