In my initial mock lottery after the ping pong balls were revealed I said that Kansas State power forward Michael Beasley should be the first overall pick based on the Bulls current roster and desperate need for a low post scorer. I also predicted that regardless of whether Chicago drafts Beasley or Memphis point guard Derrick Rose, a major trade will directly coincide with the Bulls’ pick. The more I think about possible scenarios, the more I am leaning towards Chicago taking Derrick Rose and trying to deal Kirk Hinrich in exchange for an offensive minded big man.Â
So allow me to play the role of Bulls general manager John Paxson and propose some trades that would be beneficial for Chicago to explore, and that would also help all teams involved. The Bulls are in a position of power as they have plenty of valuable young pieces that should bring them some immediate help in return. Here we go, and as always, feel free to comment on the proposals down below. (2008-09 salaries in parentheses)
Trade 1
Bulls Get:
PF Dirk Nowitzki ($18.1 million)
Mavs Get:
PG Kirk Hinrich ($10 million)
F Tyrus Thomas ($3.8 million)
F Luol Deng ($4.5 million)
Hear me out before you say I’m crazy for even mentioning this trade. Dallas is clearly in a tough spot. They have a lot of terrible contracts, (Erick Dampier 3years, almost $33 million left…Jason Terry 4 years, around $41 million left) which means no cap flexibility for the next two seasons. They dealt their first round picks in 2008 and 2010 to the Nets in the Jason Kidd trade, so they won’t be getting younger any time soon. Nowitzki has not been able to carry this team and get them over the hump in the post-season, so why not trade an MVP for three young players and begin a re-tooling process? Kidd only has one year left on his deal and has certainly lost a step, meaning a young point guard like Hinrich will be needed soon enough. Deng and Thomas would provide some much needed youth and athleticism in Dallas. This would be a no-brainer for the Bulls. They would finally get that offensive minded big man who could stretch defenses and be “the guy†at the end of games. Chicago could then seek out a veteran point guard in free agency with their mid-level exception and add another swing player.
Chicago’s line-up:
C Noah/Gray
PF Nowitzki/Gooden
SF Nocioni/Sefolosha
SG Gordon/Hughes
PG Rose
 
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Trade 2
Bulls Get:
C Zydrunas Ilgauskas ($10.8 million)
PF Charlie Villanueva ($3.4 million)
Cavs 1st Round Pick (#19)
Cavs Get:
SG Michael Redd ($15.8 million)
Bucks Get:
SG Ben Gordon ($4.6 million)
PF Drew Gooden ($7.1 million)
F Tyrus Thomas ($3.8 million)
G Damon Jones ($4.5 million)
It would be very strange to see these three division foes get together for a monster trade, but this deal would make sense for all teams involved. Cleveland would finally get a true compliment for LeBron James in Redd; who has proven that he cannot carry a franchise on his own. The Bucks dump Redd’s monster salary and get back a pair of young players in Gordon (who they would have to re-sign to a long-term extension) and Thomas, as well as two expiring contracts in James and Gooden (who for the time being could provide a much needed defensive presence in the Bucks front court.) With Gooden, Jones, and Desmond Mason all coming off the books after next season, Milwaukee would clear $16.9 million in cap space. As for Chicago, they get a pair of big guys who are very capable on the offensive end in Ilgauskas and Villanueva. The Bulls could add another player with the 19th pick. This scenario is interesting because it keeps Hinrich in Chicago and pairs him up with a bigger, more athletic Rose, allowing Hinrich to play the two-guard spot.
Chicago’s line-up:
C Ilgauskas/Gray
PF Noah/Villanueva
SF Deng/Nocioni/19th pick???
SG Hinrich/Hughes/Sefolosha
PG Rose
Since Dave is creating all sorts of new Bulls lineups with his trade proposals, I decided to bring out clips of the Bulls’ world famous lineup introduction. God I love YouTube. Notice how the technical facility declines as we go back in time, even though the team itself is much better the further back in time you go!Â
Trade 3
Bulls Get:
PF Jermaine O’Neal ($21.4 million)
PG Travis Diener ($1.6 million)
Conditional lottery protected first round pick
Pacers Get:
G Kirk Hinrich ($10 million)
F Tyrus Thomas ($3.8 million)
PF Drew Gooden ($7.1 million)
This trade would take grapefruit size balls for Paxson to make. O’Neal was limited to 42 games last season due to injury which caused him to put up his worst numbers since his first season in Indiana. Maybe a change of scenery would be just what the doctor ordered for O’Neal. If healthy, he would be the front court offensive player that Chicago desperately desires. If not, paying someone 21-plus million dollars and giving up three valuable pieces for an injury-prone player likely puts Paxson in the unemployment line. The Pacers jump at this deal because Hinrich is a better option than Jamaal Tinsley at the point while Gooden and Thomas would give them some depth up-front. Again, this would be THE definition of rolling the dice for Paxson.Â
Chicago’s line-up:
C Noah/Gray
PF O’Neal/Nocioni
SF Deng/Sefolosha
SG Gordon/Hughes
PG Rose/Diener
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Trade 4
Bulls Get:
C Jason Collins ($6.2 million)
PG Kyle Lowry ($1.2 million)
Warriors 1st round pick (#14)
Grizzlies Get:
F Al Harrington ($9.2 million)
Warriors Get:
G Kirk Hinrich ($10 million)
Grizzlies 1st round pick from Lakers (#28)
Why this trade works:
The Warriors could be in big need for a point guard with Monta Ellis an unrestricted free agent and Baron Davis possibly opting out of the final year of his contract. The Grizzlies could use a power forward that fits an up-tempo style of offense which would make Harrington a great fit, and they could then focus on getting O.J. Mayo with their fifth overall pick. The Bulls acquire a point guard in Lowry to back-up Rose, while Collins is in the final year of his contract and could be a valuable trade piece later in the season along with Drew Gooden and his expiring deal. Chicago could then use the 14th pick to draft a power forward with offensive skills like Darrell Arthur from Kansas or Florida’s Marreese Speights, or even hope a guy like Kevin Love from UCLA slips down that low (though that is highly unlikely.)
Chicago’s line-up:
C Noah/Collins/Gray
PF Gooden/Thomas/Arthur or Speights
SF Deng/Nocioni
SG Gordon/Hughes/Sefolosha
PG Rose/Lowry
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Trade 5
Bulls Get:
C Brad Miller ($11.4 million)
G Quincy Douby ($1.4 million)
Sacramento’s 1st round pick (#12)
Kings Get:
G Kirk Hinrich ($10 million)
F Tyrus Thomas ($3.8 million)
Why this trade works:
Brad Miller still has some gas left in his tank and he would give the Bulls a much needed post player who can score with his back to the basket as well as knock down the mid-range jumper. Chicago could use Sacramento’s pick to draft one of the aforementioned power forwards to add some more offensive punch down low. The Kings don’t have a true point guard under contract for next season so Hinrich could step into that role immediately. Thomas gives Sacramento a much needed athletic player in their front court.
Chicago’s line-up:
C Miller/Gray
PF Noah/Gooden/Arthur or Speights
SF Deng/Nocioni
SG Gordon/Hughes/Sefolosha
PG Rose/Douby
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