Kirk Hinrich Opts in to Bulls Contract: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

After spending 10 of his first 12 seasons in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls, Kirk Hinrich decided he didn't want a change of scenery going into the 2015-16 season, exercising his player option to remain with the team on Monday. 

K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune verified the news:

Per Nick Friedell of ESPN, "The option is worth close to $3 million, and the move has been expected for weeks."

Hinrich, 34, is coming off a rough season with Chicago, and it's unlikely he would have matched the money he is set to make with the Bulls had he hit the market. He averaged just 5.7 points and 2.2 assists, both career lows, in 24.4 minutes per game while appearing in 66 contests. He also shot a career worst 37.3 percent from the field and 34.5 percent from beyond the arc.

Given that Hinrich would have found the free-agent market lukewarm at best, the Bulls surely planned on him exercising his option, so this shouldn't affect their free agency plans. The hope, then, will be that Hinrich can improve upon his disappointing 2014-15 campaign.

If nothing else, Hinrich offers the team a veteran option off the bench and a player that should be able to give them some quality minutes. If he repeats his performance from a year ago, however, the Bulls will be lamenting Hinrich's decision to exercise his option.