otably in last night's loss to the Lakers were two missing aspects of a winning basketball team; two aspects that (I believe) it is unreasonable to expect these Bulls to upon improve internally:

The first is a reliable perimeter scorer, especially from long range. John Salmons has played better lately at the 2 spot, but he's not the answer there. His shots are best taken 10-15 feet out, off screens, in isolation, or on transition drives to the hoop. He can't be a reliable first option b/c he's never met a shot he didn't like. The man doesn't move the rock.

Derrick Rose is struggling mightily to create his own shot, and (as Marv Albert and Doug Collins pointed out a number of times during last night's game ) one problem Rose faces is a lack of a consistent perimeter option to keep opposing defenses honest. Last year Ben Gordon, as one dimensional as his game tends to be, was a consistent threat from beyond the arc. Salmons (or better yet, a healthy Luol Deng) could be relied upon as a third option to score on midrange j's and/or off screens. The 09-10 Bulls lack any consistent three point shooting threat. Shoot, Hinrich is shooting 26% from downtown, and he's prolly this teams best option there.

The second is a reliable post up option in the painted area or just outside.  Duh--we've lacked this since Elton Brand was shipped out (unless you count Eddy Curry on a good day with the wind at his back). Many of us on BaB have hoped that Deng could begin to fill this role, but so far has not been up to the task (though he's arguably this team's best player 11 games in) Other than his shooting form, Noah's play has been a thing of beauty. He's leading the freakin' league in rebounds, he's gotten more aggressive on offense, but he's only ever going to be so-so as a scorer. Brad Miller can shoot a little, pass a lot, and occasionally create his own shot in the post. But he's not a post player per se. Tyrus, Taj, JJ...works in progress all, jump shooters, and none project as reliable post up scorers.

So what to do (this season or this next off season?). I think the smart play is to balls out aggressively court FAs at either the 2 or the 4 spot, perhaps both if a trade or sign and trade can be worked out. Here are the 2010 FA options (and potential options)

SG: The Best:

Kobe

DWade

Joe Johnson

I'm thinkin' maybe we could get Wade if Miami doesn't get Bosh or James, but I'm not at all convinced. If we fail to sign a superstar FA at SG, here are some lower cost options (some FAs, mostly trades), but all could be had whether their current team sucks (Mayo), or they aren't getting burn (Fernandez).

SG: The Rest, in alphabetical order:

Marco Bellinelli -- Toronto

Age: 23

Pts per 40 min: 18.9

FG/3PT%: .492/ .500

09-10 Salary: $1.5M

Chris Douglas-Roberts -- NJN

Age: 22

Pts per 40 min: 17.4

FG/3PT%: .467/.429

09-10 Salary: $740K

Rudy Fernandez – PRTLND

Age: 24

Pts per 40 min: 15.2

FG/3PT%: .457/.442

09-10 Salary:$1.2M

O.J. Mayo -- MEMPHIS

Age: 22

Pts per 40 min: 19.7

FG/3PT%: .455/.351

 09-10 Salary: $4.15M

Anthony Morrow – Golden State

Age: 24

Pts per 40 min: 15.6

FG/3PT%: .514/.533

09-10 Salary: $740K

Martell Webster – PRTLND

Age: 22

Pts per 40 min: 14.2

FG/3PT%: .514/.533

09-10 Salary: $740K

Anthony Morrow is currently the best 3 point shooter percentage-wise in the league. He's an FA this off season, and he's pretty cheap. Talent wise, if we could work a trade for Fernandez or (less likely) Mayo, we should consider it. A reliable three point shooter gets us the good old ROY D-Rose back, making a post scorer less necessary.

Not that we couldn't use a decent post scorer....

PF: The Best. All of the following are (or potentially are) FA's in 2010.

Chris Bosh

Amare Stoudemire

Carlos Boozer

Boozer might be a nice complement to Noah in the paint, given his scoring, but his attitude and injury history are concerns. Injury wise, STAT is also a liability, though you can't deny his talent. Bosh would be good in a motion offense as his shooting can spread the floor.

