Chicago Bulls looking to shop shooting guard Rip Hamilton – NBA News
After losing to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals last year, the Chicago Bulls added veteran shooting guard Rip Hamilton to the line up before the 2011-2012 season commenced, with the hopes that he would add offense
to the team and along with Derrick Rose, form a formidable back court that would give them great scoring opportunities.
His joining brought to life one of the most complete and balanced teams in the NBA, and the Bulls became the favourites to win the Eastern Conference Title in the 2011-2012 season.
But the whole plan back fired when Hamilton suffered a shoulder injury that forced him to miss much of the regular season. And when he did finally return in time for the playoffs, Derrick Rose injured his left knee and was sidelined
for the rest of the season.
What happened afterward is a history, quite well recorded. The Bulls, finishing the regular season tied for the best record in the league, crashed out of the first round of the playoffs.
After their dismal post season performance in the absence of Rose, the Bulls are considering trading Hamilton. He has one year left on his contract worth $5 million, and is still a great player at the shooting guard position. The
Chicago Tribune reports:
“Along these lines, league sources said the Bulls have shopped Richard Hamilton’s expiring $5 million deal, which carries a mere $1 million guarantee for 2013-14. Thus far, there have been no takers.”
Hamilton averaged 11.6 points and 3 assists last season for the Bulls, and added a scoring option for the team. But the injury did not give Hamilton time to adjust to the Bulls playing style and he fell way short of expectations.
The Chicago Bulls fans are confused and frustrated at the inability of the Bulls management to strengthen their roster in the offseason, particularly with Rose sidelined for 8 to 10 months. The Bulls have not made any noticeable
acquisitions in free agency this year, besides signing Kirk Hinrich. They have traded Kyle Korver to the Atlanta Hawks, are unlikely to match the offer by the Houston Rockets for Omer Asik, and have also let C.J. Watson walk away. Last but not the least, the
future of John Lucas III is also unsure.
After parting ways with so many players, the strong bench that the Bulls boasted has been depleted now, and their credentials next season look bleak quite bleak, unless and until they make a major signing in the coming days.
O.J. Mayo anyone.
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