The Chicago Bulls didn't even bother to make a move this offseason, except signing Mike Dunleavy and Jimmy Butler to an extension deal, and adding rookie power forward Bobby Portis to the mix. With Tom Thibodeau gone, the pressure will be on new head coach Fred Hoiberg to take a still talented Bulls squad to the promise land.
However, many NBA pundits aren't convinced that a coaching change and minor lineup changes would change the fate of the Chicago Bulls this coming season. LeBron James has been a thorn in the Bulls' heart over the past six seasons, leading his teams (The Miami Heat and now the Cleveland Cavaliers) to memorable playoff victories against Chicago.
James and his reloaded Cavaliers squad will continue to stand on the Bulls' way next season, unless the team brain trusts finally pull off what they seldom do: making big trades.
Dealing with a talent surplus at the power forward position and deficiency at the small forward spot, the Bulls should consider exploring trade options, especially the ones that will upgrade their depth at the wing.
Last week, a big NBA trade rumors involving Bulls forward Taj Gibson and Sacramento Kings winger Rudy Gay generated some buzz on the trading front. The speculated trade is quite of an eye-catcher because it involves borderline All-Star talents, but it's better to weigh in the validity of this rumor through a game of fact or fiction.
Rudy Gay Boosting Bulls SF Spot: This trade rumor has all the ingredients of becoming a real one, except it isn't yet. The Bulls deeply need a premier talent at small forward after James burned his undersized defender over and over again. At 6-foot-8, the 29-year old Gay can sure hold his ground against James and give the Bulls another shot creator along with Butler at the wing.
Meanwhile, the Kings may have the best center in the NBA in DeMarcus Cousins, but he still doesn't have a talented running-mate inside the paint. Taj Gibson will enter the 2015-16 season competing for minutes at PF. With Bobby Portis' good showing at Summer League, he created a problem that could only be solved through a trade.
Gibson, who averaged 9.2 points and 6.2 rebounds in 25 minutes per game over six seasons with the Bulls, would be an ideal frontcourt player next to Cousins, giving the Kings one of the most athletic frontcourt tandems on paper (once Gibson fully recovers from a knee surgery). The inclusion of Doug McDermott in the trade package for Gay gives the Kings someone whom they can nurture along with its young core.
Again, this trade rumors has all the makings to actually happen, but in the end, it needs initiatives from both teams to make it done. Still, there's a feeling in the air that when the Kings succumbs to the competition in the West and the Bulls looking for that extra gear down the stretch, this trade will eventually happen. Fingers crossed, but this rumor has legs to stand. Fiction.
Brendan Haywood Option as Joakim Noah's Backup?: Like I said, the Bulls are dealing surplus problem on their front-court. If sort out well, then it could be problem. Hoiberg expressed his intention to play a small-ball, fast-paced offensive attack.
Thus, it means the twin-tower combo of Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol will no longer be a fixture on the Bulls starting lineup. Someone is expected to sit and provide depth off the bench. Moreover, if an unexpected injury happens, they will have a very talented insurance in Taj Gibson to play the five spot (if he sticks). So it's unlikely the Bulls will add another frontline player moving forward.