Chicago Bulls 2012: What Free-Agent Moves Do They Need to Make?

Last month, the Chicago Bulls were ousted from the playoffs by the starless collective known as the Philadelphia 76ers. This marked just the fifth time in NBA history that a No. 8 seed upset the No. 1 seed.

With former MVP Derrick Rose watching as uncomfortably as one can in a luxury suite, the Sixers scratched and clawed their way to a 4-2 series win, sending their Windy City counterparts home to ruminate over how their promising postseason run ended so abruptly.

The vast majority of readers are probably wondering why I’m about to embark on a lengthy dissection, given that the most widely accepted analysis is, “Derrick Rose blew out his knee…DUH.”

While losing Derrick Rose, who also happens to be an incredibly gifted, rim-attacking, double-team commanding, ankle-breaking scorer (by the way…did I mention former MVP?), was a severely damaging blow, Chicago’s woes run much deeper than that. Despite posting the league’s best record in back-to-back seasons, as well as possessing the deepest frontcourt in the NBA, the Bulls are in need of a slight re-tooling. 

The lineup of Joakim Noah, Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng, Rip Hamilton, and Derrick Rose is potentially the most complete batch of starters in the league, and does not require much in the way of upgrades. The greatest area of need for Chicago rests in their backcourt rotation, despite the presence of the shooting guard trinity of Kyle Korver, Ronnie Brewer, and Rip Hamilton, along with the quarterbacking duo of C.J.  Watson and John Lucas III.

With the Bulls out of playoff contention, the next logical step is to look forward to improving their lineup through free agency. 

While Watson and Lucas have done an adequate job of replacing Rose during the lockout-shortened season, there is clearly room for improvement. There are a host of talented points guards on the market this summer, but I am limiting my list to players who are within Chicago’s price range and willing to take a backseat to Rose.

In this case, Jeremy Lin and Jason Kidd don’t apply. That being said, let’s take a look at this summer’s most alluring free-agent point guards and how they could potentially improve the Bulls' title chances.

The following suggestion might invite some scrutiny, but I firmly believe that the best fit for Chicago would be Andre Miller. Some might be quick to point out Miller’s advanced age, as well as his declining statistics, both of which are entirely misleading. At 36 years of age, Miller has been one of the most under-the-radar players in regards to consistency. He has spent more than a decade averaging 14 points and seven assists.

As I mentioned earlier, Miller’s stats took a hit last season. This was mainly due to a reduction of minutes, as he slid in to the backup point-guard role behind the razor sharp Ty Lawson.

What makes Andre the best candidate to be the first point guard off the bench is his high basketball IQ. He’s the type of player who looks to get his team involved, is acutely aware of his limitations and never the type to try to dominant an offense.

Although Miller is a career 21 percent three-point shooter, he makes up for his inability to stretch the floor with a surprisingly effective post game. While this may seem unorthodox for a point guard, he uses it to his advantage by drawing double teams and kicking it out to an open shooter.

Not unlike any other player, Miller’s preference is to start. But he was recently quoted by the Denver Post as saying, “I’ll keep my options open. At this point in my career, if I’m going to be a backup, I’m going to be a backup on a championship-caliber team.”

If Chicago decides against exercising the team option on Watson’s contract, the money they free up could well be enough to lure Miller into a Bulls uniform. 

Next up is a familiar face for Bulls enthusiasts. That would be former team captain Kirk Hinrich. The former Jayhawk was drafted by Chicago in 2003, spending seven years with the team before being shipped off in 2010 to clear cap space.

Operating as Rose’s mentor before eventually being traded, Hinrich is a stingy defensive player with the ability to play both guard positions. He has always been incredibly well-liked in the Windy City area, and his versatility could be beneficial to the team in many ways.

Hinrich is an effective ball-handler and passer, but also big enough to play shooting guard. Prior to his eventual departure, the Bulls found success running a two point-guard offense. His combo-guard skill set and above average three-point shooting could allow Rose to play off the ball more. Hinrich could be the offensive catalyst, while not sacrificing too much size on the defensive end.

His skills have depreciated since his previous Bulls tenure, but Hinrich could still prove to be just what Chicago needs off the bench.

