NBA Trade Rumors: 10 Players the Chicago Bulls Should Pursue in Trades

If you ask the analysts and "experts" that cover the NBA every night, they will say that the Chicago Bulls are a team that are very good, but are not an elite team. Despite being currently 2.5 games back of the Celtics from being the top seed in the Eastern Conference, the Bulls are still considered a long shot to make the Eastern Finals.

With Joakim Noah returning in coming weeks and the team continually getting more and more comfortable with one another, this should be a team that keeps improving. But, the shooting guard position is still a spot of concern with Keith Bogans and C.J Watson not instilling confidence in some.

So I will look at some players that could be on the market before the deadline, whom the Bulls GM Gar Forman should inquire about and make some phone calls. People who watch this team every game know the truth, and that is that they are really not that far away.

10. Antawn Jamison

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MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 15: Antawn Jamison #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks with a referee during a game against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena on December 15, 2010 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that,

The former two-time All Star was duped into coming to Cleveland in what he must have believed would be the era of Lebron. But, it was not to be as he is on a team that set the NBA record for most consecutive losses.

In what could be the last season of his career it would be nice to see Jamison get a chance in the playoffs one more time. It would be a hefty contract for the Bulls to take on for a player who has lost a step or two, but he could provide more veteran leadership for the Bulls.

9. Stephen Jackson

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ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 12: Stephen Jackson #1 of the Charlotte Bobcats reacts after being called for a foul against the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena on February 12, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, b

Another veteran that has been in the league for more than 10 seasons; Stephen Jackson could be the best fit for the Bulls, and might cost them the least in terms of what they would need to send to the Bobcats.

If Jackson were to join the Bulls it would be the fifth Eastern conference team that he has played for. He also has been to the "promise land" with San Antonio before, and would be the perfect player to match up against the tall and powerful shooting guards in the East.

8. Courtney Lee

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BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 10: Courtney Lee #5 of the Houston Rockets celebrates a shot against the Boston Celtics on January 10, 2011 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Rockets defeated the Celtics 108-102. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledg

Courtney Lee is a player whose name has been tossed around the rumor mill for some time now. The young guard has bounced around to different teams in his career thus far, but he might be a good fit with the Bulls if he were traded.

The Bulls would probably have to give up some size that the Rockets desperately need. That could mean the departure of Omer Asik to Houston. Lee would be a solid pickup, but may not make the impact that many want from a deadline acquisition.

7. Leandro Barbosa

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LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 27: Leandro Barbosa #10 of the Phoenix Suns drives with the ball on Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the second quarter of Game Five of the Western Conference Finals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May

Barbosa would not be the splash that Bulls fans would celebrate in the streets over, but he would give them a dynamic threat that they are lacking. Like Derrick Rose, Barbosa is a quick perimeter threat that has an eye for the three-point ball.

His playoff experience with the Suns would also be something to covet as well. And, it may not take that much to get him off the Raptors' hands at this point in their season. The only issue is that he is not a tall shooting guard; the Bulls have had problems with in the past with small players at that position.

6. Gerald Wallace

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CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 11: Gerald Wallace #3 of the Charlotte Bobcats against the Boston Celtics during their game at Time Warner Cable Arena on December 11, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that,

Gerald Wallace might be the best fit for the Bulls to play alongside Derrick Rose. It would be extremely difficult though to pry his services away from MJ and the Bobcats because he is the Bobcats' best player.

The Bobcats captain and All Star last season would be hard to pass up if he were put on the trading block as he is a big time scorer with an All-Defensive team to go along with it. His size would also present matchup problems as well.

5. Richard Hamilton

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AUBURN HILLS, MI - APRIL 24: Richard Hamilton #32 of the Detroit Pistons looks across the court in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the Palace of Auburn Hills on April 24,

The Pistons seem like they will at least take some calls concerning a possible deal for Rip Hamilton, and the Bulls should make one. Even being a rival the Pistons are playing for the future this season, and they could get a couple good pieces in return for the three-time All Star.

Hamilton was one of the most important pieces to bringing Detroit the championship back in 2004, and at 33 years old he may not get many more chances to get close to that again. With Chicago he would get a crack at it.

4. James Harden

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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - JANUARY 30: James Harden #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder at Ford Center on January 30, 2011 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is

Your going to have to pay an "arm and a leg" to get a shot at getting James Harden, but it is worth noting that it may not be impossible. The Bulls have a few players that they could send to Oklahoma City that they could more than use in the paint. The Bulls would probably need to send some draft picks as well, but it would be well worth it.

Harden is young and if he remains with the Thunder; he could be the breakout star in year's to come. He currently is not in the glaring spotlight with MVP candidates Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in front of him, but if he were in Chicago he would be a starting two guard next to Derrick Rose.

3. Monta Ellis

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OAKLAND, CA - JANUARY 19: Monta Ellis #8 of the Golden State Warriors in action against the Indiana Pacers at Oracle Arena on January 19, 2011 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using

Monta Ellis is a guy whose name just might come into conversation as the hours of the trade deadline near. The combo guard who has played his entire career with the Warriors would give any team that he joined a shot in the arm in the scoring department. He also would not necessarily cost as much as other guards on the market.

The Warriors are still trying to work out their identity, and if they decide they want to build around Stephen Curry then it could be time to get some pieces in the form of a Monta Ellis deal. Ellis' lack of size would not be the best match for the Bulls, but his precise shooting ability would be perfect.

2. O.J Mayo

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PHOENIX - NOVEMBER 05: O.J. Mayo #32 of the Memphis Grizzlies shoots a free throw shot during the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center on November 5, 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, b

Whether or not the Grizzles put O.J Mayo officially on the market, his name is going to come up until that final hour. The young guard who finished second in the Rookie of the Year a couple seasons ago to Derrick Rose would be a player that the Bulls would surely try to extend if he came to Chicago.

It would not be a deal for the present so much as it would be for the future. A guard combination of Rose and Mayo with Boozer and Noah down low would be the cornerstone of a great team in the NBA for many years. The character issues surrounding Mayo would have to be resolved first before I would ever pick up the phone for the Bulls.

1. Carmelo Anthony

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DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 10: Carmelo Anthony #15 of the Denver Nuggets looks on during a break in the action against the Dallas Mavericks during NBA action at the Pepsi Center on February 10, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The Nuggets defeated the Mavericks 121-

The player that four or five teams with a realistic shot at him are drooling over is Carmelo Anthony. In a soap opera that has seemingly been going on since Lebron made his "decision," Carmelo's name is still being tossed around to several teams. If the Bulls were willing to part ways with Joakim Noah, among others, they would most certainly be the favorite to land the superstar.

Nevertheless, that does not seem to be the case, and the Bulls have faded out of the Carmelo talk stratosphere. It is nice, however, to think about the great battles the Bulls would have against Miami with Carmelo joining an already capable Bulls attack.