Chicago Bulls 2017-18 player preview: Jerian Grant

Previewing the Chicago Bulls 2017-2018 roster, player by player. Today we’re taking a look at third-year guard Jerian Grant.

At this stage in his NBA career, Jerian Grant has struggled to establish himself as a consistent player thus far. And though he showed promise in his first season with the Chicago Bulls, his flashes of potential were too fleeting to earn him a larger role.

Could this season serve as a turning point in Grant’s young career? Or, with contract decisions on the horizon, will the Bulls choose to move on from him after this season ends?

Last Season

If you’re looking to Grant’s raw numbers to impress you, you’d be wise to adjust your expectations

Playing behind Rajon Rondo and Michael Carter-Williams last year, Grant averaged just 5.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game in 16.3 minutes of action. It took Fred Hoiberg benching Rondo and Carter-Williams’ utter inability to play offense to get Grant on the floor significantly.

And when he did play, consistency remained a struggle for him, especially offensively. For example, he dropped a season-high 18 points in 30 minutes against the Portland Trailblazers back in November only to go 2-10 from the field for just six points in almost the same amount of time in their first next game against Utah. His poorly defined role for much of last season may have contributed to that.

That said, figuring out where Grant fits on the floor isn’t always an easy task. He’s not an exceptional ball-handler or passer, making him somewhat ill-suited to play point guard in the NBA.

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And though he has solid athleticism, he doesn’t score well enough to play off the ball primarily. He also isn’t a great defender, though he’s also not as terrible as you think he is by the numbers.

One thing working in his favor, though, is that he actually showed marked improvement as a shooter last year. His field goal percentage jumped from 39.4% to a more respectable 42.5% in large part to his shooting remarkably better from long range. After shooting a miserable 22% from three his first season, he bumped his three-point shooting average to 36.6% last year.

It might not look like much, but Grant’s offensive game might be rounding into form. If he keeps up the improvement, he’ll continue to see the floor.

What to Expect This Season

With the Chicago Bulls’ backcourt situation in flux, it could take a while for Grant to establish a niche this season.

Due to the acquisition of Kris Dunn from Minnesota, Grant likely won’t begin the season as the starting point guard unless Dunn is hurt. As proven by their trade for him, the Bulls love Dunn’s athleticism and defensive ability, as well as his aggressive style in transition.

Furthermore, who knows what the Bulls’ plans for Denzel Valentine are? If they plan to use him as a point guard, that could cut into Grant’s playing time even more.

And…I suppose the Bulls want to give Cameron Payne a few more opportunities to prove that trading for him wasn’t a mistake. Why not? Ultimately, unless he changes his style of play (i.e., never shoots ever again), I don’t see him being a better option than Grant.

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And there are multiple possible barriers to Grant potentially seeing minutes at two-guard as well.

Though the Chicago Bulls will very likely buy out Dwyane Wade at some point, they might not do so immediately. If he starts the season with the Bulls, then expect to see him in the starting lineup. Then, once Zach LaVine comes back healthy, the starting shooting guard spot belongs to him. And again, depending on the Bulls’ plans Valentine might also block Grant from being a backup at that spot.

Ultimately, if Grant wants to stay as part of the Bulls’ long-term plans, he has to take advantage of whatever opportunities he gets.

First and foremost, he has to be aggressive and decisive with the basketball. His best bet will be to use his quickness more frequently to get to the rim and finish. And when teams dare him to shoot, he must let it fly with confidence and hit outside shots. Hopefully, last season’s increased success encourages him in that regard.

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If he can pick up his play, he may prove worth keeping around for the Bulls as a backup guard. If not, then the Bulls could elect not to pick up his 2018-2019 club option and let him walk. As such, it behooves him to prove that he’s not expendable.

As a fellow Golden Domer, I sincerely the Chicago Bulls get more glimpses of the Notre Dame version of Jerian Grant next year. Because that guy was pretty good at basketball.