Kirk Hinrich, who spent the first six and a half years of his career in Chicago, has reached an agreement to return to the Bulls, according to the Chicago Tribune:
Hinrich, who spent his first seven seasons with the Bulls, is expected to sign a two-year deal worth just over $6 million, one source said, though details were still being finalized. The free-agent moratorium ends July 11.
via Hinrich verbally commits to Bulls - chicagotribune.com.
Hinrich fills a major need for the Bulls, a combo guard who can also be used to spread the floor next to Derrick Rose and provide a defensive guard to pair with Derrick Rose when he returns from injury. They need someone to run point while Rose recovers from ACL surgery, which is expected to keep him out until January, then they need a combo guard to run the offense off the bench and provide scoring and offense management.
Hinrich returns from Atlanta, where he landed after being traded from the Bulls to the Wizards in a salary ditch in 2011. Hinrich had signed a massive contract extension with the Bulls coming off one of his strongest seasons, but his shot started on a rollercoaster afterwards and has never stabilized. He'll shoot over 40 percent from three one season then plummet the next. His offensive management skills have also eroded.
Still, Hinrich's a willing defender, and he has a family in the area, which will trump anything. He'll fit well into the rotation.
As a consequence, it's expected that C.J. Watson will not be retained. Watson will hit the market as a valuable reserve.
