Bulls Rumors: Analyzing Trade Buzz Surrounding Arron Afflalo and Taj Gibson

The 33-20 Chicago Bulls enter Thursday's extremely pivotal game against the Cleveland Cavaliers with a half-game lead in the Central Division. A victory over Cleveland will send the Bulls into the All-Star break with a division lead and the third-best record in the East.

This team has several new pieces this year and is still attempting to jell at this point in the season, but despite some unfamiliarity, they've already proved to be a legitimate playoff contender. Now, Chicago must decide if adding another piece to the puzzle will put it over the top in an effort to claim its first NBA title since the 1997-98 season.

Due to the Bulls already owning a well-built roster, there hasn't been an abundance of trade chatter surrounding the team as the trade deadline nears. However, a couple of interesting rumors have recently surfaced from trusted sources around the Web. Let's take a look.

Arron Afflalo Incoming?

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The Bulls are a well-rounded team already, but the possibility of adding Afflalo is certainly intriguing. After all, not only would he provide more firepower for the team's 10th-ranked offense, but he would also increase depth on a roster that has a history of injuries.

Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com was the first to report the news of Chicago's interest in the swingman:

This doesn't come with a great deal of surprise, as the Bulls were interested in acquiring Afflalo's services prior to the season. However, there are a few potential roadblocks for Chicago mentioned in Shelburne's tweet. Not only are there five interested teams, but the Denver Nuggets are asking for a first-round pick for a player who has an option on his contract for next season.

Now, the question becomes this: Is that hefty price worthwhile?

Afflalo is slated to make $7.5 million this season, according to Spotrac.com, and that number will remain the same next year should he opt to maintain his current deal. The Bulls will have some decisions to make here, as they may be dishing out some cash over the offseason—most notably to keep shooting guard Jimmy Butler around.

Speaking of Butler, his current status is in doubt after suffering a right shoulder strain against the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night. He was slated to undergo an MRI, according to Nick Friedell of ESPN.com, and he's currently considered day-to-day. The Bulls will need a healthy Butler to make a deep playoff run, and this injury could sway the team in the direction of adding Afflalo.

This season, Afflalo's shooting numbers have been down, as he's bucketing 42.8 percent of his shots from the floor while averaging 14.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. That drop in production could be due to the scheme and supporting cast in Denver, and we could speculate an increase in productivity on a talented Chicago team.

Taj Gibson on the Move?

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One piece of information no one can seem to agree on is the status of Gibson. There have been reports that the Bulls were seeking to trade the power forward, but those reports were accompanied by others stating that he wasn't being made available.

Sean Deveney of Sporting News initially reported Gibson was on the trade block and named potential suitors: "Gibson has been connected to much of the league the past few months, from Los Angeles to Toronto to Phoenix to Detroit to Portland."

However, that report was shot down more than once.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports made it known he had not heard of such trade talk during an interview on the Spiegel and Mannelly Show (via CBS Chicago): "I have not heard anything involving Taj. I haven't heard that in my conversations with team executives. I've heard about a lot of names coming up in trade talks. His has not been one of them."

Wojnarowski wasn't the only one to dismiss such gossip, as Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reported the same: "A source indicated the Bulls have made no calls about trading Gibson, especially because they have health concerns about center Joakim Noah. Coach Tom Thibodeau did all but reiterate that point, stressing the importance of the role Gibson plays."

Those comments from Thibodeau speak volumes for how important Gibson is to the team. He is a stout defender and one big reason why the Bulls rank 13th in points allowed per game this season. A consistent player on both ends of the court, Gibson delivers on the offensive side of the court as well, averaging 10.6 points per game while shooting 48.5 percent from the floor.

Due to Chicago's injury history, the team needs to maintain as much depth as possible as it makes a run toward the playoffs. Sure, Gibson holds an $8 million price tag this year, according to Spotrac.com, but his value within the team's rotation is far greater.