I think Boozer is the player we need to target. He helps us both short-term and long-term and provides us with a legitimate PF who can score and is a go-to guy.  

Heres why we get him: 1) theyre scared of losing him for nothing after the season and 2) they have Paul Millsap ahead of him (i think rightly so, kid will continue to improve big time) and they will not be able to afford both of them with the contracts they have.

Now I think we have 2 roads to go about getting him and I feel that they are both attractive for Bulls fans and hopefully Jazz fans (obviously I'm looking at this from more of a Bulls angle but trying to see what they want too).  We can either try to work out a swap of BG and Boozer or work out a trade with Deng and Boozer as principles.  

The BG swap is a little complicated because BG will have to agree to any trade, but I am pretty sure Utah is one team that has been interested in him and maybe Bens best chance at a long-term contract, so maybe we can convince him that it is in his best interest to go there for an audition and EARN himself a contract, is that such a strange concept?  In reality though, due to his BYC rights it will be tough to work out a deal AND for him to agree to it because his bird rights are reset this summer.  I think our best bet is to try a sign and trade with BG this summer.

Ok, now it looks like our best option is to work a 3 for 3 swap with Utah.  My personal favorite is Deng, Noah and Noc for Boozer, Harpring and Koustos.

Bulls-Utah Trade 1

This seems to work on our end, and we get rid of Nocioni which is clearly addition by subtraction for this bulls team.  What we need to decide is whether or not Noah and Nocioni are Sloan's type of players.  I'm hoping he sees them as talented enough to take a chance and to take back Deng in return for someone they might lose for nothing.  Also, does this create a logjam at the 3 with kirilenko, Deng, and Noc? 

Bulls-Utah Trade 2

This one may work better for both sides.  Obviously Boozer and Deng are the principles, but I feel that Gooden and Thabo give Utah some good pieces, and Ruffin makes it work salary wise.  We get back Boozer, and Korver who is a great shooter to park outside for Rose to have another option to pass to.  Koustos is filler but has been surprisingly productive in limited minutes.  This is my favorite option with the Jazz.

Thoughts? Do any of these really work? I was initially trying to find a way to move nocioni but I think that might have to happen in a different trade with a contender.  Deng is expendable, and if you disagree just go back to YaoPau's piece on busting the Luol Deng myth.