A big name from the college hoops ranks is now set to join the Chicago Bulls for Summer League, with former Wisconsin big Ethan Happ.
The Chicago Bulls tend to make a habit out of signing former Big Ten standouts at the college basketball level to next level deals. This time around, it was the former Wisconsin Badgers All-American and three-time All-Big Ten honoree Ethan Happ. As a four-year player at Wisconsin, the 6-foot-10 forward Happ wasn’t expected to even fall as a second round pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.
As the Bulls look to build frontcourt depth deeper down the bench, signing Happ to a Summer League contract is a move that is worth consideration from the front office. This move is also fits the trend that Bulls fans should expect out of John Paxson and Gar Forman at this point.
During his four seasons at Wisconsin, Happ was a stud on both ends of the floor. He registered 17.3 points per game, 10.1 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 1.3 blocks. The three-point shooting was almost nonexistent for Happ as a Badger. He attempted just 16 three-point tries at Wisconsin, making one total for his collegiate career.
This is a good landing spot for Happ, who gets to stay close to where he played his college ball despite going undrafted. He previously told Hoops Hype in regard to what he wanted NBA teams to know about him:
"I was at my best when I was more of a role player on those first two teams when we went to the Sweet 16 twice. I play really well off others as a driver and cutter. I can take on that role in the NBA in a rotation. So I can cut, move, pass and make decisions and those are things I am able to do at the next level. I want everyone to know I’m a team player."
The report that Happ would join the Bulls for Summer League, which starts on July 5, came from Bryan Kalbrosky of Hoops Hype via his Twitter timeline. Kalbrosky seemed excited about the prospects of the Bulls having Happ on the same Summer League team as point guard Coby White, big man Daniel Gafford, second-year center Wendell Carter Jr., and small forward Chandler Hutchison.
Ethan Happ joins Big East Defensive Player of the Year Justin Simon (St. John's) on the summer league roster for the Bulls. Coby White and Daniel Gafford could both be standouts. I'd expect to see Wendell Carter Jr. and Chandler Hutchison play at least a couple games as well.
— Bryan Kalbrosky (@BryanKalbrosky) June 22, 2019
That could be a very fun roster to watch for the Bulls. Come the start of the regular season, Chicago Bulls head coach Jim Boylen could have a lot more young talent to work with too. Happ is just a well-known name in the area that stuck around with the Badgers for a long time.
Boylen seems to like the traditional big mans that he can have his floor generals dump the ball to down low. Happ does fit that mold, but his skill set can still be valuable deeper down the rotation in today’s NBA. What fits well for Happ is the fact that he seems to know he would command a smaller role and thrive in the process in the NBA, if he does get that opportunity.