Chicago Bulls Rumors: Roundup of Top Trade and 2011 Free-Agent Targets

The Chicago Bulls have a very young and talented roster going into the 2011-12 NBA season, and the team won't need to do much in an effort to be competitive.

After a very successful first season under head coach Tom Thibodeau, Derrick Rose and co. will look to build off of the success the group had last season after finishing first in the Eastern Conference for the regular season.

It's going to be really fun to watch the evolution of Rose going forward, as well as how his talented teammates all mesh together. With some key additions to the club, Chicago could surprise even more people than previously.

Jason Richardson, SG, Free Agent

Richardson is expected to move on from Orlando as an unrestricted free agent, and the Bulls make sense for the veteran in search of his first championship ring.

He's already said that he'd be willing to take a pay cut to sign with a contender, and Chicago has already been suggested as a potential landing spot.

There's no doubt that he'd make for a solid addition with his ability to stretch the floor as well as a fearless inclination to drive to the rim, and those are two elements the Bulls could really use alongside Rose in the backcourt.

J.R. Smith, SG, Free Agent

Smith has signed a one-year deal to play in China, and that means that he won't be eligible to return to the NBA until March when the CBA's season ends.

Despite the fact that he won't be available immediately, there's no doubt that Smith will have appeal once he's eligible to sign stateside, but the level of interest in him will be largely dependent on how he fares overseas.

After showing some interest in him last season, Smith would make for a great sixth man for the Bulls as he'd provide an instant scoring punch to the second unit. He could really give the club a lift late in the season.

Anthony Parker, G/F, Free Agent

Parker is a veteran option at the shooting guard position for a Bulls team that could really use increased production from that spot, and he'd be a cheaper option than some of the  others on this list.

Chicago illustrated some interest in landing him at the trade deadline last season, so it's possible that the team will once again ramp up its pursuit considering he's now a free agent.

He'd be a short-term solution should the team feel hesitant in doling out a long-term contract, but that could work out very well for both parties.

Tracy McGrady, G/F, Free Agent

McGrady was a distinct possibility to land with Chicago before eventually signing in Detroit, but the Bulls only sought to offer him a limited role, and he wanted something a little more concrete than that.

At one point, the team was reportedly ready to add him to the fold, and even Derrick Rose signed off on the idea when asked about it by the media.

Now that he is seemingly over his chronic knee woes and looking to further his reputation around the league, it wouldn't be surprising at all to see the interest spark back up between the two sides.

Shannon Brown, SG, Free Agent

The Bulls are reportedly expected to pursue Brown "hard" after he decided to opt out of his deal with the Lakers, and it makes sense that the club would do so.

Brown is likely looking to expand his role in the league after playing second fiddle to Kobe Bryant over the last few seasons, and the Bulls could definitely use his excitement and athleticism in the second unit.

He's improved his overall game, specifically with regards to his three-point shooting, and it would be a lot of fun to watch what he would be able to do alongside Rose in an uber-athletic backcourt.

Monta Ellis, SG, Trade

When Ellis' name was being rampantly mentioned in trade rumors, the Bulls emerged as a potential suitor, and that would really make for something interesting in Chicago.

Obviously the team would have to deal one of its key pieces in order to realistically pull off any Ellis deal, but a potential pairing of Ellis and Rose would have Bulls fans drooling over what the possibilities could be on any given night.

While there's no doubt that this particular trade would be a tough one to pull off at the negotiating table, anything is possible in the pursuit of an upgrade at the shooting guard position.

O.J. Mayo, SG, Trade

The idea of Mayo coming to Chicago remains a very serious one, and the chances of Memphis dealing him have probably risen since the deadline as the USC product will be a free agent in 2012.

At the trade deadline, the Bulls offered Ronnie Brewer, two first-round picks and a second-round pick only to be rebuffed by the Grizzlies, as Memphis sought to move him in a separate deal to Indiana.

