Jordan Hawkins Signs Two-Way Deal with Chicago Bulls

Jordan Hawkins is signing a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls, just three days after the Memphis Grizzlies waived the guard. The 24-year-old former first-round draft pick arrives in Chicago ahead of the team’s preseason opener, filling the organization’s third and final two-way roster spot after previously playing for the New Orleans Pelicans.

Contract Terms and Roster Placement in Chicago

Under the terms of his two-way agreement reported by ESPN, Hawkins will earn approximately $679,000 for the upcoming NBA season. As a two-way player, he is eligible to be active for a maximum of 50 regular-season games with the Bulls while spending the remainder of his time developing with the organization’s G League affiliate, the Windy City Bulls. Chicago’s lead executive, Bryson Graham, kept the final two-way slot open throughout the offseason before finalizing the deal on Monday afternoon.

Three Seasons of Pro Basketball with the Pelicans and Grizzlies

Selected 14th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft out of UConn, Hawkins has appeared in 174 regular-season games across his three-year professional career. His most productive statistical output came during his rookie campaign with New Orleans, where he averaged 7.8 points in 17.3 minutes per contest while shooting 38.2% from the field and 36.6% from beyond the arc over 67 appearances. His role expanded slightly in his second season, raising his scoring average to 10.8 points in 23.6 minutes per game across 56 appearances, though his shooting percentages dipped to 37.2% overall and 33.1% from distance.

Last season, Hawkins experienced a significant reduction in playing time under the Pelicans. Appearing in a career-low 51 games and averaging just 13.6 minutes per contest, he averaged 5.1 points while shooting 36.6% from the floor and 34.8% from three-point range. Following that dip in production, New Orleans traded Hawkins to the Memphis Grizzlies on September 8 in a transaction that included former player and now-Bulls assistant coach Taj Gibson. Memphis subsequently waived Hawkins on Friday, paving the way for his arrival in Chicago.

College Success and Projected Role with the Rebuilding Bulls

Before entering the NBA, Hawkins enjoyed a standout collegiate career at UConn, helping lead the Huskies to a National Championship victory in 2023. During that tournament run, he earned Most Outstanding Honors in his region and finished as the team’s second-leading scorer, averaging 16.2 points and 3.8 rebounds across 37 starts while converting 40.9% of his total field goal attempts and 38.8% of his three-pointers. At 6-foot-5 and 190 pounds, Hawkins projects primarily as an off-ball guard and perimeter wing.

Operating out of the backcourt and wing positions, he will compete for developmental minutes alongside established veterans and depth pieces such as Norman Powell, Isaac Okoro, and Buddy Hield as the team prepares to open its preseason schedule.