NBA Draft Rumors: Chicago Bulls Ship Kirk Hinrich, 17th Pick To Wizards

In a move that could possibly allow the Chicago Bulls to add two max-contract free agents this summer, sources have said that the team will trade Kirk Hinrich and the 17th pick of tonight's draft to the Washington Wizards. It was not yet disclosed what the Bulls would get in return.

Hinrich is set to make $9 million next season, his second to last year of his current contract. The move would take the Bulls' projected space under the salary cap from about $20 million to now almost $30 million.

There apparently are still many details being worked out and Ric Bucher of ESPN wrote that the deal wouldn't be able to be officially made until July 8, the date when the Wizards will have enough space under the cap to absorb Hinrich's contract.

The Wizards had interest in Hinrich earlier in this season when it was reported that the two teams were looking to swap him for Caron Butler (who is now with the Dallas Mavericks). If the deal doesn't go through, it's also being reported that the Sacramento Kings have a similar deal waiting in the wings.

The move comes after a busy couple of days for the Bulls. Tom Thibodeau was officially announced as head coach yesterday and many fans were eagerly awaiting tonight's draft (at least those that have sobered up since the Cup).

And while dumping the pick may make for a boring night for Bulls' fans tonight, it could make for an even more exciting free agent period. The move puts the team in the same field as the Knicks, Nets, and Heat as destinations that have the ability to add two max-contract free agents.

The only things that separate them from the others? Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, and Taj Gibson.

Story was first reported by Ric Bucher of ESPN.