We are two weeks away from the NBA trade deadline and the Bulls are 30-17. They are the #2 seed in the East and are slowly but surely getting back to full strength. Due to the multitude of injuries, there will likely be many rumors regarding the Bulls ahead of the trade deadline. The team is thin at forward due to the losses of Patrick Williams and Derrick Jones Jr. The team has also seen injuries across the board so far this season which is making things tough at times. Most rumored trades involve the Bulls bringing in a new power forward. One of those forwards is Pistons power forward Jerami Grant. He has been rumored to the Bulls since Williams went down with a potential season-ending injury and continues today.
The Chicago Bulls continue to explore ways to trade for Jerami Grant without giving up Patrick Williams, per @JakeLFischer.
— Daniel Greenberg (@ChiSportUpdates) January 25, 2022
The Bulls have made it known that they have no interest in trading away Patrick Williams. Regardless of not wanting to deal Williams, the Bulls should stop their pursuit of Jerami Grant. He’s a solid player however his fit with this team doesn’t seem right. He’s made it clear how he wants to be featured on a team and that’s not what the Bulls are looking for.
Grant wants to be a focal point
The Bulls already have two All-Stars in guards Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan. They also have a 2x All-Star center in Nikola Vucevic. This team has key pieces that have been picking up the load offensively. They don’t need to add another player to the mix who wants to be the focal point on offense. That is exactly what Jerami Grant is looking to be. That was made clear after the Lakers pulled back on a trade for Grant.
“I’ve actually heard Lakers have passed on Jerami Grant. He doesn’t want to play a tertiary role behind Bron/AD.”
(Via @19MGroup | h/t @Ralph_MasonJr ) pic.twitter.com/OTjpeb9IX3
— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) January 25, 2022
Grant doesn’t want to be the third wheel on a team and that’s exactly what he would be on the Bulls. Grant views himself as a high-caliber player in the league and in Detroit he is a focal point. That wouldn’t be the case in Chicago. Everything the Bulls would want from him is exactly what he doesn’t want to be. Grant is a bad fit for Chicago based on the type of role he wants and I don’t see that changing.
Grant views himself as an offensive weapon
While Grant has improved tremendously in his time in Detroit it’s hard to know if that would continue elsewhere. If he were to come to the Bulls they would be looking for him to play solid defense and be a catch-and-shoot guy. Eric Pincus a writer with Bleacher Report touched on what type of role Grant wants to play in the league.
“I don’t think he wants to go back to being what he was in Denver, which was the primary defender and a catch-and-shoot guy. Playing in a corner, 3-and-D — I just don’t think that’s what he wants. That’s going to limit the number of teams that go after him.”
I’m sure there would be times they would want him to make his offense but with guys like LaVine, DeRozan, White, & Vucevic they don’t need another person who wants the ball. This just doesn’t seem like a good fit overall. Grant is good and there’s no denying that but if you throw him into the mix and he’s not getting the touches as he sees in Detroit it’s going to cause issues. This team has good chemistry and they don’t need someone destroying that because he doesn’t get the ball enough. Regardless of that the Bulls likely have less to worry about moving forward as it sounds like Williams may be back sooner than they thought.
Patrick Williams to the rescue
Williams ended up having what was believed to be regular season-ending wrist surgery in October. Here we are nearing the end of January and it looks like Williams may be back sooner than anyone thought.
There is growing momentum that Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams could return before the playoffs and play in some regular season games, per @JCowleyHoops.
— Daniel Greenberg (@ChiSportUpdates) January 26, 2022
If that’s the case then the Bulls don’t need to make any moves at the deadline. They just need to maintain a high seed in the East and get everyone back for the playoffs. Williams has the potential to be a good player for the Bulls and it’s clear they have no desire to move on from him. Since that’s where we sit right now there’s absolutely no reason to add someone like Grant. The chemistry issues that could come up by making that change aren’t worth it. Adding someone who may be more trouble, in the long run, is an unnecessary risk.
The Bulls just need to keep an eye on Williams and Jones recoveries and move forward with those two as the plan. Don’t make a bad decision out of thinking you have to do something at the deadline. Jerami Grant does not need to be a Chicago Bull and the front office should stay away from a trade with the Pistons.
