Chicago Bulls: Is Marcus Thornton or Nick Young a Better Fit at Shooting Guard?

Let's hope the NBAPA and the NBA can hammer out a deal in the next two weeks to save the 2011-2012 season. I still believe they will, as I'm not sure the league can endure the fan fallout from losing games from the schedule.

That said, when the Bulls finally take the court this season, it will undoubtedly be with a new shooting guard. There has been much discussion on trade possibilities and such, but my belief is that the Bulls will not go the trade route. They will address the shooting guard spot through free agency.

So much for OJ Mayo and Monta Ellis—the Bulls won't likely disturb their core this year to add these players.

The top five two-guards available through free agency, when I consider their potential fit for the Bulls current roster, are Marcus Thornton, Nick Young, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Jason Richardson and Jamal Crawford.

Let me start by saying this: Crawford is a distant fifth. His wild shooting and lack of defense is not a good fit for this team. The Bulls' shooting guard doesn't have to be Alvin Robertson on the defensive end, but he at least needs to be adequate.

Richardson's scoring ability is too dependent on the three-ball at this point in his career, and he'll be the most expensive of the group.

CDR is a sleeper in my opinion. He has a scorer's mentality and he is an intense competitor. He is a college teammate of Derrick Rose, and I believe he fits in with the Bulls current roster.

On the downside, he isn't tremendously athletic and he has never averaged more than 10 points per game. Even though, up to this point, he has only played about 20 minutes per game in his three-year NBA career.

He is, however, an inexpensive option to fill the spot and a offensive upgrade over everyone the Bulls currently have.

The two remaining are the best fits for the Bulls spot at the two. This is for a variety of reasons. One reason is cost, as neither Nick Young nor Marcus Thornton will require a huge contract.

Thornton made just $726,000 last year with the New Orleans Hornets and Sacramento Kings, but he averaged 13 points per game. In the last 27 games, all with the Kings, Thornton poured in 21 per game, starting 23 of those contests and playing 38 minutes per night. He is only 24 years old, stands 6'4" and shot 36 percent from behind the arc.

Young made $2.6 million last year for the Wizards. He is only 26 and had a breakout season. He averaged 17 points per game. He shot 39 percent from the arc, made 82 percent of his free throws and stands 6'6". Young has great leaping ability and long arms. He isn't the best defender or passer, but he has the tools to be decent in both areas.

So who is the best fit of the two? Thornton is easily the best possible option at the shooting guard for the Bulls. His asking price shouldn't be any more than $4.5 million a year. He has shown he can score going to the basket as well as shooting it from distance. If you watch him play, it is evident: he plays with an edge and is fearless. He represents the player who would be easiest to sell and incorporate defensively.

Young already has some baggage and talk of on-court immaturity, and he's two years older.

This is the perfect situation to grab Thornton. He has proven enough to make the Bulls comfortable that he can be effective as a scorer, but he hasn't done it long enough to make him too pricey to sign.

Young will need more money and won't produce the same level of intensity on the floor. Thornton should be the top offseason priority. The Bulls should set their ceiling offer at $5 million per season to insure they get their man.