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.

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Last year Tyrus Thomas averaged 10.8 ppg,  6.4 rpg, and 1.9 bpg in 27.5 minutes a game. Tyrus Shot 45% from the field and 78% from the free throw line. We all know that Tyrus came on strong later in the year becoming a double double machine and wetting the appetites of Bulls fans everywhere. The last 3 months of the season Tyrus posted averages of 13.8 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2.1 bpg while shooting 47.3% from the field and 77% from the line while playing 32 mpg.

What if VDN gave TT consistent playing time and minutes that reflect a true PF in the NBA? LMA averaged 37 mpg last year for the Blazers and posted a stat line of 18 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 1 bpg while shooting 48% from the floor and 78% from the line. As we all know LMA is the guy we traded for Tyrus, so who better for a comparison. People think that LMA is a far more better player than Tyrus and this is not the case, as I am going to prove.

Based on TT stats from the last 3 months of the season starting in Feb, if TT played 37 mpg he would have posted a stat line of 15.9 ppg, 8.5 rpg and 2.4 bpg. I divided TT's stats starting from (2-2-09) to the last game of the season (4-15-09) based his minutes played per game (32 ppg). I then multiplied whatever number the calculator provided me by 37 to determine TT's output if he were to play 37 mpg at the same production rate of the 32 minute average.

Based on these stats LMA averaged about 2 points more than TT, but averaged 1 rebound less and almost a block and a half less than TT. LMA only shot better from the filed and the line by 1%. With BG gone Tyrus will probably get more shots. With the continued development of Tyrus, better chemistry Rose and this being a contract year I expect big things for him. As we all know TT has been working extremely hard this off-season and has a lot to prove.

Tyrus turns 23 this August and still is a long way from his prime. If Tyrus can break out this year it will give the Bulls a lot of options. It is a win-win situation for the Bulls because his development improves his trade value and he will be a valuable piece come February. 

LMA stats @ 37 mpg

18 ppg / 7.5 rpg / 1 bpg / 48% FG / 78% FT

VS

TT stats @ 37 mpg

15.9 ppg / 8.5 rpg / 2.4 bpg / 47% FG / 77% FT

The sky is the limit for TT all we all want him to succeed. The only thing holding Tyrus back is VDN.

I know everyone is down about BG leaving. I was one of the people who wanted to see him stay and become a major factor in us returning to championship glory. I also did not think it was a wise basketball move to pay BG 11 million dollars a year and this is not to defend Cheapskate Jerry the Jerkface. But how many times did we yell at BG for not giving Rose the ball during a fast break? How many times did we yell about needing a taller more prototypical SG to play alongside Rose?

I love BG as much as the next man, but we were not going to win a championship with BG as the starting SG. DET is not going to win a ring with BG as it's starting SG. We also could not afford to pay BG 11 million to come off the bench. I know Kirk is making 10 million to back up Rose, but we got Rose by sheer luck, if we didn't Kirk would still be our starting PG.

The main key for us to make up for BG's scoring is Deng. If Deng can return to form 18 ppg and 7 to 8 rpg / Rose takes a step up in stats 18 to 20 ppg / Salmons gets about 18 ppg at the SG spot and Tyrus improves on his 10.8 ppg from last year to about 12 to 14 ppg we will be fine. Plus Hinrich coming off the pine is at least 10 to 12 ppg and you cannot forget about Miller and the rookie Johnson. 

With BG gone I think we will have better ball movement and better team defense. Rose will get more control of the offense and everyone will get more shots. This move proves to me that this is Rose's team and those who do not fit will be discarded (Tyrus you are next). I believe that Kirk will eventually be dealt and we will make a trade for Bosh or STAT at the trade deadline. The next step after that would be for Wade to sign as a free-agent. Having Rose and Bosh on the same roster would motivate Wade to come home. Cheer up Bulls fans the line-up for next season does not look that bad. (I hope)

PG - Rose / Hinrich

SG - Salmons / Hinrich

SF - Deng / Salmons / Johsnon

PF - Thomas / Noah / Johnson / Gibson

C -   Noah/ Miller

[Note by illwill, 11/20/08 12:21 AM PST ]

This is Websters scouting report from ESPN

Scouting report: Webster is 6-foot-7 with an NBA body and a sweet jump shot, making him a prototypical pro small forward. He's trying to build on that by becoming an ace wing defender as well, and his body gives him a chance because he can easily repel post-ups by opposing wings. However, his lateral movement is more "decent" than "exceptional" and he's not an overwhelming athlete, so this role stretches his skills to their limit.

Offensively, he's not a good ball handler or an explosive player around the basket, so he depends on jumpers for most of his points. Last season only 26.5 percent of his shot attempts came in the basket area -- among players 6-foot-7 or taller, only Michael Finley, Bruce Bowen, Sasha Vujacic, Peja Stojakovic and Kyle Korver shot from close range less frequently. With his stroke, Webster should also be a better foul shooter -- he only made 73.5 percent last year.

Here is the trade link http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/traderesult?players=1981~3414~682~2795&teams=22~22~4~4&te=&cash=

The Blazers need a veteran PG and Hinrich would fit well into their system. Asik is just deal sweatner since the Blazer like their young talent. We would get Webtser who could give us a young wing player who has a junp shot and is emerging as a good defender. The Blazers already have Roy and Fernandez manning the SG spot so that leaves Webster as the odd man out.

