NBA Trade Deadline 2012: The One Trade the Chicago Bulls Must Make

Bulls Trade: Carlos Boozer, Omer Asik, Ronnie Brewer and their 2012 No. 1 pick

Celtics Trade: Kevin Garnett, Chris Wilcox and Mickael Pietrus

Many Bulls fans probably feel Carlos Boozer is better than Kevin Garnett at this point in their respective careers, and that there is no way the team should also give away Omer Asik, Ronnie Brewer and a No. 1 pick to make such a swap.

From a pure talent standpoint, they would be right. This is not an equal swap, not because Boozer is better than Garnett (which he is not, especially on the defensive end), but because Asik and Brewer make up a duo that trumps the Wilcox-Pietrus combo in spades.

However, the Bulls would make this trade mostly for financial reasons, something most fans don't understand and don't want to understand. Basketball is a business, plain and simple.

Starting next season, the Bulls will start paying Derrick Rose max money and in turn will be deep into the luxury tax, something most owners not named Mark Cuban despise with a passion. Boozer is a fine player—allergic to defense, but still a fine player—with a bad contract.

Brewer is a solid wingman with a contract that may be a bit high and a bit too lengthy for Chicago's taste, especially when compared with Pietrus' extremely cheap and expiring contract.

Asik is a wonderful young talent who will be a restricted free agent next year and is likely to receive a higher offer from another team. The Bulls would not match an offer for financial reasons, thereby losing him for nothing anyways.

This trade will not only greatly improve the Bulls' financial makeup, it will actually make them an even better defensive team—a scary thought for the rest of the NBA. This trade will also bring Kevin Garnett back to Chicago, where he played high school ball for Farragut Career Academy and won the National Player of the Year award.

It would also surprise no-one if Garnett chooses to finish his career in Chicago, and sign an extension with the Bulls with a nice hometown discount.

All things considered, this is a no-brainer trade for the Bulls, and a trade I believe the Celtics would accept, as there are no great power forwards due to hit the free-agent market next season that are better than Boozer.

Asik would look great in Celtics green and white, and is a player they would sign to an extension. Brewer would be a very solid backup to captain Paul Pierce and the No. 1 pick would certainly come in handy.