What the Bulls Need From Kirk Hinrich

What are the Chicago Bulls going to need from Kirk Hinrich this upcoming season?  Focus, the number one thing is focus.  Perhaps it was the swirling Kobe Bryant trade rumors, or perhaps it was the big contract he received, but Hinrich had his worst season as a pro last year.  From the ’06-’07 season to the ’07-’08 season, Hinrich’s field goal percentage dropped by more than 30 points while his shooting from deep dropped by more than 60.  He averaged the least points per game of his career, as he did in assists and rebounds.

Hinrich’s name again was thrown around in trade rumors this offseason after the team selected point guard Derrick Rose with the number one overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft.  Many people thought that Rose’s presence would make Hinrich the odd man out, but it appears that Ben Gordon has assumed that role and Hinrich is in Chicago to stay.  The team will need Hinrich to regain the sweet jump shot that he exhibited two seasons ago, and for most of his collegiate and NBA career.  He’ll be asked to play both the one and two positions, and can’t have any issue with playing time or where he’s being played.  Hinrich’s style of play should complement Rose’s and the two should play well together.

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Looking Ahead

As the Bulls depth chart stands right now according to ESPN.com, the team’s opening day starting lineup will be Kirk Hinrich, Larry Hughes, Luol Deng, Drew Gooden and Joakim Noah.  That may not look like a playoff team, but the Bulls are building for the future as much as they are playing for the present.  The other seven players currently under contract are Derrick Rose, Thabo Sefolosha, Andres Nocioni, Tyrus Thomas, Aaron Gray, Demetris Nichols and Cedric Simmons.

Let’s assume that Hughes and Gooden don’t figure into the team’s long term plans.  Rose will likely be starting at some point this season, which could slide Hinrich over to the two guard.  Larry Hughes’ penchant for bad shots, lack of long range and need to have the ball in his hands don’t really complement Rose’s game, but Hinrich’s shooting will and it will enable to the Bulls to start two playmakers in the backcourt. Hinrich will also spent time at the point when Rose is on the bench.  Sefolosha has the potential to be a lockdown defender.  Deng, Nocioni and Nichols cover the small forward position.  Inside scoring needs to be addressed, as the team is filled with good, young defenders who don’t have much of an offensive game.  The future looks pretty bright in Chicago, but post scoring will be needed.

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Future Olympians

Bulls point guard Derrick Rose headlined a list of potential players for the 2012 Olympic Team in a recent ESPN.com article.  Henry Abbot of TrueHoop writes of Rose, “I say give him a couple of years to get used the next level of the game, then sneak the ‘next’ point guard onto the roster so he’s ready to unleash his game on the world in 2012.”  The article lists the likely crop of returning players as Chris Paul, Deron Williams, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant, Chris Bosh and Dwight Howard.  Other than Rose, Abbot’s candidates for additions to the roster include Kevin Durant, Brandon Roy, Kevin Martin, Al Horford, Shane Battier, Greg Oden, Tyson Chandler, Rodney Stuckey and Rudy Gay.

If the aforementioned gold medalists do return in 2012, that would leave five roster spots available for new players.  Trying to take into account how each player will develop in the next few years, this blogger would take Oden, Roy, Durant, Gay and Horford.  Rose isn’t necessarily needed on the roster with two returning point guards and the playmaking ability of Roy and James.  But Rose is so talented that he could be a top two point guard in the NBA in four years.  The team is selected well before the Olympics though, actually approximately two years earlier, and it’s unlikely Rose will warrant a selection by then.

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Rose Unlike Most Others

ESPN The Magazine is running a recurring web piece focusing on the top NBA rookies.  The first piece featured none other than first overall pick and Bulls guard Derrick Rose.  As this blogger watched the video of Rose in an interview, I got to thinking about the kind of pressure that Rose faces in Chicago and what type of person he is.  As a hometown kid, Rose is viewed as a savior in some respects.  In the interview, Rose spoke about how he doesn’t like to go out to eat very much because of all the attention he gets.  He’s not antisocial; he’s just a quiet, humble kid.

In a day and age where most young athletes all think they’re the man, Rose is a refreshing throwback to the age when athletes felt privileged to be able to play the game they loved for a living.  Rose noted that he’s worried fans will think he’s mean when they meet him because he’s so quiet.  While so many kids his age would be basking in the spotlight off the court, Rose is patiently waiting for his time to shine on the court.  The pressure to perform will be high right from the get go and the production comparison with Heat forward and number two pick Michael Beasley is inevitable.  Rose has a good head on his shoulders though, and should focus on what he’s doing and how he can make the team better.

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What The Bulls Need From Derrick Rose

In the first entry of a series of blog posts, let us examine what the Bulls will need out of Derrick Rose this season.  Rose is going to need time to adjust to the professional game.  The point guard position is the toughest transition from the collegiate ranks to the pros of any spot on the floor.  Guys who pick it up like Chris Paul are the exception, not the rule.  Rose has to take his time and not be in a rush to be dishing out 10 assists per contest or dropping 20 points per game.

Rose needs to learn new head coach Vinny Del Negro’s offense and make sure he’s on the same page with his coach as his teammates.  The Bulls are a relatively young team overall and Rose will be looked at for some leadership earlier in his career than most young players.  Rose needs to continue to get stronger physically, though he is already quite strong for a point guard.  His jump shot needs to become more consistent and extend to NBA three point range and every facet of his game needs to improve if he wants to live up to the lofty expectations the Bulls set for Rose when they drafted him number one overall.

