2. Stretch Big Potential
The Chicago Bulls have completely changed the way that a coaching staff should look at Noah Vonleh. Over the course of just 21 games with the Bulls, Vonleh was utilized in a manner that we’d never seen before during his NBA career.
While the Portland Trail Blazers opted to use Vonleh as more of a bruising interior presence who cleaned up the boards, Chicago viewed him as more of a modern big.
Vonleh converted 18 three-point field goals during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons—combined. He buried 18 three-point field goals in 21 games with the Bulls alone, and did so on just six fewer attempts than he had between the 2015-16 and 2016-17 campaigns—again, combined.
He’ll need to improve his efficiency from beyond the arc, but considering he went from a non-shooter to a catch and shoot specialist, 30.0 percent is a solid starting point.
With the New York Knicks, Vonleh’s range will be appreciated by a head coach who has emphasized the three-ball for his bigs in the past. David Fizdale played a significant role in both Chris Bosh and Marc Gasol becoming players who evolved from non-shooters into borderline marksmen.
With the ability to stretch the floor, finish above the rim, and crash the offensive glass, Vonleh could create intriguing balance for a small-ball or stretch big lineup.