If you're wondering why the Bulls would spend $1.3 million and a roster spot on Lindsey Hunter, look no further than the NBA's reigning Rookie of the Year.
"Lindsey helped me so much," Derrick Rose said on the season's final day, before Game 7 of the Bulls-Celtics playoff series.
The Bulls on Monday re-signed Hunter, 38, to the league minimum for players with 10 or more seasons of experience.
Forget the fact Hunter averaged 2.6 points in 28 games last season. His on- and off-court mentoring skills and leadership endeared him to management, making the decision to bring him back for a 17th NBA season an easy one.
"Lindsey helped me so much," Derrick Rose said on the season's final day, before Game 7 of the Bulls-Celtics playoff series.
The Bulls on Monday re-signed Hunter, 38, to the league minimum for players with 10 or more seasons of experience.
Forget the fact Hunter averaged 2.6 points in 28 games last season. His on- and off-court mentoring skills and leadership endeared him to management, making the decision to bring him back for a 17th NBA season an easy one.
"It's great for both sides," said Mark Bartelstein, Hunter's Chicago-based agent. "He had some options to go elsewhere, but he really enjoyed his time here and his mentorship role. He's excited."
The Bulls have 14 players under contract, including a qualifying offer to reserve center Aaron Gray.
Hall call? Scottie Pippen returned to Chicago on Monday to participate in a commercial shoot honoring Michael Jordan's September induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Pippen placed one of Gatorade's 19,000 Limited Edition Jordan bottles into a street art mosaic on the city's South Side.
When is Pippen's Hall of Fame nod coming?
"I'm up next year, so I expect them to call me," Pippen said. "Actually, I hear the '92 Dream Team is going to be inducted in the USA Basketball Hall of Fame. So I'm in that if nothing else."
Pippen made noise a couple of years ago about starting a coaching career but said he's content for now giving back to his family, which includes three sons and a daughter. They live in South Florida.
"I'd still like to get involved, but I realize coaching would take away a lot of the freedom I've enjoyed the last five years," Pippen said. "My family is where they want to be, so I'm going along with that and playing a lot of golf. I still do five [to] 10 overseas clinics for the NBA a year, so that's satisfying."
Pippen said his handicap is 14. Told that's better than Charles Barkley's, Pippen laughed.
"That ain't saying a lot," he said.
Layups: The Bulls officially announced the signing of Jannero Pargo to his one-year, $2 million deal. ... The Bulls begin summer league play Tuesday against Golden State. Assistant Bob Ociepka is coaching the team. ... Former Bulls coach Doug Collins, TNT's lead analyst, and New York Post NBA columnist Peter Vecsey, will receive the Curt Gowdy Media Award during the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame's enshrinement festivities in September.
The Bulls have 14 players under contract, including a qualifying offer to reserve center Aaron Gray.
Hall call? Scottie Pippen returned to Chicago on Monday to participate in a commercial shoot honoring Michael Jordan's September induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Pippen placed one of Gatorade's 19,000 Limited Edition Jordan bottles into a street art mosaic on the city's South Side.
When is Pippen's Hall of Fame nod coming?
"I'm up next year, so I expect them to call me," Pippen said. "Actually, I hear the '92 Dream Team is going to be inducted in the USA Basketball Hall of Fame. So I'm in that if nothing else."
Pippen made noise a couple of years ago about starting a coaching career but said he's content for now giving back to his family, which includes three sons and a daughter. They live in South Florida.
"I'd still like to get involved, but I realize coaching would take away a lot of the freedom I've enjoyed the last five years," Pippen said. "My family is where they want to be, so I'm going along with that and playing a lot of golf. I still do five [to] 10 overseas clinics for the NBA a year, so that's satisfying."
Pippen said his handicap is 14. Told that's better than Charles Barkley's, Pippen laughed.
"That ain't saying a lot," he said.
Layups: The Bulls officially announced the signing of Jannero Pargo to his one-year, $2 million deal. ... The Bulls begin summer league play Tuesday against Golden State. Assistant Bob Ociepka is coaching the team. ... Former Bulls coach Doug Collins, TNT's lead analyst, and New York Post NBA columnist Peter Vecsey, will receive the Curt Gowdy Media Award during the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame's enshrinement festivities in September.
No comments:
Post a Comment