Chicago Bulls: How Much Should They Be Willing to Give Up to Land Dwight Howard?

Here we go again—more speculation about Dwight Howard coming to Chicago.

Many think all of this banter is worthless and overdone, but the reality is that Howard's going to be moved soon.  It's just a matter of how soon and, most importantly, where.

With the Bulls apparently now on Howard's wish list, there are obvious rumors buzzing.  Everyone from featured NBA analysts to six-year-old little kids are tossing out prospective deals that would pair Derrick Rose and Dwight Howard on the Bulls.  

I've previously argued that acquiring Howard is unnecessary.  I continue to feel that way if it means giving up half the team.  Rose and Howard would make for a dynamic duo—maybe the most dynamic duo of all time.  But simply having those two on the same team doesn't guarantee Chicago will become the "Unbeata-Bulls."  Most rumored deals for Howard feature the Bulls giving up a huge chunk of their young nucleus, a nucleus that won a league-best 62 games last season.

Because of this, the Bulls need to find a deal that's reasonable and not budge from it.  They should put it on the table and allow Orlando to discern.  If the Magic bite, they bite.  If they don't, they don't.

So what should this deal be?

My main suggestion is to leave Luol Deng out of the negotiations.  Maybe that suggestion is already enough for Orlando to hang up the phone.  If so, then the Magic didn't bite.  The Bulls still have a heck of a team in place.  

Losing "Lieutenant" Deng would hurt way more than what we realize.  He does so many little things that it's hard to ascertain his value.  You don't realize it until he's not playing (like we're realizing now, as the Bulls have lost three out of six since Deng's wrist injury).  

The truth is that Deng's playing like a worthy All-Star and has become one of the league's elite defenders.  

Most importantly, the Bulls need Deng's presence to dethrone the Miami Heat.  And let's be honest, the Miami Heat are likely the only major obstacle that stand in Chicago's way.  Deng possesses the ability to contain LeBron James.  Losing him would put the Bulls in a precarious situation to defend the star-studded cast from South Beach.

Now, is it possible the Magic would listen to offers that don't involve Deng?  

I don't see why they wouldn't. The Bulls feature a host of young talent.  Besides what's currently displayed on their roster, they also feature promising 6'10" forward Nikola Mirotic (who remains in Europe) and a future Bobcats first-round pick.   

If the Bulls packaged Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson, Mirotic, the Bobcats' first-round pick and another Bulls first-round pick, the Magic would undoubtedly be enticed.  This deal is arguably more enticing than the Lakers' offer of Andrew Bynum and an aging Pau Gasol, or a package from the Nets that features Brook Lopez and draft picks.

The Bulls should definitely pull the trigger on the aforementioned package.  I'd even include Omer Asik if the Magic so desperately craved him, but the Bulls should draw the line there.  The Magic will most assuredly ask for Deng, but this is where the Bulls need to exercise self-control.  

With the Bulls in the mix for Dwight Howard, expect rumors to circulate daily.  However, Bulls management would be wise to craft a deal and not sway from it, and they would be extra wise to make it a priority to keep Luol Deng in the Windy City.