Bulls expected to sign sharpshooter to two-way contract |
Ever since Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley stepped into the Bulls front office, you have seen a dramatic facelift within the organization. Apart from guys like Zach Lavine and Coby White, virtually every other player on this roster has been acquired in the past two seasons as the Bulls tried to build a championship-caliber roster.
At times, they looked like a championship contender, but more often than not, they underachieved and now need to figure out what direction they will take. Although AK has done a lot of good since arriving, there has also been a ton of bad, with his draft selections being the main focus from that aspect. Another thing the front office has failed to address is the lack of perimeter shooting on this team, as the Bulls have been the worst three-point shooting team in the league for the past two seasons. Sure, guys like Lavine, White, and even an improved stroke from Patrick Williams do help, but when no one on your roster can consistently know down a three-point shot, it makes things more difficult offensively. This has been a need for the Bulls for a while, yet for whatever reason, the front office has failed to address it, which is puzzling in itself. However, after hiring one of the best shooting coaches this offseason, maybe the Bulls are starting to shift their focus to the lack of perimeter shooting in an effort to improve that aspect of the team. If the initial reports out of Turkey are accurate, then it does seem like the Bulls are looking to add shooting, as they are expected to sign Turkish sharp-shooter Onuralp Bitim to a two-way contract. According to reports out of Turkey, Bitim worked out for Chicago, San Antonio, and Oklahoma City, coming off an impressive showing in the Turkish League. His workout must have gone well in Chicago for them to consider him for this deal, as they appear close to signing him and adding him to their Summer League Roster. Unless you follow the International Circuit, which most don't, who is this Bitim, and what does he bring to the table? Well, for starters, he is a 6-6 G/F who is 24 years old and coming into his prime as a player. He most recently played for Frutti Extra Bursaspor in Turkey, where he put up some impressive numbers finishing the season with 18.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists over his 30 appearances. Those are solid numbers, but good enough numbers for several NBA teams to at least take a look at him. To understand how he plays, you need to dig pretty deep to find some film on him, but the film doesn't lie. He is a much better athlete than many people give him credit for, and he comes with a very smooth shot on the offensive end. Although not an explosive athlete like most of the NBA, Bitim has a nice touch from all areas of the floor while also boasting a very strong frame. That frame helps him attack off the dribble, but that isn't the part the Bulls are interested in. Instead, it has to be his overall shooting touch they are interested in, as shooting has been their biggest downfall the past few seasons. The swingman is fresh off shooting 40.9 percent from behind the arc on 6.9 attempts per game, and for a team lacking overall three-point shooting, those numbers are worth the gamble on a deal like this. While those numbers are impressive, there are some causes for concern, as this is the first time he has shot the ball that well. Before that, Bitim shot 37.1% in 2021-22 and only 32% the season after, so to see his number increase up to 40% is impressive. Even if he doesn't shoot that well in the NBA, should he be able to land in the 37% range, you have to consider that a massive upgrade for this team. This may not be an NBA deal, but two-way contracts are perfect in this scenario. You are bringing in a guy who has shown potential and putting him in your organization with a chance to prove himself. If he does, you have a player worth a spot on your bench. If not, you leave him in the G-League, which will cost you next to nothing.
