Chicago Bulls Rumors: Richard Hamilton Pickup Will Cost Keith Bogans, Defense

The Chicago Bulls' acquisition of Richard Hamilton at shooting guard will likely cost them veteran perimeter defender Keith Bogans this December.

ESPN's Ryan Corazza reports that "the Bulls could very well cut Keith Bogans once Richard Hamilton comes aboard."

The Bulls picked up Rip Hamilton to help add some much-needed scoring to their back court alongside reigning league MVP Derrick Rose.

Hamilton averages 17.7 points per game for his career, which has spanned 12 seasons, including the last nine with the Detroit Pistons. He'll turn 34 in February.

NBA journeyman Bogans is only 31 years old, but is arguably one of the best defenders on Chicago's roster—a team predicated on getting stops above all else.

However, that's not all Bogans did in the Windy City last season. He also dropped in 90 three-pointers, which is the most he's hit in one season since 2007-08 with the Orlando Magic.

Bogans played in every postseason game for the Bulls last spring, and shot 42.4 percent from beyond the arc in the process of nailing 25 playoff threes. 

Meanwhile, Hamilton hasn't played in the postseason since Detroit was swept in the first round by LeBron James' Cavaliers back in 2009.

In that series, Hamilton was pathetic. He shot 35.6 percent from the field, including a 2-10 effort from long range. 

Hamilton can defend, of that there is no doubt, but the Bulls are about chemistry and defending the rim. 

The same Chicago Bulls roster with the exception of Bogans and the addition of Hamilton would still surrender to the Miami Heat in the playoffs, and in arguably fewer than five games.

Hamilton isn't getting any younger, and he'll take too long to get comfortable in Chicago.

The move for Rip isn't a bad one, but it will surely cost the Bulls a quality role player and some of the defense that made them so successful a season ago.