Bulls News: Grading the Pick: Caleb Grill

Kirby Lee - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese - Senior Writer - 6 hours ago

Although the Chicago Bulls only had two picks in this year's NBA draft, they were able to make the most of those picks, grabbing France F Noa Essengue in the first round and Australian-born C Lachlan Olbrich in the second round. Neither of those picks got the fans excited, but from all accounts, the Bulls did a great job and appear to have found some diamonds in the rough.

With the draft officially over, the Bulls, along with every team in the NBA, can shift their focus to the undrafted free agent market as they look to add even more talent to their summer roster. With their first undrafted signings out of the way, the Bulls are very confident in his abilities, as Missouri guard Caleb Grill has now signed a contract with the Bulls.

Initially signed to an Exhibit 10 deal, it was later reported that Grill was given the final two-way contract, which gives him the opportunity to split time between the G League and the NBA. Listed at 6-3 and 215 pounds, Grill is an intriguing player who draws a lot of Alex Caruso comparisons given his overall play style and size.

Initially an Iowa State recruit, Grill wound up transferring to UNLV following his freshman season and went on to average just over nine points during his time there. He wound up landing with the Missouri Tigers last season and not only had his best season yet, but raised his stock to the point where some felt he could be a late-round two pick.

In his one season with the Tigers, Grill put up a career best 13.7 PPG, adding 3.6 APG and 1.7 SPG. In other words, he was all over the place on both ends of the field, and that type of play is a lost art in today's game. Unlike his time with the Rebels, where he started nearly every game, Grill was part of a 22-12 Tigers team last season and was seen as more of the sixth man on that roster.

While not seen as a top-flight prospect, there is a lot to like about his game, and that could be why the Bulls were comfortable giving him the two-way deal they did. The most significant aspect of his game is his three-point shooting, as Grill knocked down nearly 40% of his attempts last season, taking an average of seven attempts per game.

For a team like the Bulls, who could use more perimeter shooting, Grill certainly brings that to the table, and should he find the minutes, he won't hesitate to pop them from deep. Grill is also one of the best on-ball defenders in this year's class, and considering the Bulls were among the worst teams in the league in terms of on-ball defense last season, that alone is worth a second look within the organization.

Apart from the Alex Caruso comparison based on how he plays defense, there are several other player comparisons out there, and all of them have one thing in common. Whether it be Landry Shamet, Bogdan Bogdanovic, or AJ Green, shooting is crucial in today's game, and Grill has the shooting ability to make it in this league. Like those guys, Grill won't be seen as a starter, but can also handle an increase in minutes should the Bulls give it to him.

Grade B-: While there are some things to like about his game, with his defense coming to mind, he is very limited in terms of what he can do on the offensive end. Sure, he knows how to knock down the outside shot, but if that shot fails or he struggles to find consistency, there isn't much else he can do.

Regardless, the NBA is a shooters' league, and if you find ways to add shooters, you have no choice but to give them a look. It will be interesting to see how the Bulls handle him in the summer and whether or not he sticks with the G League team when the season breaks.