Bulls Trade Rumors: Chicago Must Compromise in Pursuit of Dwight Howard

Trading for Dwight Howard would take the Chicago Bulls from a nice title contender into the absolute locked-in favorite. The difference between those two distinctions is immense, and one that the Bulls must do everything in their power to fill. 

According to Marc Stein of ESPN, while Howard isn't necessarily interested in the Bulls, they are very interested in him.

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The Bulls, I'm told, are stunned (and somewhat miffed) that Howard doesn't have them on his wish list, struggling to believe he's not angling to hook up with D-Rose in a true (if frigid) NBA metropolis. And interesting won't begin to describe the situation if these teams do start talking seriously, with Orlando sure to want Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson, and Chicago more likely to try to sell the Magic on the likes of Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer and Omer Asik.

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That can't make a difference to the Bulls. Their worry can't be whether or not Dwight would come back to Chicago in free agency. The Bulls' only concern needs to be winning this year, which they are equipped to do. 

For the sake of an argument, let's say that the Bulls and Magic strike the deal that Stein said the Magic would want. Take a look at what the Bulls would be getting in Howard.

MPG	PPG	RPG	BPG
38.2	21	15.4	2.2

If you're not a numbers person, let's just say that they would be getting the best center in the game and be done with it. 

The numbers of what they would lose aren't nearly as dominant. 

	MPG	PPG	RPG	BPG
Taj Gibson	19.2	7.2	4.1	1.3
Joakim Noah	29.0	8.7	9.3	1.2

Is this really a question? Orlando would want Gibson, and Howard and the Bulls wouldn't like that move? That is a ridiculous thought. 

Howard is far and away better than that duo. 

This trade would give the Bulls both the best point guard in the league in Derrick Rose, and the best center in Dwight Howard. On top of them would be a strong starting lineup featuring Rip Hamilton/Ronnie Brewer, Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer. 

So even if Howard is just a rental, the Bulls won't be left empty-handed for the future. 

But the more important element here is that this trade would make the Bulls the best team in the league with two of it's top players. That is too juicy for this team to pass on. 

If you have an opportunity to sacrifice a little bit of the future for a title, you have to take it. That is precisely the option here. 

The downside isn't low enough to keep the Bulls away, while the upside is far too great for them to do anything but pursue.

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