Just in time for a closed preseason scrimmage, rookie center Daniel Gafford arrived to the Windy City Bulls after being assigned from the Chicago Bulls.
Although he looked to maybe have momentum to getting more playing time with the Chicago Bulls early in the regular season, rookie center Daniel Gafford will be joining the G-League affiliate Windy City Bulls starting on Nov. 2. But there are a lot of big names involved with the G-League Windy City Bulls at the beginning of this month.
The former Arkansas Razorbacks rim-running big man had impressive showings throughout the Las Vegas Summer League and the preseason. He even had nice words coming from the media and coaching staff in Training Camp. But it appears as if the Bulls are going to let him develop this season through their G-League affiliate.
Gafford was able to make his NBA debut in the regular season, but has only played in two minutes so far this season. The only stats he got in those two minutes of game action was one defensive rebound. There was more that he was able to show in the preseason. If head coach Jim Boylen is looking for anything to play off of for finding a role for Gafford, it was his sensational effort and play on the boards in the preseason.
Bulls rookie Daniel Gafford has been assigned to @windycitybulls. pic.twitter.com/OTHKgaYOQl
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) November 2, 2019
The Windy City Bulls now have two very intriguing big men on the roster at the moment. The Denver Nuggets sent their talented and hype second round 2019 NBA Draft pick, former Oregon Ducks center Bol Bol, to the Bulls G-League affiliate ahead of tip off of their 2019-20 season.
Moreover, another intriguing key player for the Bulls that is currently rostered with their G-League affiliate is second-year small forward Chandler Hutchison. But we could see Hutchison make his season debut with the Bulls against the Indiana Pacers on the road at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Nov. 3.
The outcry for improved play from the Bulls big men off the bench led to a push from the fan base to see more of Gafford instead of the former New York Knicks recently signed center Luke Kornet.
The @windycitybulls are 2-0 on the pre-season! The Bulls turn it up in the 2nd half again to get a win over the @SFSkyforce in Closed Scrimmage: 122-101. Punctuation mark by @Dan_G33! #WinCity 💨🏙🐂🐂🏀 pic.twitter.com/6ADmYs1ehg
— Windy City Bulls (@windycitybulls) November 2, 2019
Gafford played really well in Summer League and the preseason. He had a player efficiency rating of 29.85 in Summer League and 19.79 in the preseason. Meanwhile, Kornet has a player efficiency rating of 8.1 through six regular season games.
Through two preseason games, the Windy City Bulls carry a record of 2-0. Gafford joined them for their second preseason game, in a win over the Miami Heat G-League affiliate Sioux Falls Skyforce on Nov. 2. That win over the Skyforce came by the final score of 122-101.