After an up-and-down season in the Big Apple, former Irish guard Jerian Grant will be moving to Chicago this summer. Grant was part of a five player deal between the New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls. The centerpiece of the deal is former MVP PG Derrick Rose who will move to the Knicks with Justin Holiday. The Knicks are sending Robin Lopez, Jose Calderon, and Grant to the Bulls. The Knicks will also receive a second round pick in next year's draft.
Irish fans in Chicago will be excited to get the chance to see Grant 41 nights each year at the United Center. The move also has some interesting symbolism as Jerian's uncle Horace spent the first seven years of his long NBA career in Chicago making one All Star team and picking up three titles with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. The move also puts Grant in a more familiar offensive system. Although the Knicks fired Derrick Fisher and didn't promote interim coach Kurt Rambis in the offseason, the presence of Phil Jackson in the front office leads many to believe that the triangle will still be a major part of the Knicks offense. Under Fred Hoiberg, Jerian can expect to play in a similar system to the one he flourished in during his time in South Bend.
The Bulls missed the playoffs last season, and were considered one of the bigger disappointments in the Eastern Conference. They've dealt with serious injuries to Rose who has missed time with multiple knee injuries that have caused the former MVP to miss significant parts of four seasons. Since he missed the entire 2012/13 season, Rose has looked like a shell of his former self. While things could change depending on who the Bulls take in Thursday's NBA Draft, Grant will probably see significantly more playing time with the Bulls next season.