Claxton addition a nice first move for Bulls’ Graham

Bryson Graham deserves a polite round of applause for his first unofficial move as the Bulls head of basketball operations.

He used the team's available cap space to add center Nic Claxton from Brooklyn in a three-team deal that also sent Julius Randle from Minnesota to the Nets. This deal is likely to remain unofficial until the salary caps reset on July 6.

Filling a position of need while giving up very little in return is a quality transaction for the Bulls. According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Bulls are sending Mo Gueye to Minnesota in return. He spent most of last season with the Windy City Bulls, then was added to the NBA roster late in the year.

The Timberwolves were looking to lower payroll, presumably to re-sign free agent Ayo Dosunmu, traded by the Bulls last February for Rob Dillingham and Leonard Miller.

Claxton isn't a bargain, necessarily, but has a reasonable contract by NBA standards. He'll make roughly $23 million this year and $21 million next season before hitting free-agency.

The eighth-year pro has never threatened to make the all-star game, but he brings a long, athletic, shot-blocking presence the Bulls have lacked for a while. Claxton's best season was 2022-23, when he averaged 12.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.5 blocks. He's not an outside shooter.

The knock on Claxton is at 6-foot-11 and 215 pounds, he lacks the bulk to hold his ground defensively. He was one of the worst players on the Nets' roster in defensive rating last season.

But he fits into Graham's desire to add players who have SLAP — size, length, athleticism and physicality. Actually, Claxton might fall short in the physicality department, but he does have SLA.

And the Bulls still have a decent amount of room below the NBA's projected salary cap of $165 million. A lot of that will depend on if Graham is content to let free agents Anfernee Simons, Collin Sexton, Zach Collins, Guerschon Yabusele and Nick Richards walk away.

But the Bulls could have as much as $45 million to play with, and this probably isn't the summer to chase free agents, given the Bulls will be rebuilding the roster. Graham might want to save some cap space for next year.