Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Jack Simone

3 Summer League players Bulls should sign to the main roster

For the Chicago Bulls, Summer League provided a crucial opportunity. Obviously, their goal is to compete for the postseason next year after the Bulls were bounced in the Play-In Tournament this past season. However, they should still be looking to add young talent in an attempt to secure a brighter future in Chicago.

As things stand, the Bulls already have 13 players on their roster, but that doesn’t include Ayo Dosunmu and does include Carlik Jones‘ non-guaranteed contract. In addition, they have two two-way spots open, leaving them with four potential slots open heading into next year, depending on the way Dosunmu’s contract situation plays out.

Buy Bulls Tickets

With that in mind, here are three players from Chicago’s Summer League team who the Bulls should sign to the main roster next year.

3 Summer League players Bulls should sign to the main roster: Javon Freeman-Liberty

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Summer League stats: 21.2 PTS, 4.6 REB, 4.4 AST, 49.3% FG, 46.2% 3PT

By far the best player on the Bulls Summer League team, Javon Freeman-Liberty proved that he is an NBA-caliber player. If Chicago doesn’t give him a contract, another team will.

Should Dosunmu leave in free agency, Freeman-Liberty would be a solid replacement, but regardless of that situation, they should bring him on board on a standard (ideally multi-year) deal.

3 Summer League players Bulls should sign to the main roster: Nate Darling

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Summer League stats: 11.2 PTS, 3.2 REB, 1.8 AST, 35.1% FG, 32.4% 3PT

Despite his overall poor three-point shooting, Nate Darling is the three-point specialist that the Bulls desperately lack. His rough splits are more an indication of his shot quality rather than his skill.

On a Chicago team with more spacing, talent, and playmakers, Darling’s three-point shot quality would skyrocket, and he could be a great asset for the Bulls. Maybe he’s more of a two-way guy, but his skillset could be worthy of a standard deal.

3 Summer League players Bulls should sign to the main roster: Jontay Porter

Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Summer League stats: 5.4 PTS, 4.6 REB, 2.0 BLK, 42.3% FG, 40.0% 3PT

While he only played 13.4 minutes per contest, Jontay Porter showed a ton of promise when he was on the court. Not only was he able to nail his three-point attempts at a high clip, but his bog body allowed him to block some shots, too.

With the bigs already on the roster, signing Porter to a standard contract doesn’t make too much sense, but bringing him on board via a two-way deal to play for the Windy City Bulls, Chicago’s G League affiliate, would be a great idea.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.