Bulls Rumors: Magic Sharpshooter JJ Redick Is a Poor Fit in Chicago

The Chicago Bulls are interested in acquiring Orlando Magic sharpshooter J.J. Redick, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.

The Chicago Bulls need outside shooters. They are tied for 23rd in the league in three-point percentage. That's why Redick appears to be a good get on the surface. He's shooting 39 percent from downtown this season, fairly concurrent with his career mark of 40 percent.

But Redick's man-to-man defense (or lack thereof) would stick out like a sore thumb on Tom Thibodeau's squad. Plus, he would cost a pretty penny (the Magic are asking for "no less than a first-round pick," according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com).

While defensive rating is not always the greatest barometer of a player's defensive abilities, Redick's defensive rating truly highlights his greatest weakness. Redick has a defensive rating of 112 this season, according to Basketball-Reference.com. Only 22 players in the NBA have worse defensive ratings—ranging from players who have appeared in one game to players who have appeared in 53 games.

The Bulls are considering dealing Richard Hamilton. In that sense, a trade for Redick would make more sense (to add depth). But it still wouldn't make a whole lot of sense. It's better to find a sharpshooter who can at least play decent defense in Thibodeau's system.

There's a reason Redick's probable asking price of four years, $40 million in free agency next summer won't hold water: He simply doesn't offer much beyond his shooting ability, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.

Beyond that, why would the Bulls offer a first-round pick for a rental, especially with uncertainty surrounding Derrick Rose's return this season?

Not only would Redick be a bad fit in Chicago, it doesn't make sense for the Bulls to give up so much for him. Bulls fans better hope the club was simply inquiring about the seventh-year guard.