It's the week of the 2011 NBA Draft so we should probably be concentrating my efforts there. However, when news of Adam Morrison working out for the Chicago Bulls hits Ridiculous Upside headquarters, it has to be written about.
Morrison, the third overall pick by the Charlotte Bobcats five years ago who sat out all of last season, was one of 20 players the Bulls invited to a free agent workout over the weekend as they prepare for a Summer League-less Summer.
The Bulls have just nine guaranteed contracts going into next season, according to ShamSports, giving hope that Morrison and a couple of the prospects working out alongside him could earn their way onto the roster with a good training camp (whenever the looming lockout ends).
Along with Morrison, former fellow first round picks Javaris Crittenton, Sean Williams and Matt Janning -- who impressed everyone last summer on his way to opening the regular season with the Phoenix Suns -- highlighted the weekend workout in Chicago.
The guards at the workout included Janning, Crittenton, Jamar Smith, Donald Sloan and Stephen Dennis -- all of which played in the NBA Development League this past season. Janning and Dennis both worked out for the Bulls prior to this past season's NBA trade deadline.
Wing prospects brought in for a look include Morrison, Ronald Dupree, Micah Downs, Richard Roby, Shane Edwards, Chris Kramer and Dar Tucker. Dupree's name might ring a bell as he played 47 games with the Bulls during his rookie season in 2003-04.
The forwards that the Bulls brought in included DeShawn Sims, Leo Lyons and Lance Thomas. Sims needs to find a position to thrive at the next level, but after running away with the D-League's Rookie of the Year award this season, it's clear he deserves a chance to prove himself to an NBA team.
Last, but not least, the bigs in attendance were Williams, Patrick Sullivan, Chas McFarland and Matt Rogers. All four played in the D-League and only McFarland wasn't in a vet camp last year.
The Bulls aren't the first to bring in likely Summer League candidates -- the Timberwolves, Thunder, Knicks, Hornets, Pacers and Nuggets have all done the same over the past month with a number of the same candidates -- and likely won't be the last as teams prepare for a summer without Summer League.
Loading comments...