Bulls waive PG Devon Dotson before he gets a real chance
Late in the morning of Jan. 17, we got the news that the Chicago Bulls would be waiving the former Kansas Jayhawks second-year point guard and undrafted free agent signing Devon Dotson. In a two-way contract slot for the second straight season, Dotson was looking to make some headway on this roster after starting to prove himself in limited NBA minutes and the G-League.
The Bulls originally signed Dotson in the hours following the end of the 2020 NBA Draft to a rookie deal. He was signed in one of the two-way contract slots for the Bulls in each of the last two seasons. Last season, he was in a two-way contract slot along with shooting guard/wing Adam Mokoka.
And he was in one of the two-way contract slots throughout the first half of this regular season along with power forward Tyler Cook.
Dotson being waived was officially announced in a team social media post on the morning of Jan. 17. The official release was also posted on the Bulls’ team website around the same time on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
We have waived G Devon Dotson.
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 17, 2022
Chicago Bulls reportedly waive Devon Dotson in his second season in the NBA
This does leave one of the two-way contract slots open for the Bulls heading into the second half of the regular season. And it looks like the Bulls will be filling this two-way contract slot with the recently signed former Illinois Fighting Illini and Atlanta Hawks wing Malcolm Hill.
The Chicago Bulls are signing forward Malcolm Hill to a two-way contract, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Hill earns deal for the season after playing 18 productive minutes in Saturday's game vs. Celtics.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 17, 2022
Hill played well for the Bulls in just over 18 minutes in a loss to the Boston Celtics on Jan. 15. And given the fact that the Bulls need help depth-wise in their wing/forward rotation, it does make sense that Hill gets a two-way contract slot.
Although, it still seems like the Bulls parted ways with Dotson before he really got a sustained chance to make the NBA roster. He was on a two-way contract for the last two seasons, but never really got anything more than garbage time minutes.
Dotson played in around 135 total minutes for the Bulls in the last two seasons. And he averaged 2.4 points per game, 0.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.2 steals, and no blocks, in that span.
He was showing out with the G-League affiliate Windy City Bulls this season, though. In 10 starts with the G-League Bulls this season, Dotson averaged around 20 points per game, seven rebounds, six assists, two steals, and 0.5 blocks while shooting 44 percent from the field, 33 percent from beyond the arc, and 80 percent from the free-throw line.
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It is also likely that the play of younger guards such as Coby White and rookie Ayo Dosunmu forced the hand of the Bulls’ front office in waiving Dotson. The Bulls are really deep in their backcourt unit this season but need help at the four.