Bulls trade Bairstow to Detroit
Former Lobo played in just 18 games for Chicago this past season
Former New Mexico star power forward Cameron Bairstow was traded Friday from the Chicago Bulls to the Detroit Pistons.
The teams announced the deal early Friday, a move in which the Bulls acquired third-year guard Spencer Dinwiddie for Bairstow, also heading into his third NBA season. Both were second-round draft picks in 2014.
Bairstow, who is in New Mexico preparing for his youth camps next week at Sandia Prep High School and for the Battle of the Rio Grande Lobo-Aggies alumni all-star game he organizes, declined comment Friday morning on the trade.
Bairstow, the 6-foot-9 power forward who averaged 20.4 points per game as a UNM senior in 2014, played in 18 games for Chicago this past season, averaging 1.9 points and 5.7 minutes per appearance.
The former Lobo will not participate in NBA Summer League games with the Pistons in July. He told the Journal this week he is heading home to Australia on June 26 to play for the Australian National Team in a series of exhibition games preparing for the Olympics later this summer.
Bairstow’s contract becomes guaranteed for the 2016-17 season if not released by July 25. Dinwiddie’s contract for the coming season is nonguaranteed until November. Both are set to earn $980,431 if on the roster for the coming season.
Detroit’s third center on the roster, 6-9 Joel Anthony from UNLV, is an eight-year pro and set to make $2.5 million next season, though his contract is also nonguaranteed, and Bairstow could be viewed as a less expensive replacement for that roster spot.