NBA

Bulls Take a Flyer on Jordan Hawkins With Two-Way Deal

By Rye | October 5, 2026

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.

Via Shams Charania, reported by Underdog NBA