Chicago Bulls Rumors: Latest News on Potential Moves

Now fully engaged in the midseason, the Bulls are where you would expect at this stage of a condensed season. 

They have some injuries they are dealing with. They have a player recently waived. They have a few players they are looking at signing, and they have a trade rumor that won't die. 

Here is all the latest in the news surrounding the Chicago Bulls. 

Mike James Waived

The Bulls briefly picked up the D-League player and NBA veteran Mike James, who had previously played under Tom Thibodeau when he was an assistant coach for the Houston Rockets. He was needed when both starting point guard Derrick Rose and his backup, CJ Watson, were nursing injuries. 

He had one game against Charlotte where he scored nine points and had 10 assists off the bench. He also saw limited action in two other games. 

James was dropped, presumably to make room for another big man. 

Bulls Shopping for a Big Man

Ever since the Bulls saw Kurt Thomas sign with the Portland Trail Blazers, it's been a conversation as to who they might sign and, more recently, when they might sign his replacement. 

Two names that have come up are Joel Przybilla and Leone Powe. Przybilla has the advantage of being able to player power forward or center. Powe has the advantage of already knowing Tom Thibodeau's defensive system. 

According to the latest news on Przybilla, he is "weighing offers to sign with either the Bulls or Miami Heat, perhaps as early as this week." Hopefully he chooses the Rebel Alliance over the Evil Empire. 

There are rumors that Kenyon Martin has been shopping teams, but the Bulls have not been one of those teams. It's also true that he wants regular rotation time—something he might not get on Thibodeau's bench. 

Recent rumors that the Bulls were close to a deal with Fabrico Oberto appear to be unfounded. 

Other names linked to the Bulls include Chris Richards and Rasheed Wallace. 

Of all those names, probably the most appealing is Rasheed Wallace, provided he's a) stable, b) in game shape and c) still able to hit his three. 

Having a big who can hit the three would present an interesting option the Bulls don't presently have, as that would force teams to empty out the lane and give Rose more room to operate in the middle. As we see, he needs about a molecule of space. 

Wallace also has the benefit of being able to play either power forward or center. Finally, he already knows Thibodeau's system. 

Dwight Howard Trade

Dwight Howard reignited the rumor mill when he mentioned that it wouldn't be impossible for him to be traded to the Bulls. According to the Orlando Sentinel, Howard said:

"

If I could play with Derrick right now and God wanted that to happen, it will happen. It has nothing to do with me not wanting to play with Derrick Rose. I love him. That's my brother.

"

However, also according to the Sentinel:

"

(Magic GM, Otis Smith) told the Orlando Sentinel that Howard's camp has not indicated to the Magic that the superstar center has expanded his list of preferred trade destinations beyond his original three teams: the New Jersey Nets, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks.

"

So, make of that what you will. 

The raving debate is how much is Howard worth. Some are ready to give up Luol Deng, Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson. That seems awfully steep, even for Dwight Howard. 

The other problem I see with this is that it doesn't give the Bulls what they need: another player who they can give the ball to late in games. Howard's free-throw shooting makes him a late-game liability. I don't see this being the move that makes the Bulls better simply for the reason it doesn't accomplish what they need.