Bairstow impresses Bulls' coaches

Keen to secure a contract with the Chicago Bulls, Brisbane's Cameron Bairstow has been a force in team workouts.

Australian power forward Cameron Bairstow might be an NBA rookie, but he has been using his 206cm tall, 113kg body to batter his Chicago Bulls teammates.

The Bulls selected Bairstow in the second round of the NBA Draft last month and the 23-year-old has impressed his coaches in practice.

Bairstow will be a key part of the Bulls' squad at the NBA Summer League tournament beginning in Las Vegas on Friday.

"Cameron, I feel like he already has an NBA body and mentality," Bulls assistant coach Adrian Griffin, who will coach the team in Las Vegas, said.

"He's grabbing every board and out-hustling everyone."

A four-year veteran at the University of New Mexico, Bairstow averaged 20 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks per game in his senior year.

He's also a gym junkie, heading straight for a workout after a game.

The Brisbane-born giant is yet to secure a contract with the Bulls, although he has been so impressive they are all but certain to sign him.

If the Bulls don't, other NBA teams will if he dominates Summer League like he has been at Bulls practices.

The 10-day Summer League tournament allows NBA teams to play their recent draftees, reserves and free agents before the 2014/15 season.

Bairstow will face plenty of Aussie competition in Las Vegas.

The number five draft pick, Melbourne's Dante Exum, will play for the Utah Jazz.

Other Australian free agents hoping to secure NBA contracts in Las Vegas are Brock Motum (Jazz), the NBL's top scorer Chris Goulding (Dallas Mavericks) and 217cm centre Jordan Vandenberg (New York Knicks).

Matthew Dellavedova, who won a contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers after last year playing on the team's Summer League roster, will be back in Vegas.


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