Hinrich enters his 13th season in the league in the twilight of his career. He played 66 games for the Bulls last year and averaged 5.7 points, 1.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.9 three-pointers in 24 minutes per game. His percentages were poor as well as he shot 37 percent from the field, 70 percent from the charity stripe, and 35 percent from behind the arc. There is always a chance that Hinrich could see increased playing time if Derrick Rose were to go down with another injury, but Hinrich is not the offensive player that he once was and would likely still come off the bench behind Aaron Brooks. Hinrich's value to the team at this time is as a veteran leader and a solid defender on the perimeter. He was clearly a favorite of former coach Tom Thibodeau and likely played more than his abilities warranted last season, so it's unclear where he will fit into new coach Fred Hoiberg's plans. The one thing Hinrich does have in his favor over Brooks is that he can guard point guards and shooting guards if the team wants to go with a small lineup.
Kirk Hinrich is certainly on the downslope of his career, but by no means is he ineffective. In his 12th NBA season, the veteran guard was thrust into the starting role for a second consecutive year after Derrick Rose went down with a meniscus injury, but he will return to the bench if the former MVP can manage to stay on the floor. Last season, Hinrich averaged 9.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.4 blocks in 29 minutes per game. The fan favorite is known for his hard-nosed approach to defense and leadership on the court, intangibles that don't lead to big numbers in the box score. Now with Aaron Brooks as an insurance policy, there will be fewer minutes to go around in the Bulls' backcourt. Hinrich will surely get his time on the floor but will likely see a drop in numbers thanks to the improved supporting cast. He lacks enough value in most formats but could be a helpful addition in deeper leagues if he's called upon to bear a big load similar to last season.
Signed by the Bulls in July 2012 in the wake of Derrick Rose's injury, Hinrich, a converted two-guard, won the plurality of minutes at the point last season, but a swollen right foot and a ruptured calf limited him to 60 games and a meager 7.7 points per contest on 37.7 percent shooting from the field. These are foreboding signs for Hinrich, who will return to the bench and could see a further decline in minutes should Marquis Teague emerge as Rose's primary backup.
Hinrich, who signed a two-year, $6 million deal with Chicago this offseason, should fill in as the Bulls' starting point guard as long as Rose (knee) is out, and once Rose returns, he should navigate between backing up both guard positions. He spent his first seven years with the Bulls, averaging 10.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.4 three-pointers, and 1.1 assists in 34 minutes during his last season with the club in 2009-10. Hinrich could have decent value as a late round flier for the first few months of the season, but if Rose is able to come back at some point next season, Hinrich will have his role reduced significantly
The Hawks acquired Hinrich for the playoff push last season, but he had trouble adjusting to his new team. He started 22 of the 24 regular season he played with the Hawks but only averaged 8.6 points and 3.3 assists in 28.6 minutes per game. He enters this season with a shoulder injury and will miss at least a few weeks. Hinrich should see decent minutes off of the bench when healthy, but he is unlikely to provide significant fantasy value.
A draft-day trade has Hinrich taking his talents from Chicago to Washington D.C. for the 2010-11 season. The move to Washington has Hinrich in a familiar role, as the third guard in the rotation - a role Hinrich was routinely rolled out in the past two season with the Bulls. His fantasy value should hold steady as he backs up rookie John Wall at point guard and Gilbert Arenas at shooting guard.
An injury to Hinrich’s thumb accelerated Derrick Rose’s development last season; by the time Hinrich was fully healthy, Rose was well on his way to being named Rookie of the Year. Hinrich performed well down the stretch and in the playoffs as a sort of combo guard, but was used primarily when Ben Gordon and/or John Salmons were unavailable. He was a prime candidate to be traded this summer, but a number of deals – most notably, one that would have sent him to Portland – fell through. Though he posted new career lows in nearly every category last season, Hinrich proved that he still has the ability to run a team and to score – particularly from the perimeter. Fantasy-wise, the best-case scenario is a trade to a point-guard needy contender at some point this season, but with Hinrich signed through the 2011-12, Chicago may have a tough time finding a taker.
With the first pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, the Bulls acquired their point guard of the future. What does that mean for their point guard of the present? Like most of the Bulls, Hinrich had an “off” season in 2007-08. His scoring, in particular, suffered, with his average dropping over five points, from 16.6 in 2006-07 to 11.5. His field-goal percentage (44.8 to 41.4), three-point shooting (41.5 to 35.0) and minutes (a career-low 31.7) took similar dives. This season, we expect to see somewhat similar – if not lower numbers. The Bulls will probably bring Derrick Rose along slowly, which may mean Hinrich will keep the starting spot initially or play alongside the rookie to help facilitate the offense. But the Bulls roster is well-stocked with guards, so it may be difficult for new coach Vinny Del Negro to find minutes for Hinrich at the two – especially if Ben Gordon eventually re-signs.
On a team noted for defense, Hinrich’s offensive capabilities sometimes get overlooked. He had a career-high 16.9 ppg while improving his accuracy in all three shooting categories. He splits time at point guard with Chris Duhon, which has served to tamp down on his assist numbers, but Hinrich contributes in other areas (1.3 spg, 3.6 rpg). The Bulls have rejected inquiries for Hinrich, preferring to deal Duhon, so there’s no doubt where the team’s allegiances lay. The Bulls did not add much to their offense in the offseason, so look for Hinrich to be as big a scorer as he was last season.
Participation in the FIBA World Championships seems risky for a lot of NBA players. Guys like Chris Paul or Andrew Bogut, coming off their first NBA seasons, might have been better served by a few weeks of rest. Dwyane Wade throws his body around so much, every drive to the hoop risks injury. But for someone like Kirk Hinrich… nothing but upside. Hinrich is probably the biggest beneficiary of the injury that sent Gilbert Arenas home, and he’s made the most of the opportunity, emerging as a real leader on Team USA. The confidence he’s gaining in that role can’t help but benefit him when he comes back from Japan to run the improving Chicago Bulls this year.
Hinrich is the unquestioned floor leader of his team, but he’s probably a better leader of an NBA team than a fantasy squad. Hinrich averages 15.7 points per game, with 6.4 assists, 3.9 boards and 1.5 steals, made 1.9 three per game last season and shot .355 from range. – solid, but unspectacular. One way Hinrich could easily improve his numbers would be to get to the line more often – he averaged a mere 2.8 attempts from the line last year. (Allen Iverson averaged 10.5.) With the NBA’s focus on touch-fouls on the perimeter, Hinrich could build on that number and see a quick jump in scoring.
Hinrich was one of the biggest surprises in basketball last year, and he should only get better as he gains more experience. Hinrich averaged 14.9 ppg and 8.2 apg over his last 29 games. He'll give you almost two threes per game, and can give you four rebounds and a steal or two per outing. He doesn't shoot for a great percentage, only about 39 percent in his rookie season, but Hinrich helps you on so many levels that he's a great grab later on in your draft. Hinrich doesn't have the national attention of a Mike Bibby or a Sam Cassell, but he might outproduce them both. Now, if Hinrich's teammates Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler can take a step forward, Hinrich could really take those assist numbers up a notch.
Hinrich was drafted after Jay Williams went down in a motorcycle accident. Hinrich, a four-year college player, may be ready to contribute, but it’s unlikely he’ll get the chance. Scottie Pippen was signed in the offseason and will likely handle the point should Jamal Crawford stumble or get injured.
