Chicago Bulls: Vince Carter Would Be Good Addition, but Team Must Be Cautious

The latest rumor coming out in regards to the Chicago Bulls is Vince Carter. What is interesting about this is that while some had speculated that he might be an amnesty possibility, the Suns won't need to use their amnesty in order to relieve themselves of his contract. 

According to the ESPN report 

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Based on an amendment in his contract obtained by ESPN.com, Carter must be waived by the Phoenix Suns within 72 hours of the official start of free agency or his $18 million salary for the 2011-12 season becomes fully guaranteed.

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The report elucidates that if the Suns waive Carter, they are only on the hook for $4 million. That means two things. First, it means that he's making that as a minimum. So for instance, if the Bulls were to pick him up for the minimum, the Suns would pay the difference. 

This means that, barring someone offer him more than $4 million, which is unlikely, the main difference in where Carter goes will be which suitor is the most inviting to him. 

Teams expected to be in the hunt for his services also include San Antonio and Miami.

While both of those teams are in contention, neither is likely to offer Carter a shot at the starting role as both teams are pretty well established in their shooting guard position compared to the Bulls. (That was dry humor which translates horribly over the Internet, but yeah, that's probably the one thing that I'll ever say that no one could possibly argue with). 

It's one thing to offer a shot at a ring. It's another to be a huge part of the reason you won the ring. Being the backup to Manu Ginobili or Dwyane Wade is not the same thing as being the starter for the Bulls, who are one of the favorites to win the title even without him.

Carter has the ability to create his own shot. Last year with Phoenix, he created 32 percent of his own points. He also shot .361 from the three, averaging  2.0 makes per game on the season. 

The Bulls were 28-3 in games where Keith Bogans made at least two three-point shots per season. That's a 90 percent win rate. While it's overly optimistic to expect they would maintain that, it does illuminate the need for a real three-point shooter who is at least marginally capable of creating offense and playing defense. 

Adding Carter adds a player who can do all of that. He averaged 17.9 points per 36 minutes last year. He could score 15-20 a night with the Bulls and having an entire starting five that can score in that range makes the Bulls a difficult team to defend. Needing to account for everyone means the court gets thinned out for Rose and that means trouble for opponents. 

The one cautionary note here is that the allure of the Bulls might end up being the problem down the road. While it's ego that might make him sign with Chicago, it's ego that could cause problems down the road if he doesn't respond well to Tom Thibodeau's coaching style or doesn't like taking a backseat to Rose.

Still, for a player at the end of his career to have a shot at ring and play alongside the league MVP, you would think that the Bulls would be an inviting enough place for him to to come and stay within his role. If he does, he could be an addition to Chicago that puts them over Miami.