Apr 16, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Chicago Bulls guard D.J. Augustin (14) looks on as the referees talk during the second half of the game against the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena. Bobcats win in overtime 91-86. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
D.J Augustin…gone. Just when I was starting to like the Chicago Bulls. A little bit. The Bulls sign Kirk Hinrich and let D.J. Augustin walk out and sign with the Detroit Pistons.
Sigh!
Let’s take a look a look at the referees. They are having a deep conversation. I wonder what they are talking about?
Referees talking…
“Man I bet the Bulls don’t resign D.J. Augustin.”
“Man you crazy! If not him then who? You know D.J’s been balling out of his mind.”
“The Bulls will sign Kirk Hinrich. They always do.”
Let us all take a sigh of relief Pippen Peoples. Now that LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony have signed their respective contracts, teams can start building up their respective squads. The Chicago Bulls front office have done a great job looking past Carmelo Anthony and getting things done. I promise you guys will see a dramatic improvement in the offense with Pau Gasol coming to town. Then the Bulls bring Nikola Mirotic across the pond…finally and get him in a uniform. But just before I start giving props to the GarPax. They do something ridiculous.
They sign Kirk Hinrich and let D.J. Augustin go to Detroit.
Really?…Really?…Really? COME ON MAN!
As always there is a comment section down below to explain to me why the Bulls bring in players that play WELL past their expectations then the Bulls do very little, no check that nothing to keep them.
D.J. Augustin basically bailed the Bulls out after Derrick Rose went down with another knee injury…again. Augustin averaged 14.9 points and five assists off the bench to provide a huge spark off the bench for a team that couldn’t score in an empty gym some nights. There were nights Augustin was the star of the team. How about that career high of 33 points in that huge back to back against the Boston Celtics in the playoff run last year? How about the night he gave Kyrie Irving the business scoring 27 points against Cleveland? What’s that worth?
A pat on the head and foot in the behind out the door.
Let’s take a look at the players that the Bulls seemingly let walk away after showing the uncanny ability to shoot from various places away from the rim.
Kyle Korver
There are financial reasons why Korver is not in a Chicago Bulls uniform. The Hawks gave him a four-year 24 million dollar contract after the Bulls traded him out in a salary dump. The Bulls didn’t feel the need to pay him $5 million dollars and they didn’t want to pay $500,000 dollars to buy him out. (The Legion of Booz holds out hope…Wednesday’s the deadline to amnesty Boozer!) He went on to set a record for the most consecutive games with at least one three pointer made. Guess who they got out of the deal? A trade exception and cash. The Bulls went on to replace him with…
Kirk Hinrich.
More on him later, lets keep going. There were other players that the Bulls let go after going nuts after being signed. How about…
Nate Robinson
Look, I realize that Nate Robinson never met a shot he didn’t like, or take for that matter. I realize that deep down in Nate’s soul, he believes that he should have a statue next to Michael Jordan. His career was on skid row when the Bulls picked him up. He basically took the team on his back in the first round playoff win against the Brooklyn Nets a couple of years back. When the Denver Nuggets came a calling with a three-year deal. The Bulls gave him the back two fingers peace sign.
But you still have Captain Kirk!
How about Marco Bellinelli? When Bellinelli was with the Bulls he was very productive. He won a couple of games with last second shots. He was a hard worker that did fit in with the Bulls scheme. When it was time to pay up, the Bulls let him go. I bet he’s glad the Bulls let him walk. He went to the San Antonio Spurs. Well at least he got a ring out if it. What did the Bulls get?
Kirk Hinrich!
I’m really beginning to wonder if Hinrich has pictures or kidnapped the family members of the front office. Maybe he brings doughnuts every Monday to the office. I don’t know. But this guy is NOT worth a two-year $5.6 million dollar contract. Let’s take A LONG look at what Hinrich brings to the table.
Let’s forget his first seven years. They gone man, they gone! Let’s deal with the here and now. In the past two seasons, Hinrich put up 8.5 points, 4.5 assists, 2,6 rebounds and 1.1 steals a game. Here’s the kicker. He shot 38.6 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from the land of the extra point.
To all the people who are talking about Hinrich and how he plays defense. Look Pippen Peoples, it’s really time to stop. Did you see the playoffs last year? Hinrich couldn’t guard a diseased redwood tree with a chainsaw. The Washington Wizards devised a defensive plan AROUND Kirk Hinrich. Okay everyone, we are going to guard everyone else. Then we are going to allow the ball to stay in Hinrich’s hands so he can make plays. How did that work out?
I want everyone to follow me here. The Washington Wizards made it a point to take the ball out the hands of D.J. Augustin, you know the guy the Bulls let walk for about $500,000 dollars more than what Hinrich is getting. Probably because Augustin was making a difference in the Bulls offense. They let Hinrich do what he wanted with the ball. There is a reason why. The man can’t shoot!!!!
I know that Hinrich had suitors (Shocking!) The Charlotte Hornets and Utah Jazz are two of them right off the top of my head. I don’t think either team would have paid what the Bulls are paying him. Why over pay?
Why not wait a while and watch for desperate players who overestimated their value and sign them. Rodney Stuckey comes to mind. He probably wants a twelve million dollar deal like I want a date with Shakira. Only thing though sadly for both of us, we both won’t get what we want.
Pippen Ain’t Easy for the next few days will be scouring the roster moves and analyzing the wonderful way the Bulls are building this roster. This definitely is not one of them.