A Little More Point Help

When Derrick Rose went down with his ACL injury and the Bulls exited the playoffs early, one immediate debate was who would fill his shoes during his recovery.  Clearly, Gar Foreman and John Paxson found the rest of their point guards expendable because that position has been completely overhauled.  With John Lucas III taking his talents north to Toronto, someone new was needed.  Who?  We have our answer with the signing of 5-9 Nate Robinson, the only 3-time winner of the Slam Dunk Contest, recently of the Golden State Warriors.

This move has come as a bit of a surprise to some of the fan base.  They don't see him as a player who could fit into Tom Thibodeau's system as he's not known for his defensive presence.  Even if the two butt heads at times in practice, he can still help the club out.  He averaged 11.2 points per game last year, matching his career average, and set a career-high average in assists with 4.5.  The Bulls need a lot of offense in the short-term, which could be why they inquired about Robinson's services to make this possible.  Sometimes, his game can be explosive.  We all remember Lucas turning it on against the Heat last year to win a close game.  Robinson did the same when Miami visited Oakland, scoring 15 4th-quarter points to upset the eventual NBA champions.  I'm not saying he'll repeat this performance when Miami appears on the schedule, but it'll be fun to see when and if these games come from him again.

And don't think he won't get considerable playing time.  Thibodeau isn't known to play his rookies often, so this signing could be bad news for Marquis Teague if he was expecting big minutes while waiting for Rose's return.  Some may not be happy about the idea of Robinson ahead of Teague on the depth chart, but if he has more to offer than the rookie, then it's the right call.

Warriors coach Mark Jackson tweeted about how the Bulls are getting a good player he had the pleasure to coach.  I've only guessed how he'll fit in here, but he's likely going to have a bit of a different role from his time with Golden State, especially when Rose returns.  After that, he and/or Teague probably see even less time.  Until then, he'll have to provide a spark when Kirk Hinrich needs a rest.  If not him, then Teague.  If none of the above can help the Bulls enough, well, I'd rather not think of a worst-case scenario.  Instead, I'll hope Robinson brings his A-game every time Thibodeau calls upon him.

Replacing Bench Mob Continues

Nobody is expecting the Bulls to make any kind of big splash either this offseason or at any point during the coming regular season.  In fact, fewer are expecting any type of competitive year with each passing day.  Some are disgruntled with the moves the front office has made over the course of the month.  I'll get to that in a moment, but first, there are a couple of signings I need to recap.

News has just broken that the Bulls are finalizing a deal with 6-5 guard Marco Belinelli, a five-year veteran most recently of the New Orleans Hornets.  The Italian is coming off a season in which he set career-high averages in scoring (11.8), rebounding (2.6) and minutes played (29.8).  If Jimmy Butler is the replacement for Ronnie Brewer, then I present to you the man who will fill Kyle Korver's role.  His shooting numbers were down a bit last year from his career totals, but under the circumstances, the Bulls aren't going to find a better shooter left on the market.  He'll come off the bench in just about every game he suits up for and provide a lift when needed.  He's no Ray Allen, but he has a chance to find open looks and make life difficult for any defender assigned to watch him.  Once he starts firing bombs from downtown, they'll find the net very often.  As long as he takes smart shots, he'll be a valuable member of the squad.

Late Saturday night, it was reported the Bulls had agreed to terms with veteran center Nazr Mohammed, a Chicago product who spent more than half of the Oklahoma City Thunder's run to the NBA Finals on the bench.  He's one of only five active players to win an NCAA championship (Kentucky, 1998) and an NBA championship (San Antonio, 2005).  Statistically speaking, there's nothing too exciting to mention.  Still, I can guarantee you'll be seeing him on the floor very often.  With the Bulls about to officially decline Omer Asik's offer sheet with the Rockets, he'll be the only true center on the bench.  In last year's shorterned regular season, he played 63 out of a possible 66 games, so he's still in game shape.  He might not have the cult following Asik did during his time here, but he'll bring that veteran big man presence previously held by Kurt Thomas.  His value will be at its peak if he can get into the dirty areas and perform the little things to make the Bulls' offense run smoothly and efficiently.  As he'll be 35 when the season tips off, we don't know how much he has left in the tank.  Whatever he does have though will be of great service to this team.

