Four Offseason Moves the Chicago Bulls Need to Make to Be Contenders

The Chicago Bulls ended the 2008-09 season on a sour note in what turned out to be one of the most exciting playoff series of the season against the Boston Celtics. 

A dismal start to the season put the Bulls and their fans in a panic mode, and John Paxson pulled off one the best trade of the deadline by acquiring swingman John Salmons and center Brad Miller, while also picking up an extra first-round pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.

The Bulls struck gold last offseason by winning the NBA Draft lottery and the chance to draft eventual NBA Rookie of the Year point guard Derrick Rose.

With a foundation of Derrick Rose, the much-improved Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah, and Salmons, the Bulls appear to be in great shape for next season.  Still, improvements need to be made. 

Here are four moves the Bulls need to make to become the elite of the Eastern Conference.

1.  Re-sign SG Ben Gordon

Gordon has been wanting out of Chicago for a couple of years now, but, if the price is right, there is no doubt he would suit up for the Bulls once more. 

Re-signing Gordon is the key to the Bulls' offseason.  He is a streaky scorer, but he is the best the Bulls have had since he was drafted out of UConn in 2004. 

He proved in this season's playoffs that he is an elite scorer and needs to be accounted for on the court at all times.

Gordon turned down a $50 million deal two years ago, and he could receive a similar offer this offseason, maybe more. 

If Gordon opts to test the free agent waters, where he would likely become a New York Knick, he will leave a major void at shooting guard for the Bulls.  In his career, he has averaged over 18 points per game and over 20 per game in 2008. 

He is the Bulls' best three-point shooter, and, quite frankly, their only consistent threat from downtown.

2.  Drafting PF Tyler Hansbrough

The Bulls currently hold the 16th pick in the NBA Draft.  If Tyler Hansbrough somehow slips into their laps with this selection, they need to jump on it. 

Hansbrough has been the most consistent player at the college ranks over the last four years and is extremely athletic.  ESPN.com's Chad Ford has a great NBA Draft blog, and one post documented the athleticism displayed by Hansbrough at the recent NBA Scouting Combine.

The 6-foot-10 forward is an absolute beast down low. His jump shot is a lock from nearly 20 feet and in. He is a ferocious rebounder, can run the floor well, and most importantly, is nearly flawless from the free-throw line (and gets there often). 

Tyrus Thomas is really starting to look like the fourth overall pick he was back in 2006, but his offensive game is limited to the occasional jump shot and garbage points off offensive rebounds.  His defensive prowess would compliment the offensive juggernaut that is Tyler Hansbrough.

3.  Draft a Pass-First Point Guard

The free agent crop is weak in terms of backup point guards, so the Bulls will need to look to the draft to improve this area.  That is, if they can re-sign Ben Gordon.  If not, they will ultimately have to pick up another shooter.

Chicago has worked out Wake Forest PG Jeff Teague and VCU's Eric Maynor, but both are projected to be gone before the Bulls pick at 16. 

The Bulls have also had private workouts with Patrick Mills of St. Mary's and Nick Calathes of Florida. 

With the 26th pick in the NBA draft, I feel the Bulls should select Nick Calathes of Florida.  Here is his scouting report courtesy of ESPN.com.

Positives

Versatile combo guard—can play three positions

Excellent floor vision and ballhandling

Excellent shooter with NBA 3-point range

Can put the ball on the floor

Good finisher around the basket

Great basketball IQ

Good help defender

Negatives

Needs to add a lot of muscle to his frame

OK athlete, but not particularly explosive or quick

Struggles in man-to-man defense against quick guards

A combo guard that can play three positions?  Deep three point range?  Good ball handler?  Sounds like just what the doctor ordered for these Chicago Bulls.  

4. If Ben Gordon Signs Elsewhere

I still believe the Bulls should draft Hansbrough.  Brad Miller is a solid scoring big man, but outside of him, the Bulls really lack an inside presence.

This does, however, shake up the rest of the draft.  The Bulls will probably no longer be looking at a point guard later in the first round. 

They could trade Luol Deng for another high first-round pick and get one of their targeted guards like Maynor, Teague, or UNC's Ty Lawson, but Deng has a huge contract, and it is unlikely any team will want to take it on.

In that case, with the 26th pick in the draft, I feel the Bulls have three options.

1. Draft Wayne Ellington; SG, North Carolina
2. Draft Chase Budinger; G/F, Arizona
3. Draft DeJuan Blair; F, Pittsburgh

Obviously, none of these players are a lock to fall to the Bulls at 26, as ESPN.com has them rated 34th, 25th, and 17th respectively.  Chicago has held a workout with each of them, so there is no doubt they have interest.

Ellington is basically a taller version of Ben Gordon.  He still has a lot of growing to do, and he may be a bit better of a slasher, but he is going to be a good NBA player if put into the right system.

Budinger is a great scorer, but it is said that he lacks intensity at times and never really uses his athleticism.  In other words, he is a lazy player.  If he can pick up his act, the Bulls would have a very good three-point shooter on their hands and a good rebounding guard.

Blair is simply a beast down low.  He does not have a refined offensive game, but that does not mean he is a defensive specialist. 

His wingspan reaches 7-foot-3, and, while he is only 6'7", his 277-pound frame makes him virtually unstoppable for many to defend.  However, Blair is a terrible free-throw shooter, and likely will take a couple of years to develop into the player the Bulls want him to be.

In the end, I do not feel Blair will be available, so count him out for this pick.  In fact, he may even land with the Bulls at pick number 16.  Who knows?

Budinger was the pick in my previous mock draft, but his stock is rising, and there is a good chance he will land with Oklahoma City a pick or two before Chicago.

That makes the pick Ellington.

The Bulls cap off their draft with a big time scorer, one who has limitless potential.  Not to mention he has chemistry with their earlier first-round pick, fellow Tar Heel Tyler Hansbrough.

If the Bulls are able to pull off any draft day trades to possibly acquire another shooter, then who knows what may happen on draft day. 

Either way, the Bulls have a golden opportunity to vault this team to elite status, and to possibly contend next year for the Eastern Conference Title.