An Open Letter to the Chicago Bulls Front Office: Don't Trade Noah for Carmelo

Dear Chicago Bulls front office,

Although the offer may look enticing, please do not trade Joakim Noah, the soul of this current Chicago Bulls team, in a deal that would allow us to acquire Carmelo Anthony from the Denver Nuggets.

I am not arguing this based on skill. Of course, Anthony is a much superior player to Noah. Carmelo, although some might disagree, is probably one of the top 15 players in the league. If you are just based on scoring, 'Melo is probably the fourth best option in the league (behind Kobe, Lebron and Wade).

Unfortunately, that is what Carmelo is good at. He's a good scorer. Besides that, he averages about 6.5 rebounds a game, and he is a below average defender. 

Chicago already has their scorer. His name is Mr. Derrick Rose. Rose is a "consistent" jump shot away from being one of the top eight players in the NBA. By many accounts, he is already one of the best driving players; he's someone who could easily score up to twenty-five points a game in a couple years.

But why in the hell would the Bulls trade away their best defensive player, as well as one of the best defensive players in the league, to acquire a scorer, not only when we already have one, but also considering that the Bulls new head coach, Tom Thibodeau, is completely defensive minded.

Thibodeau was perhaps the best assistant in the league last season, and he coaches a very strong defensive style in which a player like Noah could flourish.

Not only that, but Noah is the heart of this team. Rose is the best player, and Boozer will come in and succeed as the confident veteran, but Noah is going to be the guy that will get the players pumped up. He's the guy who is going to be the leader that challenges his teammates.

Noah is going to be extremely important this season. His defensive capability is very important for this team. He's going to be the guy that Chicago will look too when they have to stop Andrew Bogut and Chris Bosh this season.

Carmelo is nothing more then an upgrade to Luol Deng. If you want to trade him (or Taj Gibson) then go for it. But don't trade Jo.

He was such an important player in college when he led the University of Florida to those double-titles, and he has been an essential member of the Bulls the past few seasons.

I'm not so much talking about the double-double, which is great, but more for what he brings on the court. He is one of those players who is always in the right place at the right time (remember: Game 6 against Boston two years ago in the playoffs; Noah stealing the ball and dunking it at the other end to preserve the lead in the final seconds?)

Do you want to bring Carmelo here to sell tickets? We're the Bulls, we don't need help selling tickets. And, besides, the best thing that sells tickets is winning games -- not acquiring a bunch of big names.

If you want Anthony here, do it for Deng or Gibson or a bunch of draft picks, or some combination of lesser players. But don't remove Noah from the Bulls equation.

Let Miami and New York attempt to build their super teams. I want a team that wins, that's it, and we'll win more games in the playoffs if we have tough defensive leadership, rather then flashy offense. 

Thank you,

A reasonable Bull fan