Bulls Trade Rumors: Chicago Must Pull out All Stops for Dwight Howard
It was only four years ago when the Chicago Bulls were at the center of trade rumors involving a superstar of a magnitude that the league had not seen since Michael Jordan.
Kobe Bryant was frustrated with the Los Angeles Lakers organization and how they had failed to build a solid roster around him following the trade that sent Shaquille O'Neal to Miami. The Lakers got Lamar Odom, Caron Butler and Brian Grant out of the trade and Odom would be the only one to stick with the team, representing the team's lone source of consistent support.
The trade was extremely close to happening, but the Lakers asking for Tyrus Thomas, Joakim Noah, Ben Gordon and Luol Deng was deemed to be too much by the Bulls as they backed out of the trade talks. A few weeks later, the Lakers would trade for Pau Gasol and would help Bryant win two championships. The Bulls would deal with mediocrity playing behind LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers while dealing with the Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic.
Kobe Bryant vs. LeBron James four times a year sure would have been fun. Maybe, the Bulls shouldn't make that same mistake again of passing up on a deal of a lifetime. In fact, they just might have garnered a second chance thanks to one disgruntled Orlando Magic employee.
The Bulls dealt with mediocrity in the following seasons after the denied trade, but would recover thanks to somehow obtaining the first pick in the 2009 NBA draft and utilizing it to draft point guard Derrick Rose out of Memphis. Rose was just coming off a disappointing loss in the NCAA finals, but he was still highly lauded throughout his short tenure at the college level and was being debated as to whether he'd be the No. 1 or 2 pick.
The choice was either him or Michael Beasley. I'd say that the Bulls made the right choice here, as Beasley was drafted by the Miami Heat with the second pick and would get traded for a few draft picks two seasons later. He's currently in Minnesota averaging 20 points per game on the worst team in the NBA.
The Bulls are coming off of their best season since 1998 after winning an NBA-high 62 games and then securing the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, as well as taking home-court advantage throughout the postseason. They'd come up a little short on their quest to the NBA Finals on account of poor play by Rose's teammates when he needed them to step up. That conference finals loss had the Bulls organization come to a few realizations.
So, where to look? They are reportedly nearing a signing involving former Detroit Piston Richard Hamilton that will address their issues at the shooting guard, but does this team possibly need to take advantage of what could be an unbelievable offer that could take a few unwanted pieces off of their hands? The team could cut some fat and with a franchise center waiting in the wings, the Bulls should take advantage and pounce on it the second they get the chance.
Dwight Howard has been the talk of trade rumors lately after reportedly demanding a trade to the New Jersey Nets, but has since backed off of those rumors and is now allowing the Magic to possibly work out the kinks and begin surrounding him with talent. After so many years of ineptitude in the front office, you have to believe that building a championship-caliber roster that can compete with the Heat and Bulls won't be made in the span of a year.
The Bulls are reporting to be interested in obtaining Howard. They join a long list of suitors that includes the Nets, L.A. Lakers, L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks and, of course, the Magic. A number of teams are willing to part ways with a few players in order to get Howard on their side and the Bulls and Lakers are the only teams with the quality pieces to possibly convince the Magic front office to make a trade before they allow him to test free agency.
This could be a win-win for the Bulls. Of course, they'll have to get rid of critical and valuable pieces like Noah, Taj Gibson and Omer Asik, but it could also mean that they can possibly let go of Carlos Boozer. The former Utah Jazz forward was a tremendous disappointment in the postseason last year as he couldn't compete on either end during the team's conference finals loss. Set to make $80 million over the next five years, losing Boozer would be a huge plus for the Bulls.
As long as Derrick Rose is still on the team, the Bulls will be fine and in position to contend for a title as they will then possess the two pieces that the Miami Heat can't match up with. Even if they do have LeBron James contend with Rose, there is still no one on the team that would even come close to matching up with Howard in the paint. For all the Heat fans out there, I'm sorry but Eddy Curry and Dexter Pittman won't cut it.
Howard also helps relieve a great deal of pressure off of Rose's shoulders on both ends of the floor. The Bulls are already a strong defensive squad without Howard and would possess an even greater team on that end of the floor with Howard manning the middle. As valuable as Noah, Gibson and Asik can be in the paint, they don't match up with the one-on-one defense, team defense and shot-blocking skills of Howard.
Most importantly, it gives Rose some consistency on offense from a secondary source. The Bulls were at a loss when Rose wasn't leading the way and it cost them a potential trip to the NBA Finals. Even with Hamilton hitting mid-range buckets and helping to space the floor, he's not going to be that type of player forever as he's 33 years old and finds his scoring output on account of his stamina and conditioning.
Howard is impossible to match up with, especially in the Eastern Conference where his toughest matchup would be Andrew Bogut. Teams would have to double-team whether they want to or not in order to stop him, and it's only going to be more difficult as time wears on as he is even beginning to develop a strong offensive game that includes a running hook and a short bank shot.
He's not Hakeem Olajuwon or Patrick Ewing, but an athlete like Howard with an offensive repertoire should sound extremely enticing to a team like the Bulls. Even when he isn't scoring, he can still draw a double-team and allow Rose to get freed up for open shot opportunities and easier drives since Howard would be controlling the paint and setting screens so that Derrick can drive at will with little resistance.
Take a look at all the past champions and you'll see that scoring has to come from an inside presence and an outside presence. The Spurs had Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili/Tony Parker, the Lakers had Pau Gasol/Kobe Bryant and the Celtics had Ray Allen/Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. The only teams that could be considered exceptions would be the Dallas Mavericks last year, but even then Dirk Nowitzki is a solid post presence, and the Chicago Bulls who had Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.
The Bulls may be a little hesitant to make such an enormous deal, especially after the success they saw last season, but bringing in Howard is a deal that could pay dividends for years to come as the team would combine two former No. 1 picks who would dominate the league for the next decade.
Chicago already passed up one superstar. Now could be the time to make the right move.
