bulls

 Yeah, I agree, also, nabbing a backup PG, maybe an experienced college player like Mack or Nolan Smith wouldn’t be a bad idea either.  C.J. Watson isn’t a great backup point guard, and the Bulls really don’t have a 3rd stringer.

I always felt like the Bulls were excellent when Watson was in the game. I always think everything he shoots, in terms of J’s, is missing but somehow they find themselves in the net. He isn’t a bad back up at all, but yeah he isn’t the best either. They have only one glaring need, a scoring 2 guard.

I think they could use a stretch 4 who can clear the lane for Rose to drive and be able to knock down an open jumper. All the Bulls bigs are great defenders but rough offensively, especially Asik and Noah. I think a guy like Harper or Thompkins who could give a quality 8-15 minutes would be beneficial. There are times when the Bulls are so stagnant offensively and need a big who can hit down that jumper when Rose kicks it out. They do need a SG who can stroke it, a pure backup point, and a backup for Deng, but if there is value in a PF I’d say it would be a good move with 2 first rounders in hand. You at times need a PF who can consistently make a mid range shot or else the lane will be clogged for Rose every time he drives. PF is not a top need but it would be a nice luxury pick to improve the overall dynamics and efficiency of the offense. The Bulls offense can go through some pretty rough stretches offensively simply because their big men can’t consistently hit a pick and pop shot.

I like the Harper idea to stretch the floor but…. I would also like to see them get Shumpert, a big guard who could defend both the 1&2 positions and can also take some of the ball handling off of Rose.  They tried to do this with Watson and have Rose play off the ball but they got killed defensively, they could do it with Shumpert.

Good post.  The problem is that there really isn’t a legit 2 guard that will be available there now that Marshon Brooks is moving up.  I like Shelvin Mack for them.  He is that deep threat and scoring option off the bench that they have been missing since Ben Gordon left.  Their biggest need, other than a legit second option (which won’t be available at with their draft picks) is a 3 point threat and a scorer off the bench.  So they need to take Mack at 28 then take the best players available at 30 and 44.  They almost have to have a mini-rebuilding in Chicago.  They have Rose as the go-to guy, Noah is a solid center who is a high level rebounder and shot blocker, and Taj Gibson is a great energy guy off the bench.  Deng is a good 3rd or 4th option.  Asik shows signs of promise and is a solid backup big man. They have to build a team under the assumption that Boozer and Korver cannot be relied upon in the playoffs and during crunch time. 

Boozer is untradable so Korver might be the guy that has to go.  In that case they need a backup wing player too.  I would look to trade him to the Thunder for the 23rd pick, cash, and either Aldrich or Mullens.  That would give them 4 draft picks and another big man off the bench, and would take a bad contract off their books. 

At this point, the Bulls are WAY behind the Heat and might need to wait a couple of years until Miami’s Big Three move past their peak.  In the meantime they continue to put young assets around Derrick Rose, and limit Carlos Boozer’s minutes in the hopes that he is somewhat serviceable in 2 or 3 years down the line. 

The best option would be to trade Kyle Korver to a contender for a late first round pick, some cash, and a big man project (to the Thunder for the 23rd pick, cash and Mullens would be fairly good, or maybe to the Spurs for the 29th pick, the 59th pick, a future first rounder, and cash).  Then trade Noah, Gibson, Brewer the 28th pick and the 30th pick for Dwight Howard if they want to make a run NOW.  If they do the deal with the Thunder too, they will have Derrick Rose and Dwight Howard as the main two threats.  Luol Deng as the third option along with Carlos Boozer as a double double threat at power forward with Asik and Mullens as big men reserves.  They can then draft Shelvin Mack at 23 and then the best player available at 44 (maybe DeAndre Liggins as a defender and 3 point threat to replace both Brewer and Korver).  Or they could get Jeremy Tyler at 23 and go with a Twin Tower lineup with him and Howard.  Then pickup Jon Diebler as a rookie free agent to replace Korver’s shooting.  They can then sign J.R. Smith, Afflalo, or Wilson Chandler.  Chandler is tougher and probably will come cheaper.

Then they will have Rose, Chandler, Deng, Boozer, and Dwight Howard with Watson, Bogans, Liggins, Diebler, Asik, and Jeremy Tyler off the bench.  That would give the team two superstars, a double double guy to pair next to Dwight Howard, two good scorers on the wing with a bunch of athletic, tough, big men off the bench who can shoot and rebound.  For a twelfth man they can either bring back Kurt Thomas or dress out Brian Scalabrine as their backup power forward.