NBA Free Agency: 10 under-the-radar impact players
By Bryce Olin
10. Aaron Brooks, Chicago Bulls (one year, $1.15 million)
In an effort to resurrect his career, Brooks signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Bulls. While the playing time expects to be a little sparse with the return of Derrick Rose, Brooks will try to become another member of the Bulls’ zombie point guard club, which has brought back the careers of Nate Robinson and D.J. Augustin the past two seasons.
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Generated 8/15/2014.
Brooks had a great 2009-10 season with the Houston Rockets, in which he averaged 19.7 PPG, according to basketball-reference. Since then, Brooks has embraced the role of NBA journeyman, playing for four different teams, including two separate stints with the Rockets, and a year in China during the 2011 lockout. His next stop with the Bulls will be Brooks’ sixth NBA team in five years, if you count both stints in Houston separately.
On the surface, the Brooks’ signing seems like it’s just another cheap contract the Bulls always grab to have some talent stashed on the bench. Looking at Chicago’s roster, though, Brooks might be an everyday rotation player for the Bulls because they’re so thin on the wings.
Obviously, I know Brooks is a point guard, but it all comes down to whether the Bulls can rely on Mike Dunleavy Jr. and Doug McDermott at small forward. If those two aren’t the answer, the Bulls have to play a little small ball or go really big, with Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah, and Taj Gibson/Nikola Mirotic on the floor at the same time. Small ball might be the best bet for Chicago, but it forces Jimmy Butler or Tony Snell to play a lot of small forward, which opens another spot for a point guard. That’s where Brooks fits with the Bulls.
Right now, Brooks is the third best point guard on the roster behind Rose and Kirk Heinrich, but if he gets some minutes, I wouldn’t be surprised if Brooks, a 37 percent career three-point shooter, is used as a way to space the floor, let Rose play off-the-ball, and knock down a big shot or two.