NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Bulls will welcome back wing Malcolm Hill on a two-way contract, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Hill’s place within the organization was up for debate when free agency hit this July. While reports surfaced that the franchise extended Hill a two-way qualifying offer, whether or not the Bulls revoked that offer or he accepted that offer was unclear. Then, as the weeks went by, it became evident that rookie Justin Lewis was considered the only two-way contract player on the roster, as the Bulls looked set to leave open that second spot in advance of a training camp battle.
However, with Hill now reportedly signed, it appears the Bulls have their full roster set for the end of this month. Of course, the option to waive a player for someone who impresses in training camp is always on the table, but it’s also hard to picture who that might be right now. The front office has preached continuity all summer long, and Hill’s return feels like another move that helps check that box.
Now, if we did have to pick a player to keep an eye on, Lewis feels like the right name. The first-year forward tore his ACL in a workout this summer, so I don’t think it would come as a major surprise to see the Bulls prefer a healthy player in that spot. Having said that, Lewis was arguably one of the most intriguing undrafted free-agent signings. Not only did ESPN have him ranked as the best available player once the final pick came off the board, but he went on to impress with his versatility in Summer League. He certainly feels like a talent worth investing in, and I hope the Bulls do just that.
As for Hill’s future, he’s had some flashes as a perimeter shooter and active wing defender. He possess good positional size with a strong frame and the kind of hustle we know this Bulls front office covets. While I expect to see the bulk of his minutes come in the G-League this season, he feels like a worthwhile player to have back on the bench this season.
Welcome back, Malcolm!
