AL HAMNIK: Bulls may have gotten 'Ripped off' on this deal

Richard Hamilton is the used car your teenager bought that's leaking oil.

What angers you, the parent, is that it left a trail as wide as a sidewalk during the test drive.

And still, the purchase was made.

The Bulls had such high hopes for Hamilton, whose game management skills, added offense, and experience were thought to be invaluable heading into the postseason.

If only he could contribute something, anything, to earn his three-year, $15 million contract.

But "Rip" Hamilton has missed 19 of the Bulls' 31 games this season with a groin injury that seems to be taking forever to heal.

There's also a deep right leg bruise.

The Detroit media tried to warn us this is a 34-year-old player whose body may be breaking down. Nobody listened and papers were signed.

Since 2008-09, the 6-foot-7 guard has missed 97 games -- an average of 24 per season.

The Bulls need healthy bodies for their postseason run, not some guy wearing a suit on the bench.

They have plenty of walking wounded as it is.

MVP Derrick Rose, admitting he has an "old body" at 23, has been slowed by turf toe, tendinitis of the right knee and back spasms. He's missed eight games.

Luol Deng, chosen to his first NBA All-Star Game, is playing with torn ligaments in his left wrist but refuses to sit.

Other key players have had issues.

Carlos Boozer and his spray-on hair dominates inferior teams but too often disappears against legitimate contenders.

He acts like a power forward with his body language, but doesn't play like one in the heat of battle.

Boozer settles for that outside rainbow jumper instead of attacking the rim, drawing fouls, and getting to the line.

Center Joakim Noah is an elevator is size 16 sneakers. Up, down. Up, down. His game is inconsistent, especially in the postseason.

Noah's backup, 7-footer Omer Asik, can be intimidating with his condor-like wingspan but seems to get winded if on the floor more than 10 minutes.

Rip Hamilton's presence can ease the load for everyone when he's able to run the floor, set up Rose, defend with passion and provide a settling influence against the Heat, Celtics, Magic, Knicks, Sixers, Pacers and Hawks in the East.

But in a suit, not so much.

Yes, they have the league's best record overall and have won 46 of their last 52 games at home.

But they're only 6-6 against teams with winning records.

This should worry the average Bulls fan.

Aren't you? I am.

This column solely represents the writer's opinion. Reach him at al.hamnik@nwi.com