According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Chicago Bulls are signing G League guard Andrew Funk to a two-way contract. Funk will fill the Bulls’ final two-way spot that became available after the team converted Onuralp Bitim‘s contract to a standard one.
The Chicago Bulls plan to sign guard Andrew Funk on a two-way NBA contract out of Denver’s Grand Rapids Gold G League team, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Funk has been one of top G League shooters this season, averaging 13.7 points and 39.6% on over 9 three-point attempts. pic.twitter.com/ZAeaTKce5e
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 25, 2024
Out of Penn State, Funk went undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft. As an undrafted free agent, Funk joined the Denver Nuggets, but he was waived on October 13. Later in October, Funk signed with the Grand Rapids Gold of the G League.
NBA News: Chicago Bulls Signing G League Guard
What Does Andrew Funk Add to the Bulls?
It is unclear exactly how much playing time Funk will get with the Bulls’ main roster. That said, the Bulls have dealt with numerous injuries this season, including season-ending ones to Zach LaVine and Patrick Williams. Funk is certainly in a position where he can earn some playing time and potentially receive a standard contract if he plays up to it.
Funk’s strength is his three-point shooting. The 24-year-old has limitless range and can score in practically any fashion in the perimeter. In fact, during the March Madness tournament in 2023, Funk lit social media on fire. Due to his 27-point game in a win against the Texas A&M, Funks’ performance was called the “Funk Frenzy.”
The Bulls got themselves a SHOOTER🎯pic.twitter.com/lZF6z7HLaw
— ChicagoBullsCentral (@BullsCentraI) February 25, 2024
After Funk’s impressive performance, his high school coach John Mosco talked about the guard’s skill set:
“He’s just a flat-out shooter, he’s a scorer, he played with a lot of confidence and knows the game really well,” Mosco said. “He moved without the ball and he was always ready whenever he went in there. He had the right mindset.”
Currently, the Bulls are the 20th-best 3-point shooting team in the league. If Funk gets consistent playing time, he could provide a major boost to the team’s perimeter scoring.
The Last Word on Funk
With his impressive play in the G League this season, Funk seems deserving of a chance to compete for a main roster spot. That said, the Bulls are 26-30 and own the No. 9 seed in the Eastern Conference. If the season ended today, the Bulls would be a Play-In team. Very few people, if anybody outside of Chicago, are expecting the Bulls to make a serious playoff run. However, it is clear they are good enough to compete for the rest of the regular season. Because of this, it would not be surprising if Funk still spends most of his time in the G League or on the Bulls’ bench. However, that said, the Bulls are clearly keeping their eye on Funk and seem interested in bringing his talents to the main roster someday.