PF: The Rest

Ryan Anderson--ORLND

Age: 21

Pts per 40: 24.3

Rbs per 40: 7.8

Blks per 40: .23

FG%: .474 (3P .429)

09-10 Salary: $1.3M

Micheal Beasley

Age: 20

Pts per 40: 17.2

Rbs per 40: 7.8

Blks per 40: .88

FG%: .404

09-10 Salary:$4.6M

Age: DeJuan Blair

Pts per 40: 15.1

Rbs per 40:13.75

Blks per 40: 1

FG% .600

09-10 Salary: $850,000

Andray Blatche

Age: 23

Pts per 40: 18.7

Rbs per 40: 9.3

Blks per 40: 2.2

FG%: .519

09-10 Salary: $3M

Kevin Love

Age: 21

Pts per 40: 17.5

Rbs per 40: 14.3

Blks per 40: .67

FG%: .459

09-10 Salary: $3.4M

Carl Landry

Age: 26

Pts per 40: 23.1

Rbs per 40:9.1

Blks per 40: 1.78

FG% .545

09-10 Salary: $3M

Anthony Randolph

Age:

Pts per 40: 22.6

Rbs per 40: 13.2

Blks per 40: 1.5

FG% .422

09-10 Salary $1.8M

Randolph, Blatche, Landry, Love put up impressive #s. Could possibly be had in a sign and trade as all but Landry are on shitty teams.

Just a thought....

Bad Boy Bill Laimbeer wants a job. He his resume isn't long, but he was a 2 time  NBA champ, 4 time all-star, generally regarded as one bad MF and, oh yeah he took the Detroit shock from the bottom of the WNBA to clinch three titles in the span of 6 years. When I was a kid I hated Detroit. I still hate Zeke, even though he's a homeboy. I hated the when the Bad Boys played my Bulls, mostly until I heard former bad boy  and later Chitown BullD-Rod quip: "I'd rather be called a dirty player than a soft one"

If anybody could immediately gain the respect of an NBA player, Laimbeer, all 7 feet 280 pounds of him could. He's a winner, and he's proved it. Why hire a mediocre former player/exec with 0 experience over a guy like Bill Laimbeer. I'm officially on the Bad Boy Bill train whe the team goes to hire Coach Next. After seeing the Bulls early schedule, I am all but certain Vinny's out unless D Rose proved that he is the unholy lovechild of JKidd and DWade.

Gar PaxDorf, Fire Viny. Hire Bill.

Captain Kirk for Sergio Rodriguez and Kenny Thomas: Two expiring contracts, one of which we could either buyout or bench, for Kirk's contract. and a draft pick or two. Thomas is washed up even as a journeyman, but Spanish Chocolate might be an inexpensive (and exciting) back up for Rose at the PG spot. Both of these contracts expire after this year, and it is doubtful that Sactown will be a major player in the FA bonanza of 2010. However, they need an upgrade at PG and a tandem of Kirk and Beno Udrih added to Tyreke Evans and Kevin Martin could be a VERY good backcourt.

Sacramento Depth Chart:

PG: Kirk Hinrich/Beno Udrih

SG: Kevin Martin/Tyreke Evans

SF: Francisco Garcia/Chapu/Omri Casspi

PG Jason Thompson/Donte Greene/Sean May

C: Spencer Hawes

Bulls Depth Chart after my two proposed trades:

PG: Rose/Rodriguez/Hunter

SG: Salmons/Pargo

SF: Johnson/Salmons/K. Thomas/T.Thomas

PF: Boozer/T.Thomas/Noah/K Thomas

C: Noah/B. Miller/Boozer/Gray/J. James

I admit it's a gamble, especially at the 2 and 3. But our current depth chart is a gamble, and it doesn't leave us with a ridiculous amount of cap space. With Boozer, Miller, Jerome James, Kenny Thomas, Tyrus Thomas, Rodriguez, etc coming off the books, theoretically at least we could perhaps sign a DWade, A Lebron and a discounted Carlos Boozer in the 2010 offseason, and have a starting lineup like this:

Rose

Wade?/Salmons/?

James?/Salmons/Johnson

Boozer?/Noah/Johnson

Noah/Asik/?

That starting lineup plus filler (Salmons/Johnson/Asik, etc...) would be ridiculous...

With the recent news that the Bulls' cap space looks to be less than a max contract for the LeBrons, DWades and (gulp) Chris Boshes of the Summer 2010 mega millions lottery, I humbly submit a trade idea that may give the Bulls flexibility while also improving team needs for the immediate future:

#1 Luol for Boozer: This deal would exchange one talented but oft injured Duke forward for another. The deal would include Taj Gibson to both sweeten the deal for Utah, and give the Bulls cap room flexibility. Utah needs to improve talent wise, and has a difficult time attracting free agents (or at least retaining them. With Matt Harpring a constant question mark, AK 47 playing out of position at the 3 and Deron Williams in need of a number two scoring threat, I think Utah does this deal.