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Bulls Sign Forward Nichols

The Bulls have re-signed forward Demetrius Nichols to a one-year partially guaranteed contract.  The Syracuse product played in 11 games with the team last season after being drafted and released by the New York Knicks before the Bulls claimed him off waivers.  Nichols led the Bulls in scoring during the summer league, averaging 13.6 points.  The 6-8 forward gives the Bulls 12 players now under contract, the most glaringly absent from the roster being restricted free agent Ben Gordon.

Nichols is a talent, but still plays like a very young player.  He’s a confident young man though, who can score and provide the Bulls with some depth at the small forward position.  Nichols probably won’t see a ton of time with the team’s best player Luol Deng, as well as Andres Nocioni, playing the same position.  Nichols has good range on his shot though and could stretch the floor for Derrick Rose to do his thing.  The signing could signal that the Bulls are prepared to move on from Ben Gordon, with whom contract talks seem to be dead.  It’s unlikely that Gordon will sign the one-year qualifying offer that would enable him to hit the market as an unrestricted free agent next summer.  Nichols isn’t more than a bench payer, but he’s got upside and could contribute some outside shooting to the club.

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Backcourt Glance

With Ben Gordon apparently on the outs in Chicago, the Bulls are left with a backcourt of Derrick Rose, Kirk Hinrich, Larry Hughes and Thabo Sefolosha.  Upon the selection of Rose, the initial sentiment among NBA circles was that Hinrich was going to be the odd man out, but now it appears as though Gordon is the one on the outside looking in.  The Bulls made him a solid offer, but are not going to throw tons of money at a guy who looks to be the third best player on the team.  Hinrich can play both guard positions, which will go a long way with the makeup of the current roster.

Hinrich may begin the season as the starter at the point, but conventional wisdom has Rose in the starting lineup by midseason, if not sooner.  That will leave the starting shooting guard position to Hinrich and Larry Hughes.  While Hughes has the size for the position, Hinrich is a much better shooter and would better compliment the slashing style of Rose.  Hughes has a habit of taking bad shots and doesn’t figure into the team’s long-term plans.  Keep an eye on Sefolosha too.  This blogger likes his game a lot, though his shaky jumper doesn’t complement Rose all that well.  The best combo would appear to be Rose and Hinrich, though it does leave them somewhat undersized.

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Ben Gordon, The Cap and Europe

Bulls restricted free agent Ben Gordon has found himself between a rock and a hard place.  Partially due to the NBA’s salary cap system and his own inflated sense of self-worth, Gordon is running out of options as far as where he will be playing next season.  Gordon is reportedly valuing his services at $80 million, but has the received a final offer from the Bulls worth $60 million.  The free agent market has pretty much dried up and no team aside from the Memphis Grizzlies has the cap space to sign a player like Gordon.  Memphis appears content with their current roster and cap situation.

Gordon can accept a one-year qualifying offer from the Bulls worth a little more than $6 million.  But with guys like Ronny Turiaf making more than $4 million per season, that just doesn’t seem right.  Is the NBA’s cap to blame and could the state of NBA salaries within cap limits become a bigger problem?  Josh Childress already left for Greece because he could get more money overseas, who’s to say that Gordon doesn’t follow suit?  Gordon would be the best player to leave for Europe should he decide to make that move.  If it’s mostly about the money for him, this could be a viable option.  But if he wants to play in the NBA, he should accept the offer he’s received from Chicago.  This blogger thinks that the Bulls offered him a fair deal.

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National Pride

Bulls forward Andres Nocioni is hungry to repeat as a gold medal winner at the Beijing games.  Nocioni and the Argentinean squad shocked the world in Athens in 2004, defeating the United States and going on to win the gold.  Nocioni expressed the intense pride he feels when playing for his home country of Argentina.  “I love to play for the Chicago Bulls because I’m the kind of guy that when I play somewhere for more than two years, it becomes my team to me emotionally,” Nocioni said in a story in the Chicago Tribune. “But with the national team, you are representing your home country. So I feel it in my heart, I feel it in my chest, I feel it in my national colors.”

Nocioni has never been one to conceal his emotions.  He gives everything he’s got out on the floor, whether playing for Argentina or the Bulls.  With Luol Deng locked up to a long term contract, Nocioni is clearly considered to be a role player as the two play the same position.  He’s the type of role player that brings a lot to the table though, as his game is versatile and he’s never lacking in the hustle department.

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Gordon Likely Gone

It’s looking more and more like Ben Gordon has suited up for the Bulls for the last time.  Gordon was recently quoted as saying, “”I guess it’s safe to say I’ve played my last game in a Bulls uniform.”  Gordon said that his agent has been discussing sign-and-trade options with other teams and that a stint in Europe is not out of the question.  The Bulls have reportedly offered Gordon approximately $60 million over six years, but the 25-year-old shooting guard feels that he’s worth more.  He is supposedly asking for more money than the $71 million that forward Luol Deng received this summer.

While it appears that the Bulls are pretty set with a backcourt rotation of Derrick Rose, Larry Hughes, Kirk Hinrich and Thabo Sefolosha, it’s hard to imagine someone paying Gordon the kind of money he’s seeking.  Is there a team out there that deems him a “best player on the roster” kind of guy?  We’ve seen crazier things happen.  Gordon has said that he won’t sign the Bulls’ one-year qualifying offer of $6.4 million, which would allow him to play out the season with the club and become an unrestricted free agent next summer.  While the sign-and-trade idea is floating around NBA circles, this blogger wouldn’t be surprised to see Gordon end up overseas with a short-term contract.

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