As I welcome the two newest additions to the Bulls, I feel I have to address some of the criticism that has been directed at Gar Forman and John Paxson.  I think we all know by this point, the Bulls aren't going to contend for the top seed in the East next year, which about says it all for any postseason aspirations.  Their two best players are questionable as far as availability for the first part of the season.  It's a reality we have to accept.  That said, why are people getting upset over the departures of the likes of Brewer, Korver, Asik and C.J. Watson?

It's pretty clear that none will be back for financial reasons.  This is a club that refuses to get to a point where it has to pay a luxury tax.  We can argue the team's finances all we want and call them cheap, but the reality is none of those players were getting us any closer to a championship.  They all had some great games in the regular season, but once Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah went down, they couldn't answer the call.  Don't get me wrong when I say I'll miss seeing them thrill sold-out United Center crowds.  They helped provide the most exciting Bulls basketball since the Jordan days.

But the postseason is when it counts.  No one could help out Luol Deng against Philadelphia and not enough was done in the playoffs before that.  Trust me when I say the money was better spent elsewhere.  Why overpay for a group with many shortcomings who couldn't rise to the occasion when it meant the most?  Even if Rose hadn't torn his ACL, the inevitable might have only been delayed.  Do you really want to see another huge tease in the regular season only to see the role players turn invisible and/or ineffective in a "Win or Go Home" situation?  I realize not everyone may agree with me here, but each and every one of those decisions to let certain players walk was justified.  Some might refuse to accept them, but pro basketball is as much a business as it is a game.  Players come and go.  Then, you go out and play the cards you're dealt.  It's how things will be as long as the NBA exists.

Yugo, Vladimir

In a move that will bring the first true new free agent to the Bulls this offseason, power forward Vladimir Radmanovic has agreed to a one-year deal.  Born in Yugoslavia, Radmanovic was drafted by Seattle in 2001 and has stayed in the NBA ever since.  He has also played for the Clippers, Bobcats, Warriors, Lakers (with whom he won a championship in 2009) and most recently, the Hawks.  His best season was with the SuperSonics in 2004, when he played in 77 games and averaged 12 points per game.  He best averaged 5.7 rebounds with the Clippers in 2006.  More recently in 2011 with the Warriors, he shot .431 from the field.  Last year in Atlanta, his averages over 49 games were 4.5 points, 2.9 rebounds and had a .376 shooting percentage.  Nothing spectacular obviously, but still able to serve a number of NBA teams for over a decade.

With this deal, Omer Asik is even more likely to wear a Rockets uniform next season.  Radmanovic is slightly shorter than Asik and not a true center, but can find a shot when he needs to.  Asik is much more of a dunker once or twice per game, but from what I've heard, Radmanovic packs a little more of a complete game, so the Bulls are going the less expensive route and it even looks a little better on paper.  I'll be glad to see Vladimir as a replacement for the Turkish Hammer.

While I'm talking about new bench players, I might as well officially say that the Bench Mob is no more.  With John Lucas III close to signing with Toronto, only Taj Gibson remains.  Jimmy Butler was still at Marquette during the first year and I'd be shocked if the Bulls gave Brian Scalabrine another go, so let's bring this era in team history to a close.  Everybody loved this group of guys.  I mean, how cool were they that even their own nickname was established?  The teams of the '90s were beloved, but as far as I can remember, there was never a casual way to refer to them other than just the bench.  This time, a popular group has been broken up.  Maybe the Bulls will win a title in the next few years with a new bunch, but will they be as beloved and achieve the cult status Brewer, Watson, Korver, etc. enjoyed?  Maybe, but for now, farewell to some of the most popular bench players this franchise has ever known.