Utah Depth Chart:

D Williams/ E Maynor

R Brewer/ K. Korver/ CJ Miles

L. Deng/A Kirilenko/ Harpring

P. Milsap/ A. Kirilenko/ T Gibson

M. Okur/ Koufos

Bulls Depth Chart:

Rose/Hinrich/Hunter

Salmons/Pargo/Hinrich

Johnson/Salmons

Boozer/Thomas

Noah/Miller/Gray/James

So Miller, James, Thomas, Boozer and possibly Salmons come off the Books, we can sign DWade or LeBron (a big if). Or we can resign Boozer (we retain his bird rights) and still have between 12 and 15 million available for a sign and trade, to sign a free agent  or some such arrangement that improves the team. I know a lot of people think Boozer is overrated, but with Noah's post defense, I'm hoping he can be a low post scoring asset. It really depends on where and when Noah and Rose (our two main offense facilitators) get him the ball. I think the game plan should be let Rose initiate the offence with a drive. If he gets sealed off, kick to Noah to reset in a half court and either find a shooter, or an open Boozer for the inside bucket.

Anyway, let me know what other BaB'llers think....

Unless we can pull off a trade that nets a legit all-star and/ or an all star low post scorer, why dismantle this team at all? SO we sign Gordon to a $8-9M with incentives. This team is ridiculously deep, with 2 1st rounders and Omer Asik still incubating in Euroleague.

Let's say we draft DeJuan Blair (my fave) and I dunno BJ Mullins/Tyler Hansborogh/token white big...

Rose/Hinrich

BG7/Salmons/Hinrich

Deng/Salmons/Tyrus

Tyrus/Noah/Blair

Noah/Miller/Mullens(token boy)

That's a ridiculously 10-deep team. Why mess with it, if there is still significant room for improvement on upside alone? Not to mention that Salmons is cheap, Miller comes off the books after next along with Tim Thomas and Jerome James...add Bosh or D-Wade or LeBron (yeah right) to this mix, and you have the look of a Championship team.

Both are having breakout seasons and both are unrestricted FA's this summer. Both of their respective teams would have a difficult time resigning them for more than a mid level exception. In Lee's case, the Knicks are way over the cap and would have to scrap the idea of luring two elite FAs in 2010.  In Millsap's situation, if Carlos Boozer exercises his player option (as well he should, considering his string of nagging injuries), he'll likely only get an offer at best slightly above the mid level. Both these guys are double double 4's. They both "go after it. Does anybody think that either Millsap or Lee wouldn't be able to run a pick and roll with Rose? Does anybody think the Knicks are going placed with a tandem of Duhon and Lee?

So they're not all stars (yet), but an $7-8 million contract would be a steal. Would the Bulls be better off (especially defensively) with Stoudamire or Bosh? For the same money, we could pay two guys. Barring someone trading Dwight Howard, how else is Pax going to fill that gaping hole in the paint?

Maybe Miami doesn't do this blockbuster trade, but I cannot see why Toronto or Sactown wouldn' t.

It keeps some of our useful pieces (Deng, Gordon, Rose, Thomas) and rids us of almost all of our pesky albatross contracts (Noce, Hinrich, and potentially Hughes.)

As an added bonus, at least for this season, we get two above average servicable bigs, in J.O. and Brad Miller, and a waning all star in Marion.

Rose

Gordon

Deng

Marion/Thomas/O'Neal

Miller/O'Neal

Maybe Marion will rub off on Tyrus, (since that was what he projected as a lottery pick two years ago.)

We can also sign Gordon over the summer when Marion and O'Neal come off the books, and be in a very good position in summer 2010 to sign Bosh, Wade, Stoudamire, who ever....

NYK is never going to let poor Eddy Curry off the bench, despite his big soft hands. NYK is also never going to re-sign fan favorite David Lee, because of Donnie Walsh's 2010 plan. So, while it wouldn't exactly solve all our low post scoring problems (all Curry ever did was score from the low block) it gives us two assets (D Lee is RFA after this season) that both expire soon.