Bulls Rumors: Why Chicago Can't Afford to Pass on J.R. Smith

As a starter or valuable reserve, J.R. Smith offers too much for the Chicago Bulls to pass on at this point in their season. The team must continue to take steps towards a championship, it's important for more than just the obvious reasons.

Hoopsworld's Eric Pincus reported the latest news and rumors regrarding J.R. Smith yesterday morning, and he included an interesting paragraph regarding the Bulls.

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The Chicago Bulls have their Bi-Annual Exception at $1.9 million but role for Smith would probably be an issue for J.R.  Additionally, a source said Chicago is undecided on whether or not Smith would be the right move for the organization.

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The Bulls do need a capable perimeter scoring option, besides Derrick Rose; Smith would certainly provide that. He has averaged 12.5 points per game in his career, and he connects from three at a clip of 37 percent.

His scoring prowess would both spread the floor and offer another athletic player capable of getting to the basket when offensive sets break down. Many have forgotten Smith has All-Star Weekend athleticism:

In a matchup with the Miami Heat, if LeBron James is placed on Rose, and Dwyane Wade is on Smith, who guards Luol Deng?

Shane Battier?

I'll take that matchup, if I'm Tom Thibodeau.

There are concerns about Smith's defense and team-first approach, but those are risks the Bulls must take. It isn't ridiculous to assume that Smith's defense and team approach would improve in the Bulls' positive surroundings.

Is Smith such a bad apple that he can topple the entire foundation Thibs has built, and circumvent Rose's positive leadership?

Both are highly unlikely—Smith isn't Hitler, or even Dennis Rodman, and last time Rodman was in Chicago, things worked out pretty well.

Just as that Bulls team took a chance on a talented, potential chemistry risk, so should this Bulls team. They leaned on the leadership of their veterans and coaching staff then, and that would be the formula for success this time as well.

Lastly, Rose needs to see this team moving in the right direction for his own psyche. At this point in his career, he takes losses too hard. He still has to learn that winning is a process in the NBA. It rarely happens to players as young and talented as he is.

The worse thing that can happen to a player that is devastated by losses like Rose is to have the team become stagnant.

If the Bulls don't reach the Eastern Conference finals, or lose to Miami in the same way they lost last year, that would qualify as stagnancy. The Bulls can't afford that.

Adding Smith to the roster doesn't guarantee a championship, but it definitely makes the team better—and that has to be paramount for the Bulls now.