NBA Rumors: Why Josh Howard Is Not a Good Fit for the Chicago Bulls

Multiple sources, including Chris Broussard of ESPN, have indicated the Chicago Bulls have shown "serious interest" in acquiring free agent Josh Howard. While Howard still has the ability to be a serviceable NBA small forward, I don't believe it will happen on the Chicago Bulls.

Howard spent last year with the Washington Wizards but was limited to only 18 games due to surgery to repair a torn ACL. Strangely enough, this injury occurred in a February game against Chicago.

While the injuries are obviously a concern, Howard's game has a whole has seen a severe regression from his once positive value seasons from 2004-08. 

Howard's eFG% (Effective Field Goal Percentage) has fallen tremendously over the past two years, highlighted by a career low .380 in his injury-shortened 2010-11.

Even in 2009-10, Howard's eFG% rated at .434, down from the previous three years of .501, .482 and .488. 

Likewise, Howard's scoring has fallen off sharply; it fell from a career-high 19.9 points-per-game in 2007-08 to 12.7 and 8.4 in the past two seasons. 

Worse still, Howard's three-point percentage has fallen from a career high 42 percent posted in 2005-06 to 24 percent in 2010-11 and 26 percent in 2009-10.

What this indicates mostly is that Howard's primary option (jump shot) has fallen to very poor levels. 

Other concerns with Howard's game include his reliability. As mentioned, Howard is coming off surgery to repair a torn ACL but even before last year Howard has struggled with injuries, playing in less than 70 games in five of eight seasons. Even more troubling, Howard has missed over 30 games in each of the last three seasons.

Simply put, Howard doesn't solve the Bulls' issue of a spot-up three-point shooter to play off of NBA Most Valuable Player Derrick Rose. While Howard still uses jump shots as his primary offense (88 percent of shots) he doesn't shoot at a well enough percentage to have a valuable role on this year's Bulls team.  

A team like the Chicago Bulls can certainly do better than Josh Howard. If he's utilized as an eight or ninth man on the bench, he's relatively harmless, but Howard is likely out to prove himself as a productive player in the NBA again. 

Chicago does not have the time or the spot to allow a player to go on a redeem tour and should allow the regressing and oft-injured Howard to explore other options.