The Chicago Bulls filled their recently vacated two-way contract slot.
“The team has signed forward Justin Lewis to a two-way contract,” says a release on the Bulls’ official website. “In accordance with team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.”
Lewis is a 6-foot-7 rookie from Marquette who originally signed with the Bulls as an undrafted free agent. He was considered among the top undrafted rookies available with some surprise in league circles that he did not at least find his way into the second round. Offering a blend of size and skill unique to this roster, an injury left him unable to impress this past summer.
A Baltimore native, the Bulls’ release notes that Lewis averaged 16.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.1 steals while logging 32 starts as a sophomore en route to being named the Big East Most Improved Player and earning All-Big East First Team honors.
Lewis finished second in the conference in defensive rebounds and third in points.
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He tore his ACL during a private workout away from the team and was ruled out for the season costing him his initial two-way slot. Lewis was released from that deal in favor of project forward Kostas Antetokounmpo who signed on October 14, the younger brother of Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo who caught the eye of Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arutras Karnisovas while playing overseas.
The younger Antetokounmpo was waived on December 16 to make space for Jones
Antetokounmpo, Jones, Lewis, and swingman Malcolm Hill were all vying for the two-way slots during the preseason with Lewis’ spot seemingly secured before his injury. Chicago would sign Hill to one of the slots but he was waived on February 21 to make way for Terry Taylor, formerly of the Indiana Pacers.
Justin Lewis only two-way so other two-way up for grabs. Kostas Antetokounmpo, Malcolm Hill and Carlik Jones among competitors.
— K.C. Johnson ()
A Winding Road for Justin Lewis
Lewis’ path back to the Bulls was just as circuitous as his first stint.
Chicago converted point guard Carlik Jones’ two-way deal into a standard contract for the remainder of the season to fill the opening left when they …read more
Source:: Heavy.com