Player Profile:
“The German native’s most overlooked feature is his athletic profile. At 7-feet in height, he has the mobility needed to operate with ease on the perimeter, and can even attack closeouts off the dribble with a fair amount of success. Having a big who can not only shoot but also handle and pass from the perimeter, is a considerable weapon for almost any offensive system.
Hartenstein has been known to battle with inconsistency and even questions about his conditioning, but the overarching skill is easily evident upon watching him play. He’s an easy pick-and-pop threat to incorporate, while his explosiveness in space allows him to finish above the rim with ease in pick-and-roll scenarios.
Defensively, Hartenstein still has some work to do in terms of filling out his frame, as he could get bullied by stronger bigs early on. With that said, he has the flight of foot and length needed to get out to the perimeter without being a liability.” — 2017 NBA Draft Big Board 5.0.
Outside Opinion:
“Hartenstein is most attractive because of his ability to attack opposing defenders from the perimeter. At 7-foot, he’s a fluid athlete who can handle the ball like many guards. His 3-point shot is still developing — he takes a lot, but doesn’t make a lot — but once it comes around, he should be able to aggressively attack close outs, opening up his offensive game even more. In an NBA that increasingly emphasizes versatility, Hartenstein provides plenty of potential on offense.” –Chris Stone in FanSided’s NBA Mock Draft 2017, Week 14.
Team Fit:
The Bulls are the Bulls, meaning they can go Best Player Available here without any second thoughts. Hartenstein has established himself rather clearly as the second best foreign prospect in this year’s class and gives Chicago a nice boost to their frontcourt moving forward.
Robin Lopez is and Taj Gibson are aging, Nikola Mirotic has regressed, and Chistiano Felicio isn’t exactly a stellar long term solution anywhere outside of a tertiary role off the bench. At 7-feet tall, Hartenstein’s mobility on the exterior and solid 3-point stroke is something the Bulls can build around alongside Jimmy Butler moving forward.
He gives them another shooter — which they desperately need — allowing them to create more driving lanes for their stud(s) on the wing. Chicago has the benefit of drafting for both talent and fit here, meaning they’ll be more than willing to press through the early defensive struggles Hartenstein might provide.