NBA Rumors: Chicago Bulls Target Rudy Fernandez And Others for Backup SG

Tracy McGrady was what the Bulls thought he was.

He proved after his Monday workout that he still sees himself as a starter in the NBA, that he has a me-first personality, and that he has lost his quickness and jumping ability.

So it's back to the drawing board for the Chicago Bulls as they search for one more wingman to complete their 12-man roster.

According to a report in The Oregonian, the Bulls are one of the teams in conversations with the Portland Trailblazers for Rudy Fernandez, the Spanish shooting guard.

ESPN.com and the Chicago Tribune reported that the team has talked with representitives of Eddie House, Roger Mason Jr., and Keith Bogans.

Aside from those players, other decent options exist. The Bulls may let some time pass before making their final signing.

Still, when they make their final roster decision, it will almost certainly be one of the following players.

Rudy Fernandez

Rudy, Rudy, Rudy. I can hear the chants now.

Fernandez could be considered a poor man's J.J. Redick. He is a legitimate threat from beyond the arc, draining 39 percent of his three-pointers over his career.

He has career averages of 9.4 points per game to go along with two assists and nearly three rebounds.

That comes from 24.5 minutes per game. Which underscores the reason Fernandez is an unhappy camper in Portland.

He wants more playing time, and chances are he's not going to get it with the Bulls. He won't get more time with the Boston Celtics either, another team linked to the Spaniard.

He might with the New York Knicks, the third team apparently interested in Fernandez. Then again, the Knicks are not immediate title contenders.

If the Bulls do make a play for Fernandez, they are not going to give up much. Expect Chicago to offer nothing more than James Johnson and a pick or two.

If the Blazers accept, it's a great deal for the Bulls.

They lose a player who would not have cracked the rotation anyway and gain a shooting guard who is the exact opposite of Ronnie Brewer.

Fernandez lacks Brewer's defensive game but can shoot much better and is equally as tenacious.

Making that trade would mean the Bulls still have to add one more player to complete their team. Joey Graham is a name that has been tossed out there as a possibility as a third-string small forward.

Eddie House

Option number two: The Bulls bring in an older, louder, more streaky version of Ben Gordon.

Bulls fans will remember Eddie House best in a Celtics jersey when he was talking smack during the two teams' epic first-round series.

House, at 32 years old and only 6'1'', would likely be a defensive liability, particularly if paired with Derrick Rose or C.J. Watson.

Then again, he has played for Tom Thibodeau before, so he understands what the new Bulls coach is about.

Of course, the reason he would be brought in is to shoot three-pointers, and that's about it. Like Fernandez, House is a career 39 percent shooter from distance.

Unlike Fernandez, who has been a troublemaker in Portland, House is a veteran who will accept his role, and is also feisty.

Like Kurt Thomas, he won't hesitate to get in opposing players' faces.

Roger Mason Jr.

There's nothing exciting about adding Roger Mason Jr., who the Bulls actually drafted in the second round in 2002.

That could be the exact reason why Chicago will make this move.

Mason is not going to cause trouble. He's been in the league long enough to know how to fill a role.

It doesn't hurt that he's a solid 38 percent three-point shooter. He shot better than 42 percent in 2008-2009 before slumping last year.

Mason proved with the Spurs that he can rise to the occasion if his team needs him. He averaged more than 30 minutes per game in 2008-2009 and averaged 12 points, three rebounds, and two assists per contest.

Reduce his minutes, and he still produces proportionally. Over his career, he averages 19 minutes per game and notches seven points, two rebounds and 1.5 assists.

At 29 years of age, he's not the prototypical veteran, but he can still pass along wisdom of being a journeyman in the NBA.

Keith Bogans

The Bulls went after a lot of Jazz players. Now it seems they are after one of the Spurs' shooting guards.

Bogans and Mason are the exact same height (6'5''), weigh within three pounds of each other, and are one year apart in age.

So it all comes down to which player's style the Bulls like more.

Bogans is considered a bit more defensive-minded than Mason, but connects on a lower percentage of treys. For his career, Bogans connects from beyond the arc at rate of 35 percent.

Not bad, but not that good.

If the Bulls really want to focus on defense, then Bogans could be another solid defensive stopper to come off the bench and adequately replace Ronnie Brewer or Luol Deng.

Like Mason, he's not a flashy signing. He's not going to come in and light up the box score. Regardless of if he plays or not, he's a veteran who will understand his role as a reserve guard.

Unlike the next guy...

Tracy McGrady

T-Mac can't seem to accept the fact that he's no longer good enough to be a starter in the NBA.

The Bulls would have definitely considered the freakishly takk shooting guard as a scoring threat off the bench if he were willing to take a seat willingly at the start of games.

Well, so much for that happening. It's too bad, because despite being 31 and stll recovering from a major injury, he has the most upside of any shooting guard available on the market.

Too bad he let his ego get the best of him. If he wants to start, he can head right over to China.

Shannon Brown

Shannon Brown might be the most high-profile guard left on the market not named McGrady, but the Bulls seem to have little to no interest in the former Laker.

Brown does not shoot three-pointers especially well, which is clearly something the Bulls are looking for in their final addition.

He is still young, and while he would add another spark to this already youthful team, Chicago is looking for a veteran who will not raise a fuss about minutes.

Brown is athletic but a work-in-progress on defense, which is going to be the cornerstone of this Bulls team.

So it's understandable why the Bulls are not particularly interested, even if he has a strong offensive game.

The choices seem slim on the surface, but for what the Bulls need out of their final addition, and for the amount of money they have to offer, there are several solid prospects.