Chicago Bulls: 2-Guard Options To Consider Alongside Derrick Rose
The Chicago Bulls ended their season on a sour note, as they lost to the Miami Heat in five games. For the most part, the series was competitive but Game 5 proved to be the dagger that ended any hopes of coming back from a 3-1 deficit.
The blame has to partly fall in the MVP's hands but the other half should be directed towards general manager Gar Forman. While Forman, winner of the 2011 NBA Executive of the Year award, did a phenomenal job in assembling talent this offseason, he screwed the pooch in the past trade deadline.
Forman had the opportunity to trade for several young 2-guards but decided to stand pat in the hopes that the Bulls would overcome their glaring weakness. He knew the consequences may end up hurting the Chicago Bulls down the line, but Forman took the risk anyway.
Many fans believe the Bulls need a 2-guard (and they desperately do) but what they lack is a consistent No. 2 scoring option. When the Bulls landed Carlos Boozer in free agency, they had hoped the forward could finally fill two dire needs: a consistent second scoring option and a low-post threat. I believed Boozer would not fill those exact roles (and I was right).
While in Utah, Boozer was tremendously aided by pass-first point guard Deron Williams. Rose is not a great pick-and-roll or pick-and-pop player like Boozer was so accustomed to playing with in Utah; Rose is also more of a scoring point guard than Williams.
Boozer also didn't play in the low post as often as Jazz fans thought he would. Instead, he was more of a high-post player who played out in the perimeter.
With Boozer's current contract, it looks like Bull fans are stuck with a No. 3 scoring option at best. The Bulls have their frontcourt locked up for several years, so now it's time for the front office to find another perimeter threat to play alongside Derrick Rose.
Courtney Lee, Houston Rockets
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Courtney Lee would be a nice fit alongside Derrick Rose. Lee is only 25 years old and would be a perfect addition to an already young roster.
Lee has a solid mid-range game (an average three-point marksman though) and is an above-average defender. He also has championship experience, as he started for Orlando in the 2009 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Bulls were very close to acquiring Lee at the past trade deadline but refused to give up Omer Asik. Asik is a solid role player but the Bulls can replace part of his production (Kurt Thomas or another veteran big in free agency). Lee would have helped this team immediately but Forman decided to play it safe.
I'm sure Houston would still be interested in a swap involving Asik and Lee.
J.R. Smith, Unrestricted Free Agent
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J.R. Smith is a volatile player but he is a valuable asset in the scoring department. While Smith gets shine for his ability to put the ball in the hole, he is actually a solid defender (when his mind is right). Smith is still 25 years old but at times can act like a three-year-old when things don't go his way.
I don't like the personality fit but Smith can definitely be a legit threat from the perimeter, especially if he has a hot hand. Smith is a threat from almost anywhere on the floor but at times can fall in love with his jump shot. If coach Thibs can sell him on playing defense on most nights, the Bulls could land a steal if they acquire the erratic guard in free agency.
Jason Richardson, Unrestricted Free Agent
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Jason Richardson would be a nice veteran addition to a young roster. While Richardson isn't the scorer he once was while playing for Golden State and Charlotte, the guy can still play at a high level.
Richardson didn't play well with Orlando (who did besides Dwight?) but still has a lot left in the tank. He is a threat from three-point range (shooting at a 42 percent clip while playing with the Suns during the 2010-2011 season) and is a solid defender.
At the right price, the Bulls should have a great chance to acquire Richardson in free agency.
Shannon Brown, L.A. Lakers
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Shannon has a player option for next season and is unsure about exercising it. If you watched Brown play for the Lakers this year, some would think I was crazy for adding him to this list, but stats can be deceiving. Shannon leveled off after an excellent first half of the season (more like quarter of the season) and was very ineffective in the Dallas series.
Brown has proven to be one of those players that aren't effective in limited minutes. He is more of a rhythm player, so giving him inconsistent minutes (and P-Jax did throughout the season) will result in inconsistent production. When Brown started in the place of Kobe Bryant last season during that injury stretch, he performed well with major minutes.
Shannon is a solid three-point shooter when his feet are set and at times this season showed how dangerous it is to leave him alone behind the arc. He is also an excellent perimeter defender—although he has trouble checking quick guards as evident in the Dallas series—and an athletic freak in transition.
A Shannon Brown and Derrick Rose pairing would probably be the most explosive backcourt in the league in terms of athleticism. I'm sure the Bulls could acquire Shannon at a reasonable price considering he had a down year.
