The New-Look Chicago Bulls

There is certainly room in the Bulls frontcourt for a cheap, defensive-oriented rebounding big man. If he works hard for the rest of this year and this off-season, there's no reason he couldn't become a regular off the bench for the Bulls going forward.

Of course, he could also not improve and disappear from the NBA quite quickly. Either way, it's always nice when you can get someone like this with high potential and low risk as a throw-in in a trade.

Larry Hughes, aka "Smooth"

Contract:
2007/08 - $12,000,084
2008/09 - $12,827,676
2009/10 - $13,655,268

Since coming to the NBA in 1998 after starring at his hometown college of St. Louis University, where he averaged 20.9 PPG, 5.1 RPG and 2.1 SPG as a freshman, Hughes has had an up and down career.

He couldn't find a way to mesh with then 76ers star Allen Iverson, and was traded halfway through his second year to the Golden State Warriors. In an interesting piece of career symmetry, that first trade of his career was also a three-team deal featuring the Chicago Bulls. GM at the time Jerry Krause refused to take Hughes back, preferring instead a 2000 first round pick from the Warriors that was used on Jamal Crawford.

In two and a half years with Golden State Hughes did nothing particularly noteworthy, though he played point guard relatively competently for a period. Being able to at least fill in at the point is a real nice aspect to have for a 6-5 scoring two guard. It speaks to Larry's all-around game.

He signed with Washington in the 2002 off-season, and his third year there was the best of his career. His PER was 21.6, which is at an All-Star level. His jack-of-all-trades game was on full display, as he averaged 22 PPG, 4.7 APG, 6.3 RPG and lead the league with 2.9 SPG. He even made the NBA All-Defensive first team.

It was that performance which caused the idiot Danny Ferry to vastly overpay for him. He didn't mesh with LeBron during his Cleveland tenure, and his numbers never equaled those he put up as a 26-year-old for the Wizards. Though, again starting as a point guard, he was good enough to support LeBron on their over-hyped run to the NBA Finals.

This year in particular was a rough one for Hughes, as many of his numbers are the lowest of his career. He's never been noted as a particularly good shooter, but this year's field goal percentage of .377 shows he's been especially bad. He was injured early on, a chronic problem for him, and he's only played a full 82 games once.

It should be noted, though, after finally returning to full strength he had been playing well his last ten games with the Cavs. His averages were 4.6 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.1 SPG and 19.9 PPG. His field goal percentage also got more in line with the rest of the career and returned to a respectable .431.

How he fits in with the Bulls this season and going forward remains to be seen. While he will unquestionably be overpaid for his tenure, I think he will be a solid addition that will fit in well with what the Bulls want to accomplish.

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