Chicago's Hot Sauce Bottle Emptied

Before my dad and I made our trek to the United Center for our one Bulls game of the year in April, we decided to eat at the Billy Goat Tavern's West Side location first.  Among the things present was a souvenir stand.  One t-shirt featured a hot sauce logo with Kyle Korver imprinted on it.  I was tempted to buy it, but as it turned out, my money was best saved.  The biggest reason for such is that yesterday, Korver was traded to the Atlanta Hawks.  With a little help from the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Bulls will save half a million dollars and receive either a second-round draft pick or low-paid player as compensation.

Korver said on a Chicago sports radio program the decision was a "bummer" to him, but to say I'm devastated by this would be like saying I'm upset the Bulls won't be getting Dwight Howard.  Right after the Bulls got knocked out of the playoffs, I said the trio of Korver, C.J. Watson and Ronnie Brewer should be gone.  I've gotten my wish over the past few days.  I've already mentioned my reasons for letting the latter two leave, but here's what I have to say about Korver.  As much as I'll miss Stacey King's interjections of "Gimme the hot sauce!", there was something streaky about Korver's game.  One could argue that the same goes for a whole lot of the Bench Mob, but Korver had a whole lot of that.

While there was no question he could be counted on to take many 3-point shots per game, they didn't always fall, which often crippled the Bulls' offense.  Consequently, some winnable games would get away.  Case in point, he missed all four shots from beyond the arc at the game I was at.  The Bulls lost it by three.  Even worse, he seemed to disappear in the playoffs.  Yes, he knocked down the game-winner in last year's Game 1 vs. Indiana and hit a big shot in the next game, for which yours truly was present. 

His postseason heroics don't go beyond that series though.  Atlanta didn't mean much since the Bulls beat them, but had he knocked more shots down vs. Miami, perhaps things would have turned out differently.  This year against Philadelphia, he was just as invisible.  In the last game, he didn't attempt one shot.  Not one.  Of course, you have to take into account that Tom Thibodeau played him for only five minutes in an elimination game.  By then, even the head coach had realized that his deep threat was about as useful with higher stakes as Brian Scalabrine the entire year (and I apologize to all Scalabrine fans out there for that statement).  The Bulls need more consistency off their bench.

Still, Korver be remembered very fondly by Chicago fans.  He was easily the team's best 3-point shooter since Steve Kerr.  While it's virtually impossible to live up to Kerr's accomplishments in that role, Korver was the best we could have hoped for.  Lasting memories include the aforementioned Indiana shots and the game-winner against Miami a year ago.  He'll most definitely get a standing ovation when he enters a game at the United Center again.  That will be courtesy of two years of memories locked into our minds.  I hope the Hawks provide with great opportunities.  He can certainly be helpful to them.  If he finds consistency, he can be even more dangerous than he already is.  Regardless, the Bulls provided him with the best years of team basketball during his career.  That can never be taken away.

C.J., Ronnie Bulls No More

Looks like Taj Gibson will have to find a new pair of teammates to celebrate with if he wants to repeat the image shown here.  That's because the Bulls have declined the options of both C.J. Watson and Ronnie Brewer.  While it may be painful for some to see two members of the original Bench Mob depart, the moves were necessary.  Teams have to move on to see who else can help out as they move forward, players who are better or can least approach the departing players' talent levels for better prices.  Okay, that's a cliched answer, but there was also the matter of whether the Bulls could afford their services for next season.  Gar Foreman and John Paxson thought otherwise, so there are now two players searching for a new basketball home.

Watson's departure was not unexpected.  A lot speculated he might be gone after his poor showing in the playoffs.  In fact, I called for it as early as after the last game.  Still, others weren't so quick to throw him out the door.  He was just put into an unfortunate spot with Rose hurt, they said.  Give him one more chance.  Then, the Bulls agreed to bring back Kirk Hinrich.  With Rose and recent draftee Marquis Teague also at the point, there was no more room for Watson in either the lineup or payroll.  Watson will play somewhere next season.  If he's not a veteran starter on a rebuilder, he'll find a place on the bench of no worse than a middle-of-the-pack club.  He can show flashes of greatness and find a groove as long as he's not asked to do too much.  Just don't place him where he'll be forced to step up on a consistent basis or you'll be disappointed.

