Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

7/16/2010 at 4:02pm

Ronnie Brewer Jr. appears to be headed to the the NBA's Chicago Bulls, according to sources who spoke with ESPNChicago.com, and what good fortune that is for the Fayetteville native, as he'll depart the perennially hapless Memphis Grizzlies.

The Grizzlies acquired Brewer at midseason from the Utah Jazz, but only saw him for five games before Brewer was injured (hamstring) and lost for the season, and apparently didn't think he was worth re-signing for one season at $3.8 million. The ESPN report says Chicago will pay the unrestricted free agent in the neighborhood of $4 million a year over three years.

Chicago, which tried its hand in the Dwyane Wade-LeBron James sweepstakes and tried to lure J.J. Redick from Orlando, is a playoff contender. Memphis appears determined to contend for a lottery pick every year. Where would you rather play?

Orlando matched the Bulls' big offer for the sharpshooting former Dookie Redick, allowing for available cash to land Brewer, a 6-6 guard who will get you 12 points and 6 rebounds a game and will fit with the long-armed defensive approach (think Joachim Noah in the middle).

ESPNChicago.com reports:

It's a three-year deal worth $12.5 million, although the third year is not guaranteed.

He averaged nine points and three rebounds last season after averaging 13.7 points during the 2008-09 season.

Brewer is the third former member of the Jazz to join the Bulls this offseason; the others are Carlos Boozer and Kyle Korver.

Many teams were rumored to be after Brewer, including the Cavaliers, the Celtics and even the Jazz at one point. In the end, Brewer decided his talents were best fit to join the Bulls, whose squad continues to look more impressive after some pulling in some big name talent to the blossoming roster.

Brewer is expected to be the starting shooting guard for the Bulls, one of the primary reasons he wanted to head to Chicago.