Mar 26, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Jerian Grant (22) reacts during the second half against the Wichita State Shockers in the semifinals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
A TRADE!
With the 16th pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls select: Jerian Grant, University of Notre Dame
Pippen Ain’t Easy’s Co-Editor Michael Whitlow (@MAWhitlow):
I agree with Dave that drafting a point guard is a great option for the Bulls to consider, so I’ve talked with Celtics GM Danny Ainge before he selects 16th overall.
We’re going to trade up and select Notre Dame point guard Jerian Grant with Boston’s pick (#16 overall).
What are we trading to get the First Team All-American? In one of probably many interesting trades on draft night, we’ve traded Joakim Noah and a 2016 second-round pick to Boston for the rights to the 16th pick and Boston’s 33rd pick via Philadelphia.
Yeah, Boston wanted to trade up to get one of the youthful bigs in this class, but we gave them a proven big man that they desperately needed, on top of a second-round pick that can be used in another potential trade.
Noah had a rough 2014-15 season after the knee surgery, but a change of scenery and trimming his minutes will have him feeling like it’s 2013-14 again.
As for our picks, Grant has Chicago connections already with Horace Grant, his uncle, winning three titles with the Bulls in the 1990s, and John Paxson playing his college ball at Notre Dame too.
On top of his connections, Grant is a dynamic playmaker as a lead guard. He can set up his teammates — his 7.2 assists per a 40-minute pace adjusted ranked third on DraftExpress’ Top 100 board — and the guy has no fear in big moments.
With uncertainty towards Derrick Rose‘s future at age 26, the Bulls have to possibly prepare themselves for life without their homegrown superstar.
As for the 33rd pick, there’s a definite possibility that some versatile big men will be on the board at the point, so getting Noah’s replacement is a possibility at that spot.
I agree that doing the same thing in case Jimmy Butler decides to bolt sooner rather than later would be an option, but getting a viable player at point guard behind Rose (for now) is something we haven’t had.
Next: PAE Staff Writer Shehan Jeyarajah selects...