It's not an issue that is top-of-mind for the Chicago Bulls or Atlanta Hawks guard Kirk Hinrich, considering both teams are busy preparing for the 2012 NBA Playoffs, but the former Bulls guard told K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune that he would be open to signing with Chicago in the offseason when he becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer. After being drafted by the Bulls with the seventh overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, Hinrich played seven seasons with team before they traded him in July of 2010 to open up cap space to pursue LeBron James, Amar'e Stoudemire, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the rest of the high-profile free agent crop from 2010.
Hinrich still owns a home in the Chicago suburbs, is a favorite among many fans and will become an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career this summer, so K.C. Johnson tried to connect the dots. Hinrich seemed open to the idea, but it's unclear whether he would be willing to take a discount to join a contender. Here's what the guard said when asked about a possible return to Chicago (via K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune):
"I wouldn't be opposed to it," Hinrich said. "It's still a ways away, and a lot can happen. We'll see. I have no preconceived thoughts on what will happen."
"I'm excited to have a choice instead of just going wherever the business sends me," Hinrich said. "But I haven't thought about it much. I've been so caught up in this whirlwind season. I was trying to get healthy and then working to get back to playing at a level I should be playing at. Now I'm thinking about the playoffs."
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