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Steps Malcolm Hill must take to make the Chicago Bulls roster

By Thomas J. Brown

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 04: Malcolm Hill #14 of the Chicago Bulls celebrates during the 122-115 win over the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on February 04, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 04: Malcolm Hill #14 of the Chicago Bulls celebrates during the 122-115 win over the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on February 04, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Malcolm Hill, Chicago Bulls
Apr 10, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Jordan McLaughlin (6) drives to the basket as Chicago Bulls guard Malcolm Hill (14) defends during the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports /

How Malcolm Hill can make Chicago Bulls roster: Become a utility player

In baseball, a utility player is known as a player whose offensive capabilities do not warrant a starring role, but whose defensive prowess allows him the versatility to become an asset to the team.

While the term is almost exclusively used in the national pastime, this is exactly the mindset Malcolm Hill must bring to the Chicago Bulls if he wants to become a part of the rotation. The scoring load will be handled by DeRozan, LaVine, and Vučević, so Hill must become a defensive aficionado who the coaching staff can trust.

Over the course of 19 games last season, split between time as a member of the Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls, Hill averaged 3.8 points per game. Those numbers may not be a fair indication of Hill’s offensive prowess, but a player who goes undrafted out of college and does not appear in the NBA until he’s 26 years old is not going to get a lot of scoring opportunities.

Hill’s story is very reminiscent of PJ Tucker, who went undrafted after four years at the University of Texas and spent years in the Euro League before making the NBA. Tucker has carved out a niche for himself as a versatile defender, but he will never be a high priority offensively.

That’s not to say that Hill should abandon scoring altogether. In 19 NBA appearances, he has shot 36.1 percent from three-point land. While those numbers are coming from a small sample size, knocking down close to 40 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc is a great sign.

Being able to shoot from the outside will endear any player to a coach; every team can use a reliable shooter. If Hill focuses on improving from the outside while also committing himself to the defensive side of the ball, he can become the prototypical 3&D guy that so many general managers covet in the modern NBA.

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