The Chicago Bulls made a quick about-face on their draft-week trade. Just a few days after acquiring guard Kam Jones from the Indiana Pacers, the team has waived him ahead of free agency. Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype reported the move first.
Jones is now an unrestricted free agent. Chicago won’t pay out the full $2.5 million on his contract. Instead, the Bulls will owe him a partial buyout worth about $1.07 million. That frees up some additional cap space for the front office as they look to bring in new faces this summer.
The whole thing came together fast. During the NBA Draft, Chicago sent the No. 38 pick — which became Purdue guard Braden Smith — to Indiana in exchange for Jones. On paper, it seemed like a depth swing for a backcourt that needed bodies. But a week later, the team decided to move on.
Why the sudden change of heart?
Jones’ rookie season was short and quiet. He played 37 games for the Pacers and averaged 4.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and about 16 minutes per game. He shot 40.2% from the floor. But he missed the first three months of the season with a lower back injury. That health question mark has followed him into the offseason.
Some folks around the league were puzzled by Chicago’s decision in the first place. Braden Smith, the guy the Pacers drafted with that pick, just became Purdue’s all-time assists leader with 1,103 dimes. He’s a proven college floor general. Meanwhile, the Bulls ended up with a guard who’s played less than half a season and now isn’t even on the roster.
Bulls VP of Basketball Operations Bryson Graham defended the team’s second-round approach. He pointed to the cash considerations and future second-round pick swaps they got in the deal. That kind of flexibility can matter for a team trying to reshape its roster on the margins.
What’s next for Kam Jones?
Jones is young and has some clear skills. He’s got solid playmaking instincts and can handle backup guard duties for a team that needs depth. And here’s the thing — any team that signs him doesn’t have to trade away a player to make it work. His contract situation is clean now. So teams can just add him outright.
Most likely, Jones lands somewhere on a minimum deal, maybe with partial guarantees, or gets an invite to training camp. Teams will want to check on his back health before committing real money. But for a guard with his size and feel, there should be interest.
The Bulls, meanwhile, had a productive draft overall. They brought in Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain. They cleared some cap room. And now they go into free agency with a little more flexibility than they had a week ago. Whether that leads to anything big remains to be seen.
Leave a Comment