NBA Trade Rumors: Bulls Would Be Nuts to Trade Luol Deng for Monta Ellis

I believe that the Bulls need a better scorer at the shooting guard spot, but parting with Luol Deng to acquire him makes no sense. Apparently, Bulls management agrees with me for once.

Tim Kawakami of Mercury News tweeted this:

"

NBA source notes probably most sensible GSW trade is Ellis for Luol Deng & a few people on both teams like it. But Bulls won't do it.

— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) February 28, 2012"

Acquiring Ellis is something that helps the Bulls, but at a sensible cost. For his career he's a 19.6 point per game scorer, and he hasn't averaged less than 22 in three years. Ellis is a proven high volume scorer, and he would probably be the Bulls leading scorer if he came to Chicago.

It's not because he's a better scorer than Derrick Rose, it's because Rose would play a more traditional point guard with another 20 point-per-game player on the roster.

The Bulls would have the best offensive backcourt in the NBA, as well as the most exciting.

Now that we're done fantasizing about that aspect of the game, let's talk about where the Bulls would be lacking if this rumored deal came to fruition.

The Bulls would lose their best and most versatile defender. Luol's length and athleticism on defense is very difficult to replace. Sure, the Bulls have a very solid defender in Ronnie Brewer, but Brewer doesn't have Deng's length, nor is he as good offensively.

On top of that, Deng is perhaps the true leader of the squad. Don't get me wrong, Rose is the best player and his leadership skills have improved greatly, but the Bulls missed Deng tremendously when he was out.

In that seven game stretch, the Bulls were only 4-3 without Deng.

It wasn't about scoring, and it wasn't solely about defense. It was more about presence and leadership, especially with the second unit. Deng captains that unit, and without him, they look lost.

During that seven game stretch, the Bulls bench was -29.

Essentially, the Bulls would be taking one step forward while taking two steps back. 

It would be a great add for the Bulls if they could part with Joakim Noah to acquire Ellis. They have Omer Asik to step in, plus Noah's absence would free up Carlos Boozer on the block.  

It is likely the Warriors don't like that deal. Noah's presence would make them a less attractive destination for Dwight Howard, and they are still holding on to the pipe dream of luring D-12 to Oakland.

As it stands, Howard is the only player remotely available the Bulls should include Deng in a trade for. I'm not saying Deng is as good a player as Howard, it's just hard to get a player in return who will compensate for what Deng brings to this team.

That trade or anything close to it doesn't seem likely. This is the predicament a contending team finds itself in. You have to give something to get something, but what is too much?

As good as Ellis is, he isn't worth parting with Luol.