When Cameron Payne began showing signs at the end of last season, it confirmed the Bulls’ belief they had a capable backup point guard for the future behind Kris Dunn.
It also meant Jerian Grant’s days were likely numbered and Grant was traded to Orlando as part of a three-way deal between Chicago, Charlotte and Orlando that included Bismack Biyombo going back to Charlotte while Grant and Timofey Mozgov will head to the Magic.
The Bulls acquired Hornets guard Julyan Stone, but he will be waived before his $1.6 million contract is guaranteed before August 1, sources tell NBCSportsChicago.com. Worth more than the extra cap space the Bulls will have, this signals Payne’s place on the roster—the front office believed once Payne was fully recovered from a foot injury that dogged him when he was acquired in a trade that sent Taj Gibson and Doug McDermott to Oklahoma City at the 2017 draft deadline.
After Payne’s rocky finish to that season and subsequent surgery, he missed the first 58 games last season—a season Grant began as the starting point guard, beating out Dunn in training camp.
But by the time Payne was healthy and in shape, he took advantage of his opportunity, with games of 17 points and six assists against Milwaukee, 13 points and 10 assists against Cleveland and 15 points and six assists in the second-to-last game of the season against Brooklyn.
Payne shot 38.5 percent from 3-point range in 25 games last year—a valuable stat considering Dunn hasn’t yet developed into a 3-point shooter and he can be used to spread the floor if he plays late minutes during the season.
Grant, the nephew of three-time Bulls champion Horace Grant, was acquired in a trade with the Knicks that sent Derrick Rose to New York before the 2016 draft. Grant, who will enter his fourth season in the NBA with the Magic with his $2.6 million deal guaranteed, averaged 8.4 points and 4.6 assists in 74 games with the Bulls last season.