Bulls sign Lindsey Hunter Options

[Sanitarium]

One of the NBA's best on-the-ball defenders is back in the league.

Lindsey Hunter, a 15-year veteran, signed a contract with the Chicago Bulls on Thursday.

Contract terms were not disclosed by the team, but a source told ESPN.com that Hunter agreed to a one-year, nonguaranteed contract. His salary will be a prorated share of the veteran's minimum of about $1.3 million for players with at least 10 years' experience.

Hunter is expected to be in uniform Thursday night when the Bulls play host to the Dallas Mavericks.

He will add a veteran presence to a roster already jam-packed with guards, although the backcourt has been depleted by injuries to Larry Hughes (dislocated shoulder) and Kirk Hinrich (thumb surgery).

Hughes is expected to return as early as this weekend, while Hinrich is out at least three months. Hunter could see minutes as the backup point guard behind rookie Derrick Rose, who is averaging a team-high 38 minutes. The Bulls had been carrying only 14 players on their roster, and thus did not need to waive anyone to make room for Hunter.

Hunter spent the past five seasons with the Detroit Pistons, mostly as a defensive specialist regarded as one of the league's best at pressuring the ball in the backcourt. He appeared in 11 playoff games for the Pistons last season and recorded eight steals.