[Ben Wallace] actually, as we know, retired a few years ago, though his uniform is often out on the court.

Actually, I heard the Bulls talked to Lindsey after the season about returning in a similar players’ role or as a coach and told him to get back to them in the summer about that.

They should be good with that. A likely backup in Thomas, a guy in Deng whom they won’t know for sure if he can start next season given he’s got a stress fracture and a non lottery pick…To me, the Bulls would have to do something like Salmons, Noah and Tyrus and maybe some picks. Right. Not happening.

While it’d suck to lose both Noah and Tyrus in a deal for Bosh, doing so while giving up Salmons over Deng makes it far more palatable. Of course, this would probably end up having to be some crazy 3 way deal bringing back the Bulls some serviceable big and opening up a little cap space to resign BG.

There’s actually a pretty fair number of them available. I’d say Varejao and Rasho Nestorovic are definitely MLE worthy. Both are strong guys and decent defenders. Exactly the sort of guys you succeed with in the playoffs.

Failing them, Zaza, Gortat, Chris Andersen, McDyess, or Mihm might be worth a look.

A year down the road, hopefully we bring Asik in as well, but Miller/Rash would be about as solid (while being unspectacular) as you could hope for.

I’d hate to see the Bulls with and use three picks in this draft.

So the Bulls have to be careful. Can you trade Hinrich and then lose Gordon? You won’t know what Gordon will do until July. It would be awfully risky to deal Hinrich at the draft and then have three draft picks at a time you need to stop going young.

excuse me, but is it or is it not true that derrick rose, who the team is being built around, is still like, 20 years of age? i have yet to see a trade rumor that guarantees the bulls vault into the top half of next year’s playoff bracket. (that includes trading all of our front court youth for bosh.) so, as much as reinsdorf might miss pocketing that extra $1M per playoff game, i don’t see it as a disaster if they should even happen to miss them next year somehow.

i do see a chance to add some capable, athletic, young types in a deep draft for low $, however. noah and rose are gonna be just fine as the leaders the team has needed. miller, salmons and deng are plenty enough veteran presence, even if both kirk and ben are goners.