Ranking the Biggest Offseason Needs for the Chicago Bulls

Trailing the Miami Heat 3-1, the Chicago Bulls could start to focus on their offseason needs extremely soon.

General manager Gar Forman and his staff should make a strong attempt to surround Derrick Rose with a championship-caliber supporting cast.

The team is set to have a few free agents such as Nate Robinson, Marco Belinelli and Nazr Mohammed. Which players need to be re-signed and which guys should they let walk away?

Who should the Bulls pick up via the draft?

Should the team try to acquire Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star Kevin Love, who would make a fantastic sidekick for D-Rose?

There are several questions facing the Bulls this summer.

Here are the biggest needs for the much anticipated 2013 offseason.

5. Backup Center

The Bulls could use a quality backup for Joakim Noah.

They had one in Omer Asik, but they allowed him to take his talents to the Houston Rockets last summer.

Asik’s replacement, Nazr Mohammed, has done an admirable job over the last few months. Yet, he isn’t a long-term answer.    

The Bulls should address the position in the upcoming NBA draft. Louisville’s Gorgui Dieng would be the perfect fit.

No, not because the spelling of his name is close to Luol Deng’s, but because of his rebounding and shot-blocking ability. He’s also a solid passer and is capable of hitting the mid-range jumper.   

Dieng could play 10-15 minutes a night, giving Noah a breather.

The Bulls could also go the free agent route by signing a guy like Samuel Dalembert.  

 

4. The Return of Kyle Korver

The Bulls finished the regular season ranked 21^st in three-point percentage.

So what exactly does that mean?

They’re in desperate need of a long-distance threat, and that guy is no other than free agent-to-be, Kyle Korver.

During the regular season, the Ashton Kutcher look-alike was the league’s second-best three-point shooter with a percentage of 45.7.

Korver played for the Atlanta Hawks this past season after spending the previous two years in Chicago. Apparently, he’s open to returning to the Bulls this summer (via realgm.com)

"

Totally, I would. That’s a great organization, that’s an awesome jersey to put on. Great fans, good team. You only get to be a free agent so many times in a career, so I’ll definitely see what’s all there. But I would absolutely listen to what they’ve got to say.

"

Korver would be an ideal addition to the Bulls' bench, playing behind starting small forward Luol Deng.

3. Bringing Back Nate Robinson

Nate Robinson is currently making the league minimum. He’ll pick up a much heftier contract this summer, though.

The 5’9” energetic guard has had an amazing debut season for the Bulls, providing a scoring punch to the starting lineup as well as off the bench at times.          

Robinson has been the team’s leading scorer this postseason, averaging nearly 16 points per contest. He put together a spectacular performance in Game 4 of the Brooklyn Nets series, dropping 34 points during the fourth quarter.   

One would believe Robinson will be expendable next season since the Bulls possess three point guards under contract—starter Derrick Rose as well as backups Kirk Hinrich and youngster Marquis Teague.  

However, the Bulls need to re-sign Robinson.

A D-Rose-Nate Rob duo would give defenders fits due to their quickness and ability to put the ball in the basket.   

2. Joakim Noah at Full Stength

Joakim Noah has come a long way. Drafted by the Bulls in 2007, the former Florida Gator has gone from a decent role player to one of the league’s top centers.

While he isn’t the scorer that Brook Lopez is, Noah may be the most complete big man in the game today. He can score, rebound, rebound, block shots and play the rare “point center” role. He’s even a great free-throw shooter and possesses the ability to stick the mid-ranger jumper.

Noah missed several games this season due to plantar fasciitis, a rather painful foot condition.

The Bulls are going to need Noah at full strength next season in order to compete for that elusive NBA title.  

1. Derrick Rose

April 28, 2012 was truly one of the saddest days in Chicago sports history—the day that superstar Derrick Rose tore his ACL.   

Watching Rose in excruciating pain, fans knew it would be quite a while until he returned to the hardwood.

Rose has been medically cleared to play since March, yet he hasn’t felt comfortable enough to make his highly-anticipated comeback. We’ll have to wait until next season to see him back in action for the Bulls.

Rose’s return will be similar to a huge free agent signing for Chicago since he missed the entire season.

The 2011 NBA MVP should perform just as good or maybe even better than he did before the injury. He’ll instantly remind fans of Adrian Peterson, who's coming off an unbelievable NFL season after suffering an ACL tear. 

When healthy, Rose is arguably the best point guard on the planet and a dynamic scorer.

The Bulls earned the No. 5 seed in the East this season without Rose, but they’ll join the Miami Heat atop the conference next season with him in the lineup.