Goran Dragic has spent his career backing up future Hall of Famer Steve Nash in Phoenix and rising star Kyle Lowry in Houston. So when Lowry went down in March with a bacterial infection, Dragic stepped into the starting role. Flawlessly, I might add.

In 28 games as a starter, per ESPN, Dragic averaged a remarkable 18 points and nine assists while also posting a 50/40/80 (better than 50 percent shooting, 40 percent from three, and 80 percent from the free- throw line).

Lowry is projected to be the team’s point guard of the future, but Goran might have carved himself out a bigger role elsewhere. His numbers are impressive and may earn him a huge contract with a new team. However, Dragic has been a backup his entire career and could choose to reprise that role and lend a huge boost to Chicago’s quest for a title, potentially securing Chicago’s mid-level exception along the way.

While the Bulls have three effective shooting guards in their rotation, all three could be considered expendable. Whether it is due to Korver’s poor defense, Brewer’s offensive ineptitude Hamilton’s ability to stay healthy, any of these players could find themselves with another team next season.

There are a myriad of shooters available, but I have narrowed it down to a few who could make an immediate impact on both ends. None of them are perfect options, but it allows Chicago to go in a few different directions.

After winning the D-League All-Star game MVP award, Gerald Green made his return to the NBA by signing with the team formerly known as the New Jersey Nets. Green spent the last two years bouncing around, playing overseas and in the NBA’s Developmental League. He made an immediate impact for the Nets and proved to be one of the few bright spots for the lottery-bound franchise.

Green flourished off the bench, averaging almost 13 points while playing around 25 minutes a night. During his run with the Nets, albeit brief, the former slam-dunk champion displayed an impressive blend of athleticism and shooting ability. He was incredibly efficient, scoring effectively in all types of situations, ranging from isolations to post-ups.

While still a weak defender, Green is an athletic freak with an improved shot and the ability to stretch the floor. He’s still young and could prove to be a valuable asset with an affordable price tag. 

Grant Hill has spent the majority of his career as a small forward, but the 16-year NBA veteran has the proper skill set to fill Chicago’s shooting guard role. The second-oldest player in the league, trailing veteran Kurt Thomas by one day, Hill has seemingly had his career rejuvenated after contemplating retirement in 2007.

After suffering through a myriad of injuries, Hill finally found some stability with Phoenix, playing in 80 or more games for three straight seasons after previously doing it only three times in his entire career. He could prove valuable due to his length, as he is one of the biggest shooting guards in the league.

Grant is also one of the NBA's better two-way players, even with Father Time creeping up on him. This was proven by the fact that he received five votes for the All-Defense team this past season, including one first-place vote.

While his three-point shooting dropped off, Hill is still able to score efficiently, moves well off the ball and is capable of running the offense as a point forward, a la Magic Johnson. Another benefit to signing him would be the additional rest he would provide for Chicago’s reigning iron man Luol Deng, who generally looks weary by season’s end.

Trying to land Hill would not be uncharted territory for the Bulls. They tried to pry him away from Phoenix last season with a one-year deal, which Hill was said to have been considering before re-upping to stay with Nash and company.

With his career coming to a close and the Suns roster in shambles, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that Chicago extends another one-year offer, only with much better results this time.

He’s a few years removed from the “Brazilian Blur” that everyone remembers in Phoenix, but Leandro Barbosa is still one of the most explosive players off the bench. The former Sixth Man of the Year is a tenacious slasher on top of being an excellent three-point shooter, which allows him to work from inside the paint or beyond the arc.

His ability to navigate the lane is especially useful, as it forces defenses to collapse, often times leaving an open shooter on the perimeter. Barbosa might command a higher salary somewhere else, but the chance to win a title might be enough to convince him to take a pay cut and sign with the Bulls.

While none of these players are anything even remotely remembering a superstar, they’re close to what Chicago needs. With a supremely talented starting lineup and one of the deepest benches in the league, the Bulls are in need of minor tweaking.

Maybe that comes in the form of a proven veteran like Miller or Hill, or a player like Green, flush with potential. Maybe it’s that slight adjustment that could return Chicago to the glory of their 1990’s dynasty.