Where Is Joe Alexander?

Maybe not so much where since we all know he can be found towards the end of the bench but I couldn't think of anything better and if he was wearing glasses he would look just like Waldo.

It has been just a little over a month since the Bulls sent John Salmons north to Milwaukee in exchange for Hakim Warrick and Joe Alexander. In that time Alexander has appeared in six games for Chicago which is six games more then he had with the Bucks. In all he has totaled 21 minutes, 13 minutes came in one game against the Magic.

This time two years ago Joe and his West Virginia teammates were getting ready to play Xavier in the Sweet 16. During that season he lead the team in points (16.9), rebounds (6.4) while being third in both assists (2.4) and blocks (1.5) per game. While in the tournament he averaged 18 points and 9.6 boards while his #7 seeded Mountaineers beat #10 Arizona, #2 Duke before losing to Xavier which was 3 seed.

Alexander was drafted 8th overall by the Bucks. Alexander was a draft workout stud putting up amazing numbers in all the measure-ables such a bench, sprint and jump, being able to reach 12 feet. Add that to him being 6'8 and about 220 lbs he had the potential of being one of the better players in the draft. However things didn't work out in Milwaukee.

Joe only played in 59 games during his rookie season playing behind former all-star Richard Jefferson as well as fellow rookie Luc Mbah a Moute. He lost out to Moute mostly due to coach Scott Skiles' need for defense. Last season I kept picturing how Skiles handled Thabo during their time in Chicago.

This season things were looking up for Alexander as the Bucks had traded away Richard Jefferson freeing up playing time for him but again things didn't go as planned. Alexander injured his hamstring in the preseason as the Bucks decided not to pick up his contract option. His hamstring injury lingered till late January when they had assigned him to the D-league until he was traded at the deadline to the Bulls.

Which brings us to why can't Alexander get any playing time. Even with Luol Deng missing several games recently he still is unable to get anything but garbage time. Without Deng the Bulls only have two small forwards, Alexander and rookie James Johnson. With Deng out coach Vinny Del Negro has used a three guard lineup which has seen Flip Murray start at small forward instead of James Johnson who has started 7 games since Deng has been out.

Is Alexander doomed to go the way of Luke Jackson who was the 10th overall pick back in 2004 by the Cavs.  Jackson has had two stops in the D-league while playing spending time with 5 NBA teams.

I would like to see Alexander get some playing time as the season comes to an end. The Bulls have 12 games remaining and I think they need to find out what they have in him. I don't think he will be the missing link but couldn't he be the next Jud Buechler?