Bulls Trade Rumors: Breaking Down the Latest Buzz from Chicago
Despite having the best record in the NBA at 36-9, the Chicago Bulls are still looking to make upgrades for the playoff push. Whether they are able to strike a deal before the 3:00 p.m. EST deadline remains to be seen.
The biggest thing the Bulls have to be concerned with is making sure that Derrick Rose is 100-percent healthy when the postseason starts. The reigning NBA MVP missed Wednesday's game against Miami due to a groin injury. Expect the team to be extra careful with him over the final month.
Rumor: Pau Gasol Traded From Los Angeles to Chicago
As far as potential trades are concerned, the biggest name that has been linked to the Bulls is Pau Gasol, but Neil Hayes of the Chicago Sun-Times all but shot that down because it doesn't make financial sense for the Los Angeles Lakers to take Carlos Boozer in return.
"The only way the Pau Gasol-to-the-Bulls speculation makes sense is if the Los Angeles Lakers accept Carlos Boozer and his contract, which will pay him between $15 million and $17 million over the next three seasons. The Lakers aren’t interested, according to a source with knowledge of the situation, making trade speculation moot.
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In the same report, Hayes also mentions that the Bulls are "unwilling to part with a package of players in any trade, especially if that package includes Joakim Noah."
Moving multiple players from a team that already has the best record in the league wouldn't make much sense. The Bulls need to focus on making smaller moves to upgrade their depth and bench.
Rumor: Courtney Lee Traded From Houston to Chicago
One name that has been kicked around, according to Steve Kyler of Hoopsworld, is Courtney Lee of the Houston Rockets. Unfortunately, the Bulls aren't willing to part with the pieces necessary to get him.
"Courtney Lee seems to be the chip most teams want. The Chicago Bulls have been after Courtney for almost two years, but sources say the Rockets want either Omer Asik or Taj Gibson in return for Lee and that’s likely too steep a price for the Bulls.
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Lee would make a nice upgrade at the shooting guard position, but to give up young players with size and upside like Gibson and Asik would be a bit much for a role player.
All in all, the Bulls don't appear to be keen on making any moves. They have made it to this point as the best team in the NBA and don't have to do anything drastic to compete with the Miami Heat in the East.
If something small comes along that interests the Bulls, they will most surely pull the trigger. But it wouldn't make sense for them to make a deal just for the sake of making one.
