<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> The Bulls are making a serious recruiting pitch to former Los Angeles Lakers power forward Brian Grant. Both general manager John Paxson and coach Scott Skiles spoke to Grant by phone Wednesday evening, just hours after the 33-year-old was waived by the Lakers under the NBA?s new amnesty rule. While Grant?s agent, Mark Bartelstein, refused to speculate on where his client will land, he feels the Bulls are in contention. ?He was impressed with some of the things they had to say,? Bartelstein said. ?I think it?s probably something we?d take a look at. We have a lot of respect for John Paxson and Scott Skiles. ?This is a big decision for us. The Bulls have a good thing going. He wants to be in a good situation and have a chance to win.? The 6-foot-9 Grant is coming off his worst NBA season. He averaged 3.8 points and 3.7 rebounds while bothered by chronic tendinitis in his knees. He also had a neck injury in training camp. An Ohio native, Grant played for Sacramento, Portland and Miami before going to Los Angeles last summer in the Shaquille O?Neal trade. There still figures to be plenty of interest in the 11-year veteran. Grant has been a strong rebounder throughout his career and built a reputation as a solid citizen, winning the NBA?s Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award for the 1998-99 season. Bartelstein said 12 teams have called to inquire about Grant?s availability. The amnesty rule was included in the league?s new collective-bargaining agreement as a one-chance opportunity for teams to release a player and avoid paying the luxury tax on his salary. The Lakers will save $29.8 million in tax payments over the next two years by waiving Grant, even though they must continue to pay his salary.</div> <div align="center"> Source</div>
Brian Grant is a really hard worker from his days with the Heat. He would be a good backup and a good mentor to Curry and Chandler. But their is a question as to if he can stay healthy.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting playmaker14:</div><div class="quote_post">Does this mean that either Curry or Chandler is gone from Chi-Town</div> A..... no Curry and Chandler are both restricted meaning even though we can be over the cap we can still match any offer to either. Grant?s offer would come from our MLE depending how much we would offer him it might mean that Duhon is gone. All we would have is around 2 million if we match Duhon?s 3 million dollar deal.
If Paxson is serious about Brian Grant, that 99.9% guarantees the end for Chris Duhon in a Chicago Bull uniform, especially considering that Paxson is going to sign Othella Harrington as well. Before any of you jump on the gun and say 'well, why the hell do we need three backup PF/C in Davis, Harrington and Grant?', you gotta consider that Davis cannot play 30 MPG that he played last season. His body is starting to break down due to his age and having Grant and Harrington would definitely help him cut down on the minutes.
^^^ I agree with him, and to add that they can all rotate the 4 and 5 positions, allowing Curry and Chandler to get rest or sit if they're in foul trouble.
