Bulls to sign Carlos Arroyo?

I named Arroyo as a possible free agency candidate back in my Not Totally Useless Remaining Free Agents List Thing. However, when I did so, I didn't think there'd be any chance of it happening. But now that there's seemingly some sort of offer, however formal, we'd better look at it a bit closer.

Of all the positions on our roster, point guard is just behind small forward on the "areas of least concern" list. We have one of the league's best young players to start there, and the league's best backup point guard behind him. We also have a token really old fart (Hunter) instilled for emergencies, and Jannero Pargo can masquerade as a point guard in emergencies. And if things get really, really REALLY desperate, even John Salmons can masquerade there. (Offensively, at least.)

I've also talked about the Bulls lack of outside shooting, and Arroyo doesn't help with that. He is a 32% three point shooter in his 7 year NBA career, and while his jumpshot has gotten slightly better over the years, his career high in three point field goal makes for a season is 34. Three point shots make up one of his every 9 field goal attempts. And he's never hit a playoff three pointer.

To put it another way, Arroyo is about the same calibre of shooter as Lindsey Hunter. And Lindsey Hunter hasn't been able to shoot for a decade.

Therefore, why would the Bulls be considering another point guard in Carlos Arroyo, when he fits no obvious need?

Well, it's probably because they can. For the minimum salary, Arroyo represents great value. This man was one of the better players in Europe last year, has made a name for himself on the world stage (as witnessed by his 25 point, 7 assist performance against America in the 2004 Olympics), and has started on some decent NBA teams. He may have been overmatched as an NBA starter, but he was still decent, once averaging 12.1 points and 5.0 assists over a season for the Utah Jazz.

To get a player like that for the minimum salary can't be bad. For comparison's sake, the Knicks gave Chris Duhon (a comparable if slightly better player) the full mid level exception for two seasons, and Beno Udrih got a full one for five years just last summer. Antonio Daniels got one not so long ago, too; the league is saturated with overpaid backup point guards. We have one of our own, too, but bringing in Arroyo is great value for the tiny price.

There is absolutely no need for the Milwaukee Bucks (one of the other teams named as a candidate) to pursue Arroyo. They already have Brandon Jennings, Luke Ridnour and Roko Ukic at the point guard spot, plus whatever happens with Ramon Sessions. There is perhaps more of a need for the Celtics to obtain him, given that they're looking at another season of Eddie House as a backup. (They waived Gabe Pruitt and let Stephon Marbury commit career harikari; the only other in-house point guard candidates they have are the unsigned rookie Lester Hudson, the unsuitable Tony Allen and the as-yet unsigned Marquis Daniels.) It would make more sense for Carlos to go there, or even to the Sixers, where he was rumoured to be headed last month.

But, if the Bulls have a standing offer out, as the initial report would indicate, then Carlos has a way back to the NBA if he wants it. And apparently he does.

Arroyo is not an outside shooter, and he's a bad defensive player. But he's a very good ball handler, a solid passer, a decent slasher and good finisher, a great exponent of the pick and roll and the mid range game, and a fairly controlled player who doesn't turn it over a huge amount. He does all of these things better than Jannero Pargo. Because of that, he'll have his uses here.

And anything that reduces Lindsey Hunter's minutes can't be bad.



Let's cut to the chase, though. Here's what you really need to know; Carlos Arroyo has recently launched a music career. This isn't exactly a new thing in the world of professional basketball players; everyone from Ron Artest to Rod Benson has had a go at it at some point. (Even Ben Gordon did a rap once. More on that later.) But since NBA players musical careers are for the most part truly laughable, all their attempts are worth our appraisal. However valiant they may be.

You can listen to the song here. But I only suggest you do so if you have a strong tolerance of vocoders.