Chicago Bulls Trade Speculation: 3 Moves to Vault the Bulls Past Miami Heat

The Bulls are in a interesting position. Do you ride the momentum of a 62-win season, and a young roster, or do you acknowledge that the core isn't good enough to beat the Miami Heat?

Just as the Bulls will improve, so will Miami, through chemistry and role recognition. Are the Bulls good enough to beat the Big Three if they are working as a cohesive unit? The answer is no.

As a lifetime Chicagoan, my heart wishes that was not the case, but when I put my analyst hat on, I've seen this movie before. The last time I saw it, it was the other way around. 

I saw Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen thwart several really good teams year after year, while they rode their core that generated great regular season records, only to fall short to star power in the post season.

Last year was essentially pre-season for the Heat—they will be better this season. The Bulls need an impact move to match what the Heat can do in money time. Now, I know many of you are saying, "money time, LeBron is going to...blah, blah, blah." To that I say, don't count on it.

Great players do great things, and the only way to beat them is to be great as well. Here are three deals that could make the Bulls great, instead of just really good:

Kyle Korver and Taj Gibson to Sacramento for Marcus Thornton and Hassan Whiteside

Marcus Thornton is, of course, the key here. He fills the need at shooting guard for the Bulls. Taj Gibson could start at PF for the Kings, allowing DeMarcus Cousins to slide to the center spot.

Thornton is a restricted free-agent, so it would have to be a sign and trade. The Kings have shown some signs of matching any offer, but with Jimmer Fredette, Tyreke Evans and Isaiah Thomas, Thornton could be pried away from them.

This is not a blockbuster, but the proven scoring ability for Thornton (21.3 points per game while with the Kings) as well as his age (24), makes this is an attractive and safe move for the Bulls.

Taj Gibson is the most overrated Bull on the roster and is a solid energy player, but he's not one the Bulls should protect at the expense of adding a top notch scoring SG.

Kyle Korver and Omer Asik to Memphis for O.J. Mayo

O.J. Mayo was nearly moved during the season for Josh McRoberts of the Indiana Pacers. So why would the Bulls have to part with more? Well, that trade was before Mayo shined in the postseason, offensively and defensively. It wasn't as much about numbers as it was attitude and team effectiveness.

He averaged the same 11.3 points per game, but his three-point shooting improved in the postseason from 36 percent to 41 percent. Most impressively, Mayo bought into Lionel Hollins' defensive approach.

Rudy Gay is healthy, as evidenced by his ridiculous leap to dunk on Rob Dyrdek's 25-foot hoop, and the Griz also love Tony Allen. They can afford to move Mayo, especially for Asik, when they could be facing the free agent exit of Marc Gasol.

Mayo is a great fit for the Bulls at the 2, as he can shoot from the spot up scenario as well as penetrate and get to the line. The Bulls would miss Asik's interior defense, but can somewhat duplicate that through a veteran front court acquisition.

Luol Deng, Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer to Orlando for Dwight Howard and Gilbert Arenas

This is where I will lose a plethora of Bulls fans. But I challenge anyone to tell me that a starting lineup of Derrick Rose, a free agent shooting guard, Jimmy Butler, Taj Gibson and Dwight Howard isn't a better team. This would still leave in play another smaller trade if need be to acquire, the right fit at the SG or a veteran at SF.

Arenas is a pill you just have to swallow, as the Magic will be looking to relieve themselves of both of their horrible contracts. Between Arenas and Hedo Turkoglu, the one that isn't included in a trade would likely be the amnesty casualty.

Orlando would instantly be respectable again, but the Bulls would have, arguably, the two best players at each of the most difficult positions to find a star, PG and C. Moreover, they are both under 26 years old.

This not only makes the Bulls even more major now, it puts them into position to dominate for years. Teams should explore those options, at all cost, if given the opportunity.

This is the least likely scenario, but it is the one that would shift the power most significantly.

Boy, I love the NBA...again.