MIAMIAccording to an ESPN report, the Bulls have claimed shooting guard Daequan Cook off waivers. Cook, a three-point specialist, was waived by Houston after being acquired in the Rockets trade with Oklahoma City for James Harden in October.
Cooks agent, Mike Conley, Sr.the former track star and father of the Grizzlies point guard of the same nameconfirmed the signing. A six-year NBA veteran, Cooks best season was with the Heat, in 2008-09, when he averaged 9.1 points per game.
He played sparingly in Houston, his third professional team, and was waived by the Rockets on New Years Eve, according to reports. The Ohio State product is already familiar with some of his new teammates, having played with both Nazr Mohammed and Nate Robinson on the Thunder.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Chicago sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Shooter. Nate Robinson told CSNChicago.com before Fridays Bulls game in Miami. Thats what he does. Hes knockdown shooter. He can bring that fire and thats something that obviously theyre looking for, somebody that can put the ball in the basket, spread the defense, stuff like that. He plays hard and hes a competitor.
Mohammed concurred: Unbelievable shooting ability. Daequan, hes a great guy, shoots the leather off the ball. Hes a hard worker -- its a great program in OKC -- so it can definitely helps us.
Hes always been a good rebounder for his position. He battles, he can get off the bench and get you six, seven boards, the backup center continued. Were a defensive team, so hell be all right.
Predictably, Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau didnt want to discuss the acquisition before the contest, saying, When it happens, Ill have thoughts.
News
Cook, who will be the 14th player on the Bulls roster, will receive the pro-rated veterans minimum for the remainder of the season, which wont put the team past the hard cap. To some observers, acquiring another shooting guard signals that the Bulls are committed to trading starter Rip Hamilton before next months league-wide trade deadline, a move that would bring the team under the luxury tax, something they historically havent paid.