Bulls have a second chance to get this perfect fit at power forward

One of the main points of concern regarding the Chicago Bulls’ roster since its revamp for the 2021-22 season has been the lack of size and quality at the power forward position. One of the only viable options there has been Patrick Williams, and while Pat has shown signs of development in his young career, the Bulls need a more experienced option if they wish to return to their winning ways. When looking at the potential options available in free agency, one name sticks out as an excellent fit: Jerami Grant.

Grant was named in potential trade talks at the deadline last year while he was still on the Detroit Pistons, where he averaged 20.9 points per game in 101 appearances. Nephew to Bulls legend Horace Grant, Jerami broke out in two seasons with the Detroit Pistons before being traded to the Portland Trail Blazers last July, where he has now finished out his 3-year, $60 million contract.

Now, Grant is an unrestricted free agent and I believe he would still mesh extremely well with this rendition of the Chicago Bulls.

The Chicago Bulls could go after one of the most highly-coveted free agents this offseason in Jerami Grant, and fill a glaring need for the team.

In 63 games with the Trail Blazers this season, Grant averaged 20.5 points per game on 47.5% shooting from the field and 40.1% from deep. He has been an excellent scorer these past three seasons and is showing that he is the perfect third option on a playoff team. Grant would not have to focus heavily on the offensive end, as Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan can pick up the slack, and we would be able to see the 29-year-old in a similar but elevated situation to what he had in Denver.

In Chicago, Grant would be a fantastic option as a wing who can score the ball at all three levels while playing solid defense. On offense, Grant has good handles, bounce, and a solid shot that have found him success in the league.

This clip shows Grant breaking down Zion Williamson off the dribble and dunking in traffic against the Pelicans, which is an impressive feat. This kind of shot creation is extremely important for the Bulls, as they struggled offensively this year. They had the 7th-worst offensive rating in the league and would tend to stagnate on offense, especially when LaVine and DeRozan were not on top of their game offensively. Adding another scoring option would be huge for the Bulls, and Grant is a perfect fit for this.

Additionally, Jerami Grant has shown out on the defensive end, demonstrating strong instincts and using his athleticism to lock up. He has been able to show this in transition, including with this block:

Grant initially found his place in the league with his defensive prowess, and while this may not have been his main focus over the last few years as his offensive role has expanded, he certainly still has that potential. If he were to come to Chicago, he would be able to tap into that defense while still being a strong scoring option.

When looking at potential lineups, with all else equal Grant would be added to the starting lineup immediately. He would likely join Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic, and either Alex Caruso or Coby White at the point guard. These players are solid complements to Grant, and if the Bulls have Patrick Williams coming off the bench at the power forward or even small forward position, the roster would be looking much more dangerous.

Jerami Grant will be highly pursued this offseason, and the Chicago Bulls need to put throw their hat in the race. With rising critiques surrounding the front office’s complacency with the lineup, it may be necessary to take a shot in free agency. This is a second chance for the Bulls to get an excellent power forward, and they need to make this move as well as a few others to bring back the confidence we had over a year ago.