Chicago Bulls Take 'Em or Leave 'Em: Captain Kirk Hinrich

When the Bulls selected Hinrich with the seventh overall pick in 2003 Bulls fans shook their heads.  NBA scouts and talent evaluators chuckled.  The book on Hinrich was already written they said.  Sure he was a great college player but that he was a step slow for the NBA.

Evidently John Paxson saw something that they didn’t and went with Hinrich anyway.  Now there were so many big names in that draft, from LeBron, to Dwyane, to Carmelo that Hinrich is easily lost in the shuffle.  But one thing is clear, Kirk Hinrich isn’t a step to slow for anything, he is a quality, above average NBA point guard.

For the Bulls the question has always been just how good is their captain.  His career averages of 14.2 points and 6.3 assists suggest he is a legitimate two-threat point guard.  His turnovers have gone down every year and he is one of the most tenacious on the ball defenders in the league.  But doubts remain in Chicago about their once beloved captain.

It was during the ugly '07-'08 season that Hinrich first came under attack.  Like most of his teammates Hinrich had a terrible season and a team with a lot of expectations did nothing.  For some reason Hinrich took a lot of the blame and everyone decided he was a terrible player who couldn’t run an offense.

After being hurt for much of this year Hinrich has returned and looked very good coming off of the bench.  His shot still isn’t in midseason form but it’s getting there.  The team, and backcourt mate Derrick Rose seem to play better when Hinrich is on the floor.

Hinrich is signed to a big time deal and is locked up for the Bulls for another two seasons.  With the trade winds always swirling in Chicago and Derrick Rose clearly the point guard of the future Hinrich’s role on this team is a big question.  Lots of fans say he should be traded to help bring back a frontcourt presence.  Others say he makes a great sixth man off of the bench. 

To his credit Hinrich has handled his bench role extremely well.  He has no attitude whatsoever and has played hard. 

With Ben Gordn going to free agency the Bulls should not trade Hinrich but move him to the shooting guard position.  That way the Bulls backcourt will have two guys who can shoot and create shots for their teammates.

While Hinrich might not be able to score like an elite shooting guard he can defend most of them.  The Bulls would then have Thabo Sefalosha as a third guard who can bring defense and passing off of the bench. 

Well Bulls Fans, Captain Kirk Hinrich, take ‘em or leave ‘em?

article also available at:

http://mynba.mysportspen.com/bulls/