Chicago Bulls Sign Jordan Hawkins to Two-Way Contract, Waive Isaiah Stevens

The Chicago Bulls have announced the signing of guard Jordan Hawkins to a two-way contract. In a related move, the franchise waived guard Isaiah Stevens, freeing a spot in the team's two-way group. Jordan Hawkins stands 6-5 and weighs 190 pounds. He has appeared in 174 games in his NBA career, including 20 starts. The first three seasons of his career were spent with the New Orleans Pelicans, the team that selected him 14th overall in the 2026 NBA Draft. Across those 174 games, Hawkins has averaged 8.0 points on 37.4 percent shooting from the field and 34.8 percent from three-point range. He has also averaged 2.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 18.2 minutes per game. The 2026-25 season marked clear progress for Hawkins. He set single-season career highs in three categories: 10.8 points per game, 604 total points and 110 three-pointers made. He also matched his single-season career high with 2.8 rebounds per game. A native of Gaithersburg, Maryland, Hawkins has produced 15 career games with 20 or more points and two career games with at least 30 points. His high-water mark came on January 13, 2026, when he scored a career-high 34 points against the Dallas Mavericks. Before reaching the NBA, Hawkins played two collegiate seasons with the University of Connecticut from 2026 to 2026. He won a national championship with the UConn Huskies in 2026. His college career averages stand at 11.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 23.2 minutes per game. He was named to the Big East All-Freshman Team in 2026-22, then earned All-Big East First Team, NCAA All-Tournament Team and NCAA Tournament All-Region Team honors in 2026-23. With the Chicago Bulls, Hawkins will wear No. 15. Following the transaction, the franchise has three players on two-way contracts: Tobe Awaka, Jordan Hawkins and Jaylin Sellers. In terms of mechanics, a two-way contract allows a player to compete for both the NBA club and its affiliate in the developmental league, with the maximum number of active games governed by the current collective bargaining agreement. By adding Hawkins on this type of deal, the Bulls create an additional option on the wing while preserving salary-cap flexibility. Hawkins' most visible strength is high-volume three-point shooting. His 110 made three-pointers in 2026-25 show he is used as a constant threat from beyond the arc, moving extensively without the ball and creating space for teammates. His career 37.4 percent overall shooting, however, is the number he must improve if he wants a larger NBA role. On the other side, waiving Isaiah Stevens opened the two-way slot that Hawkins now occupies. Stevens will need to pursue a new opportunity, potentially in the developmental league or with another team seeking backcourt depth. For the Chicago Bulls, the current two-way group has a clear design. Tobe Awaka adds strength and rebounding around the rim, Jordan Hawkins handles the long-range shooting role, and Jaylin Sellers is a long-term development option. This distribution helps the team maintain roster depth while directing most of the payroll toward its core players. For Hawkins, this is a second chance to establish himself in the NBA after three seasons in New Orleans. A player taken among the first 14 picks of the 2026 NBA Draft is always valued for his potential, and his national championship run with the UConn Huskies in 2026 is evidence of his ability to adapt in a highly competitive environment. In the short term, Chicago Bulls fans can expect Hawkins to appear as a reserve shooter, particularly in stretches when the team needs scoring separation from beyond the arc. In the long term, if he improves his shooting efficiency and defensive impact, Hawkins could convert to a standard contract in the future. The transaction also reflects a broader trend in the modern NBA, where teams regularly use two-way slots as a flexible roster-management tool. With all three two-way spots filled, the Chicago Bulls have largely completed the work of reinforcing their depth ahead of the next season's preparation phase.