Carmelo Anthony: Five Things the Chicago Bulls Should Avoid in Trade

Players like Carmelo Anthony do not come around often.  When a team is able to acquire such talent, they often give up too much for it.  The Chicago Bulls should be careful not to become one of these teams.

While Carmelo Anthony is a proven all-star in the NBA, his services might not merit the risk of giving up young talent.  The Chicago Bulls already have a floor leader, an all-star forward, and an array of shooters and role players.

Do the Bulls need Carmelo Anthony?  No, they don't.  Should they pull the trigger if given the opportunity?  any team should, but in the Chicago Bull's case, only if all of these conditions are met.

5. Accept Any Other Contract in a Package

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SALT LAKE CITY - APRIL 23: C.J. Miles #34 of the Utah Jazz shoots the ball while defended by Chris Anderson #11 of the Denver Nuggets during Game 3 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the 2010 NBA Playoffs at EnergySolutions Arena on April 23, 20

While the addition of another player on Denver’s side is highly unlikely due to the already high salary of Carmelo Anthony, there could be a scenario where something like that could happen.  The Denver Nuggets have little to offer the Bulls outside of Carmelo Anthony since they have already distributed their roster pretty well.

A trade for Carmelo Anthony involving just the Bulls and the Nuggets should be a simple trade where Carmelo could be traded for 2 players and cash, or perhaps a second round pick.  Anything more complicated than that that involved any other impact players should be avoided by the Bulls.

4. Give Up Both Taj Gibson AND First Round Pick

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CHICAGO - APRIL 22: Shaquille O'Neal #33 of the Cleveland Cavaliers passes the ball behind his head under pressure from Taj Gibson #22 of the Chicago Bulls in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs at the United Ce

Plenty of scenarios have been thrown around by the media regarding any possible ways the Bulls and Nuggets can get a trade done for Carmelo Anthony.  Most rumors out there have been around a package including Luol Deng and Taj Gibson.  It has also been reported there might be a first round pick thrown in to sweeten the deal.  This cannot happen.

While the Bulls will be a very good team in the coming season, they will be a team looking for an identity and might face a situation where one more player can put them over the top.  While their first round pick will very well be in the 20’s, plenty of players in that range will be available to match their needs.

A first round pick will not sweeten deal for Denver, but it would actually make a possible trade a bit one-sided.  If the price is not right and a first round pick is left off the deal, then the Bulls should not be looking to deal at all.

3. Trade Without Guaranteed Extension

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SALT LAKE CITY - APRIL 25: Carmelo Anthony #15 of the Denver Nuggets protests after being called for his third foul against the Utah Jazz during Game Four of the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the 2010 NBA Playoffs at EnergySolutions Arena on April

The Chicago Bulls fans and fans across the league have forgotten that they have a pretty good small forward of their own in Luol Deng.  While Deng is no Carmelo Anthony, he did averaged over 17 points a game and seven rebounds.  He can get it done on both ends of the court and even provide some playmaking skills.

This takes the discussion into a new perspective.  Trading for Carmelo Anthony means they will have a free agent in Carmelo Anthony that might just decide to play elsewhere after next season.  Perhaps Carmelo might welcome a trade to the Bulls, but will he commit to the team or just run the rest of the season through and bolt to another team?

If Carmelo is to leave after one season, the Bulls will face a big hole in their roster in a position integral to complement the services of Derrick Rose and Carlos Boozer.  While Deng has a steep price, Carmelo will have a steeper one, and at the end of the day it might just not be worth it if he decides to leave.

2. Trade Joakim Noah

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CHICAGO - APRIL 25: Joakim Noah #13 of the Chicago Bulls moves against Antawn Jamison #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs at the United Center on April 25, 2010 in Chicago, Illino

Joakim Noah is not the smoothest player on the court.  Not even his shooting mechanics look right.  He is an ugly player with an ugly style and perhaps even uglier hair.  But enough about what he is not, what about what he can do?

Noah hustles on the court as much as anybody.  Since his days as a Florida Gator, he has been known to be a hustler.  In the NBA, he has only taken this to another level.  When a team has the pleasure to have the services of such a driven player, it is uncommon.

Not only should Chicago stay away from trading Noah in a package for Anthony because of his skill set, but they really have nobody to replace him with either.  With the departure of Brad Miller, the Chicago Bulls front-line only has the services of Kurt Thomas.  Thomas still is a reliable center even at his age, but will not be able to play starter minutes.

Noah is more valuable than people think for a variety of reasons and by any means should be considered in a trade package for Anthony.

1. Trade Before Season Starts

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NEW ORLEANS - JANUARY 29: Joakim Noah #13 and Derrick Rose #1 of the Chicago Bulls during the game against the New Orleans Hornets at the New Orleans Arena on January 29, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agr

There are many questions to be answered if Carmelo is to join the Chicago Bulls before the season tips off.  Will the offense be ran through Derrick Rose or Carmelo Anthony?  Will shot distribution be even across the board for Carmelo Anthony, Carlos Boozer, and Derrick Rose?  Also, who will be the face of the Chicago Bulls?

As they stand now, the Bulls have a chance to contend to be one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.  Their roster is near perfection with depth across the board and a great combination of young emerging talent and established veterans.  With the development of their young players and emergence of Rose as a superstar in the league, the Bulls already have a complete team worthy of being put out of the floor for a test.

Trying to obtain yet another all-star caliber player to match the likes of the Miami Heat can in the end not produce to the potential of the current roster.  Obtaining a player like Carmelo Anthony will leave holes in the roster, especially among big bodies.

Carmelo Anthony is an amazing player, but is he worth trading young talent for?  Maybe, but not before the current team has a chance to prove how good they can be.