Bulls Trade Rumors: Analyzing Buzz on Kevin Martin and More at Deadline
Unless the Chicago Bulls are confident they can secure, say, a Ray Allen on the market, Thursday is critical to the team's championship hopes.
It's no secret the Bulls need another shooter to platoon with Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler. In fact, it might just be the difference between being in the Eastern Conference fray this postseason and being surefire contenders for a title.
Chicago has the bigs to bang with pretty much any team, but that only goes so far in the postseason, where the efficiency of depth players comes to light.
Luckily for Chicago, there are a few names on the market who are available, although the front office's ability to reel in the necessary addition hinges on just how much it is willing to surrender.
Searching for That (Bargain) Special Shooter
Most contenders would have issues winning shootouts when Kirk Hinrich (6.5 points per game) and Mike Dunleavy (9.3) are the main sources of a spark off the bench.
Chicago understands this but seems to want to walk the tightrope between contention this year and down the road in a very nimble manner, as K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune details:
Translation: First-round picks are off the table, as is Sixth Man of the Year contender Taj Gibson, most likely, whose name has been one of the constants on the rumor mill all season long.
The Bulls would score a major return for a big such as Gibson, but the now-later balancing act seems to imply that the front office is content with its current roster construction if nothing comes to fruition.
That said, there are bargains on the market that the Bulls may pursue at the last second. After noting that the Minnesota Timberwolves are unlikely to buy out Kevin Martin, Sam Amick of USA Today goes on to explain that Chicago is one of a few teams with an interest:
"Unlikely" is a discouraging word, but these things can change in a hurry at the deadline.
Martin is 32 years old and not necessarily a major facet of the plans in Minnesota, which may have something to do with his cap hit north of $7 million in each of the next two seasons, per Spotrac.
As a rental and scoring option, the Bulls should not scoff at his 20.2/2.0/4.2 slash line and 17.85 player efficiency rating, per ESPN.com.
It all comes down to cost, but it is impossible to ignore just how great of a scoring option Martin would be in the Windy City as a rotational contributor. The level of his availability is something that may change the thought process of the Chicago front office, too, especially if it is true that a trade is the only avenue in which Martin will be available for a postseason run.
The Buyout Possibility
The Denver Nuggets were everyone's favorite sellers, and ones the Bulls seemed involved with at the deadline.
Arron Afflalo, a UCLA product, was another potential elite scoring option for the Bulls off the bench, which is why the organization had considered picking up the phone, according to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne:
It's back to the drawing board now, though, if the Bulls want to make a serious push to do a deal with the Nuggets, as Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski illustrates:
Given Chicago's apparent stance on not giving away top pieces, the Bulls may continue to sit on the sidelines.
After all, Sporting News' Sean Deveney recently told CSN Chicago that he hears the Bulls are more content to look at the buyout avenue.
This meshes well with a recent report from Shams Charania of RealGM that suggests the Bulls are already looking at the market:
Continuity is a major theme in Chicago, which is a tad funny given how hobbled the roster is to this point. A new addition does impact chemistry, but at the same time, this is an opportunity—whether it is Martin or someone else—to ensure there is no lack of scoring potential when it matters most.
The Bulls clearly won't meet unrealistic demands, but they are buyers that seem ready to pounce on a seller that sweats bullets at the deadline in fear of not being able to unload certain players.
Patience is another major theme of Chicago's season. Right at the deadline, it might just be rewarded, too.
All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
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