Coming out of Kansas University, he was selected with the seventh overall pick in the 2003 season and then played seven seasons in Chicago. While other players selected the same year as him, Linton Johnson and Ronald Dupree,  and many after, Tyrus Thomas at the top of the list, did nothing to help the Bulls, Hinrich was an every game contributor who made the team better.

He was the best perimeter defender on the Bulls roster since Scottie Pippen. Ron Artest was a Bull in-between, but as a Bull, he didn’t do what he has as a Rocket or a Laker.

He led the team in assists and steals for multiple seasons. Hinrich was also a consistent shooter from anywhere on the court. He was behind only Ben Gordon for the most points scored by a Bull for three consecutive years.

In 2008, a player landed in Chicago named Derrick Rose. Rose is more athletic, a better play maker and an all around better basketball player. If the Bulls would have had a true shooting guard, instead of having to start Hinrich, he could have won the sixth man of the year award. If he isn’t a starting point guard, he is one of the best back ups in the league.

In American society, everything circles around money. The Bulls had previously agreed to give Hinrich a nifty penny which included $9 million for the 2010-2011 season.  The front office didn’t want to pay him that big of a contract to be a role player, understandable, when this summer’s free agency had plenty of talent.

It’s unfortunate the NBA is ruled by money, but it is.

BullsHome.com wanted to let fans know how important Hinrich has been to the team for the last seven seasons. We hope him the best in the future.

Lorenzen Wright, a 13 year NBA veteran, was found dead in Memphis.

The Memphis native had been listed as a missing person by his family on July 22. Reports haven’t listed Wright’s death as a homicide, but his body was found in the woods. Also, investigators and health officials have not said what could have caused the death.

Wright played at Memphis University and was drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers with the seventh pick in 1996. After three seasons with Los Angeles, he played for the Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

His last stint in the NBA was with the Cavaliers in the 08-09 season.

It is never pleasant to hear someone has past away. Homicide (although it is not confirmed) is extremely sad and not wished upon anyone. Bullshome.com offers condolences and expresses a moment of silence for Lorenzen Wright.

The teams head coach Mike Krzyzewski, who is also the ring leader of Duke’s basketball program, said Rose performed well in exhibition games against the rest of the players trying out for the team. Coach K told this to Bulls.com about Rose’s performance.

“His ability to move the ball down the court and penetrate, he had eight assists, was very, very good,” Kryzewski said. “Defensively, he took it up a notch this week. Derrick really pressured the ball very, very well.”

This is great for all parties involved.

Team USA wins because they have one of the premier point guards in the NBA. They’re two point guards I think are better than Rose: Chris Paul and Deron Williams. Other than those two, I think Rose can take anybody else. Rose will prove Coach K made a great decision by putting him on the team.

The Bulls win because of the free marketing Rose and the USA Team are doing for them. Chicago fans and die hard NBA fans know if there is a listing of a Bulls game on the cable box, then turn it on to watch Rose play. Other people might not know this. International sports have a different audience, an audience the Bulls would like to advertise their best player in.

Rose wins because he has the chance to add to his resume as a basketball player. This isn’t the Olympics, but it is an international competition in which the world gives more than a round of applause to the champions. Who doesn’t want a gold medal sitting next to a rookie of the year award?

Rose’s teammates on the 2010 USA World Championship team will be:

• Chauncey Billups-Denver Nuggets
• Tyson Chandler-Dallas Mavericks
• Stephen Curry-Golden State Warriors
• Kevin Durant-Thunder
• Rudy Gay-Grizzlies
• Eric Gordon-Clippers
• Danny Granger-Pacers
• Jeff Green-Thunder
• Andre Iguodala-76ers
• Brook Lopez-Nets
• Kevin Love-Timberwolves
• Lamar Odom-Lakers
• Rajon Rondo-Celtics
• Russell Westbrook-Thunder

Yesterday, the Bulls signed another former Buck. The 15 year NBA veteran, Kurt Thomas, is now a Chicago Bull.

Thomas will add value and experience to the depth they’re creating for their starters. He will not put up huge numbers but he is good at what he does.  He is a big body who will grab boards and is a physical force in the low post on the defensive end. He will be great for eight to 10 minutes a game.

In an interview posted on www.chicagobulls.com, Thomas said he will push the younger players to give it their all.

“It starts at the very beginning of training camp,” Thomas said. “I’ll show up as a solid veteran who is going to bring it each and every day. When the playoffs hit and everyone sees that I’m still going strong, hopefully that will push some of the younger players who might still be trying to find their niche in this league.”

This is a good signing.  The Bulls add veteran leadership and a guy who is devoted to helping the team.

Not to my surprise, he showed he had lost his legs and isn’t even a shell of the player he once was. Bulls blogger Sam Smith wrote a blog post saying McGrady was an ordinary player to say the least.

Early last week, I said he has lost his game and wouldn’t be able make a significant impact. He had a workout and physical with the Los Angeles Clippers last week as well; they didn’t bite either.

According to Smith, the Bulls have not committed to McGrady.

They shouldn’t. He has no game left, is creating a media circus in attempts to keep his name relevant and has shown an attitude leading people to believe he wants to be the star instead of a role player.

This equals, McGrady will not be a Bull. Actually, his days as a New York Knick, might have been his last in the NBA.  It’s sad to see a player like McGrady fall the way he did, but it happens.

He needs to realize it.

In the deal, the Warriors will get a second round draft pick in the 2011 draft.  Watson will be Derrick Rose’s backup.  If need be, he can also play the two guard role and sub in for Ronnie Brewer.

