NBA Free Agency: 10 Unrestricted Free Agents Bulls May Look At

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The NBA lockout is finally over so we can finally start looking forward to the start of the regular season.

With free agency set to start on December 9th and the season set to start just two weeks later, it will be a fast and furious free-agency period.

The Bulls don't have to worry about bringing any of their own players back. They have no restricted free agents and only three unrestricted free agents. Those players are Kurt Thomas, Rasual Butler and Brian Scalabrine and none are expected to be re-signed.

With the MVP and Coach of the Year, the team who had the best record in the league doesn't have a lot of holes. However that doesn't mean they can't improve.

The one spot Gar Foreman is expected to try and improve is the starting shooting guard spot which was occupied by Keith Bogans last season.

Here are some unrestricted free agents that may interest the Bulls and help them get past the Heat.

One name you will notice that isn't on this list is JR Smith. You can read here to find out why.

Anthony Parker

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Anthony Parker might not be considered much of an upgrade but he would be a nice fit.

Reportedly the Bulls were interested in trading for Parker last season at the trading deadline so I would assume they would still be interested.

Parker isn't much of a scorer but the one thing he can do well is shoot from outside. He is a carer 40.9 percentage three-point shooter and shoots 44.5 percent from the field.

Why would Parker sign with the Bulls?

He is a local kid coming from Naperville and at 36 is probably looking to sign with contending teams with a shot at winning a ring.

Tracy McGrady

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The Bulls were interested in him last season so why not take another look.

A year ago McGrady didn't seem to want to accept the role the Bulls were offering. However after a miserable season in Detroit, maybe his tune would change for the contending Bulls.

McGrady, 32, has never made it out of the first round of the playoffs and with all his injuries doesn't have many years left.

He proved that he is fairly healthy last season appearing in 72 games while starting 39 of them. With a solid group of Bogans, Kyle Korver and Ronnie Brewer to split time with, McGrady could be a nice addition.

Josh Howard

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His best days might be behind him, but Josh Howard would be a nice addition to back up Luol Deng.

Howard, 30, was an All-Star in 2007, tore his ACL in March of 2010, but did come back last season to play in 18 games for the Wizards.

Injuries have plagued him for most of his career but when healthy he is a very good player. Very similar to Luol Deng. During the 2007-2008 season he averaged 19.9 points and seven rebounds per game.

Howard might be a nice insurance policy if rookie Jimmy Butler isn't up for the job of backing up Deng.

Caron Butler

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If you don't like Howard how about the guy he was traded for at one time?

The trade that sent Howard to Washington also sent Caron Butler to Dallas.

Interestingly enough, Butler injured his knee in January and ended up missing the remainder of the season, which included the Mavericks' run to the championship.

Like Howard, injuries seem to follow Butler where ever he goes, but again, coming in to back up Deng or join the shooting guard rotation might be good for him.

Adding a guy who averaged over 20 points per game for two seasons is never a bad thing.

Michael Redd

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I would be very happy if the Bulls landed Michael Redd.

I actually wrote a piece during the lockout about why he should be their top target and instead of repeating myself here it is.

Chris Douglas Roberts

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You might be asking where all the healthy guys are on this list.

It's true that Howard, Redd, McGrady and Butler all come with big red flags, but how about a young shooting guard who has played with Derrick Rose before?

Chris Douglas Roberts, 24, was a teammate of Rose's at Memphis and might benefit from rejoining him in Chicago.

CDR didn't seem to fit what coach Scott Skiles was looking for in Milwaukee and is one of the few young guards on the unrestricted market.

He might not be the answer at shooting guard but he would be a nice replacement if Ronnie Brewer were to be sent away in a trade.

Grant Hill

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While Redd, Howard and Butler are all recovering from injuries, Grant Hill has never been healthier.

After six seasons in Orlando fighting injuries, Hill moved to Phoenix and has played in 80 games each of the last three seasons. It is the first time he has done that in 13 years.

Hill, 39, could be a nice veteran fit for the young Bulls. Signing in Chicago would allow him to continue to chase a championship while also not requiring him to play such heavy minutes.

While he isn't a great three-point shooter, he is lethal from inside the arc. Sound like any other small forward from Duke?

Shannon Brown

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If you are looking for a young guard to play alongside Rose for the next four or five years this might be your guy.

Shannon Brown, 25, is actually a former Bull.

Back during the 2007-2008 season Brown appeared in six games for the Bulls. If we only knew then what we we know now.

Brown bounced around a lot since leaving Michigan State. Aside from the Bulls, he has also played for the Cavs, Bobcats and of course most recently, the Lakers.

Over the last two seasons he has proven that he is more than just an end of the bench player backing up Kobe Bryant.

Brown, like Parker, is also a hometown kid from Maywood and might enjoy playing for the team he grew up watching. My only problem with him is at 6'4", he and Rose make a small backcourt.

Jamal Crawford

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Yep that's right, another former Bull.

When Jamal Crawford was traded to the Knicks I never thought the day would come in where the Bulls might be interested in bringing him back.

Crawford could be just the offensive punch the bench mob needs. He excelled the last two seasons backing up Joe Johnson in Atlanta and could fill the Jason Terry sixth-man role well in Chicago.

There is no denying Crawford's offensive talent but his defense is very questionable. It is actually the biggest reason he was traded from Chicago in the first place. Crawford didn't get along well with defensive-minded Scott Skiles; I wonder how he could get along with Coach Thibodeau.

Plus Crawford's price tag may be too much for the Bulls.

Jason Richardson

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Here is the one guy who might really put the Bulls on top of the league.

A starting five of Rose, Deng, Carlos Boozer, Joakim Noah and Jason Richardson would be awesome.

Richardson, 30, is a career 37 percent three-point shooter and is a former dunk champion. His ability to shoot and drive would really open the floor for Derrick Rose.

In addition, Richardson's experience playing alongside Steve Nash would probably help him adjust to being paired with Rose

Again, like Crawford, price might be the issue for the Bulls as they won't have a lot of cap space. Hopefully the general manager can work something out and land JRich. Maybe a trade of Brewer would free up some cap space and then he can sign CDR or Michael Redd to fill the bench.

It might be a long shot but can you blame me for dreaming?