[Birdman11Participant]

Does anyone see anybody in this years draft class who is comparable to Kirk Hinrich? He is slowly becoming a star out in Chicago and I think that a similar player could be a potential star somewhere down the line.

[D HampParticipant]

Thanks for asking DHamp!

I like Kirk Hinrich. He is a player. But he’s not the point guard in Chicago becoming the star. That belongs to Derick Rose!!! Actually, as good as Hinrich is, he doesn’t even start for the baby Bulls. How is becomeing a star? He’s been in the league about five years? Still a good player though.

As for your question. The player is Nick Calathes, but he’s going overseas. I like his height and many people are discounting him way too much. But it may be a while before he enters the NBA. I like his potential though.

Yours truly,

DHamp…..the greatest basketball mind in the world. Next to Hubie Brown anyway.

[Lemons4LifeParticipant]

I think the player most comparable to Kirk Hinrich is Eric Maynor or Nick Calathes because they both have the basketball mentality of playing good defence while still leading their team in offence.

[sheltwon3Participant]

I didnt know Nick Calathes could play defense I thought that was one of is issues he had. HInrich injuries and Chicago winning the Derrick Rose sweepstates hurt him starting. he is still a starter on most teams and can play defense and score well. His playmaking skill are slightly above average but he still has 4 or so good years left in him. I hope the Bulls trade him to a team that can fully use him.

[ctw724Participant]

They are both 6’3″ combo-gurads, who have maturity and play both ends of the floor. If the Bulls get rid of Hinrich, I would like to see them bring in Jerel McNeal for some insurance.

[Scott42444Participant]

Just looking at Nick Calathes I am reminded of Hinrich, which makes me wonder why Calathes would slip so far in the draft (mocks had him late 1st round). Is the fact that he is leaning towards playing in Europe hurting his draft stock? I like what someone put about Eric Maynor, who seems to be a great basketball player. With the emphasis on basketball player, meaning that he has all around skills such as the ability to play both guard positions, one-on-one and team defense, play calling, shooting, dribbling, scoring, and the ability to lead an NBA team (many of which are exploding with inflated egos) with a very high basketball IQ. Hinrich isn’t necessarily becoming, or will ever become, a star but I do think that he would crack the top 7 of every NBA team’s rotation. I know that a lot of people on this site are down on Hinrich, looking at him as a bench player or role-player, but that isn’t really the case. First of all, his father is a basketball coach. He grew up learning the fundamentals of a team game. If it weren’t for the Bulls winning the Derrick Rose sweepstakes last year (as Sheltwon put it) Hinrich would be going into his 7th season as a starting point guard in the NBA. He was the #7 pick in the 2003 draft, right behind James, Milicic, Anthony, Bosh, Wade, and Kamen. Being picked #7 in any draft shows some skills, but behind those guys it’s something to keep you head held high about. I remember this time last season, people in Chicago were questioning whether or not the Bulls were going to take another PG to replace Kirk. It all seems silly now, and I don’t think that the Bulls had any REAL decision to make between Rose and Beasley, but Bulls fans and the Chicago media seemed to think that PG was a position of strength for the Bulls. All it took to remove Kirk from his starting position was such an amazing talent in Rose, who was the only PG taken #1 in the draft since Magic Johnson in 1979 (Allen Iverson was selected #1, but I think that most people would view him as a SG). Going back to the idea of Hinrich being a backup, that would be like saying that Toni Kukoc wasn’t very good because the Bulls started Harper, Jordan, Pippen, Rodman, and Longley. When you have such a special talent on the team, sometimes very good players get moved to the bench for something as little as match-ups coming off the bench. I don’t think that Kukoc (1998) and Hinrich have the same type of game at all, but I think they are similar in the fact that almost every team in the NBA would love to have them contributing significant minutes, both of which could start on many teams or come off the bench when a superstar is in the lineup ahead of them.

I see Hinrich being moved to another team this off-season, although I would love to see him stay on the Bulls roster. It just doesn’t make sense for a team to draft a point guard in the draft who they deem as just, “a competent NBA point guard”. Yes, salary wise Hinrich is a negative compared to a rookie. But, his contract does DECREASE in value over the next 3 seasons. If you are looking at a team like Minnesota or Portland, it doesn’t make much sense bringing in a young guy who doesn’t have the experience to make the players around him better and also wants to prove himself as “the man” so that he can cash in when he becomes a free agent for the first time. When you already have talented post players and scorers, putting a point guard on the roster who can help make them better and play tenacious defense against the opponents best guard is intelligent for a ton of reasons. I know I am going to get blasted for this because I know a lot of people are very high on him, but how would Jrue Holiday be a better option? All of the positives to his game seem to be what Hinrich already has shown he provides, with 15 ppg, 6apg, 3.5 rpg, and 1.5 steals. Those are very similar numbers to and Andre Miller or Danny Ainge. Of course, the thought is that Jrue Holiday would provide more of an upside offensively. I don’t see it. I think that someone taking a chance on the 3rd or 4th best PG in the rather weak 2009 NBA Draft and giving him the keys to a young team hoping that the rookie will play like a veteran and get your Aldridge, Roy, Oden (PORTLAND) or Jefferson, Love, Foye (MINN) type of players performing better is silly. Contract wise, Hinrich costs more. But, he is a proven commodity who is just entering his prime. I would think that he is a very valuable commodity in the league, especially with all of the PG’s entering the league who are so offensively gifted. Having someone who can play defense and limit a young stud PG’s game is going to very important, especially with all of the new “hand checking” rules and such.

I think that Hinrich is going to make coaches, GM’s, and teammates VERY happy wherever he goes. As much as I want the Bulls to keep him, I am almost certain that he will be moved. John Paxson would like Kirk to have a chance to start and if he can get what he deems “equal value” for him, he will give him that chance.

[D HampParticipant]

Looks like I was write all the way around with the Calathes and Hinrich comparisions!

Dhamp….Hubie Brown

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