Now that the Bulls are on a roll–OK, a small winning streak–the future looks more promising. Tomorrows always are better when you score more points than the other team.
Even before this roll, er, two straight wins, Bryce Drew and Fred Hoiberg have had an occasional eye on the future–namely, their own.
The two guards are in very similar situations. Despite the lack of victories and the growing pains of rebuilding, both have found a home with the Bulls. Both are playing more minutes than ever before in their careers. And both are without a contract for next season.
“I try not to think about it,” Drew said. “I just try to go out and play hard and let things take care of themselves. I mean, it’s always in the back of your mind. But it seems like the more you think about it, the worse you play.”
Said Hoiberg: “It’s something I can’t control. I’m going to just go out and have another summer where I’m going to work as hard as I can. Hopefully, something will work out.”
Being in limbo is nothing new for Hoiberg, who had a non-guaranteed year on his two-year, $1.68 million contract picked up by the Bulls last summer. The contract marked the fourth for Hoiberg, who is in his sixth NBA season. Previously, Hoiberg signed one-, two- and one-year deals with Indiana.
But Drew has never faced such a situation before. Earlier this season, the Bulls chose not to exercise a team option for the fourth year of Drew’s original rookie contract. The deal, signed with Houston, called for Drew to make $5.13 million. Consequently, Drew, making $1,182,600 this season, will be a free agent after this season.
Drew battled hamstring and back problems all summer, which severely hampered his conditioning. That played a major part in the Bulls’ decision not to pick up his option.
“When they traded for me, they didn’t tell me they would for sure give [the option] to me. But I thought they might,” Drew said. “But it was terrible timing when they had to make the decision. With all the injuries, I was totally behind because I didn’t play all summer.
“The year before, I played great in training camp because I was healthy and worked out all summer. This year, I was literally five months behind. I had no legs. I couldn’t do anything.”
Even though the Bulls didn’t pick up his option, it’s not a stretch that Drew will return. Coach Tim Floyd likes his calming presence on offense. He’s playing more minutes than he did in Houston. He’s 90 minutes from his hometown of Valparaiso, Ind., where his father, Homer, coaches Valparaiso University. And General Manager Jerry Krause has a solid working relationship with Mark Bartelstein, Drew’s agent.
Drew hopes there is interest.
“Definitely,” he said. “I like the coaches. Though we haven’t won a lot of games, there has been improvement. And this is the first time in my career I’m out there a lot, which has been great. I’d like to be here.”
So, too, would Hoiberg, who shows his preference by the use of his pronouns.
“I think it’s a great opportunity to be a part of a rebuilding team,” Hoiberg said. “Hopefully, this season will work out in the free-agent market. We’ll probably have another high draft choice. Hopefully, the rookies will improve.
“I think my work ethic is something that has kept me around this league for as long as I have. I just have to continue to have that hunger and that fight.”
– The Bulls continue a three-games-in-four-nights stretch on Monday, so Floyd gave the team Sunday off. They flew to Cleveland on Sunday afternoon. . . . Guard Ron Mercer is shooting 54 percent in his last three games.
