Chicago Bulls: 4-1 Record Is Good but There Is Still One Big Problem

The Chicago Bulls are one of the NBA's elite teams.  The 40-point smackdown of the Memphis Grizzlies without Richard Hamilton should serve as an indicator of things to come for the rest of the league.  All is great in Chicago but let me caution you: There is still one big problem.

Where is the bully? 

Last year when Joakim Noah or Carlos Boozer went down, the Bulls had Kurt Thomas to rely on.  This season is different from the previous one. 

Depth is a premium now for most teams in this shortened season.  The Bulls are at a position of strength with their depth.  No team can boast about having a bench that can go 10 to 11 strong.  

The Bulls' depth is so good that rookie Jimmy Butler has only played six minutes at this point.  Even backup point guard John Lucas III had a good game yesterday.  What's missing is size.

I don't want to be the bearer of bad news but Noah gets into foul trouble and he has been injury-prone over the last few seasons.  Omir Asik is still young as far as NBA playing time is concerned.  Also, he gets into foul trouble as well.  That's not to mention the broken fibula he suffered in the Miami playoff series. 

If one of those guys go down for a long stretch, so do the Bulls' chances of winning the title.  That's not to say they could not win it without Noah or Asik, but they are the anchors of their respective units and winning without them it becomes tougher.

Who's available?

Well, there is Joel Przybilla, Leon Powe, Erick Dampier and Dan Gadzuric. 

Not really a murderers' row.  Actually, among them, only Przybilla is intriguing enough to garner legitimate interest.  He is 7'1" and defensive-minded.  That fits what the Bulls would be looking for—a shot-blocker who can rebound and police the inside.  The issue with him is that he is hinting at retirement.

What if the Bulls fail at convincing Przybilla to not retire?  What are their options beyond this point?

I have been hinting at a trade idea for the last few days and here it is...

Bulls send first-round pick and Kyle Korver or Taj Gibson to the Sacramento Kings for DeMarcus Cousins or Jason Thompson.

Was that the drop of a glass that I hear? 

It's not as far-fatched as it sounds.  The Bulls need a guy who can play on both sides of the floor.  Cousins wants out and Thompson is rotting on the bench.  Both players are accused of having immaturity problems, more so Cousins than Thompson.  Things for Cousins came to a head yesterday after his request for a trade became public.

Cousins has the talent to be one of the best centers in the NBA.  He can score from the inside and on the outside.  He's a good rebounder who seems to understand positioning very well for a player his age (21).  His length at 6'11" would pose matchup problems for any team and his addition would clearly give the Bulls an edge over the Miami Heat.  The issue has always been his determination to improve.  

Cousins has to rein in his emotions and needs to be around a more structured environment in order to reach his potential as a player.  Sacramento is clearly a mess at this time and the Bulls can take advantage while helping out the Kings.  In Gibson, they would get a steady player who provides the leadership that Sacramento is lacking.  The draft pick could be used by the Kings to add another piece, perhaps a true point guard—something missing on the Sacramento roster.

A move to the Bulls can salvage the career of Cousins, who is in dire need of a change of scenery.  Tom Thibodeau is a coach that demands accountability and could get Cousins back to where he needs to be mentally.  Cousins has All-Star talent and could be had for a reasonable price.

Jason Thompson is a player who needs coaching, period.  He can be a high-reward player if the coach can press the right buttons.  He averaged 11.1 points and 7.4 rebounds in his rookie campaign and improved in his second year but apparently he's been in the doghouse of Kings coach Paul Westphal ever since his arrival.  

The talent is there and he also has size.  At 6'11", 250 pounds, Thompson can fight down in the trenches for rebounds and stretch opposing defenses on offense.  The Bulls may not have to send anything more than a draft pick Sacramento's way as the current thinking could be to eliminate the logjam that the Kings have in their frontcourt. 

Thompson is also young (25) with a high basketball IQ that has not been utilized in the Kings' system.  I think Coach Thibodeau can harness his IQ and make him a true force on the defensive end.  A frontcourt combination of Boozer, Noah, Gibson, Asik and Thompson gives the Bulls a strong rotation that cannot be matched.

The real question is would the Bulls make a move like this?  I would, but I believe that the Bulls would not.

As for Korver, the Bulls can find a three-point specialist elsewhere.  He also helps the Kings offensively and such a move could put him in a place for another decent payday.  The Kings would have an option to keep him for another year as Korver's deal has a team option after the season.

For the Bulls, it's a minimal loss that actually gives them roster flexibility next season once Derrick Rose's extension kicks in.

For the remainder of this season, their biggest need is more size.  At 4-1 the Bulls can add DeMarcus Cousins or Jason Thompson despite their reputations and fill that need.  Or offer Joel Przybilla a deal he can't refuse.