Chicago Bulls Rumors: Amnesty Clause Gives Chicago Championship Hope

To hear some people talk you would think the Chicago Bulls missed the playoffs last year. Rather, they were in the Eastern Conference finals and really, not far at all away from the NBA Finals. 

Some want to make it sound like they were destroyed by the Heat. That's not quite the case. One game went into overtime when Derrick Rose missed a game-winning shot. Another game required a fantastic Miami comeback. 

Now, I'm not arguing that Chicago deserved to win. I'm arguing that there is hardly a vast chasm of difference between the teams that some would have you believe. If you look past star power and to actual game results you'll see that Chicago is in fact a contender. 

They aren't in need of an overhaul they are in need of a player. Let me first address why I say that. When their starting shooting guard, Keith Bogans, made at least two three-point shots last year the Bulls were 28-3. Putting that in perspective that's a better winning percentage than the Bulls' record 72-win season. 

When Bogans recorded an efficiency of six or more the Bulls were 33-3. That's an utterly ridiculous number. That's 92 percent of games where they got merely below average, as opposed to virtually none, production from the 2. 

The Chicago Bulls don't need a legendary shooting guard like Michael Jordan. They need a reasonably competent shooting guard who can give them more than 5.1 efficiency. There are only 64 of them in the NBA. 

Because of the amnesty clause in the new CBA, there is a chance that the Bulls can land themselves a veteran shooting guard at the veteran's minimum. Previously talks have centered on adding a player for the mid-level exception. Adding a solid shooting guard at the veteran's minimum would be a goldmine though. 

The reason for this is that it would enable the Bulls to keep both Taj Gibson and Omer Asik without having to dip into the luxury tax, something they have historically been loathe to do. 

The Bulls presently can add Rose for a max-level deal. Then, because they added Hamilton at the minimum they would be able to release Korver after one year through their own amnesty they won't exercise this year. That would free up the money to keep Asik. 

Then, when it comes to keep Taj Gibson, Ronnie Brewer would fall off the books. By then three things will have happened. Their rookie from this year, Jimmy Butler, will have had two seasons of work. Additionally their other pick, Nikola Mirotic, will be available to bring back. Third, they will be able to use their Hornets pick. 

These things together will assure that they can keep the their core of Rose, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah together, keep their key backup big men, and add a shooting guard. All of this can happen without having to make a trade.

Keeping a nucleus like they have together and adding a new piece is more than enough to assure that the Bulls will have a bright future, and it's a good chance that it will secure a championship for the team in the next season or two. 

So in this case it looks like the Bulls really can have their cake and eat it to. As far as which player they might acquire through the veteran's minimum, there's a lot of conversation about Rip Hamilton. 

Hamilton can score off the dribble, or shoot the three. He can get to the line. He can defend. He does everything with competence, which is all the Bulls need.