Bulls Rumors: Ranking the likelihood of 5 recent trade proposals
Rating the likelihood of a Bulls rumors: Jerami Grant
Jerami Grant is the rare type of player that is affordable, addresses every current team need, and plays for a tanking team that would not require a king’s ransom in return. For these reasons, Grant should be at the absolute top of the Bulls’ priority list.
Even if the promising Williams were healthy, it would be hard to argue that even he would start over Grant on the Bulls. Jerami is just a clear upgrade right now, one that could possibly elevate a thriving Bulls team into true contender status. Grant showed off his ability to help a contender in Denver and would fit Chicago’s timeline perfectly, being just a year and two days older than LaVine.
Nobody would suggest that Grant is capable of locking down the likes of Giannis, Durant, and Butler, but Grant would be capable of putting up a much better fight than anyone else currently on this Chicago roster.
Recently having had surgery done on his thumb, a UCL sprain is enough to keep him out for an extended period of time but not nearly enough to affect his postseason aspirations should he be traded. If anything, this injury only serves to potentially lower Grant’s trade value ever so slightly. If the Bulls could by any chance acquire Grant without giving up Williams, I believe that’s an opportunity the front office would be foolish to pass up.
However, the biggest obstacle towards getting this deal done would be making the money work. Grant is currently on a fair deal, receiving $20 million this season and $20.9 million next year before his contract expires, but it would still be tricky fitting his salary into the current payroll.
The Bulls would have to be willing to dive into the luxury tax next year, should they make this exchange. The core seven of Grant, DeRozan, Vucevic, Ball, Caruso, Williams, and a maxed LaVine would be enough to tiptoe their way into the luxury tax alone, so adding bench depth on top of that price would be tricky, to say the least.
3 Bulls trade targets NOT named Myles Turner. dark. Next
Ultimately, this decision would come down to whether or not Jerry Reinsdorf is willing to open his wallet to make the Bulls again, and if Karnisovas is savvy enough to get the deal done without including Williams. Let’s call it a coin flip for now.