Personally, I was a little more suprised with the Brewer decision.  I even said that he'd been the most likely out of himself, Watson and Kyle Korver to stay.  He did an admirable job of filling in for Rip Hamilton during all the time he missed during the past season.  His defense was a valuable asset to the bench.  True, he doesn't possess the offensive skill set Hamilton has even at this point in his career, but is still good enough to give you a few points every time he sees the floor.

However, with Jimmy Butler's rookie year in the books, the Bulls are eager to expand the Marquette product's playing time.  He needs to learn how to fit into a regular rotation now or he'll just have been a waste of a draft pick.  You know Tom Thibodeau doesn't like that proposition.  If he's going to have a lengthy NBA career, now's the time to start spreading his wings.  The cocoon of being a first-year player is gone now.  We're about to find out a lot more of what his capabilities are.

All this considered, there was no need to keep Brewer around.  Plus, it frees up more in payroll, allowing the Bulls a better opportunity to pursue someone else.  Also, it's something I can relate to.  Two months ago, after sticking around my college's radio station for almost a whole school year after graduation, I was told my time was up.  My successor for the job I held down needed to learn the ropes himself or it'd be detrimental to his development.  I could understand and I hope Brewer does with his situation too.  He will also be picked up by someone else.  He could go just about anywhere, but what you see with him is what you get.  He'll be the same player regardless of his destination or role.  He can be of help to any team.  I just hope he's happy in whatever new adventures await him.

The decisions regarding Kyle Korver and Omer Asik still need to be made.  I think the odds of Korver's return are a little better now, but don't be shocked if he too is shown the door.  I've also discussed the Asik issue at length, so I won't drag that out any longer.  For now, I wish C.J. and Ronnie the best.  They played well enough over these past two years to ingrain themselves in the minds of the fan base.  It was just time to look forward.  Still, there's no denying that some of their best NBA years came here in Chicago and they can never forget that.

The Ship's Captain Returns

Sometime in high school, I was presented with this Kirk Hinrich jersey as a gift from my relatives.  I cherished it because he was my favorite Bull and probably the most loved among the fan base at a time when the team was just becoming somewhat relevant again.  I wore it to a game in 2007 and then didn't set foot in the United Center for the Bulls again until the home opener of the 2010-11 season.  By then, the jersey had become a nostaligia item as Hinrich was traded during the previous offseason to create cap space for the impending free-agent signings.  Gone, but not even close to forgotten.

After two years with Washington and Atlanta, Hinrich was due to hit the market again.  During the season, rumors circulated that Captain Kirk would be interested in a Chicago return.  When Derrick Rose tore his ACL, the drum beat a little louder.  Now, the fans are getting their wish.  By verbally agreeing to a 2-year deal worth around $6 million, Hinrich has put the jersey back into my circulation of clothing.

While he's certainly a little older and in turn, slower, Hinrich provides the stability the Bulls will need at the point until Rose returns.  Once that happens, he can easily switch over to the two as he did during Rose's first two seasons.  With Rip Hamilton around, he'll probably be relegated to the bench once Rose does come back.  In the meantime, this short-term problem has been solved.  I'm not saying he'll be anywhere near the talent level of a former MVP.  After all, he's never been more than a slightly above-average player.  At 31, his ceiling has just about been hit.  Still, I'm fairly confident he still possesses the leadership skills and hard work ethic everyone in Chicago embraced him for during his first tenure.  If he plays up to that form, the Bulls will win a lot of games. 

Plus, I'm interested in how he works with this group of guys.  Only Rose, Luol Deng, Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson remain from the last Bulls team he played for.  They'll have to fill the others in on the way he runs an offense.  Is he the answer to getting past Miami?  Absolutely not.  But if you enjoy watching basketball and a team looking to pull off the unthinkable given their circumstances, Hinirch and the Bulls are for you.

