Bulls Rumors: Chicago Was Richard Hamilton's Top Choice All Along

With Richard Hamilton set to sign with the Chicago Bulls, the team can now sport one of the most well-rounded starting lineups with scorers and defenders alike supporting each other at every position.

It turns out that the Bulls had nothing to worry about the moment Hamilton was released from the Detroit Pistons, either, as it turns out that he had his sights set on joining the Bulls the moment he was waived. Hamilton had played as the starting shooting guard for the Pistons since 2002 and helped aid the 2004 team to their first championship since 1990.

"Rip" has become one of the league's most consistent mid-range threats, and it shows in his career numbers, where he has averaged 18 points per game on 45 percent shooting from the field. Hamilton isn't too much of a three-point shooter, but he's basically automatic from anywhere within 25 feet and is going to play a tremendous part of a Bulls team that could have used his services last year.

Their Conference Finals proved to the organization that change was in order, and it had to come at the shooting guard position, where little to no offensive support was offered from Keith Bogans or Ronnie Brewer. Bogans wass mainly a three-point threat that rely on kick-outs, and it hurt the team in the long run, when the team looked for a consistent second option that could support MVP Derrick Rose.

With Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng failing to provide that late in the postseason, the Bulls made it a purpose to go out and find the player who can address the need of offering consistent offensive support. The Bulls got their wish granted the second Hamilton was released, and they now have a starting shooting guard to support the offense at the two while sending a key defensive specialist to the bench.

Now that Hamilton is on the bench, the Bulls may have one of the greatest defensive-minded benches in the league. With Taj Gibson and Omer Asik in the front court and Bogans and Brewer in the back court, the Bulls now have a complete second unit that could be relied on for defensive purposes and a first unit that could be relied on for offense as well as defense.

Hamilton has dealt with injury woes over the past few seasons and has shot below 43 percent in both seasons, but should see that increase, as he will be granted more open looks than ever before now that he has quality scorers by his side in Rose, Boozer and Deng. Hamilton replacing Bogans also means that the assignment at SG must now chase "Rip" around rather than sagging off their defender and double teaming or packing the paint.

Rip's style of play will also come into great use, as it will be utilized to tire out his opponents. Much like Ray Allen, Hamilton furiously runs around the court on offense, weaving in and out of defenders as an attempt to elude his defender and have him possibly get lost in the traffic or the number of picks that will be arranged.

Taking attention off of Rose is all the team needs. He was constantly double-teamed last season due to Bogans' lack of an offensive game, and it allowed the defender at SG to leave and then go focus more of their attention on the point guard.

A player like Rose who spends the majority of his game attempting to get to the rim needs all the room he can get, and having a player like Bogans who attracts no defensive attention is, of course, going to mean that more defensive pressure can be put on Rose without any consequences.

For the moment, that won't be the case, as Hamilton will be able to help attract the defense towards the SG, while Rose is able to drive at a more efficient rate with a lesser possibility of getting double teamed due to the influence of Rip being on the court.

With offense in the starting lineup and defense in the second unit, the Chicago Bulls can now look towards their ultimate goal of beating the Miami Heat and making it to the NBA Finals for the first time 1998, when Michael Jordan was supposed to end his career with that legendary shot over Byron Russell.