Kirk Hinrich was very nearly traded to Minnesota ahead of February's trade deadline in a cost-saving move, but the Chicago guard is fortunate he remains the longest tenured member of the club.

"Once a trade didn't happen, I tried to forget about it and stay in the moment here," Hinrich said. "No question, the more you advance in your career, the more you appreciate the playoffs. You recognize that's where you make a name for yourself and where the fun is. The regular season is great, but the playoffs are special. And it's just great to be a part of it again with the Bulls."