Keeping the Band Together

As NBA free agency commences, the Bulls have already heard from a couple of players that they'll return next year.  A third is also considering staying in Chicago for awhile after it was reported he was trying to get out.  Let's look at these moves chronologically.

It all began when Kirk Hinrich, to the chagrin of many, exercised his option to return for next year.  This will be the fourth year of was second Bulls tenure and 11th overall.  If the point guard known as Captain Kirk wasn't coming off his worst season ever at 5.7 points and 2.2 assists per game, people might have been more excited.

But this was strictly Hinrich's choice and even if he's in a limited role next year, he loves the Bulls too much to leave now.  We all know at age 34, he can't be the major contributor he once was, which could be detrimental to the team.  Even so, he can still show flashes of his former self on a given night, so those games will be worth watching out for.  Plus, maybe Fred Hoiberg felt bad about missing a chance to be Hinrich's teammate by a year, so he decided being his head coach would be the next best thing.

Many whispers were surrounding  Jimmy Butler's future over the past week.  He only wanted to sign with the Lakers.  He didn't like the idea the Bulls being Derrick Rose's team or that Rose got special treatment this past year.  Whether it was because of money or a desire to get out of Chicago as quickly as possible, some might have already started planning on life without Butler.

Now, the restricted free agent is mulling a five-year $90 million offer from the Bulls.  He canceled meetings with several teams to think this over.  While nothing has happened yet, this seems to seriously indicate that the aforementioned was nothing more than speculation.  Plus, the Bulls can match any offer from other teams.

Butler has stated before he wishes to remain a Bull and there doesn't appear to be any legitimate report that would suggest otherwise.  The Most Improved Player only turned down the Bulls' offer at the start of the season to see what other offers would come later.  It paid off and now, everybody is lining up to get him.  Still, it would take a sudden change of heart for Butler to play elsewhere sooner rather than much later.

In the meantime, the Bulls can rest easy knowing Mike Dunleavy has agreed to a new three year, $15 million contract with them.  The starting small forward drew strong interest from the Cavaliers, especially free-agent-in-name-only LeBron James, but Dunleavy chose to remain in Chicago instead.  As much as Cleveland would like the depth, the Bulls need him to stabilize their starting lineup and Dunleavy apparently felt more comfortable with the Bulls.  It's a two-way victory.

Dunleavy will be 35 at the start of next year, but he's proven to have the shooting and veteran leadership the Bulls need out of the three.  His 107 3-pointers were a high for the team and the offensive-minded Hoiberg will need someone like him, even as he gets older.  Shooters last awhile in the NBA and Dunleavy doesn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon.  Without him, the Bulls probably would have had a worse season, coming out of their worst stretches in tougher spots.

Free agency is not even a day old and already, the Bulls have been busy.  For now, the main focus is to retain the players they want who could head elsewhere otherwise.  A week from now, we'll start to see some new faces enter to picture.  Prepare to celebrate or be upset, depending on if you're a glass half-full or half-empty person.