NBA Rumors: Chicago Bulls Must Roll Dice, Sign J.R. Smith

J.R. Smith is currently considering signing with five teams, per Adam Zagoria of NBA.com and SNY.tv, but none need him more than the Chicago Bulls do. The time is rapidly approaching that will allow Smith to sign with an NBA team when his current Chinese team's season has concluded.

He has had run-ins with George Karl in Denver, but several players have had issues with a coach prior to helping other teams win titles. Robert Horry and Danny Ainge weren't the best of friends before Big Shot Bob helped the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs win rings. 

Is Smith a chemistry risk?

Slightly, but for a deal that will likely only extend to the end of this season, it's a risk the Bulls must take. 

Luol Deng's health is certainly in question with torn ligaments in his left wrist. He may still elect to go with surgery that would almost certainly cost him the season, and possibly the playoffs.

If the Bulls are without Deng, if leaves them without a capable scorer from the perimeter, and overall.

Who knows what to expect from Carlos Boozer at this point? He has been too inconsistent to count on. Boozer has averaged only 14.7 points per game this year. That is beneath the output most Bulls fans would have hoped to get from him.

Smith would provide an explosive scoring option with his three-point shooting. If you're wondering if Smith can still put it in the hole, take a look at this:

Yes, this was the Chinese League, but Smith has had explosions like this in the NBA as well. In 2009, Smith went for 45 points on 11 three-pointers while playing for the Denver Nuggets.

The guy can score, and the Bulls desperately need that. He has averaged 12.8 points per game in his NBA career while shooting 38 percent from behind the arc.

With or without Deng, the Bulls need another scorer, but without Deng it's essential. The Bulls were only 4-3 in the games Deng missed over the last two weeks.

Smith also has the ability to be effective coming off the bench or starting. If Rip Hamilton ever gets healthy and assumes the starting spot, Smith is the perfect scorer off the bench. From 2008-2010, when Smith predominantly played the sixth-man role, he had the best years of his career.

He averaged 15.3 points per game, shooting 37 percent from the arc.

As we know, Tom Thibodeau will play whoever is playing the best in the fourth quarter. In games that Smith has it going, he'll be on the floor in the fourth quarter with Derrick Rose.

Rose and the entire offense benefit so much when there are players to stretch the floor accompanying Rose. Right now, the Bulls have only one player that does that: Kyle Korver. And through all of Korver's effort, he's a defensive liability.

Smith has never been lauded for his defense, but he certainly has the athleticism to defend most any 2-guard adequately. Under Thibodeau's direction and considering Smith's uncertain NBA future, I believe he will defend.

Is he going to turn into Tony Allen? No, but he won't be Korver either.

There are even teams that the Bulls could play Rose, Smith and Korver at the same time. That spreads the defense out, gives Rose the middle and makes the defense pick its poison.

Lastly, an underrated quality in Smith's game is his ability to create off the dribble. This is something the Bulls also need. As of now, the Bulls don't have a lot of players that can put the ball on the floor and get to the basket or to the free-throw line.

Smith can do both. The question is, will he drive and leave his beloved jump shot when the time is right?

Smith has averaged only two assists per game in his career. It's not a horrible total from an unquestioned scorer, but it isn't overly impressive. This is an area that could improve with focus on that area. It's more of a will issue rather than skill.

As far as getting to the line, he's a 74 percent free-throw shooter and he gets there 2.5 times per game. He can improve the latter by simply going to the basket more.

These are just a couple more risks you take when considering signing Smith.

All are worth it.

The Bulls are too close to the mountain top to not pull out all of the stops to go for a championship. J.R. Smith is the best player available at a position of need, and the Bulls must make an offer and make him deny them.

If he chooses the Los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Lakers or—gasp—the New York Knicks, at least they can say they tried.

What else can a fan ask for?