Who’s Ready for Some Summer League Action!? (and Other Bulls Bullets)

Dalen Terry’s Rookie of the Year campaign starts now.

Marko Simonovic’s Most Improved Player campaign starts now.

Malcolm Hill’s Most Improved Player runner-up campaign starts now.

LET THE SUMMER LEAGUE GAMES BEGIN!

  • The Chicago Bulls will tip off their five-game Summer League set at 3:00 p.m. CT this afternoon in Las Vegas. All eyes will immediately fall on No. 18-overall pick Dalen Terry, who will comfortably be the highest selected rookie on the floor against the Dallas Mavericks. While we must always temper expectations as we walk into these next two weeks, the hope surely is that Terry flashes the same set of skills that rose him up draft boards during the pre-draft process. I’ll be looking for relentless hustle, high-IQ playmaking, and the ability to guard multiple positions on the defensive end. Anything else – particularly off-the-dribble shot-making – will be icing on the cake.
  • Speaking of Terry, the Bulls did finally make his signing official late last night.
  • They also announced the signing of both Marquette’s Justin Lewis and Chicago’s own Javon Freeman-Liberty:
  • For those who may not remember, each roster has two spots in addition to their 15-man roster for two-way contracts. These players will split time between the pros and the G-League, as we saw both Malcolm Hill and Tyler Cook do last season. News broke earlier this offseason that the Bulls did extend Hill a two-way qualifying offer over Cook. And all signs suggest that Hill accepted that offer and remains in that roster spot. Then, we got word that the Bulls signed Marquette forward Justin Lewis to a two-way deal right after the draft came to a close.
  • I say all of this because I’ve seen some early confusion about whether or not Javon Freeman-Liberty was handed a two-way contract. While I can’t say for certain without the Bulls officially announcing Hill’s return, I imagine they would have explicitly stated that Freeman-Liberty’s contract was a two-way deal in the announcement above. If they did it for Lewis, why wouldn’t they do it for Freeman-Liberty? With that being the case, my guess is Freeman-Liberty is simply on an Exhibit-10 type contract for now. In other words, he’s likely on a training camp deal that will run through the preseason. Perhaps the Bulls will then decide to waive Hill and hand him a two-way spot, but I think that’s a decision-making process the team still has to go through.
  • If you’re interested, I wrote a little bit more about what to look for as Terry and his fellow youngsters take the floor in the post below:
  • Every year around Summer League I always think about how awesome it would be if a current All-Star just decided to suit up and go full-blown Wilt Mode. I mean, like, could you imagine if Zach LaVine decided to take the floor and actually try as hard as he could? I truly believe he could drop 70 points and leave at least four rookies crying in the fetal position. Now, I understand why this will never actually happen, but I would pay an unhealthy amount of money to watch it.
  • I’ll say this about Andre Drummond: I’m sure it can be hard to go from All-Star-caliber talent to backup big man in only a handful of years. He seems to be embracing the new stage of his career, though, and it’s certainly reassuring to hear him say the following: “I’m just here to bring a lot of energy, some toughness. Just the grit this team needs to push us to the next level.” I still have a lot of questions about exactly how he can hold up in the Bulls’ system, but as long as he embraces his role, I look forward to having those questions answered.
  • The guys over at the Domestic Draft Podcast invited me on to talk about the Bulls’ offseason! Give it a listen for a good chat!
  • Rebuild can be frustrating, but they can also be the start of something truly special. The Blackhawks blew it all up last night, and I highly recommend you follow all of Tab’s latest work at BN Blackhawks. He’s killing it over there right now.
  • written by

    Elias Schuster is the Lead Chicago Bulls writer at Bleacher Nation. He started with BN full-time in 2019 immediately after graduating from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign with a degree in Journalism (yes, he started with the Jim Boylen Era). Since joining, Elias has been the driving force behind Bulls and NBA content for both the site and social accounts. You can follow him on Twitter/X @Schuster_Elias.

    more bulls news

    What Would be the Best Draw for the Chicago Bulls in the Play-In Tournament?

    Nine games stand between the Chicago Bulls and the Play-In Tournament. I know ... yippie! Practically locked into the No. 9 seed, this puts them in line to host the No. 10 seed at the United Center in Round 1....

    Best Defense of the Season, Playing Big, Javonte Green’s Instant Impact, and Other Bulls Bullets

    Lose to the 14-win Wizards one game and hold the Pacers' elite offense to their worst performance of the season the next. Your 2023-24 Chicago Bulls, everyone! As I said in last night's Enhanced Box Score, I'm now even more...

    WOW: Minnesota Timberwolves Sale to Alex Rodriguez Falls Through

    The Minnesota Timberwolves dropped a bomb on Thursday morning. According to a statement released by the Timberwolves and Lynx ownership group, the franchise is no longer for sale. A transition of power was thought to be in place over the...

    Enhanced Box Score: Bulls 125, Pacers 99 – March 27, 2024

    I got to be honest, I'm even more upset about the Washington Wizards' loss. If the Chicago Bulls played like they did tonight, they would have beaten that depleted Wizards team by 40. This was a locked-in group from the...

