Chicago Bulls: Players the Team Should Consider in Exchange for Carlos Boozer

The Chicago Bulls would love to trade Carlos Boozer for the right impact player to help them win a championship. 

But Boozer has a big contract and is on the downside of his career, so who could the Bulls get in return for their starting power forward? Can they parlay him into the piece they need to win a title?

Here are players the Bulls should take a look at in exchange for Boozer.

The Best Option: Amar'e Stoudemire

The best scenario for the Bulls would be to trade Carlos Boozer to the New York Knicks for Amar'e Stoudemire.

The Bulls would get the better player, and Stoudemire is a much better fit for what Chicago needs offensively, as Stoudemire is a beast in the paint and can create his own scoring opportunities. By contrast, Boozer is now more of a mid-range shooter who scores off opportunities created by others. 

And, Bulls fans, this is no mere pipe dream: The Knicks know Stoudemire cannot effectively play alongside ball-dominating players Carmelo Anthony and Jeremy Lin. If they can flip him for a more complementary post player like Boozer, it will improve the overall flow of the New York offense.

The Intriguing Choice: Andrea Bargnani

The Toronto Raptors waited for years to see Bargnani mature into the player he was supposed to be when they drafted him No. 1 overall.

Over the last two years, it may have happened.

Bargnani blossomed into a 20-plus points per game scorer and now actually tries to move on some defensive possessions. The Bulls desperately need a younger, smooth, big offensive operator, and Bargnani can fill that need for them. 

For the Raptors, Boozer would provide a mature, guiding influence and would play well alongside newcomer Jonas Valanciunas in the frontcourt.

The Shot in the Dark: Ben Gordon

The Bulls do not necessarily need to get a big man in return for Boozer. Taj Gibson is ready to start (albeit with help from a strong bench) and Nikola Mirotic, Chicago's forward of the future, is coming in 2013. 

Ben Gordon, long in Detroit's doghouse, could be a very intriguing fit. He knows Chicago, is still popular in the city from his years of starring as a Bull and would fill a clear need for the team.

The Bulls desperately need a dynamic 2-guard who can create his own offense on the perimeter, which is exactly what Gordon can do for them. Acquiring him would allow the Bulls to keep their stockpiled trade assets instead of pooling them to grab an impact player in the draft.  

The Bigger Deal: Hedo Turkoglu

Don't start typing that nasty comment just yet—Boozer is not nearly bad enough to justify trading him straight up for Turkoglu.  

However, Turkoglu really needs a new home, and he replicates many of Boozer's skills: He is a poor defender who can shoot from mid-range, rebound a little and sometimes pass.

Crucially, Turkoglu can create more offense for himself and his teammates than Boozer. If the Magic, who really need to add a "star" player (or two) alongside Dwight Howard, are willing to send a couple draft picks along with Turkoglu, which the Bulls could use to augment a package to acquire a top wing in this draft, then it might be a great deal for Chicago.  

Some Additional Options

Boozer's contract is large enough that few teams will come calling. The Bulls also won't just give him away, as he will be useful to a depleted team in 2012 before they (presumably) amnesty him in 2013. 

But Chicago has a few other intriguing options.

The Bulls could try to package Boozer with their future lottery pick from Charlotte and another asset or two for Josh Smith, but that is more pipe dream than legitimate option. 

And they could even look to acquire Michael Beasley and Darko Milicic from the Minnesota Timberwolves, though seeing Milicic in a Bulls uniform would be harmful to the eyes. 

In the end, Chicago may simply hold on to Boozer for one more year.

But some trades—especially one for Stoudemire—bear watching!