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The Chicago Bulls have played two Summer League games so far, winning their first and losing their second. They took down the Toronto Raptors but fell to the Memphis Grizzlies, playing on back-to-back days on Friday and Saturday. And while they didn’t get the result they wanted in the second game, a trend emerged.
Outside of their struggles with efficiency, which is a common theme in Summer League as a whole, one player stood out among the rest in both games – Javon Freeman-Liberty. The 23-year-old point guard was solid against Toronto, but he was phenomenal against the Grizzlies on Saturday afternoon.
Freeman-Liberty finished the game with 24 points, six rebounds, and five assists while shooting 9-of-15 from the field and 4-of-6 from deep. He played with great energy and intensity on both sides of the ball and has made a huge impact for the Bulls.
And with how well Freeman-Liberty has been playing, the question needs to be asked – can he replace Ayo Dosunmu?
Dosunmu is currently a restricted free agent who has neither signed an offer sheet nor reached an agreement with the Bulls. Chicago should still look to bring him back, but if he signs an offer for too high a price, should they roll with Freeman-Liberty?
Obviously, naming Dosunmu’s replacement based on two solid games would be foolish, but that’s not what this is. Freeman-Liberty has been great in Summer League, but he was just as impressive in the G League this past year for the Windy City Bulls.
Freeman-Liberty appeared in 17 G League games this past year, playing 30.2 minutes per contest. He averaged 18.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.4 steals per game on 49.5% shooting from the field and 37.6% from deep (on 5.0 three-point attempts per game).
With Dosunmu’s Bulls future still in question, Freeman-Liberty is pleading his case as a replacement with a solid Summer League stint.
(Editor’s note: It would also be pretty fun to have a Javon and a Jevon (Carter) both on the roster. And both at the point guard spot, too.)
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