Chicago Bulls: 5 Viable Options for Bulls at Shooting Guard
All throughout the regular season the Bulls skated by without the presence of a go-to scorer along side Derrick Rose.
Come the playoffs, it bit them in the rear end. Hard.
Luol Deng wasn't consistent enough. Carlos Boozer lost the edge. Kyle Korver couldn't hit the broad side of a barn off the bench. And frankly, I'm not sure if Keith Bogans (above) has the word "offense" in his vocabulary.
The fact of the matter is that these Bulls are one good signing away from being true championship contenders and these playoffs showed that the target player needs to be a two-guard. No questions asked.
I've comprised a short list of five good options for the Bulls to consider this off-season when ultimately shopping for Bogans' replacement.
Jamal Crawford
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Boy, wouldn't it be something for ex-Bull Jamal Crawford to return to the team that drafted him in 2000.
Even though Crawford shines brightest coming off the bench in a sixth man role, his ability to score in bunches is exactly what the Bulls are looking for.
He has above average ball-handling skills and passing ability, and his body can take the wear of playing long minutes.
He is 31 years old and can bring a little dose of leadership to this young Bulls squad.
Not to mention he's a free agent and a wizard at making the four-point play. Sounds like a good fit to me.
Nick Young
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Quietly, Nick Young has become a dependable young scorer in only his fourth year in the league.
Most people may remember Young from his highlight reel, 360-reverse lay-up from earlier this year, but at the same time put up more than 30 points on eight different occasions this season.
He's a restricted free agent and while the Wizards have stated their intent on retaining Nick, Young has openly said that he will not be granting Washington any "hometown discounts."
Pending his lingering knee issue, and getting him for the right price, the Bulls could mold Nick Young to becoming one of the Eastern Conference's premier shooting guards along side of Derrick Rose.
Michael Redd
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The looming question that everyone is asking: Will Michael Redd's knees hold up?
The answer: Boy, I wish I knew.
When healthy, Redd is lethal from behind the arc and compliments it nicely with his ability to take the ball to the hoop.
Trust me, I know, he used to burn the Bulls like it was his job...oh wait, it is.
Redd's lucrative $18.5 million contract expired this year and he is now an unrestricted free agent looking to prove he still has some left in the tank.
And with the way the Bulls can rotate two-guards off the bench, a player like Michael Redd might fit nicely. For the right price, of course.
Brandon Roy
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Okay, this one is probably the biggest long-shot in the world and I'm probably saying this just because I want to see it happen more than the legs that it actually carries. I'll be the first to admit that.
But if you think about it long enough, it actually starts to make a little sense.
For the Bulls, he takes the pressure off of Derrick Rose in having to be the number one scorer the entire game. He adds leadership, and a burning fire to win.
The media has blown up his frustration with Portland's management and coaching staff regarding the manner in which they've handled his return from knee injuries, and if there is ever a time for B-Roy to jet out of Portland for the big stage, it's now.
Playing for a big market team would easily revitalize his career and more than ease any of the troubles left lingering in Portland.
The only problem would be taking on his contract that he just extended in 2009. Burdening that lofty price may just come at the expense of Omer Asik and a generous package of draft picks.
Either way, who cares, he's Brandon Roy for Christ sakes.
Jason Richardson
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J-Rich may be one of the most talented journey men to play this game today (Orlando being his third team since 2007). But once again Richardson is an unrestricted free agent and there will surely be a handful of teams lining up for his services.
He's always been a solid defender and a consistent scorer, both going to the basket and with the jump shot.
Simply put, Jason is practically a perfect mold for Tom Thibodeau's system. Even though his high-flying, slam-dunk-champion days are seemingly behind him.
Not to mention, at age 30, the Bulls can most likely get him for a fair price despite his wishes to remain a member of the Magic.
Just a thought, but I don't know how happy he'd be having to change his number from 23, though...
Other Possibles
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O.J. Mayo: slight off-the-court issues, extreme talent, even more extreme money.
Leandro Barbosa: has been a solid player in this league for many years. Unrestricted free agent with a player option.
J.R. Smith: great talent, I just don't see him in a Bulls uniform. Anything could happen, though.
