After a struggling start to his NBA career with the Sacramento Kings, Jimmer Fredette is suddenly finding himself in high demand now that he is a free agent. With players like Beno Udrih and Danny Granger now swept off the market, Fredette is considered one of the best available. However, he might not be a free agent for long as the Chicago Bulls have taken interest in his skills.
ESPN.com's Marc Stein is reporting the Bulls are the favorite to land Fredette in the coming days. The point guard made it known that he would prefer to continue playing for the Eastern Conference contending team and that could be the Bulls if they add the necessary pieces.
Fredette cannot officially sign with a team until Saturday. His buyout with the Sacramento Kings was complete, but he must wait to clear waives first before getting an official contract by a team. Stein reports that a deal with the Bulls is certainly not a done deal, but they are certainly the favorites.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau confirmed that the team was interested in bringing one or two free agents to help with depth. Fredette would be the perfect fit. Thibodeau is known for being defense-heavy, but Fredette could play the part that players like Nate Robinson or DJ Augustin once held which is thriving as a score-first guard. Fredette can certainly score when put in the right situation.
The only issue with the Bulls landing Fredette is the contract offer. Chicago has been dealing with luxury-tax concerns all season. It forced them to trade away Luol Deng for almost nothing in return. Right now, ESPN reports the team is roughly $600,000 below the luxury-tax threshold and will likely only be able to offer Fredette the minimum.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are another option to make a run at Fredette. The team is dealing with injuries to both Dion Waiters and CJ Miles that complicate their depth. The Cavaliers have certainly been buyers up until now when it comes to trades and free agents. They are the only other team making a clear push for Fredette at the moment.
The Spurs could certainly remain a dark horse in the race. The team missed out on signing Granger, a player they desperately wanted. The Memphis Grizzlies are no longer an option after they bowed out and signed Udrih. That leaves Fredette who could sign with a team by Sunday.