Maybe Jerian Grant is Bulls' true point guard of future
During the past year or so, it hass been easy to lose track of the Bulls' point guards of the future.
Since Derrick Rose was traded, the spot has included: Michael Carter-Williams, who's now in Charlotte; Cameron Payne, currently riding a scooter due to foot surgery; Kris Dunn, who may return from a dislocated finger Thursday; Isaiah Cannan during a couple of playoff games; plus new additions of Kay Felder and Ryan Arcidiacono for a couple of days.
While I maybe forgetting a few, perhaps the answer all along was Jerian Grant.
Many observers, myself included, wondered if Grant was better suited to play shooting guard, since he has a reliable outside shot and didn't drop many dimes, as they say.
But given a chance to settle in at point guard this season while Dunn was sidelined, Grant has averaged 7.3 assists, good for ninth-best in the NBA. He dished out 10 assists in Tuesday's loss at Cleveland.
Going back to last season, Grant maintains there has never been a doubt in his mind - he's a point guard.
"Since I've been playing basketball, I've been a playmaker," he said Wednesday. "Whether its point guard or off the ball, I'm a guy who gets his teammates involved, gets into the paint and gets guys open looks."
And the parade of potential point guards of the future? Yeah, Grant has noticed.
"It fuels me," he said. "They keep bringing guys in, they're going to continue to do what they do, but I'm getting my opportunity on the court and we've got to go out here and get some wins and I can prove I can be that guy."
Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg has some difficult choices in the days ahead. Dunn returned to practice on Monday and the feeling is if he doesn't play Thursday against Atlanta, he'll be back Saturday when the Bulls host Oklahoma City.
Dunn was the No. 5 pick in the 2016 draft and part of the Jimmy Butler trade with Minnesota, so he was brought here to be the starter. Not only has Grant fared well in the starting role, the Bulls have gotten good contributions off the bench from ex-Cavs point guard Kay Felder, who was claimed off waivers last week.
"Jerian was really effective for us (against Cleveland)." Hoiberg said. "The biggest thing he did was he got us into our offense with pace. His cutting, his movement, it starts with him. We talk about that every day. It starts with our point guard. They're the ones getting us into it. They have to have pace into the actions, not only in the full court but in the half-court. I thought it was Jerian's best game."
It's not clear how much Grant's family ties help with the Bulls. He's the nephew of Bulls ambassador Horace Grant and the son of Horace's twin brother Harvey. His younger brother Jerami plays for the Thunder.
But Grant's game has changed considerably this season. His assist rate per 100 possessions has grown from 5.9 last season to 11.8. His scoring has remained relatively steady, although he is just 1 of 8 from 3-point range this season.
"This year I have the ball in my hands a lot more and that's given me confidence about making plays," Grant said. "It's not a huge adjustment, it's just something I haven't done in this league yet. I did it obviously all the way through high school, college, but now I get a chance to do it in this league.
"I've been doing it my whole life and I'm prepared for it."
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Bulls scouting report
Bulls vs. Atlanta Hawks at the United Center, 7 p.m. Thursday
TV: WGN Radio: WLS 890-AM
Outlook: Atlanta point guard Dennis Schroder has been ruled out with an ankle injury, which essentially leaves the Hawks as another rebuilding team. They've said goodbye to Al Horford, Paul Millsap, Dwight Howard and Jeff Teague in the last year or so. Atlanta, which has yet to play a home game, opened the season with a win at Dallas and has since dropped three in a row. Without Schroder, ex-Bulls SG Marco Belinelli (13.8 ppg), SF Kent Bazemore (13.5) and second-year PF Taurean Prince (13.5) are the team's top scorers. Rookie C John Collins (11.8 points, 7.8 rebounds) is off to a good start. Last April 1 at the UC, the Bulls snapped a seven-game losing streak against the Hawks with a 106-104 victory.
Next: Oklahoma City Thunder at the United Center on Saturday, 7 p.m.
- Mike McGraw