Chicago Bulls sign Vegas standout Antonio Blakeney to two-way contract
By Willie Lutz
On Friday, it was reported that the Chicago Bulls have agreed to terms with Las Vegas Summer League standout Antonio Blakeney. Blakeney went undrafted in the 2017 NBA Draft out of LSU.
The mandatory five summer league games have come and gone in Las Vegas, but the Chicago Bulls haven’t looked particularly good as a whole. However, for Antonio Blakeney, the team’s collective struggle gave the young guard an NBA shot.
After a couple good performances with the shorthanded SummerBulls in Vegas, Blakeney accomplished his goal of getting noticed by an NBA team and it just so happens that it was the team he was playing for in Sin City.
According to reports, the Chicago Bulls signed Blakeney to a two-way contract on Friday before the final game in Vegas for the SummerBulls against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Bulls sign summer league hero Antonio Blakeney to a 2-way contract, meaning he can spend up to 45 days with Bulls and be in G League.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) July 14, 2017
Blakeney’s contract with the Bulls is a two-way deal, which means he’ll be able to play with the Windy City Bulls in the G-League for 45 days with the option to hit free agency after the period.
Averaging 26.8 minutes over four games before Friday’s 99-82 win for the SummerBulls, Blakeney averaged a team-high 16.8 points per contest. He also averaged five rebounds and shot a solid 43.8 percent from the field.
During the 2016-17 college season, the 6-foot-4 guard averaged 17.2 points over 31 games. He was also responsible for 4.8 rebounds and shot 45.8 percent from the field.
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According to 247Sports.com, Blakeney was the No. 16 prospect in the 2015 basketball recruiting pool. His former teammate, Ben Simmons, was ranked No. 1 in the class and left LSU after the 2015-16 season while being taken No. 1 overall in the 2016 NBA Draft.
If the Bulls have anything in Blakeney — at least for his rookie year — they may have a solid rotation piece. During the Las Vegas Summer League, he’s looked as good, if not better, than anything else the team boasted.
Credit his 27-point, 11-rebound outing against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday evening as a major factor. Additionally, his 23 points, eight-rebound effort against the Washington Wizards only boosted his case.
While it’s not Blakeney that the Bulls will stake their future on, he’s certainly an interesting candidate to watch. He’s affordable, young and shows plenty of potential.
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For both parties, it’s a no-lose situation.