Chicago Bulls Roster: Who’s Ben Hansbrough?

Take a look at this picture Pippen Peoples. It’s Derrick Rose and Tom Thibodeau, two representatives of your Chicago Bulls. What are they smiling about. D-Rose’s FIBA performance? Nah! Maybe it’s the training camp signings the Bulls completed last Friday.

Well Pippen Peoples, we are at the eve of Chicago Bulls training camp. Now you know what that means…THE SEASON IS ALMOST HERE! THANK GOD! Sorry for all of the yelling, but man, I am tired of writing the speculation articles trying to figure out who was going where. Believe it or not, the easiest free agency guess of the summer was Carmelo Anthony staying with the New York Knicks. The thing about training camp is that NBA teams start loading up on players that nine times out of ten won’t even see opening night. But who cares, its actual news right?

Last Friday, the Chicago Bulls signed Kim English, Solomon Jones and Ben Hansbrough to contracts for training camp. Pippen Ain’t Easy took an in-depth look at Solomon Jones and what he brought to the table. I think he has about the same chance as an ice-cube in a desert storm of making the team but who knows? For the total analysis on Solomon Jones, log on to Pippen Ain’t Easy.

Sep 29, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Ben Hansbrough during media day at the Advocate Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Next up…Ben Hansbrough.

I know what you guys are thinking. Man, the Bulls picked up that All-American from UNC! Man, he was a beast! He’ll bring energy to the frontline! He’s a great pickup for the Bulls!

Um no Pippen Peoples. Right family, wrong guy.

You see the guy that was from UNC was Tyler Hansbrough. This is Ben Hansbrough, his younger brother. Tyler plays power forward for the Toronto Raptors. Ben Hansbrough plays  guard.

Ben Hansbrough started his college career at Mississippi State before transferring to Notre Dame. In his senior year, Ben was the only unanimous selection named to the All-Big East team. He was also chosen as the Big East Player of the Year. Fox Sports also honored him and chose him as a member of the All-America second team. For his career at Notre Dame he averaged 12 points per game.

After not getting drafted and spending time in Germany (where he couldn’t get off the bench) and Slovenia, Hansbrough played for the Indiana Pacers in the Orlando Summer League in 2012. In five games Hansbrough averaged six points, 1.6 assists and one rebound. He somehow parlayed that into a non guaranteed contract with the Pacers for the season.

Oh, let me stop, his brother Tyler was playing on the team at the time. Now who says nepotism is dead? Now before all of you start flooding the comments section saying I’m too tough on the  guy, what does these stats tell you…

Two points in seven minutes in 28 games played. Nuff said, moving on.

The only thing that people remember about Ben Hansbrough is how his brother Tyler got into a scuffle trying to defend him. That’s real sweet, but Tyler is not in Chicago to help him get out of crash dummy status trying to keep Derrick Rose in front of him.

Dec 12 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Tyler Hansbrough (50) reacts to Cleveland Cavaliers forward Tristan Thompson (13) committing a foul on Ben Hansbrough (not pictured) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeated Cleveland 96-81. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Ben Hansbrough played last season with CB Gran Canaria of Liga ACB of the Spanish League. In 32 games, he averaged 11.2 points, 2.4 assists and 2.1 rebounds in a shade over 23 minutes.

Will Ben Hansbrough be on the roster on opening night.

Sure! I’ll be sitting right next to him. Get the joke. No! Hansbrough will long gone by opening night. Hanbrough’s job will be providing a warm body on the practice floor for a month while the Bulls monitor the wear and tear on Derrick Rose’s knees so he does not get hurt…again.

If they are on the court together, Hansbrough will take on the role as the human chair while Rose practices his crossover gaining his confidence. He’s just not good enough.

It’s a signing that is making me wonder why the Bulls would sign E’Twaun Moore, Aaron Brooks and Ben Hansbrough to cheap deals and let DJ Augustin walk. It looks like one of the Pippen Peoples is starting to wonder as well.

Check out what Michael Cunningham had to say…

"When you think about it, it makes more sense if the Bulls would’ve simply signed DJ Augustin to a $3.5 million dollar contract instead of signing oft injured Hinrich, Aaron Brooks and E’Twaun Moore to fill the same backup pg position. Why let a guy who avg’d 15 ppg and 5 apg walk to a division rival simply because you’re afraid he might steal some of the spotlight from Rose?"

Aug 15, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; USA guard Derrick Rose (right) talks with assistant coach Tom Thibodeau during practice at Quest MultiSport Complex. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Michael has a point here. Don’t let the happy Gold Medal smiles fool you. Derrick Rose is coming off the worst International shooting performance of any NBA player period. (Mark Price thanks you D-Rose!) He scored the same amount of points as I did writing this article and you guys reading it. Let’s be clear here. He scored zip, zilch, nada, squat, no mas, null and void. If we are talking about a title run here, the man is going to have to do better.  None of the players Michael mentioned is going to get Rose ready for the regular season. Rose can destroy any of the guards on this roster even when he was on crutches. If the Bulls are serious about this title run, just pay a player that will push Rose in practice. That’s the only way the man is going to get better. I may be wrong, but I doubt it.

Well Pippen Peoples, there you have it. The back story on Ben Hansbrough. Take a long look at him during the month because on opening night, he will be a distant memory. Even though Hansbrough will be leaving us soon, Pippen Ain’t Easy won’t. Pippen Ain’t Easy will be right here all season long to provide in-depth analysis on all things Chicago Bulls. Keep it locked to  Pippen Ain’t Easy, your best choice for Chicago Bulls news, previews and reviews. Leave your comment below and let your voices be heard. We’re starting a long journey that starts with training camp. Follow Pippen Ain’t Easy through what looks like a long Chicago Bulls season. Let’s start the journey.

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