Bulls complete Jazz trio by signing Brewer
The Bulls and Utah Jazz are destined to be permanently linked in NBA history, thanks to back-to-back meetings in the NBA Finals and the fact that Utah's 22-year head coach, Jerry Sloan, was one of the Bulls' greatest players and has his No. 4 banner hanging from the United Center rafters.
The connection grew deeper when the Bulls signed free-agent swingman Ronnie Brewer to a three-year contract worth an estimated $12.5 million on Friday.
Brewer is the third former Utah player to sign with the Bulls this summer, joining power forward Carlos Boozer and sharpshooter Kyle Korver.
The latest move came just a few hours after Orlando officially matched the offer sheet given by the Bulls to shooting guard J.J. Redick. The Magic waited nearly a week to make the decision but decided to pay an extra $14 million for Redick's first-year salary and resulting luxury-tax penalty.
Brewer, 25, was drafted by Utah in 2006 and spent 31/2 seasons with the Jazz. In 2008-09, the 6-foot-7 swingman averaged 13.7 points and 3.7 rebounds, shot just above 50 percent from the field and usually took on the most challenging defensive assignment.
He was traded to Memphis midway through last season so the Jazz could get below the luxury-tax threshold. After playing just five games with Memphis because of a hamstring injury, the Grizzlies did not submit a qualifying offer, which made Brewer an unrestricted free agent.
The Bulls loved Brewer when he left Arkansas, but drafted Thabo Sefolosha instead because they thought the Switzerland native was a better ballhandler. Brewer's father, Ron, spent eight years in the NBA and logged four games for the Bulls during the 1985-86 season.
Brewer ultimately chose the Bulls over the Boston Celtics. He would have gone to Boston in a sign-and-trade deal for Tony Allen, who recently agreed to join the Grizzlies as a free agent.
Instead of backing up Ray Allen and Paul Pierce with the Celtics, Brewer will likely start at shooting guard for the Bulls while Korver brings his long-range shooting off the bench.
The addition of Brewer gives the Bulls nine players under contract - Boozer, Korver, Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, Taj Gibson, James Johnson and Omer Asik are the others.
Next on the team's to-do list is signing a backup point guard and extra big man. The Bulls are hoping to close in on re-signing veteran center Brad Miller.
They have several options for an extra guard. Acie Law finished last season with the Bulls and is still unsigned. John Lucas III has been shooting the lights out for the Bulls' summer league team and they've shown interest in ex-Spurs guard Roger Mason.