Ronnie Brewer has struggled to hang on to rotation minutes recently.   (USATSI)
Ronnie Brewer is reuniting with the Bulls. (USATSI)

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The last place Ronnie Brewer played well and contributed regularly was with the Bulls in 2011-12. 

So he's rejoining them. 

The team announced this week they've signed Brewer for the rest of the season after the Rockets released him in late February. 

"I'm very excited to be playing with (coach Tom Thibodeau)," Brewer told reporters Monday. "He's a tough coach. I play hard and try to hustle. That's the type of players he likes. I'm just happy to be back with some of my old teammates."

After the Bulls decided not to pick up Brewer's $4.3 million option in 2012, he joined the Knicks for half a season then was traded to the Thunder and then signed with the Rockets in free agency. But he never found a foothold with playing time in those stops like he had with the Bulls. 

Brewer isn't a strong offensive player, but he's always been capable of playing tough, physical defense, something obviously valued in Chicago. It's unclear as to if he'll be a regular in the rotation, but he could provide some depth behind Jimmy Butler who is relied upon heavily by the Bulls. 

"Whatever role you ask him to play, he embraces," Thibodeau told reporters. "If he's not playing, he'll be a great teammate on the bench. He'll provide energy. He'll make sure the guys out there have an understanding of what we're doing. He'll communicate well. He'll tell people what he sees."