CHICAGO BULLS
NBA
Bulls Take a Flyer on Jordan Hawkins With Two-Way Deal
Jordan Hawkins gear at Fanatics
Rep Jordan Hawkins with official gear from Fanatics. Swipe for jerseys, tees and hoodies.
Gear check: Jordan Hawkins jerseys, tees and hoodies are up at Fanatics.
Jordan HawkinsHoodies & Sweats
Affiliate links: The Sports Nus may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Shams Charania reports the Bulls are signing the former 14th overall pick to a two-way contract. A low-risk bet on a shooter who never found his stroke in New Orleans.
The Bulls are taking a chance on a former lottery pick.
Jordan Hawkins is signing a two-way contract with Chicago, per Shams Charania via Underdog NBA. The 24-year-old guard was the 14th overall pick in the 2023 draft out of UConn, where he helped the Huskies win a national championship.
Hawkins was traded from New Orleans to Memphis this offseason, then waived by the Grizzlies. He cleared waivers and now lands in Chicago on a two-way deal.
What Hawkins brings
The pitch on Hawkins coming out of college was simple: elite movement shooter. He was supposed to be the guy sprinting off screens and burying threes. Through 174 NBA games, that hasn't materialized. He's a career 34.8% three-point shooter on 4.4 attempts per game.
His rookie year showed flashes: 7.8 points per game, 36.6% from deep, and a 34-point explosion against Dallas. But his shooting dipped to 33.1% in year two, and last season he played just 13.6 minutes a night, averaging 5.1 points.
Hawkins doesn't draw fouls, doesn't playmake, and doesn't defend at a high level. The entire bet is on the shot. If it comes around, he's a rotation player. If it doesn't, he's a two-way contract you can walk away from.
The fit in Chicago
Here's the question: where does he play? The Bulls already added Buddy Hield and Norman Powell to the backcourt. Hawkins is now competing for scraps behind an already crowded guard rotation.
The two-way structure makes sense for both sides. Chicago gets a no-risk look at a 24-year-old former lottery pick. Hawkins gets a fresh start in a new system, with G League reps available if the NBA minutes aren't there.
The Bulls have prioritized youth and development under the current regime. Hawkins fits that timeline. He's not a win-now addition. He's a lottery ticket.
Bottom line
This is a fine move. Two-way contracts are designed exactly for this: take a flyer on talent, see if a change of scenery unlocks something. Hawkins was a great college shooter who lost his confidence in New Orleans. Maybe Chicago is where he finds it.
But let's be honest about expectations. A 34.8% career three-point shooter on a two-way deal isn't moving the needle for a Bulls team trying to figure out what it is. This is a depth move, not a difference-maker.
Key Facts
- Signing: Two-way contract with the Bulls, per Shams Charania
- Draft: 14th overall, 2023, out of UConn
- Career: 174 games, 34.8% from three
- Last season: 5.1 ppg, 13.6 mpg with New Orleans
- Path: Traded to Memphis, waived, cleared waivers
Via Shams Charania, reported by Underdog NBA
More Chicago Bulls News
CHICAGO BULLS
Bulls Close Strong: Wilson Leads Chicago Past Minnesota in the Finale
Shop
Jordan Hawkins gear at Fanatics
CHICAGO BULLS
Caleb Wilson Dropped 5 Threes and Put a Defender on the Floor. The Bulls' Shooting Panic Is Over.
CHICAGO BULLS
Claxton Out At Least Two Weeks; Bulls Opener In Jeopardy
Shop
Chicago Bulls gear at Fanatics
CHICAGO BULLS
Buzelis calls the Buzelis-Wilson pairing "dangerous" ahead of the preseason opener
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
Cavaliers Beat Timberwolves 127-125 in Overtime as Mitchell Hits Late Winner
Every NBA trade, rumor and report, in your inbox.
Free. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.