Of course, there's a flip side for some of the players.  With this move, C.J. Watson's option will likely be declined, allowing him to explore the market.  John Lucas III has been inquired about his services by numerous teams, including the Heat.  With three point guards now under contract, there's no need for a surplus. 

There are also the decisions of whether to exercise the options of Ronnie Brewer and Kyle Korver.  The more immediate pressing issue is Omer Asik's future.  Gar Foreman wants him back, but is he going to pony up the dough for the contract offer which I think is more than he's worth?  All these questions will be answered throughout the summer and I'll continue to offer my insight on all of them.  In the meantime, welcome back, Kirk.

Omer Will He Be?

I've often been told by certain people I strikingly resemble Omer Asik.  He's a restricted free agent, so the Bulls still control his fate.  But weekend events are going to, as my good friend and 670 The Score producer Nick Shepkowski told me, make it "tough to keep your much taller twin around."  The Houston Rockets have signed Asik to an offer sheet worth three years and $25.1 million.  Once free agents are allowed to sign with new teams on July 11, the Bulls will have three days to decide whether or not they want to match that.  If they don't, Omer joins Hakeem and Yao in the long line of Rockets centers.

As you might imagine, I like Omer.  Not because he looks a bit like me, but because I admire his grittiness and hard work he brings to the floor game in and game out.  The Turkish Hammer is usually good for one two-handed slam every 48 minutes.  Beyond that, his offensive skills are limited.  The biggest evidence of such is the two missed free throws at the end of the game that knocked the Bulls out of the playoffs.  He can rebound and block shots, often doing so with authority.  He just about embodies everything Tom Thibodeau preaches and the type of player the Bulls have come to embrace ever since John Paxson joined the front office.

However, professional basketball is a business.  As such, personal feelings have to be set aside.  Averaging  3.1 points and 5.3 boards per game over an average of 14.7 minutes is decent for a bench player, but those numbers aren't worth $25.1 million.  Frankly, I'm shocked anyone would offer him that money, but sometimes, a team badly needs a cog in the middle to play lockdown defense when asked.  The Bulls are trying to remain a championship contender.  If they match this, it'll cripple their chances to land a decent free agent.  It'd be best if they just let their backup center walk.  Both parties will benefit in their own way.

Shepkowski believes if this change happens, one of C.J. Watson, Kyle Korver and Ronnie Brewer is likely to stay.  Losing Asik would certainly free up a bit of cap space to sign one of them for a year or two.  My money's on Brewer as a defensive specialist, but I wouldn't be surprised if Korver returned instead.  I know I've been hard on him for his postseason disappearing act, but some offense needs to come from the bench in the interim.  Who knows?  Maybe he finally gets it together with the stakes raised next year.  While C.J. Watson has made hiis desire to return to the Bulls clear, I still think he's the least likely of the trio to wear a Bulls uniform in the fall.  Somebody needs to fill that one position while Derrick Rose recovers and he's not it.  Let him start on a rebuilding team or maybe even one in the middle of the pack, but not the top playoff seed in the East two years running.

In their mission to solve that temporary starting point guard dilemma, the Bulls have reached out to Derek Fisher and Brandon Roy, even though the latter is actually a shooting guard and more likely a candidate for the team's leading sixth man.  While the reasonable choice is Fisher, Roy could be intriguing in that the potential is there for a player who just couldn't stay healthy in Portland and finally had to retire thanks to a bad knee.  Both players could serve a purpose here, but it may not mean a thing if they re-sign Asik for the price Houston is offering.  He certainly has intangibles you just can't find in other players out there, but you have to focus on overall improvement if you're Gar Foreman.  Sometimes, that means letting your own go.  It may not be easy, but if there's a better option out there, you have to make sacrifices.  You want to win it all?  Don't let personal feelings get in the way of your job.  I trust Foreman won't.

Omer, you've had a great two years here and won't be forgotten around these parts anytime soon, but if there's a better opportunity out there, you go for it.  I know you're ready to make more money in this league, so don't let us force you to stay.  It's all business and there's no way to fault you for that.