NBA Rumors: Why Do Stars Keep Spurning Bulls' Advances?

Dwight Howard is not interested in the Chicago Bulls, even though, from a pure basketball standpoint, the Bulls offer the best situation for him. We could easily dismiss Howard as a player that doesn't care about winning, or a player more motivated by other things, if he didn't have so much company.

The Bulls have been largely unsuccessful in signing any major free agents for the past 11 or 12 years. In 2000, with Tim Duncan, Grant Hill and Tracy McGrady available in their prime, the Bulls failed to land any of them. Instead, they had to settle for Ron Mercer, a player whose value had significantly declined.

The fails of this summer are the most to blame for the Bulls' prolonged period of futility after the Michael Jordan era.

In 2001, with Dikembe Mutombo and Allan Houston available, the Bulls signed Eddie Robinson, Fred Hoiberg and Kevin Ollie. 

In 2003, no Jermaine O'Neal. In 2004, younger versions of Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant and Carlos Boozer went by the Bulls boards. In 2009, no Shawn Marion, who is from nearby Waukegan.

Of course, last year, when the Bulls whiffed on the trio that would oust them in the 2011 Eastern Conference Finals, they settled on Boozer, Kyle Korver, Keith Bogans and CJ Watson.

It is indeed true, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh were a package deal. It could also be true that the three never really considered Chicago strongly. The recruitment was grandstanding and designed to create the attention and celebrity they enjoyed and hated last season.

Either way, the Bulls were left at the alter again. During the 2010-2011 season, there were whispers that a deal for Carmelo Anthony to the Bulls could have been possible, but that was nixed apparently because the Bulls didn't want to include Joakim Noah. Anthony seemed to be the rare star with a choice who was willing to come to Chicago.

Now comes the news that this year's biggest prize doesn't favor the Chicago Bulls. What can be made of this?

Below, I examine a few theories.

Derrick Rose should recruit more

This is ridiculous in my opinion. This is Chicago; what is he going to say that these players don't already know? This so-called recruitment that players are doing is based on prior relationships, and in most cases is drastically overstated.

Players call other players about joining them all the time; it probably happens less than it doesn't. When there is a union between players, it generally involves players around the same age who have known each other for years through AAU circuits and other basketball circles.

That class of players (in age) that Rose belongs to hasn't yet reached the point of decision in their NBA careers. It is forthcoming, though, that would include players like Russell Westbrook—whom Rose works out with every summer—Eric Gordon and Michael Beasley.

If he is going to have an influence on anyone, it would be that group, not those three and four years his senior.

Climate

While it has been mentioned that Dwight Howard doesn't like the cold weather, that seems pretty false. Last time I checked, it gets pretty cold in Brooklyn, so that can't be it.

Not to mention the fact that basketball is a winter sport. Most of the cities players travel too will be cold during the season.

Next.

Ownership and Front Office Reputation

This is the theory I subscribe to. While it is a bit unfair, as I don't think Jerry Reinsdorf or Jerry Krause get the credit they deserve for the glory years. Sure, it was all made possible by Jordan, but the pieces were put in place around him, even when Michael didn't always approve of the moves.

Nonetheless, when Krause and Reinsdorf dismantled the Bulls Big Three of Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman in what many felt was a premature fashion, the organization's rep was damaged.

Mind you, this followed what many called a mistreatment of Horace Grant, prior to his free-agent exit to Orlando.

Michael Jordan was never a fan of the Jerrys and one should never under-estimate the power of Jordan's influence. His relevance in the NBA today is proof his opinions on Bulls management could be passed on to players of a different era.

Again, sentiments are arrived at in many different ways. They aren't always fair, but that doesn't mean they aren't present. It someone who is very respected tells a group of people, "Don't go to shop at this store; they have bad service," many people will take that person at their word and commit that to memory.

Thoughts like that are passed from person to person and group to group. Now you have a consensus belief that this store has poor service.

I believe that is what has happened to the Bulls. In that sense, Rose is even more important to the franchise than ever before. If he can keep the Bulls competitive and thrive in Chicago, hopefully he can help change the consensus thought of the franchise.

It is possible, the Bulls could ride Rose's maturation and the health of their current core to a title.

If not, the Bulls may have to luck up on another star as they did with Rose to find their star a running mate and change the game in Chicago.