Chicago Bulls Vice President of Basketball Operations John Paxson often drafts players from brand name programs who stayed in school at least three years.
E’Twaun Moore fits that mold, as he’s the Purdue Boilermakers’ all time leader in minutes played, games started and games won. This fall, Moore will gets his chance to make the Bulls roster. It comes as a free agent signee with three years experience instead of as a draft pick just of college.
I did a piece for the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition on Moore trying to live out his dream, as he grew up a Bulls and Michael Jordan fan in East Chicago, Indiana. An excerpt is below, but you can read the whole piece here:
Prior to the 2011 NBA Draft, Moore got his first chance to make the Bulls roster; the team worked him out that summer. When he saw the six championship banners on display, it inspired him.
“I saw all that memorabilia. … [It was] exciting to be in the same place with all that greatness,” Moore said.
So now that he’s here in Chicago, how will E’twaun Moore fit in?
It will be based primarily on his ability to play two positions.
E’twaun Moore can back up Derrick Rose and Aaron Brooks at the point. He’ll also be behind Kirk Hinrich for the back-up two guard position behind Jimmy Butler. Jimmy Buckets was rated statistically by ESPN as the 4th best shooting guard in the league by some measures. You saw how impressive he was last night in the preseason game.
If Moore shows the ability to score from the wing, shoot the three ball and occasionally run the offense, he’ll play. It is not a good sign though that he’s yet to have logged a minute this entire preseason for the Bulls. Still, the Bulls would be crazy not to keep a fifth guard on the roster this year. Especially given all the health issues surrounding Derrick Rose. There is no other guard in camp that would beat out Moore for that slot.
Travis Miller runs Hammer and Rails.com, SB Nation’s Purdue website. Miller talked about how E’Twaun Moore could fit in:
“He did not play at the point much at Purdue thanks to Lewis Jackson, but was successful when asked to do it in Orlando,” Miller said.
“I think the fact that he is now a seasoned veteran that has played three NBA seasons will help him.”
Coach Thibs demands as much from his players as any coach in the NBA. Like Rose, Moore is a local product; so there will be plenty of friends and family there in person to witness his quest.
“I got six or seven family members who’d want to come on a regular basis and some good friends I’ll probably take care of,” Moore said.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and very often writes The Sports Bank.net ,which is partners with Fox Sports. Read his features stories in the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. Listen to him on 1620 The Zone. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks). His work has been featured in hundreds of media outlets including The Washington Post and ESPN 2