Bulls Rumors: Acquiring Dwight Howard Would Make Chicago Instant Title Favorite

It appears as though the trade talks regarding Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard have died down a bit in recent days, but if he isn't willing to re-sign in Orlando, then I have to believe he'll be moved eventually. One team that should make a stronger push is the Chicago Bulls.

While the New Jersey Nets and Los Angeles Lakers have been the teams rumored to be pursuing Howard most heavily, the Bulls also have interest, according to FOXSports.com. Despite the fact that Chicago's lineup looks to be set with Joakim Noah, Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng, Richard Hamilton and Derrick Rose, there is still plenty of room for improvement.

One of the Bulls' main issues in the playoffs last season was the lack of a backcourt player that could take some pressure off Rose, and they addressed that by signing Hamilton. At the same time, however, Boozer's weak play on the interior was perhaps the biggest culprit for Chicago's eventual demise.

If Boozer continues to come up small in big moments, then the Bulls likely won't be able to get past a team like the Miami Heat. Howard has been the main man on an NBA Finals team before though, and he isn't the type of player that seems to fold under pressure like Boozer.

There is no question that acquiring Howard will likely cost a hefty price since the package might have to include Noah and Deng, but I think it would ultimately be worth it. The Bulls would still have Rose and Hamilton in the backcourt and Boozer would be much better as an offensive complement to Howard rather than somebody that has to carry much of the load.

A tandem of Howard and Rose would give the Bulls the best center and best point guard in the league, and by virtue of that they would have the best inside-out combination. Noah is a nice, high-energy player who can contribute on both ends of the floor and you can win with him, but it is much easier to win with a dominant force like Howard.

The reason why so many mediocre centers get huge contracts in the NBA is that there are so few elite ones actually out there. Howard is by far the best of the bunch and the Bulls are one of the few teams that have the assets necessary to get him.

While the Magic have been playing hardball in terms of a Howard deal with the Nets thus far, they will eventually be forced to soften their stance. Orlando simply cannot afford to keep Howard for the duration of the year and simply lose him for nothing in the offseason.

Once it becomes abundantly clear that he won't re-sign, the Magic will be forced to move him, and that's when the Bulls need to pounce. The Bulls currently stand as one of the favorites in the Eastern Conference along with the Heat, but if they can figure out a way to get Howard, then they will simply have no equal.