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Two college buddies are reuniting in the Windy City.
Rawle Alkins has agreed to a two-way deal with the Bulls, joining former Arizona teammate Lauri Markkanen in Chicago, according to Yahoo’s Shams Charania.
As a two-way player, Alkins will split time between the NBA and G League in his rookie season. His base salary will be roughly $75,000 plus the prorated NBA minimum any time he is called up to the parent club.
Two-way players are allowed to be in the NBA for up to 45 days. Kobi Simmons and Allonzo Trier are on two-way contracts with the Grizzlies and Knicks, respectively.
The Windy City Bulls are the Chicago Bulls’ G League affiliate. They play in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, a suburb 25 miles northwest of Chicago.
Alkins went undrafted in June, despite being projected as a second-round pick. He was reportedly going to sign with the Toronto Raptors as undrafted free agent, but he never put pen to paper. (Perhaps because he switched agents?)
Still, Alkins suited up for the Raptors in Las Vegas Summer League where he averaged 9.0 points and 4.7 rebounds in six games, including an impressive 25-point, 11-rebound outing.
But Chicago is probably a better landing spot anyway.
The Bulls, who went 27-55 last season, are in the middle of a rebuild, making them more likely to give playing time to a young rookie like Alkins than a team like the Raptors, who just acquired Kawhi Leonard and are one of the best squads in the Eastern Conference.
The Bulls have a young core that features the likes of Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn, Jabari Parker and, of course, Markkanen.
Markkanen was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team after averaging 15.2 points and 7.5 rebounds last season.
He and Alkins were close when they were teammates at Arizona. Alkins got the stoic Markkanen to embrace the famous Savage Life movement.
Now they are bringing it to Chicago.