Dear Chicago Bulls…Time to Get 'Melo

Dear Chicago Bulls…

Boy, did you get lucky. 

The odds of you winning the NBA Draft Lottery were only, what, 1.7 percent?  And yet, thanks to a few fortunate bounces by those unpredictable ping-pong balls, your franchise obtained the number one pick, and the right to choose between Memphis point guard Derrick Rose and high-scoring Kansas State forward Michael Beasley. 

For your front office and your fans, this development was as welcome as a warm brat on a cold day in the parking lot of Soldier Field. 

A year ago, you didn’t look like a franchise that needed luck to succeed.  After a nice playoff run, you were a team on the rise in the Eastern Conference and it was widely assumed you’d use your plethora of young talent to acquire Kevin Garnett or Pau Gasol. 

And when Kobe Bryant became disgruntled in La-La Land, you were the team at the top of his wish list. 

Certainly, bringing in any one of those players would make Chicago the favorite in the lackluster East.  Of course, none of that came to fruition.  Garnett went to the Celtics, Gasol went to the Lakers, and Kobe became less disgruntled and the MVP.

The Bulls struggled all season, finally finishing with a woeful 33-49 record.   Ben Wallace continued to collect his paycheck while wearing a ski mask, and you were unable to extend the contracts of your prized possessions Luol Deng and Ben Gordon. 

And a few weeks ago when you had a chance to sign Mike D’Antoni—a head coach who allegedly wanted the job—you couldn’t close the deal.    

But now, things are looking up.  Now you can use that number one pick to obtain your star of the future. 

But why stop there?  Why not make one more move to further solidify that future?  Why not make a move that has nothing to do with luck and good fortune, but everything to do with front office smarts and chutzpah?

Why not trade for Carmelo Anthony?  

It’s no secret Denver is shopping their perennial all-star and scoring machine.  There have been stories circulating all week about ongoing talks between the Nuggets and the New Jersey Nets.  And what the Nets are offering is laughable.  The Bulls could easily top that.

You guys could package Kirk Hinrich with Luol Deng (after signing him to an extension, of course), maybe a Thabo Sefolosha, throw in some future draft picks, agree to take on a dead weight contract to make the salaries match-up and suddenly you’re relevant again. 

Making this deal also clears room for Chicago native Derrick Rose to become your undisputed point guard and, oh by the way, it’d give you one of the top-15 players in the NBA.  

You know, if you’re interested in that sort of thing.

Not only does Melo fill up the box score, he also gives you a go-to guy, something the Bulls have lacked since the departure of that guy, Michael something-or-other. 

He also gives you a marketable superstar who will put butts in seats and jerseys on shoulders.  Re-sign Gordon and Duhon, bring in a veteran big man, and all of the sudden, you’re also one of the deeper teams east of the Mississippi. 

So what are you waiting for?  Pick up the phone.  Call the Denver Nuggets.  Make them an offer.  Bring Melo to the Windy City.

Or don’t.  Because NOT making the big move worked out so well for you last year. 

Onward and Upward,

Dave