Chicago Bulls Definitely Should Make a Move Before the NBA Deadline

The Chicago Bulls shouldn’t allow the NBA trade deadline to pass without making some sort of move.

Many fans in Chicago are waiting for GM Gar Forman to pick up the phone and finally make something happen. 

The Bulls desperately need to find a sidekick for franchise point guard Derrick Rose, who is expected to return to the hardwood sometime this season after injuring his knee in the playoffs.   

Luol Deng—one of the league’s better defenders and Chicago’s current leading scorer with Rose sidelined—is undoubtedly a great player. However, he’s more of a third option than a No.2. Or in other words, if Rose is the team’s LeBron James, then Deng is Chris Bosh rather than Dwyane Wade.  

Minnesota Timberwolves big man Kevin Love would be the perfect “Scottie Pippen” for D-Rose. The two-time All-Star is apparently unsure about his future in Minneapolis and could decide to opt out of his contract in 2015.

With that said, maybe the Wolves would make Love available now rather than dealing with a bunch of Dwight Howard-type drama down the road.

If Love is indeed placed on the trading block this season, the Bulls should go after him aggressively, offering anyone on the roster not named Rose or Joakim Noah.

Fellow Bleacher Report writer Haddon Anderson came up with an interesting Love-to-Chicago deal. He has the Bulls sending Deng, Taj Gibson, Marquis Teague, the rights to Nikola Mirotic (currently stashed away in Europe) and a future first-round pick from the Charlotte Bobcats to Minnesota for Love, Dante Cunningham and Chase Budinger.   

Bulls fans would hate to give up Mirotic, the 6’10” forward who could turn out to be the next Dirk Nowitzki once he relocates to the U.S. However, receiving K-Love in return would be well worth it.  

Love is quite possibly the best power forward on the planet. The former UCLA Bruin averaged an unbelievable 26 points and 13.3 rebounds per game last season, and is putting up nearly 20 points and 14 boards thus far this season.

A healthy Rose and Love would easily form one of the league’s top duos, giving the Bulls a great chance to capture their seventh NBA title and the first since Michael Jordan was around.

Another Western Conference big man who could become available soon is the Sacramento Kings’ DeMarcus Cousins. Although the third-year pro out of Kentucky is immensely talented and oozing with potential, he’s constantly in the doghouse due to his immaturity.

With Cousins being a tough player to deal with, the Bulls would probably shy away from making an offer if he is placed on the trading block. It would be in the team’s best interest, though, to target the 22-year-old phenom.  

Suiting up for a winning team like the Bulls and playing alongside a superstar like Rose could certainly help Cousins get his head on straight and live up to his enormous potential. 

The Bulls would likely have to part with future draft picks as well as young players like Jimmy Butler and Teague. It’s unclear, however, whether the Kings would be interested in any package Chicago could offer.

While the Bulls need to land a star or future star to pair with Rose, they also need to find a decent player to backup Noah at center. Nazr Mohammed has been ineffective this season, forcing coach Tom Thibodeau to play Noah a whopping 40 minutes per outing.

Perhaps the Bulls could acquire a big man like the Denver Nuggets’ Timofey Mozgov. The little-used
seven-footer could come in and spell Noah for a few minutes a game and serve as an upgrade over the struggling Mohammed. Plus, the Bulls wouldn’t have to give up much in order to bring him to town.

Other possible targets include the likes of Greg Stiemsma, Jermaine O’Neal and Cole Aldrich.

With the Feb. 21 trade deadline right around the corner, the Bulls need to make a move before it’s too late.

C’mon, Mr. Forman, pick up the phone and make some calls.   

Stats used in this article were accurate as of 12-25-12.