Rounding Out With Familiar Faces

In recent years, as it has gotten closer to playoff time, the Bulls have filled up whatever open roster spots are left.  Most of the time, it's with players who have been around these parts before.  This year is no exception.  Mike James and Lou Amundson were signed today to bring the Bulls' roster to the maximum 15.

James was with the Bulls to begin the season, his second stint for them.  It ended shortly after Derrick Rose's injury and D.J. Augustin's signing made him expendable.  That was rather ironic considering he made the roster as insurance in case something to the point guard position.  To be fair, Marquis Teague's struggles didn't help stabilize the problem either.  In 11 games, he averaged one point, seven minutes, 0.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists.  That was about what you would expect from an 11-year journeyman who has a career scoring average of just under 10 points.  His veteran presence didn't do much before, but maybe it will now in the event he is needed.

 

Amundson has even less of a history here.  He played one game for the Bulls last season after signing a 10-day contract.  In an 18-point loss to the Spurs, he grabbed one rebound and missed a field-goal attempt over two minutes of action.  This year, he played 18 games with the Pelicans, another team he suited up for a season ago.  In his most recent stint, he averaged 2.1 points and 3.1 rebounds.  He has been a free agent since New Year's Eve, when the Pelicans waived him after Greg Stiemsma returned from injury.

As has been typical in the past of very late season additions, I don't expect big things from either of these guys.  Plus, Ronnie Brewer already got a taste of it when he stayed on the bench last night against Minnesota and Tony Snell continued to see playing time.  When Tom Thibodeau has his rotation set, he'll rarely dig deeper into his bench except when injuries or blowouts call for it.  This is strictly insurance for if the Bulls find themselves shorthanded in the playoffs.  Plus, James and Amundson needed to be signed now to be eligible for that time.  The Bulls were simply abiding by league rules and taking advantage of a situation they could.  No team wants to be caught off-guard by a shorthanded roster and the Bulls are the last one that would allow themselves to get into that predicament.

Gar Forman and John Paxson will be at ease for the next week knowing they won't have to worry about constructing a playoff roster anymore.  That doesn't mean they won't need to work during that time, but it must feel refreshing to have that weight off their shoulders.  Now, they can focus their energy squarely on whether their team gets the third or fourth seed in the East.  If they still can't sleep because of that, well, I guess they are just doing their jobs like top NBA executives should.