Bulls Sign Veteran Guard

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Nov 14, 2008 4:30PM

With their stable of guards thinned by injury and no point guard to back up rookie Derrick Rose, the Bulls signed veteran guard Lindsey Hunter on Thursday. The fifteen year veteran spent most of those years with the Detroit Pistons, who drafted him in with the 10th pick of the 1993 draft. After seven years in Motown, he was traded to the Bucks, Lakers, and Raptors in a span of three seasons, before landing back in Detroit for five more years.

The Bulls will look to their former rival to provide veteran leadership, steady defense and help Rose develop. And give the poor rookie a rest -- he's been averaging over 40 minutes a game since Hinrich's injury. Hunter's two championship rings will hopefully inspire the younger guys, too, as this team tries to return to the playoffs.

Hunter's deal will pay him the prorated amount of the $1.262 million veterans minimum and is non-guaranteed. We expect Hunter to remain with the team as long as Kirk Hinrich is out, but his contract puts the team over the salary cap luxury-tax threshold of $71.15 million so we don't expect him to finish the season in a Bulls uniform.

Photo from nba.com