Bulls bring back familar face with Exhibition-10 deal |
Along with the NBA preseason comes the training camp aspect of the offseason, where players continue to get into basketball shape. With that comes several Exhibition-10 deals, where a player can show up to camp for a few days before joining an organization's G-League team for an opportunity to make the club. The Bulls made a lot of those signings earlier this offseason and elected to make another one, as an old friend, Ben Coupet Jr., has signed an exhibition-10 deal with the Bulls.
After going undrafted in 2022, Coupet Jr. spent the past two seasons with the Windy City Bulls and is expected to rejoin them once his 10-day contract with the team is over. Another Chicago area native, which has been a theme for the Bulls' offseason, Coupet is very familiar with the Bulls organization and will be an excellent addition to a G-League team that already has more depth than they had all of last season. Not only was Coupet a standout at Simeon Academy in Illinois during his high school days, but he found his way back home after multiple college transfers as he finished his career at Southern Illinois University. During his 31 games with the Salukies that season, Coupet put up solid numbers and averaged 11.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and a 41.1 percent clip from behind the arc. That was a slight uptick from the numbers he produced at Little Rock and UNLV, and many NBA executives projected him to get drafted in the second round. As is the case with every NBA draft, not all prospects have the pleasure of hearing their name called, and Coupet was one of the guys who didn't hear his name and thus chose to sign with the Chicago Bulls ahead of the 2022-23 season. Although he has been with the Windy City Bulls for the past two seasons, the 6-7 G/F has struggled to make a significant impact in the G-League and has been reserved for role-player duty most of his career. He averaged only 6.2 points and 2.7 rebounds in his 42 G-League appearances last season, which were slightly down from the numbers he posted the year prior. Still, despite his lack of an actual role and struggling to figure out the type of player he wants to be, the Bulls continue to be intrigued by the 26-year-old's skillset, which is the main reason they want to keep bringing him back to the organization. The next step in his career would be to make it to the NBA, and while that looks like a thin possibility, it is helpful to have a familiar face inside the organization, which is what Coupet is. Having a connection with both the coaching staff and the current returning players is especially crucial for the rookies, as he can guide them through some of the rigorous workouts that a young player goes through. While many see the G-League as a stepping stone for undrafted players and young players looking for a chance to latch onto an NBA roster, those rosters also need established veteran players who will not only come in and give their team minutes but can also provide some type of impact, even if it is a small one. That is the play for Coupet this season, as the Bulls not only see him as a role player veteran, but Coupet is also one of those guys who can help the younger players along as they try to live out their NBA dream. With a brand new coaching staff in place, having Coupet to help them is also a massive win, as he could be in line for an even bigger role this season.
