Basketball is back! After a hiatus that felt much longer than 19 days, NBA basketball is being played once again. Well, Summer League basketball. For basketball fans, the Summer League is a chance to see some of the league’s exciting young talent play for the first time at the professional level. For coaches and front offices, it’s a chance to evaluate young talent and younger players on the roster bubble. As one of the NBA’s most beloved traditions begins, here’s my guide to the Chicago Bulls’ Summer League experience.

Important Dates

Sunday 8/8 – Summer league begins in Las Vegas

Monday 8/9 – Bulls vs. Pelicans

Tuesday 8/10 – Bulls @ Spurs

Thursday 8/12 – Bulls @ Timberwolves

Sunday 8/15 – Bulls vs. Grizzlies

5th Bulls game TBD

Tuesday 8/17 – Summer League Championship Game (two teams with the best records face off)

Key Players

The Bulls didn’t have a first-round pick this year, so, unlike most teams, there’s not a clear-cut player to be on the lookout for this year. However, Chicago’s Summer League roster has several exciting young players who could (or should) end up making a difference this season.

Patrick Williams, SF/PF – After a promising rookie season, Williams is expected to take a leap in his second NBA season. While he showed promise on both ends of the floor, he sometimes disappeared and lacked aggressiveness. Finding himself as the forgotten member of the new-look Bulls’ starting lineup, he’ll have to assert himself if he wants to keep up with Chicago’s new firepower. If “the Paw” can continue to improve on defense and as a playmaker, he can become a valuable asset to a Bulls lineup that is still somewhat weak defensively. Look for him to become more aggressive on offense and continue to make life hard for the other team’s best player defensively.

Marko Simonovic, PF/C – Simonovic was drafted in the 2nd round last year but played in Europe this past season, so Summer League will be his first NBA action. Overseas, he averaged 15.7 points and 9.1 rebounds per game while shooting 35% from 3. Assuming Lauri Markkanen isn’t on Chicago’s roster by the time the season starts, Simonovic will be tasked with being the team’s backup 4. Summer League will be crucial for Marko’s development and acclimation to NBA-style basketball. The front office, meanwhile, will likely focus on Simonovic’s comfort level and ability in Summer League. If he struggles, look for the team to bring in a veteran 4 and for Simonovic to be relegated to more of a developmental/bench role.

Devon Dotson, PG – After going undrafted in 2020, Dotson signed a 2-way contract with the Bulls. Despite the team being plagued by injuries during the season and the lack of depth at point guard, Dotson saw very limited time with the Bulls. When he did play, he showed flashes, but that was in an extremely small sample size. With the Bulls adding Ayo Dosunmu, Alex Caruso, and Lonzo Ball, as well as the return of Coby White, Zach LaVine, and Javonte Green, Dotson suddenly finds himself on a team that’s deep at both guard positions. If he wants to make the 15-man roster, he’ll have to show out this summer.

Ayo Dosunmu, PG/SG – The former Illinois star was drafted by the Bulls in the second round this year, making him the first Chicago native drafted by the team since Derrick Rose. Ayo was a jack-of-all-trades in college, so it’ll be interesting to see which of his skills best translate to the NBA level. Dosunmu and Devon Dotson will likely compete for a roster spot this season (I don’t see the Bulls rostering 7 guards), so Dosunmu will need to outplay Doston to earn said roster spot. Look for the Bulls Summer League team to experiment with Dosunmu as they try to figure out his fit on the roster. Though he was a good playmaker for the Illini, Ayo’s scoring was his calling card, and he has the potential to become a capable NBA scorer. Both Dotson and Dosunmu will need to take advantage of their Summer League minutes to prove to the coaching staff that they deserve playing time during the regular season.

Simi Shittu, PF/C – Shittu is a familiar name to Bulls fans who watched the preseason last year, as he looked like he could make the final 15-man roster. Shittu didn’t end up on Chicago’s roster and instead played for the G League’s Westchester Knicks, where he averaged 14.5 points and 10 rebounds per game. Shittu’s more of a traditional big man, offering rim protection and inside scoring. The Bulls lack big man depth, as well as quality rim protection, so if Shittu can show improvement from last season, he has an outside shot at making the final roster. At the very least, he can earn a 2-way contract, either with the Bulls or elsewhere.

What to Watch For

One important thing to remember when watching Summer League games is to not overreact. Players like Serge Ibaka, Danny Green, and Nicolas Batum all struggled in Summer League but wound up being quality players. On the other hand, Denzel Valentine looked like a future star en route to a Bulls Summer League championship win in 2016. Anyone who watched the Bulls last season knows how that turned out.

So, what should we look for in Summer League games? The answer’s simple: Flashes. For players who are basically roster locks, like Patrick Williams and Marko Simonovic, we should look for signs of improvement from last season. For the fringe roster players, fans and coaches will be looking for what these players could contribute to the 15-man roster.

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