Bulls Converting Bitim to a Standard NBA Deal

[GoBlue72391]

AK adding a lot of 3pt shooting with Bitim and Funk. Whose minutes are getting chopped though? My guess is Terry’s and Philips’.

My guess is none, Bitim and Funk will continue to collect DNP-CDs and will continue to see plenty of time in the G League.

[FriedRise]

AK adding a lot of 3pt shooting with Bitim and Funk. Whose minutes are getting chopped though? My guess is Terry’s and Philips’.

My guess is none, Bitim and Funk will continue to collect DNP-CDs and will continue to see plenty of time in the G League.

It’s too bad. With the game the way it is, we need their volume shooting moreso than the better defense Terry/Phillips can provide.

[ThisGuyFawkes]

AK adding a lot of 3pt shooting with Bitim and Funk. Whose minutes are getting chopped though? My guess is Terry’s and Philips’.

My guess is none, Bitim and Funk will continue to collect DNP-CDs and will continue to see plenty of time in the G League.

It’s too bad. With the game the way it is, we need their volume shooting moreso than the better defense Terry/Phillips can provide.

Has Bitim been that good at the 3 though? I thought I had read that his G-League numbers were uninspiring. I think Funk could possibly see some minutes as a 3pt specialist. Maybe 5-8 mpg if his numbers translate to the NBA. Big "if" though. Maybe like a Watanabe?

[GoBlue72391]

AK adding a lot of 3pt shooting with Bitim and Funk. Whose minutes are getting chopped though? My guess is Terry’s and Philips’.

My guess is none, Bitim and Funk will continue to collect DNP-CDs and will continue to see plenty of time in the G League.

It’s too bad. With the game the way it is, we need their volume shooting moreso than the better defense Terry/Phillips can provide.

It definitely couldn't hurt to throw them out there and see if they sink or swim.

[GoBlue72391]

My guess is none, Bitim and Funk will continue to collect DNP-CDs and will continue to see plenty of time in the G League.

It’s too bad. With the game the way it is, we need their volume shooting moreso than the better defense Terry/Phillips can provide.

Has Bitim been that good at the 3 though? I thought I had read that his G-League numbers were uninspiring. I think Funk could possibly see some minutes as a 3pt specialist. Maybe 5-8 mpg if his numbers translate to the NBA. Big "if" though. Maybe like a Watanabe?

Bitim is shooting 36% from three in the G League. He shot 36% last year split between the Turkish League and Euro Cup and also shot 36% the year before that in the same leagues.

So it seems like Bitim is a consistent shooter. Consistently average, assuming he can maintain that 36% at the NBA level.

[FriedRise]

Read on Twitter

Apparently he hadn't practiced with the team much, so he must've been playing by purely instinct and IQ. But it's positive to see a player who could contribute this much positively in his first real NBA game. I didn't see a lot of rookie mistakes out there, and Billy obviously trusted him enough to play down the stretch + OT. Carter going back in the doghouse after turning down that wide open layup is gonna be the start of Bitim.

I like that he moves around a lot on offense to try to get open. On a couple possessions, you can really see him because he was the only Bull moving around without the basketball lmao. And I thought his defense was better than I originally thought. I don't think he's gonna lock guys down per se (you put him to guard an isolation, he's gonna get cooked), but he seems like a smart enough help defender who understands when to rotate and where he needs to be.

[GoBlue72391]

Read on Twitter

Apparently he hadn't practiced with the team much, so he must've been playing by purely instinct and IQ. But it's positive to see a player who could contribute this much positively in his first real NBA game. I didn't see a lot of rookie mistakes out there, and Billy obviously trusted him enough to play down the stretch + OT. Carter going back in the doghouse after turning down that wide open layup is gonna be the start of Bitim.

I like that he moves around a lot on offense to try to get open. On a couple possessions, you can really see him because he was the only Bull moving around without the basketball lmao. And I thought his defense was better than I originally thought. I don't think he's gonna lock guys down per se (you put him to guard an isolation, he's gonna get cooked), but he seems like a smart enough help defender who understands when to rotate and where he needs to be.

This is either the start of something or that was his Adam Mokoka moment. I'm a believer, I think he can be a solid NBA player.

[ChettheJet]

In just two games I think he and Philips have shut down the buyout market

[meekrab]

In just two games I think he and Philips have shut down the buyout market

We were never going to be buyout players since we're pressed up against the luxury tax line.

I'm just glad this guy went from being a rumored possible signing to a key part of beating the Cavs lol.

[gardenofsound]

Ralpie the Red Ryder! He's a dead eye! He'll shoot your eye out!