Watson will begin his fourth season in the NBA.  He dramatically improved his stats year to year while with the Warriors.  Last year in 65 games, he averaged 27 minutes, 10 points, three rebounds and three assist.

Watson has potential to be a solid backup point guard. In Golden State, he was behind Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry in the rotation.  When he was in the game, he didn’t handle the ball much.  If he shows he can handle it, Watson will be the primary ball handler with the second team.

This is another smart move by the Bulls.  They needed a backup for Rose that they didn’t have to pay $9 million dollars, which they would have had to do with Kirk Hinrich.  Watson is worth a second round pick and will probably get a slightly above league minimum from the Bulls.  The deal works out for both squads.

Tracy McGrady has spent the last few years playing half a season and spending the other half on the injured reserve list. His left knee has been surgically repaired multiple times.  Knee injuries are a very serious deal in the NBA, especially for a player who relies on his vertical when he gets to the rim or shooting his jump shot.

The Chicago Bulls are not in heavy pursuit of McGrady, but they have been asking about his health and have considered the idea of adding him to the roster.

A few years ago, I would have loved McGrady in a Bulls uniform.  Now, not so much because his health is a big question mark. Last season, he only played 30 games. He averaged three points a game during the six he was a Houston Rocket and nine points a game for the 24 he was a New York Knick.

According to ESPN’s Roman Modrowski, McGrady worked out with the Los Angeles Clippers and had a physical on Tuesday.  The teams curious about his health include: the Bulls, Clippers and the Miami Heat.

McGrady should go to the Miami Heat.  The game plan is easy; sit on the bench, come in for 12 to 15 minutes a game to add veteran leadership and hit a few jumpers. He could do this for a couple of years and then ride out in the sunset after he wins a championship or two with the “dream team”.

The Bulls should not pick him up.  He would simply be wasting minutes for a young and athletic squad.  They would also be wasting money, because have of his contract would be paying for his new outfits he would need to buy when he sits out 40 to 50 games.

His time has come and go.  The Bulls need every player on their roster to produce at a maximum level if they want to be contenders.  McGrady, 31, can’t do it anymore.  He was supposedly healthy as a Knick, but he didn’t do much at all.

I wish him the best on his next career adventure, just hope it isn’t as a Chicago Bull.

ESPN caught up with Jordan at a celebrity golf course.  This is what he had to say.

“There’s no way, with hindsight, I would’ve ever called up Larry [Bird], called up Magic [Johnson] and said, ‘Hey, look, let’s get together and play on one team,’” Jordan said.

This could be biased, since I have been a Bulls fan since I was four years old, but James will never be Jordan.  He doesn’t have the competitive edge that stand players like Jordan apart from the rest.  LBJ is a great athlete and a good basketball player, but it ends there.

Jordan said he would never have thought about calling Larry Bird or Magic Johnson to ask them to play together on the same team.  Why? Because he is a man who wanted to be the best.  Jordan can look in the mirror and say, I came to a bad team, picked them up and delivered six championships without ever asking for his buddies help.

Sure, he had Pippen.  Pippen was picked up in a trade with the Seattle Super Sonics.  No one thought he would be one of the 50 greatest players.  The two learned how to play with each other.  Jordan say, I don’t like his style, trade him.

LeBron’s decision to go to Miami doesn’t bother me at all.  Actually, I love it, because maybe the Jordan comparisons will stop.

Jordan built his legendary legacy by staying with one team through any diversity and won six championships.

In Jordan’s interview with ESPN he did say it is a different era.  Players like LeBron and D-Wade have the opportunity to converse with each other and join the same team.  I am a firm believer if Jordan played in this era, he would not do it.  He wanted to beat the best.  You can’t beat the best, if they are on your team.

Here is the column I wrote on the subject.

Brewer has signed a three year deal with the Bulls for $12.5 million.

He began last season with the Jazz, then was handed over to Memphis where he only played five games, so in my book he is coming from the Jazz.

Brewer has only been in the league four seasons. He is youthful and still productive.  It’s satisfying that the Bulls are going after young talent instead of veterans who are past their prime.  He isn’t a dynamic scorer but will add 10 to 15 points a game.  With Boozer and Derrick Rose getting most the looks, his scoring average will work well with the Bulls.

The best part about Brewer is he can defend.  Head Coach Tom Thibodeau had to have something to do with this signing because Brewer will definitely help out his defensive traps and zones.

Brewer is an athletic 6’7, 227 pound guard who will get in a players face.  The Bulls traded their premier defender, Kirk Hinrich, so Brewer is much needed.

Oh, did I mention he is a legitimate shooting guard.  The Bulls haven’t had one of those since Ben Gordon left after the 2008-2009 season.  This past season, Hinrich played the two guard role, but he is a pure point guard. The Bulls are finally figuring out how to form a roster.

This is a good move for the Bulls roster and their check book.  They didn’t over pay him such as they did with Boozer. Brewer brings youth, a shooting guard, strong defensive skill set and he has experience playing with two other new Bulls.

I think they could win four rings in the next five years.  This is the best big three combination in the league since Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul Jabbar and James Worthy.

Lewis Alcindor Jr. now Kareem Abdul Jabbar

At the time this was published the Heat didn’t have Udonis Haslem on the roster.  Talks of Zydrunas Ilgauskas on the team hadn’t started yet either.  Mike Miller is still deciding whether he wants to join the Heat and Derek Fisher has refused a Miami offer to accept a Laker offer and stay in Miami.

Also in the column, is talk about the Bulls and the horrible image mistake LeBron James made.  Bad LeBron, just bad.