Chicago Bulls: After Playing OK without Joakim Noah, Should They Pursue Carmelo?

The Bulls’ 25-12 record looks nice right now, but they can’t expect to play the way they’ve been playing once the playoffs come.

Lethargic first halves, defensive breakdowns, inconsistent offensive games and rebounding aren’t going to get the job done against teams like the Miami Heat, who come to town on Saturday.

Part of the problem might be the lack of a healthy lineup, especially without their emotional leader Joakim Noah. The Bulls weren’t at full strength to start the season with Carlos Boozer, Taj Gibson and Ronnie Brewer nursing injuries. But once Boozer was finally cleared to play, Noah fell prey to the injury bug, sitting out after having surgery on his thumb. Just their luck.

Noah’s aggressive play is integral to the team. He scraps for the rebound and goes up strong to the basket.

It’s exciting to see how effective Noah and Boozer will be for the Bulls on the same court. For one, Noah will bring that missing intensity. Couple that with the way Brewer has been playing with his newfound minutes, and the Bulls might actually show up to play all four quarters.

Still, the Bulls lack a true shooting guard. But will whoever they acquire be enough to make them serious contenders? Would they have what it takes to beat the Heat in crunch time?

The Bulls have Derrick Rose. That’s a start. Recently, they’ve been playing their best basketball when Rose takes over the game and his explosiveness trickles down to his teammates.

Yet, the ESPN pundits believe that the Bulls are one superstar away from making a run against the Heat, who seem to have found their swag, winning nine in a row.

Is D-Rose not enough?

It wouldn’t hurt to throw Carmelo Anthony alongside him. The dynamic of two explosive stars would leave their opponents panting for air.

Anthony would bring life to a standstill offense that waits for Rose to call out plays and run the usual pick-and-rolls.

His volume scoring and slashes to the basket would keep the intensity going from the get-go.

With all the Anthony trade-talk hoopla going around, mostly involving the New Jersey Nets, Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks (somehow), don’t count the Bulls out of the equation just yet.

Though it’s best for the Denver Nuggets to end the 'Melo drama ASAP, the Feb. 24 trade deadline allows plenty of space for the talks to cool off.

The Nuggets have all the right to trade Anthony whenever they want, and Anthony wants the security of a multi-year deal before the summer’s likely lockout.

Think about this: Would 'Melo want to be stuck in a Nets uniform, with Brook Lopez and the aging Richard Hamilton and Chauncey Billups by his side, or would he prefer the Chicago cast more with a guaranteed playoff spot and bright future investment?

OK, maybe anyone would prefer any team over the Nets.

If Anthony really wants to stay near his Brooklyn roots, the Knicks would be his dream. But the Knicks have squat to offer the Nuggets, who logistically make the final calls.

The Bulls, on the other hand, do. But it’s risky if it involves Noah.

In October, Chicago was one of two destinations that Anthony said he would accept a trade to, but Denver wanted Noah in the package.

Flash-forward from then, and the Bulls signed Noah to a five-year deal worth $60 million.

The Bulls have already committed to Noah. But for argument's sake, trading Noah for a offensive spark greatly dismantles the frontcourt for the Bulls.

Boozer has proven that he can score 30 and grab 13 rebounds, but his defense is lacking, which has been a recent pain for Tom Thibodeau. Unless the Bulls can get Al Harrington, Nene Hilario or even Shelden Williams thrown in or some other post from a third party, sacrificing an energetic defensive center only weakens the one area that sets the Bulls apart from the Heat.

Included in the deal would be Luol Deng, whom the Bulls wouldn’t mind unloading despite his positive performance lately. The Bulls wouldn’t need him with Carmelo at the three, but are the Nuggets are willing to absorb his contract?

Knowing the mood swings of Denver’s front office, the Nuggets would likely demand a first round pick as well. But they wouldn’t have to give up Billups, who expressed his desire to finish his career where he started, in Denver.

The Bulls would demand either J.R. Smith or Arron Afflalo to come along with Anthony. Both would be sufficient enough to settle the Bulls’ shooting guard woes. At the same time, they would acquire an established star in 'Melo, who knows how to create his own shot and would take ball pressure off of Rose.

Noah, Deng, a first round draft pick for Anthony and Smith/Afflalo isn’t a bad deal if the Bulls can improve their defense and find some way to replace Noah.

Kurt Thomas comes nowhere near, and Omer Asik is still learning the ropes of the NBA. Neither would be enough to post up Glen Davis or Shaquille O’Neal.

The Bulls would get the starting shooting guard that they want and can slip Keith Bogans in as well.

A third party and 15-player discussion isn’t necessary because the trade wouldn’t involve Carmelo going to New Jersey, where he seems to want to play with veterans. The goal is for the Bulls to get him.

If Gibson (who has been involved in many trade talks) were thrown into the mix, then the Bulls would be risking too much for a pure offensive game.

Carmelo doesn’t fit the missing piece that is a priority for the Bulls: a two guard who can really space the floor for Rose and defend to the liking of Thibs (if only Brewer and Kyle Korver were one man). That’s fixable if the Nuggets throw in Smith or Afflalo.

Yet, trading Noah opens a huge hole in the team’s rebounding and frontcourt defense.

Noah’s attitude, intensity, and work ethic: irreplaceable.

His skills? Replacable.

A core of Rose, Boozer, and Anthony spills more talent than with Rose, Boozer, and Noah.

It wouldn't hurt Chicago to throw their name in the hat.