The Bulls finally put all of the rumors to rest Friday when they signed free agent shooting guard Keith Bogans to a two year deal. The deal is expected to be around 2.5 million, with only the first year guaranteed. Bogans, a nine year veteran who spent last year with San Antonio, was not the highest profile name the Bulls targeted. He does, however, provide the long range shooting off the bench the Bulls front office was looking for.
Bogans is a career 35 percent three point shooter, who averaged 4.4 points and 2.2 rebounds in just under 20 minutes a game. Bogans will back up fellow free agent acquisition Ronnie Brewer at shooting guard.
Bogans was one of five players the Bulls were considering to fill their last roster spot. Free agents Eddie House (Heat) and Roger Mason Jr. (Knicks) were strong candidates until they signed with other teams. Tracy McGrady and disgruntled Portland shooting guard Rudy Fernandez were among the higher profile names floating around the rumor mill.
McGrady worked out for the Bulls but was never offered a contract. Reports suggested the Bulls front office was critical of some of the comments McGrady made to the media that seemed to suggest he was expecting a large role with the team. This theory is probably overblown. Most likely, McGrady didn't show anything in his workout that convinced the Bulls he can still be an effective NBA player.
If McGrady had a good workout he most likely would have been offered a contract. McGrady without question was the most talented player on the Bulls radar, but has been hampered by injuries the last few years. His struggles from behind the arc probably didn't help his cause either.
As of late, Rudy Fernandez's name was being linked to the Bulls quite a bit. Fernandez reportedly was unhappy with his lack of playing time last year. After the Blazers signed Wes Matthews this offseason, it looked like Fernandez's playing time was going to diminish even more.
The Bulls were interested in acquiring Fernandez in a trade with Portland, but the two sides could not agree to terms. The Blazers wanted second year power forward Taj Gibson and the Bulls' 2011 first round pick they acquired from Charlotte (a potential lottery pick). The Bulls weren't going to part with Gibson, so they offered James Johnson instead, along with either their first round pick (likely somewhere in the 20s) or a second rounder. Needless to say, the deal never got done.
While Bogans isn't as sexy of an addition as McGrady or Fernandez would have been, he should prove to be a solid back up capable of playing 15 to 20 minutes a game. The roster is now officially set for the 2010 season.
Finally, the speculation is over. The countdown to the regular season begins today. 82...
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