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Chicago Bulls shore up roster with the addition of Andrew Funk, conversion of Onuralp Bitim's contract

The Bulls need extra players in the worst way.

Nick Raguz

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The Chicago Bulls’ injury woes could not have come at the worst time. With the team not making any moves to bring in new players at the trade deadline, it was up to their coaching staff and front office to find ways to strengthen the roster.

Enter Andrew Funk and Onuralp Bitim. The Bulls have signed both players to address their lack of depth due to injuries. Funk, a 6-foot-5 wingman from Bucknell University and Penn State, has impressed in his time with the G-League’s Grand Rapids Gold.

Bitim, on the other hand, is a familiar face for the Bulls as he had previously played for their G-League affiliate team, Windy City Bulls. The Turkish shooting guard showed potential during his stint with Windy City, averaging over 16 points in 12 regular season games.

Bitim gets a standard contract

With no player getting the Bulls’ attention on the buyout market, the Bulls elected to convert Bitim’s two-way contract to a standard one. The 6-foot-6 two-guard has played well for Windy City, averaging 16.7 points, 4.1 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game. More than anything, Bitim’s long-range shooting has impressed, as he’s shooting over 43 percent from beyond the arc.

Although Bitim has not seen substantial playing time in the two games he’s suited up so far, the Bulls see potential in the young guard. With injuries plaguing the team this season, Bitim could provide a much-needed spark off the bench.

Time to get funky

Meanwhile, Funk gets a two-way contract after playing stellar basketball for the Denver Nuggets’ G League affiliate. He averaged 13.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 37.3 minutes per game this season. Funk has also proven to be a deadeye shooter, making 71 triples for the Gold.

It remains unclear if Funk will actually get called up to the Bulls, especially with the guard rotation of Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu playing superbly for Chicago.

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Nick Raguz
NICK RAGUZ

Nick's journey has been an exciting fusion of basketball and the written word. A former basketball player himself, he possesses an insatiable appetite for all things NBA-related, spanning from the captivating tales of old-school NBA to intriguing statistics and the latest updates from the association.

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