Three down. Two to go. The Chicago Bulls are 2-1 thus far in the preseason, with two wins coming against the Cleveland Cavaliers and a loss against the Milwaukee Bucks. Next up, the Bulls will take on the Denver Nuggets, then conclude the preseason against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Despite having two preseason games left, the Bulls have already finalized their roster ahead of the regular season. On October 3, Chicago announced the release of training camp addition Mouhamadou Gueye, bringing the roster to 18 players—15 on standard contracts and three on two-way deals.
Chicago has waived Mouhamadou Gueye
Gueye, a 6-foot-9 forward with 11 games of NBA experience, signed an Exhibit 10 contract in early September. While the deal was likely made to have him suit up for the Windy City Bulls this season, he still had a chance to earn a roster spot.
Gueye appeared in two of the Bulls’ three preseason games, totaling eight minutes of action. Across those outings, he averaged 2.0 points and 1.0 rebounds. Though his playing time was limited, it was comparable to that of fellow two-way signees Emanuel Miller and Lachlan Olbrich, who have logged 12 and 10 minutes, respectively.
Given that Miller and Olbrich also saw limited playing time, there was an outside chance Gueye could earn a two-way deal. Nonetheless, the former Pitt Panther should be a strong addition to Chicago’s G-League affiliate. At 6-foot-9, Gueye is a lanky, versatile defender and arguably the best shot-blocker in the organization.
Gueye’s offense remains a work in progress, but his defense would be a welcome addition for the Bulls. Chicago needs as many rangy forwards as it can get, and Gueye offers defensive versatility that few players on the roster can match.
There has been no official confirmation on whether the 27-year-old wing will earn a spot with the Windy City Bulls, as G League rosters have yet to be finalized. Still, it’s a safe bet. Gueye’s rights were traded to Windy City alongside guard RJ Nembhard in late September, in a deal that sent two first-round draft picks to the Capital City Go-Go.
With the decision to waive Gueye, the Bulls’ roster is now finalized, while the Windy City squad continues to take shape. Chicago opens the regular season against the Detroit Pistons on October 22, and the Windy City Bulls tip off on November 7.