The Chicago Bulls signed four-year veteran Ronnie Brewer to a three-year deal worth $12.5 million, according to Sam Smith of Bulls.com, addressing their need for a shooting guard just hours after learning the Orlando Magic matched their offer sheet for J.J. Redick. Brewer, 25, joins Derrick Rose as the only guards on Chicago’s roster.
Brewer played 266 of his 271 career games with the Utah Jazz, who traded him to the Memphis Grizzlies a week before this year’s trading deadline for a conditional second-round draft pick. Brewer owns career per-game averages of 10.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.5 steals. Though he’s a solid investment who proved with Utah he’s a rotation player on a good team, he does not address the Bulls’ need for three-point shooting. Brewer is a career 23.4% shooter from beyond the arc and takes nearly 11 two-pointers for every one trey, so he will not spread the floor for low-post dynamo Carlos Boozer—his former Jazz teammate—or dribble-driver Derrick Rose.
But that’s not to say Brewer won’t be useful. His career 52.1% shooting mark is outstanding for a guard, and his ability to get to the basket is an asset. He also adds athleticism to a roster sorely lacking it. Thus, at just over $4 million a year, it’s fair to say the Bulls got a bargain here.