The Bulls might have to slightly tinker with the offer in an effort to get the Grizzlies on board with the idea of dealing Mayo, but this is one deal that might make too much sense not to happen.

Courtney Lee, SG, Trade

Lee is another shooting guard the Bulls sniffed around at the trade deadline last season, but Chicago and Houston were unable to work out a deal for him.

With Kevin Martin firmly entrenched ahead of him as the starter for the Rockets, and Lee seeing inconsistent playing time, the team could look to move him in the coming season should the Bulls express a renewed interest.

He's likely a secondary target for the Bulls as the team is clearly looking for a serious upgrade, but he could make for some solid depth if the offer is right.

Trade Target Speculation: Randy Foye, SG

Foye is somewhat of a luxury on a young Clippers squad in the backcourt, and it wouldn't be shocking to see the team entertain offers for him throughout the campaign.

He showed that he can still be very productive when stepping in for an injured Eric Gordon last season, and he's another player who could be deemed a veteran band-aid in an effort to preserve cap space for the future.

Foye might not be the upgrade that the Bulls are looking for, but he could serve the purpose if the Bulls believe the price tag on the team's other targets are a little high.

Trade Target Speculation: Keyon Dooling, PG

Dooling has suddenly found himself absolutely buried at the end of the bench following the arrival of Beno Udrih and Shaun Livingston onto the roster, and his best chance at playing time now comes outside of Milwaukee.

With just a single season left on his deal, Dooling could serve as a legitimate backup to Rose at the point position, and his veteran leadership could stabilize the second unit very well.

The Bulls need to save some financial flexibility to eventually sign Rose to a max contract, and Dooling's addition shouldn't come at an expensive cost.

Trade Target Speculation: Xavier Henry, SG

Henry is an interesting target for the team as he's still just 20 years old, and the Grizzlies might listen should a team call to express interest in acquiring him.

Although he was a first-round pick in 2010, Henry was sidelined for a good chunk of his rookie season with a knee injury, and the Grizzlies saw exactly how strong their bench was behind him.

With a plethora of options on the wing, Henry may very well be available for the right price, and he's a player who could help the Bulls both now and well into the future.

Free-Agent Target Speculation: Jamal Crawford, SG

Crawford's name is one that has been floated as a possible solution at the starting two-guard spot, but it's possible that the Bulls view him as more of a sixth man than a starter.

He's going to be one of the best shooting guards available on the open market, and as a veteran who started his career in Chicago, a return might very well interest him.

With the scoring ability to change a game in a big way, Crawford will be a name to monitor as the Bulls get active on the free-agent market.

Free-Agent Target Speculation: Michael Redd, SG

Redd's name keeps getting discussed in conjunction with "an Eastern Conference contender," and that description fits a multitude of clubs.

Chicago certainly isn't the only team that could use a player like him (assuming he's healthy), but the team might opt to go a safer route after enjoying so much success last season.

He'd come at a cheaper cost than most free agents available, but the Bulls don't need to shop in the bargain bin like some other teams who may be more interested in his services.

Free-Agent Target Speculation: Marcus Thornton, SG

Thornton is a remote possibility to land in Chicago, as he's a restricted free agent who has already expressed a clear desire to return to Sacramento.

There is always a chance that the Bulls could swoop in and make a solid offer to land Thornton, but even if the team doesn't sign him, his skill set is one that the team should target in any potential player added onto the roster.

It's unlikely to happen, but the fit is certainly logical between Thornton and the vacant spot in Chicago's backcourt.

Free-Agent Target Speculation: Arron Afflalo, SG

Jackpot.

Afflalo is a restricted free agent who really proved his worth in Denver last season, so it's going to be tough for the Bulls to land him a deal that the Nuggets don't deem worth matching.

Having said that, his combination of efficiency and commitment to defense is exactly the type of player that the Bulls will likely be targeting, and he's really got a chance to develop into something special if he got to run with Rose on a regular basis.

There are a lot of fans in Chicago who would love to see Afflalo in a Bulls uniform.