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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.

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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.

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