Outlaw and Batum play the 3 so he's pretty much screwed their too. Not to mention the Blazers spent a first round pick on Bayless which means even less time for Webster @ the 2 spot. He is not a great slasher, but Rose needs to be surrounded by shooters and by someone who can guard a big 2 guard without giving up the size that BG does.

Przybilla gives us a true center who can defend the paint which we desperately need. Oden is back and if he stays healty having Przybilla is a luxary because they both have no O and only can play D and rebound. I know people are going to say they want to trade Kirk for a superstar, but the reality is that he is not a superstar.

We need to build this team around Rose and become competitive enough to compete for Bosh in 2010. The only other hope is to draft Griffin from OKL or hope A. Stat or Wade demands a trade by All-Star break, which probally will not happen. Besides wouldn't a line-up of Rose / Webster / Deng / Bosh / Przybilla sound good? with Gordon / Noce / Noah / coming off the bench. Think about it

First off I know you guys are going to dismember this trade proposal with a scaple and not a hatchet, but this is what I think Pax should do if he expects for us to compete.

The Bulls should send the following players to the Nuggets:

SF - LOUL DENG - 23 Y.O - $9,385,000.

PG - KIRK HINRICH - 27 Y.O - $10,000,000.

F/C - JOAKIM NOAH - 23 Y.O - $2,295,480.

PF- CEDRICK SIMMONS - 22 Y.O - $1,742, 760.

TOTAL SALARIES - $23,422,760.

Plus a sweetner (Omer Asik, a 1st or a 2nd rounder).

For the following Nugget players will be sent to the Bulls:

SF - CARMELO ANTHONY - 24 Y.O - $14,410,581.

F/C - NENE HILARIO - 26 Y.O - $9,680,000.

PG - ANTHONY CARTER - 33 Y.O - $797,581.

TOTAL SALARIES - $24,888,162.

REASON FOR THE TRADE:

MELO: We need to build this team around Rose and to do that you need to pair him with a prolific scorer and and low post threat. Melo can answer both those needs. The reason why I traded Deng is because we have to be realistic, Denver is not given up Melo for anything less that Rose or Deng, plus they play the same position.

Melo would be a better fit for our team because he can post-up, create his own shot, rebound and run the floor and finsish which pairs well with Rose. Plus you can add to the fact that Melo can hit the three. The Nuggets might blow-up their team by the all-star break and Melo might be intriged about being paired with the NEXT POINT GOD of the NBA.

NENE: Yeah, yeah I know he has been injuried in the past, but it was for cancer and and finger. Hey floks, those aren't Greg Oden issues just bad luck. Nene is alot better than any big we have now and plus he has the weight to bang with true centers and the agility to run and finish with Rose. Additionally, he can be used later in a bigger and better deal.

Sorry Sue, but Hinrich must go. The Nuggets need a PG and we need a Center. If Nene returns to form he can score in the post and is an o.k rebounder. His size will allow Thomas to roam on D and block shots on defense. On offense he will allow Tyrus to face and shoot the J or take his man off the dribble.

CARTER: He is obviously a throw in for contract and roster purposses. Once we trade Hinrich we will need a veteran back-up PG and he fills that role. I gave Denver Noah to replace Nene and to sweeten the deal. Remember we are trading for Anthony here not Huhges and Gooden.

I threw Simmons in the trade just for his contract. and Asik was thrown in for the hell of it to further intice Denver to part with Anthony. Our roster will look like this if this trade is made.

CHICAGO BULLS ROTATION:

PG - ROSE / GORDON / CARTER

SG - GORDON / HUGHES / SEFOLOSHA

SF - ANTHONY / NOCIONI / SEFOLOSHA

PF - THOMAS / GOODEN / NOCIONI

C - HILARIO / GOODEN / GRAY

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DENVER NUGGETS ROTATION:

PG - HINRICH / ATKINS / IVERSON

SG - IVERSON/ SMITH / HINRICH

SF - DENG / BALKMAN

PF - MARTIN / KLEIZA / NOAH

C - NOAH / ANDERSON

Reasons why the Nuggets will make this trade:

DENG - He is one of the best young SF's in the NBA. If they trade Anthony they will need to replace him and Deng is a good player to build a future with.

HINRICH - They need a PG and Hinrich fit that bill, plus he can guard bigger players which allows Iverson to play SG.

NOAH - Young 7 footer who is dripping with potential and possibly a Camby clone?

These 3 along with Smith, Balkman, Martin and Iverson should keep them copetitive and if they choose to rebuild we could throw in a second rounder, and they have some pretty good assets. This trade would help us and help them.

This trade would give us a great 1-2 punch in Rose and Anthony. If we re-sign Gordon he can allow Rose to be the 2nd or 3rd option. Nene is a solid bigman who plays in the paint which will  allowTyrus to face-up and shoot or take his man off the dribble. Plus, we still have Noce, Gooden and Thabo coming off the bench.

I did not trade Gooden because his contract expires after this season and we will need the cap relief this summer to resign Gordon. I also did not trade Hughes because we will need that $14 mill to come off our books after next season. Tell me what you think.