After the conclusion of the NBA Draft last week, the Bulls signed just one undrafted free agent to round out their roster. Missouri Tigers’ shooting guard Caleb Grill landed an Exhibit 10 contract with the team. An Exhibit 10 contract commits the Bulls to Grill on a one-year, minimum non-guaranteed salary. By signing this deal, Grill receives a spot on the Summer League roster and the opportunity to compete for a full-time spot on the roster. With the Bulls wanting to enter a youth movement in their latest rebuild, this poses the question of how Grill can earn himself a spot on the final roster this summer.
How Caleb Grill Can Carve Out a Role on the Chicago Bulls
College Overview
Grill had an excellent season with the Tigers last year. Coming off the bench (other than two starts), Grill averaged 13.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game. He shot 47.2% from the field and 39.6% from behind the arc, which ranked as the third-highest three-point percentage in the SEC. To top it off, he earned the SEC Sixth Man of the Year Award as recognition for his stellar performance.
Even though Grill did not start, he took on a leadership role for the team. Grill’s breakout and veteran presence helped the Tigers become one of the SEC’s biggest surprises after a historically poor season in 2023-24, where the Tigers won zero conference matchups. As a two-time transfer who started his tenure at Mizzou in his fifth college season, The 6-foot-3 guard played just nine games in the 2023-24 season before suffering a season-ending wrist injury. Granted an extra year of eligibility after medically redshirting, Grill quickly proved he was an invaluable asset for Mizzou in his sixth college season once fully healthy last year.
Caleb Grill’s Fit with the Bulls
The defensive and sharpshooting abilities that Grill possesses make him an intriguing fit for the Bulls. With the team’s lack of effective two-way players, there is a realistic path for Grill to create a role off the bench for himself. As an efficient perimeter defender, the 25-year-old can take on more difficult defensive assignments in the second unit. His high motor on defense holds similarities to Alex Caruso and the grit that he played with, a work ethic that coach Billy Donovan loves.
Additionally, Grill’s accuracy in shooting from deep can provide the team with much-needed floor spacing and increase their shooting accuracy from the perimeter. Considering the Bulls ranked second in total three-point attempts last season, his efficient outside shooting complements the offense that Billy Donovan runs well. If he indeed makes the final roster, there is room for Grill to step in and instantly become one of the second unit’s top shooters.
Last Word
When the Summer League kicks off this weekend, Grill will need to come out swinging off the bat. Grill is arguably the most talented guard on the Summer League roster and will receive significant minutes. Billy Donovan will certainly keep a close eye on his shooting and defending over the next few weeks. If he excels particularly on either defense or outside shooting, I see no reason for him to not receive a full-time, one-year deal. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity up for grabs, and it will be up to Grill to run with it.
Photo credit: © Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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