[boozapalooza]

Forget about Manu, we got Onu!

[HomoSapien]

I was impressed by his defensive abilities. He didn't look like a slouch at all out there. Hopefully he gets minutes the next game. Billy has a tendency to be inconsistent with Phillips' minutes even after a good game, and it's annoying.

[Dan Z]

Read on Twitter

Apparently he hadn't practiced with the team much, so he must've been playing by purely instinct and IQ. But it's positive to see a player who could contribute this much positively in his first real NBA game. I didn't see a lot of rookie mistakes out there, and Billy obviously trusted him enough to play down the stretch + OT. Carter going back in the doghouse after turning down that wide open layup is gonna be the start of Bitim.

I like that he moves around a lot on offense to try to get open. On a couple possessions, you can really see him because he was the only Bull moving around without the basketball lmao. And I thought his defense was better than I originally thought. I don't think he's gonna lock guys down per se (you put him to guard an isolation, he's gonna get cooked), but he seems like a smart enough help defender who understands when to rotate and where he needs to be.

This is either the start of something or that was his Adam Mokoka moment. I'm a believer, I think he can be a solid NBA player.

I hope Bitim gets a good amount of minutes next game because he earned it, but it wouldn't surprise me if he got very little. Ive seen too many players have a good game and then get no opportunity the next time out.

[sco]

Read on Twitter

Apparently he hadn't practiced with the team much, so he must've been playing by purely instinct and IQ. But it's positive to see a player who could contribute this much positively in his first real NBA game. I didn't see a lot of rookie mistakes out there, and Billy obviously trusted him enough to play down the stretch + OT. Carter going back in the doghouse after turning down that wide open layup is gonna be the start of Bitim.

I like that he moves around a lot on offense to try to get open. On a couple possessions, you can really see him because he was the only Bull moving around without the basketball lmao. And I thought his defense was better than I originally thought. I don't think he's gonna lock guys down per se (you put him to guard an isolation, he's gonna get cooked), but he seems like a smart enough help defender who understands when to rotate and where he needs to be.

This is either the start of something or that was his Adam Mokoka moment. I'm a believer, I think he can be a solid NBA player.

I hope Bitim gets a good amount of minutes next game because he earned it, but it wouldn't surprise me if he got very little. Ive seen too many players have a good game and then get no opportunity the next time out.

Me too. I think his court time will be ultimately dictated by Caruso's and Craig's availability.

[GoBlue72391]

AK adding a lot of 3pt shooting with Bitim and Funk. Whose minutes are getting chopped though? My guess is Terry’s and Philips’.

My guess is none, Bitim and Funk will continue to collect DNP-CDs and will continue to see plenty of time in the G League.

I'm glad I was wrong and Billy not only gave Bitim a shot, but he trusted him enough to play him down the stretch of a double OT game against one of the best teams in the league.

I really hope he continues to have a role moving forward, at least until he proves he shouldn't.

[khufure]

I was impressed by his defensive abilities. He didn't look like a slouch at all out there. Hopefully he gets minutes the next game. Billy has a tendency to be inconsistent with Phillips' minutes even after a good game, and it's annoying.

That was supposedly his weakness. I would guess he will get exposed a little with more play time. But if he shoots 40% and rebounds and tries hard I won't care one bit.

[drosestruts]

brooklyn, golden state, Atlanta, Portland, New Orleans, Cleveland, OKC, Sacramento and us have all converted 2-way players to regular multi-year contracts.

There's clearly some strategy in doing this that's being leveraged by a number of front offices. You have a third of the league all making similar moves.

[GoBlue72391]

I don't know if it's been posted yet, but the details of Bitim's contract are as follows:

3-years, $4.6 million with the first year (this season) guaranteed and the next two years unguaranteed.

If he makes the opening day roster next year then his salary for that season will become partially guaranteed. If he's still on the roster by January 10th then his salary will become fully guaranteed for that season. There's similar stipulations for the following season as well (2025-26).

I figured it would be something like that.

Source: https://www.spotrac.com/nba/chicago-bulls/onuralp-bitim-85470/

[Chi town]

When we can’t make shots he’s def the guy we play over Dalen and JP

[Mk0]

If it wasn't for Drummond's monster game he would have won the Taj Gibson Award For Excellence in the areas of Heart, Hustle and Muscle, which isn't usually given to a rookie. Really great showing from Andres Newcioni

* seriously though look at those highlights. Vooch was flat-footed twice and he just ran around him and snagged the rebound to push the pace. I love it.

** outrunning Donovan Mitchell and slowing down in order to box him out was a winning play. Even if he wasn't fouled going for the rebound he took away a potential putback dunk.