NEWSLETTER
After reportedly signing Marquette big Justin Lewis to a two-way contract at the conclusion of the 2022 NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls had a decision to make.
Former Big Ten standouts Tyler Cook and Malcolm Hill controlled the team’s two-way contracts last season, and the Lewis signing meant only one spot remained for the two heading into a highly-anticipated offseason.
According to Keith Smith of Yahoo Sports, the Bulls have chosen to extend a two-way qualifying offer to Hill, officially making him a restricted free agent.
If we want to get technical, this doesn’t mean it’s the end of the road for the Bulls and Cook. The Bulls could always sign him to the full-time roster or look to reward him with another two-way deal if Hill ends up elsewhere. The other option would be for Cook to ink a deal with the Windy City Bulls of the G-League, but my gut tells me he’s done enough to warrant another shot on an NBA roster somewhere.
As for Hill, the Bulls attempt to keep him in Chicago makes sense. While Cook offers more physical and athletic size in the frontcourt, Hill is easily the more versatile of the two. He has a wide six-foot-six frame and a jumper that helped him shoot 36.6 percent from behind the arc last season (his first in the NBA). While it’s hard to envision him carving out any kind of real role for this win-now Bulls roster, he’s still an intriguing gamble as a well-respected hard worker who remains just 26 years old.
