Chicago Bulls Rumors: Jamal Crawford Needs To Be Chicago's Top Priority

According to si.com, free-agent Jamal Crawford could be making a decision soon, and the Chicago Bulls are likely to be part of that decision.

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Guard Jamal Crawford teased on Twitter that he might need to change the profile picture of him wearing an Atlanta jersey "in a couple days." Crawford is known to be among the many wings on Chicago's list, and a source close to him said Wednesday that his top four options were the Bulls (either via sign-and-trade or the full mid-level) and three teams with cap room in New Orleans, Indiana and New Jersey.

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If the Bulls can get Crawford for the mid-level exception, they need to make it happen. Especially considering they were just thinking about giving Caron Butler the same type of money.

Yes, that Caron Butler.

Butler, luckily for Chicago, just signed with the Los Angeles Clippers, according to The Los Angeles Times. That frees up the Bulls to go for Crawford.

Crawford, a 31-year-old shooting guard from Seattle, is an electric scorer. Besides having Derrick Rose, that's something the Bulls have lacked.

Keith Bogans did an admirable job as Chicago's starter last season, but he is from an explosive scorer. He doesn't add much besides solid defense.

Granted, defense is Chicago's identity. If they want to keep starting Bogans, that's fine, because Crawford has shown that he thrives in the sixth-man role.

During his two years with Atlanta, he never started a game and averaged 16 points per game. The guy is the definition of instant offense.

He is certainly susceptible to bad shots and "what the (heck)" moments, but having a point guard like Derrick Rose will only help Crawford rein it in a little bit. 

Not only will a true point guard help calm Crawford tone it down, a talented one like Rose will take the pressure off him.

Mike Bibby and Kirk Hinrich certainly weren't doing that for Crawford in Atlanta.

If Chicago would have signed Butler, they would have gotten a sixth man who is essentially the same player as Luol Deng, just a little older and a little worse. 

But now, they have the chance to get Crawford, who could either start and instantly make this lineup better, or come in as a sixth man.

As a sixth man, he would be a complete change of pace from Bogans and give Chicago much more versatility than Butler would have. 

There are lots of other shooting guard rumors flying around for the Bulls, but Jamal Crawford at the mid-level exception would be the best possible deal for Chicago.