Chicago Bulls received guard Kam Jones from Indiana Pacers

The Chicago Bulls' acquisition of Kam Jones on a $1.27M deal earns a D+ Contract Value Index (CVI) — not because Jones lacks talent or upside, but because the value proposition is fundamentally neutral-to-underwhelming for what the franchise is paying and what they're getting in return. At $1.27M annually on a one-year contract, the Bulls are paying near-minimum-salary rates, which superficially sounds like a bargain; however, the floor on this deal is low — Jones arrives with question marks around integration, playing time, and whether he'll develop into a rotation-caliber contributor in Chicago's rotation. The one-year term limits risk exposure and allows the franchise flexibility, but it also signals the front office isn't betting heavily on Jones as a foundational piece, suggesting modest expectation-setting on role and production. In the context of a rebuilding offseason for a 31-win team that missed the playoffs, a cheap lottery-ticket guard trade makes organizational sense, but it doesn't move the needle on value — you're getting what you're paying for: a low-cost, unproven asset with significant upside uncertainty. The D+ grade reflects that this deal is neither a steal nor an albatross; it's a patience-required, low-commitment gamble typical of offseason depth fishing.