NBA Trade Rumors: Bulls Want Nuggets to Take Overrated Asik for Afflalo

Not only are the Bulls overvaluing their players, but now they want the Denver Nuggets to do the same. Understandably, the Bulls are interested in Arron Afflalo. He represents the best fit for their dire need at the 2-guard spot.

Afflalo is in heavy demand, and it is unlikely his price range will stay within the mid-level exception (MLE) range, which is all the Bulls have to offer. The only way they can pull this off is via sign and trade. The two chips the Bulls would be willing to part with would likely be Taj Gibson or Omer Asik.

Both Asik and Gibson are valuable reserves within the scheme and total team composition the Bulls have assembled, but they don't hold nearly the same value away from Chicago. Especially if you consider how the two would fit, singularly, both would be a bit much. The Nuggets figure to be an entirely different team, who won't know where their scoring is coming from, aside from Danilo Gallinari.

The Nuggets would be better off re-signing Afflalo than to take on Omer Asik or Taj Gibson. That would make their starting lineup Ty Lawson, Gallinari, who knows at the small forward, Taj Gibson and a free agent center. In the case that they took Asik, it would be Lawson, Gallinari, small forward, Kenneth Faried and Asik in the middle. The lineup if they re-signed Afflalo would be better than either of the Bulls trade scenarios; it would feature Lawson, Afflalo, Gallinari, Faried and Timofey Mozgov. Neither option is a playoff squad, but the latter is better.

The Bulls must face the fact that right now, the best options they have are any veterans willing to take the MLE. That group may include Jason Richardson and Caron Butler, but both must agree to take pay cuts to join the Bulls.

There are other contenders who also have interest in those players. If those teams can offer a bit above the MLE and guaranteed starting spots, the Bulls could lose out. The Bulls may be asking Butler to play out of position or to back up Luol Deng.

Richardson would certainly start, but he would have to take half his 2010 pay to play for the Bulls. It is possible, but far from a foregone conclusion.

The Bulls will hold their breath on those possibilities, but shouldn't bother with the Asik and Gibson for Afflalo deals.