NEWSLETTER
As we inch toward the quiet stretch of the offseason, the Chicago Bulls still have some business to conduct. Not only has the organization yet to come to terms with restricted free agent guard Ayo Dosunmu, but they still have at least a couple of full-time roster spots left to fill.
Between the remainder of their mid-level exception (roughly $5.7 million), the bi-annual exception ($4.2 million), and Lonzo Ball’s disabled player exception ($10.2 million), there are several resources they have left at their disposal. However, how much of that money they’ll actually spend to fill out their 15-man unit remains a significant question with the luxury tax looming.
If one thing is for sure, it’s that the front office doesn’t have to worry about the luxury tax when evaluating potential players for a two-way contract. The NBA originally allowed up to two two-way contracts on each roster, but they increased that number to three in the latest CBA. These deals do not count toward the salary cap.
We’ve seen the Chicago Bulls shuffle their two-way talent plenty of times in the past, having names like Devon Dotson, Tyler Cook, Malcolm Hill, Justin Lewis, and Terry Taylor each fill one of those two spots over the past two seasons. So who is the team expected to have on those contracts heading into this year?
Well, let’s briefly discuss where things stand.
Adama Sanogo – Signed
A big man out of UConn, Adama Sanogo reportedly reached a two-way deal with the Chicago Bulls shortly after the 2023 NBA Draft came to a close. The organization then went on to confirm the signing on July 10 via their social media.
Sanogo went on to appear in each of the team’s five Summer League games and was arguably one of the few bright spots on the roster. After a rough Game 1 where he looked a little out of place, Sanogo began to show a lot of the positive attributes that helped him lead the Huskies to a National Championship last season.
Despite being undersized, he battled well on the glass and finished at an extremely encouraging 65.7 percent clip. While Sanogo may not be the most gifted athlete on the floor, he carries an extremely strong frame and has the kind of soft touch around the rim that can make him an extremely intriguing post player.
There are still some big question marks around his defensive potential, as he may lack the verticality to give opposing bigs a problem and the foot speed to stay in front of guards/wings. But, overall, the Bulls looked like they made the right call signing him to a two-way deal as quickly as they did. His 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds (4.0 OREBs per game!), and 1.4 steals a night were enough to warrant a full season of closer evaluation. This is especially true when we consider the Bulls’ options at center are extremely limited behind Nikola Vucevic and Andre Drummond.
Justin Lewis – Signed?
The Chicago Bulls originally had Justin Lewis signed to a two-way at the beginning of last season. The Marquette standout signed with the team immediately after the draft came to a close. The move initially felt like a win simply because a handful of big boards had Lewis as a second-round talent, but it only felt like more of a win when fans got a closer look at him in Summer League.
To be sure, Lewis didn’t drop any jaws, but he did look like the kind of player who could fit the modern NBA so well. He could stretch the floor and attack off the dribble a bit. Even more important, his bulky frame combined with some springy athleticism meant he could switch onto small players while also hanging with bigger bodies in the post.
Unfortunately, however, Lewis ended up tearing his ACL and out of a two-way deal before the regular season tipped off. He did stay around the team and eventually re-sign on a two-way contract at the end of the year, but it wasn’t until this Summer League that Bulls fans were able to get another look at him. Uh, well, a five-minute look.
Lewis turned his ankle almost immediately in Game 2 of Summer League after scoring 7 points with 7 rebounds in Game 1. He didn’t return and the extent of his injury is unknown. According to Will Gottlieb of CHGO, though, the team has stated that Justin Lewis will be on a two-way contract with the team in 2023-24. We’re still waiting for the official confirmation, but it’s not hard to believe this would be their intention after ensuring he rehabbed through his ACL tear in their building last year. The front office clearly remains interested in what Lewis has to offer, and I’m hoping he can justify that interest with a fully healthy season this year.
Terry Taylor – Qualifying Offer
Somewhat similar to Lewis, Terry Taylor has shown flashes of being quite the versatile and physical swingman. He started his NBA career in 2021-22 with the Indiana Pacers and appeared in 33 games while averaging a surprising 9.4 points and 5.2 rebounds. Indiana eventually decided to move on from him mid-way through last season, which led to the Bulls waiving Malcolm Hill and rewarding Taylor with his two-way slot.
As far as this front office’s liking for multi-positional talent with a high motor goes, Taylor certainly fits the mold. And they reiterated that by reportedly extending him a two-way qualifying offer earlier this offseason. We have to get word on what Taylor will do, but he’s likely holding out some hope that he can find an opportunity that will allow him even more playing time elsewhere. Even if it were to be on a differing two-way contract, some rebuilding team might be in a position to give Taylor some real minutes.
With that said, we have yet to hear anything about the Bulls rescinding this QO (which they can do), so the door presumably remains open for Terry to sign it. Assuming Sanogo AND Lewis are both under contract, this would make Terry the third and final two-way player on Chicago’s roster.
Javon Freeman-Liberty – Waiting in the Wings?
If there is any name to watch right now for stealing one of the two-way spots, it’s Javon Freeman-Liberty. The second-year guard and Chicago native played extremely well in Summer League, averaging 21.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists. Only eight played finished averaging more points per game than Freeman-Liberty and none of those performers finished with a higher 3-point percentage (46.2 percent).
Indeed, Freeman-Liberty looked like easily one of the most comfortable and decisive players on the court in each of the Bulls’ games. He also showed an ability to play both on and off the ball offensively, only further expanding his potential ceiling. There is simply no doubt that he played well enough to earn a roster spot somewhere in the NBA. And there could be a case to be made that he played so well that someone should just take a chance on him with a minimum contract over a two-way deal.
I’d keep an eye on Chicago for both situations. As noted at the beginning, the Bulls still have three full-time roster spots left to fill. While it’s a bit hard to imagine they add another guard in one of those slots, this could be the route they go if Ayo Dosunmu doesn’t return.
Regardless, keeping Freeman-Liberty should probably be a priority for this front office. The last thing they want to do is give up on a blossoming young talent that they’ve had in-house the past year too early.
