On July 25th, the Chicago Bulls signed forward Onuralp Bitim to a two-way contract. Bitim is 24 years old and coming over from Turkey, and he brings plenty to the table.
Onuralp Bitim Signs Two-Way Contract With Chicago Bulls
Background
Up to this point, Bitim has spent time in EuroCup and the Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL). He is a 6-foot-6 wing with scoring ability that propelled him to be a star in Turkey. Playing in the BSL and EuroCup for the last few years, Bitim has developed his shot-making and athleticism. He showcased some of his athleticism in 2020, when he won the Turkish slam dunk contest.
Bitim’s 2022-2023 season was his best. With Bursaspor, Bitim averaged 17.9 points per game in EuroCup play. He was even better in BSL play, racking up 18.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. He also shot 47.7% from the field, including 40.9% from the three-point line. Ultimately, Bitim made a name for himself as a scoring wing, appealing to NBA circles as such.
Any Playing Time in Chicago?
Bitim signed a two-way deal with Chicago, meaning it will be tough for him to crack minutes on the big-league roster. Expect him to spend some time with the Windy City Bulls to begin with. However, if he were to get playing time with Billy Donovan’s lineup, what would that look like?
Chicago has a number of players that can play on the wing behind DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine. A mixture of guards and forwards in Coby White, Alex Caruso, Ayo Dosunmu, Dalen Terry, Julian Phillips, Torrey Craig, and Patrick Williams all have the ability to play on the wing in Billy Donovan’s lineups. However, most of these players have a similar archetype of defensive-minded player with decent offense. White is the only player that is less defensive-minded and more of a shooter, but he is a bit undersized at 6-foot-4 to play on the wing often.
Bitim would be an upgrade in length over Chicago’s guards, whom Donovan likes to spread out on the wing. He would bring more of an offensive-minded game to Chicago’s depth. The Bulls have been missing three-point shooting, ranking dead last in the NBA in three-point attempts last season and 16th in three-point shooting percentage. If Bitim cracked the rotation, he would inject much-needed offensive wing production.
In a season where Chicago has decided to push its chips in and compete again, an international player signing a two-way contract seems insignificant. While it’s hard to see Bitim getting significant playing time early, he has tools that can help the lineup. Keep an eye on Bitim, who can develop into a significant contributor if given the chance.