    Javonte Green Makes Bulls Return… Immediately Does Awesome Stuff

    Javonte Green has officially made his Chicago Bulls debut ... again. The 30-year-old signed with the organization via a 10-day hardship deal on March 22. Injuries to Lonzo Ball, Zach LaVine, Patrick Williams, and Julian Phillips paved the way for...

    WATCH: Alex Caruso Snatches Rookie Ben Sheppard’s Ankles

    Alex Caruso will always be known for his defense capabilities, but he's showing a lot more than that this season. The veteran guard is averaging double-digit points for the first time in his career. A big part of that has...

    Draymond Green Ejected Less Than 4 Minutes Into Game Against Orlando

    Draymond Green was at it again on Wednesday night. Out East to take on the Orlando Magic, the Golden State Warriors watched Paolo Banchero bulldoze Andrew Wiggins to the rim early in the first quarter. As Banchero high-fived his teammates...

    Pre-Gamin’: Indiana Pacers at Chicago Bulls (7:00 CT), Projected Lineups, How to Watch, More

    Everything was awful on Tuesday. Be Better. https://twitter.com/chicagobulls/status/1772971933161705610?s=20 Game Info Indiana Pacers (41-32) at Chicago Bulls (34-38) – 7:00 p.m. CT on NBC Sports Chicago (TV) and 670 The Score (Radio) Projected Starting Lineups Chicago Bulls Coby White Alex Caruso Ayo Dosunmu...

    Around the Association: Caitlin Clark Gets Big(3) Offer, Knicks Getting Help, Lakers OT Thriller, More

    It's hard to believe we have less than three weeks remaining in the NBA's regular season, and we should be in for some real drama down the stretch. The Knicks have plenty to play for in their remaining 11 games...

    WHOA: NCAA Looking to Ban Prop Betting on All College Athletes

    As the NCAA men's basketball tournament gears up for the Sweet Sixteen, the college sports world received some big news. On Wednesday morning, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that NCAA president Charlie Baker wants to officially ban prop betting on college...

    Latest News

    Diamondbacks vs. Rockies: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    In their season opener on Friday, Corbin Carroll and the Arizona Diamondbacks take on Nolan Jones and the Colorado Rockies, with first pitch scheduled for 9:40 PM ET at Chase Field.Keep reading to find out how to watch the Arizona-Colorado...

    Guardians vs. Athletics: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    Logan Allen will take the mound for the Cleveland Guardians when they square off against starter Ross Stripling and the Oakland Athletics in their season opener on Friday, with first pitch at 9:40 PM ET.Find out how to watch the...

    How to Watch Mariners vs. Red Sox: Live Stream or on TV

    In their season opener on Friday, Julio Rodriguez and the Seattle Mariners play Rafael Devers and the Boston Red Sox, with first pitch scheduled for 9:40 PM ET at T-Mobile Park.Keep reading to see how to watch the Seattle-Boston matchup...

    How to Watch Padres vs. Giants: Live Stream or on TV

    Fernando Tatis Jr. and the San Diego Padres (2-1) host Jorge Soler and the San Francisco Giants (0-1) on Friday, with first pitch at 9:40 PM ET.The article below will provide you with everything you need to know to watch...

    Dodgers vs. Cardinals: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    The St. Louis Cardinals (0-1), led by Paul Goldschmidt, visit Mookie Betts and the Los Angeles Dodgers (2-1) at 10:10 PM ET on Friday.Keep scrolling to find out all the details on how to watch Los Angeles play St. Louis...

    OMG: Michael Busch Scored the 9th Inning, GO-AHEAD Run, Because He Just Never Stopped Running

    That was absolutely incredible. To all the little kids out there, when your coach tells you to never stop running, this is why. Rookie Cubs 1B Michael Busch (the guy the Cubs got from the Dodgers this offseason to be...

    Astros vs. Yankees: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    The Houston Astros (0-1), with Cristian Javier on the mound, will host the New York Yankees (1-0), who will send out Carlos Rodon, at 8:10 PM ET on Friday.If you're trying to watch this game, keep reading for streaming and...

    Rays vs. Blue Jays: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

    The Toronto Blue Jays (1-0), led by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., visit Yandy Diaz and the Tampa Bay Rays (0-1) at 6:50 PM ET on Friday.Find out how to watch the Tampa Bay-Toronto matchup below.When is Rays vs. Blue Jays and...

    Enhanced Box Score: Rangers 4, Cubs 3 – March 28, 2024

    It took exactly one day for the Cubs' ace to sustain what may be a significant injury, for their closer to blow a save, for the umpires to significantly impact the outcome of a critical play (this time in the...

    Justin Steele Injury Update: New Classification, MRI Tomorrow, IL Stint Coming? Steele and Counsell Speak

    A significant update on Justin Steele came from Craig Counsell tonight after the Cubs extra innings loss in Texas. In short: Yes, a stint on the Injured List is likely for Justin Steele. But we still don't know how severe...

    more bulls news