Two trades the Bulls need to make.

First off to be competitive in 2010 we need to preserve cap space and remain a young and talented team. Both of these trades would help us two-fold. We all know if we can offer a superstar player a max-deal and to play for a young & talented team, that plays in a big market we can entice #3, #23 or #2 to play in Chicago.

I have two moves that can help us achieve that goal. The first step is getting a outside shooter who can keep defenses honest and keep the driving lanes open for Rose. The first trade I propose is a block buster that would improve both teams in area were they are weak. 

The Bulls trade Hinrich, Salmons and James Johnson to the Blazers for Blake, Outlaw, Webster and Bayless (for cap reasons). The Bulls get back a back-up PG with an expiring contract who can stroke the 3 to replace Hinrich in Blake. The Bulls also get an expiring deal in Outlaw. Webster has a decent contract and can stroke the 3. He is 6-7 and can play both wing positions which would come handy in 2010. 

Bayless is a filler and isn't getting much time in Rip City and wont get much with Hinrich and Miller manning the point. This trade helps the Blazers also. They get Hinrich whom the covet to play alongside Roy. Their 4 gurad rotation would look like this Kirk, Roy, Rudy and Miller (scary).

Salmons would slide to the 3 which is his natural position and fill the hole they have at the 3 spot. JJ makes the deal sweater since he can back up both forwards positions which they need. A line-up of Kirk, Roy, Salmons, LA and Oden is legit. With a bench of Miller, Rudy, Batum, JJ and Joey P!

This trade works using the ESPN trade machine, I tired to post then here but to no avail lol. You can go to ESPN and verify that the trade works lol. Thanks.

The second trade would fill the low-post scoring need we've had since Brand left town and give us a back-up Sf to replace JJ. We trade Deng, who is playing well right now (Sale high), Tyrus, the rights to Omer Asik and a unprotected 1st for Al Jefferson and Cory Brewer. This would give us a low-post scorer with some meat on his bones to play alongside Noah.

A Noah and Jefferson front court would be formidable to years to come. At this point i don't know if Minny gets offered a better package with 2010 looming and teams not wanting to take on salary. Jefferson is not a good fit next to Love and Love is a whole lot cheaper with more upside. We get Brewer in the trade because with Deng and Gomes at the 3 they have no need for a SF that cant shoot the three. Brewer also makes this trade works and i probably would want Gomes instead, but I would be amazed that Minny does that trade, but it does work.

Brewer or Gomes would be a back-up for us and nothing else. Minny gets Tyrus on a 1 year rental and if they like him they can re-sign him as a Restricted FA. This could work out for Tyrus as well and maybe the kid has a Tyson Chandler awakening once he is out of Chicago. TT would also give them athleticism on the front line along with shot-blocking. Minny has a problem filling seat and Tyrus will definitely electrify the Minny crowd with his absurd dunks and blocked shots.

Deng would also fill the hole they have at the wing spot. A front line of Deng, Thomas and Love looks pretty good to me. Plus Minny gets the rights to Asik who at least projects to be a shot-blocking back-up center in the NBA next season. They would go into the draft with (2) 1st rounders, the rights to Rubio and Asik and cap room and a good young roster. They could easily get a piece to fill that hole at the SG spot with all those assets. This trade works out for everyone involved.

This trade also works using ESPN trade machine. I had the same problem with the the trade machine link, but the trade works.

These trades would give a lineup of the following:

PG - Rose / Blake / Bayless

SG - Webster/ Bayless / Pargo

SF - Outlaw / Brewer or (Gomes) / Webster

PF - Jefferson / Gibson /Noah

C-Noah/ Miller/ Jefferson / Gray

This team would competitive to make it into the playoffs and cause damage. We would drastically improve our 3 pt shooting adding Blake and Webster along with Outlaw who is at least better that Deng. Jefferson would draw double teams which would get out shooters more looks and Rose would have plenty of lanes to drive or teams would pay. Last but not least these trades give us cap space for 2010.

If the Bulls pick the team options for Bayless and Brewer they will go into the summer of 2010 with a roster of 7 paying $33,588,096 (Salaries courteous of NBAdraftexpress.com). With a salary cap of $50 million we would have $16, 411,904 to offer a player in the first year of his deal. If we do not pick up the options on Brewer and Bayless then we would have $22,407,624 in cap space. Hopefully the cap is around 52 to 53 Million and we can keep both Bayless and Brewer while maintaining around 18 to 20 million in cap-space. 

With a good playoff run this team would be at least be able to get D-Wade, Bron or Joe Johnson thinking about the possibility of playing for Chicago. If we cannot pull this off or something similar the cancel 2010. Look at how the line-up would look with Wade or Lebron.

Rose, Webster, James, Jefferson and Noah or,

Rose, Wade, Webster, Jefferson and Noah.

We would win championship until Wade or James could no longer walk. Ahhh, a man can dream right? Pax and Gar would never pulls this kind of trade off. Thank GOD for NBA2K10 lol.