Chicago Bulls: Why Upgrading Shooting Guard Position Is Pivotal to Title Hopes

The Chicago Bulls have to find a way to address their issues on the perimeter moving forward.

After failing to land a shooting guard to compliment Derrick Rose in the backcourt at the trade deadline, the team's inability to stretch the floor really burned them in a big way when it mattered most.

Prior to the season getting underway, the Bulls made some roster moves to fill the void on the perimeter by adding Keith Bogans, Ronnie Brewer and Kyle Korver. And while those signings may have looked sound on paper, the three of them couldn't combine for the type of production that the team really needed.

Bogans, known for his defensive prowess on the wing, started all 82 games for Chicago last season, but spent an average of just under 18 minutes on the floor. Brewer, another player who embodies the idea of defense before offense, really struggled in his first season with the team, averaging just 6.2 points per game.

And then there is Korver. Although the sniper shot well from the outside last season, at 41.5 percent, he is best suited as a backup wing player off the Chicago bench rather than a logical candidate as the starting shooting guard.

When the Bulls squared up against the Heat in the postseason, Miami forced Chicago to beat them from the perimeter, which they simply couldn't do.

It's fairly clear that the Bulls need to address the issue with an offensively-minded person capable of playing a solid role on a consistent basis. The team needs someone that won't pick and choose his spots as to when to show up, but rather a guard capable of stretching the floor regularly.

Rumored to be in pursuit of names like O.J. Mayo and J.R. Smith at the trade deadline, the Bulls are clearly looking for a player that can provide a dynamic element to the team, making their backcourt among the most feared in all of basketball.

While it's obvious that the team does need an upgrade, it's unclear as to what route they'll choose to pursue, either via trade or free agency, to achieve the desired talent.

If the Bulls want to get over the hump and surge past the competition that they'll face over the next several years in a suddenly re-stacked Eastern Conference, they're going to have to put a renewed emphasis on offensive production from the shooting guard position.