How to Build the Chicago Bulls as True Title Contenders by 2013-2014 Season

The Chicago Bulls championship chances are not great in 2012 and as a result many of the Bulls fans and perhaps even the Bulls themselves, are looking towards a 2013 re-rebuilding effort. 

The moves for this season are a stop-gap, mere filler to get us through the season until Rose can come back, and come back to full speed. Even if he does come back this year, and he probably will, he won't be playing at the same level. 

It's going to take time to trust his need and shake off the rust. 

The new "Bench Mob" may not be as good as the old one, and even if they are, they won't have the chemistry. 

The Bulls are doubtful to win a title this year, even if you're being optimistic. 

So what do they have to do get back on the title track next season? 

Here are five easy steps to get back to being a contender. 

Play Marquis Teague and Jimmy Butler This Year

Tom Thibodeau has not been notorious for giving young players tons of playing time.

Last year Jimmy Butler played 359 minutes the whole season. The year prior, he gave 123 minutes of playing time to James Johnson before he was traded away to the Toronto Raptors.

One of the most important things about managing the salary cap is getting the most out of players who are on their rookie contracts. Rookie contracts are limited, and you can get more production for less money than with pretty much any other kind of contract. 

Butler played tough last year, and in spite of his limited minutes you saw improvement coming from him. His defense in particular was impressive. However, his ability to get to the line was also apparent, and he demonstrated that more in the Summer League as he was one of the biggest stars in Vegas this year. 

Marquis Teague didn't fare so well, but he has the type of game that could be groomed to play the same style as Derrick Rose. The Bulls have lacked a player who can step in and play the same way. If you don't have to change your system for the backup point guard it makes a big difference. 

Teague is also young though. He had one year at Kentucky and even there he wasn't the primary option. Like Rose, he's a John Calipari product though and that matters. 

Teague won't develop if he doesn't play. You can't learn from your mistakes if you don't get a chance to make them. 

Thibodeau needs to give his young players a chance to get quality time this year. The more they play this year, the better the bench will be next year. 

Amnesty Carlos Boozer

Amnestying Carlos Boozer is a subject that pretty much every Bulls fan agrees with. However, some of us are concerned that the management isn't getting it. So we're going to say it for them in pictures. 

Click the links to tell the story. 

Amnesty Car-los Boozer

Really, the only reason it wasn't wroth doing last year is that there was no way to get to $15 million in player back. In fact, there was no way to get even $5 million in player back. 

The Bulls are obligated to $64 million as things stand right now, according to Hoopshype.com. 

Next year can be a bit different though. If the Bulls buy out Hamilton's contract, they're only on the hook for one million. Take off Boozer's $15 million contract and it drops them down to around $45 million. 

There's also speculation that the cap is going to settle in around the $60 million next year. 

There's also going to be some cap holds included, but that's going to amount to about $5 million. 

The Bulls could amnesty Boozer and ink a $10 million player in his stead, and still have both their mid-level exception and trade exception to use. 

Now granted they can't use all of that on one player, but they can add two $5 million players and a $10 million player. 

Come to Terms with Taj Gibson

The Bulls need to come to terms with Taj Gibson, but not make it official until after they sign a free agent. The reason for this is simple: they can spend more money that way.

The Bulls will need to extend a qualifying offer to Gibson once free agency starts. The value of that qualifying offer will count against their cap space. 

In all likelihood though, Gibson is going to get more money than his qualifying offer, which will only be $3.2 million. 

If they sign Gibson to a contract before the season ends, it should be for something in the neighborhood of a four year $40 million contract, which is what his worth has been bandied about as. 

By agreeing to terms with him, but holding off on signing the contract then they can sign other players first and go over the cap with his extension. Agreeing to terms with him first prevents an "Omer Asik repeat." 

Add Players Wisely

When the Bulls traded Kyle Korver for a trade exception they screwed the proverbial pooch. 

By doing that rather than work a sign and trade for Kirk Hinrich, they wired themselves into a hard cap situation where they absolutely cannot, for any reason whatsoever, under any circumstances go over $74 million. 

So they can't even use the trade exception they traded to get unless they find someone eager to take Rip Hamilton, which isn't likely. 

It does mean they can use it next offseason after they sign their other free agents and extend Gibson though. 

It's not just the timing they have to get right this time, it's the players. With the Bulls amnestying Boozer, their front court depth will be severely diminished, and they'll need to pick up someone as a solid backup power forward to play behind Gibson.

They also need to be smart about who they sign with the money they free up from amnestying Boozer. They've got a great shot at adding a quality shooting guard to share the backcourt with Derrick Rose and Tyreke Evans would really fit the bill. 

Evans has the size and athleticism to excel in the Bulls defensive system. He has the ball handling skills to take some of the pressure off of Rose. And, with his having come down a bit after his Rookie of the Year season two years ago, he's probably available at four years for $40 million. 

A starting five of Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans, Luol Deng, Taj Gibson and Joakim Noah would be quite formidable. The bench, already with Kirk Hinrich, a developing Marquis Teague and Jimmy Butler, along with the addition of two $5 million players would regain the depth it had. 

Who those players would be is just too hard to say because of too many variables at this point. Elton Brand is a name that makes sense though. So does Lamar Odom if he can show something this year. Carl Landry would be a good pickup. All of these are players who could be willing to sign with a contender for $5 million. 

The Bulls would also have their 2013 draft pick. 

And on top of all of that, Nikola Mirotic and the Charlotte pick would still be waiting in the wings to add more depth later. 

Extend Tom Thibodeau

Tom Thibodeau is the first coach in NBA history to lead the league in wins his first two seasons. When you consider the injuries he's had to deal with, this is just a phenomenal feat.

In what is an even more phenomenal number, in the last 22 years his defenses have finished in the top ten 19 times. They have finished in the top six in defensive rating for the last decade. 

Thibodeau established himself as a great defensive coach years ago, and now he's established himself as a top tier head coach as well. 

The Bulls have to yet reach an agreement with Thibodeau for a long-term contract. 

There is a very good chance this contract gets worked out before this season ends, but if it doesn't, there will be a lot of antsy Bulls fans. 

But more than that, there will be some hesitant free agents. Players know that a great coach makes a difference and Thibodeau has shown he's on the track to become a great coach. 

Without signing Thibodeau to a long-term deal, it's not going to matter what else they do. The Bulls future is very much dependent on them keeping Thibodeau around.