Many routes for the Bulls to turn their team around
Rebuilding the Bulls, Part II
Some might say point guard is the Bulls' most glaring need. In an era in which Chris Paul and Deron Williams have become dominant players, the Bulls could use someone to break down defenses and distribute the ball.
If the Bulls can beat their 1.7 percent odds to win one of the top two picks in the draft lottery, they can solve their problems by taking Chicago native Derrick Rose.
Otherwise, the point-guard options when the Bulls pick at No. 9 won't be as promising. Texas' D.J. Augustin and UCLA's Darren Collison appear to be the best of the second-tier point guards.
When it comes to veterans, an interesting option was on display in the season finale when Toronto's T.J. Ford scored 16 points against the Bulls in the first quarter alone. He figures to be available for trade since the Raptors have a better option in Jose Calderon.
Would the Raptors accept Andres Nocioni for Ford? Their contracts are similar, with Nocioni's running one more year. Toronto has a penchant for foreign players, and Spanish swingman Jorge Garbajosa just missed all but seven games due to injury, which could make Nocioni an attractive addition for the Raptors.
Ford has been very good when healthy. But with his history of neck injuries, the 6-foot guard's trade value may not be very high.
Another point guard expected to be on the market is Memphis' Kyle Lowry, a player the Bulls liked when he left Villanova. Do they like him enough now to give up the No. 9 pick? Maybe not. Otherwise, it's not easy to come up with a trade suggestion for Lowry, who makes just $1.2 million next season, unless the Grizzlies want to throw in Mike Miller.
If Memphis ends up drafting hometown college hero Rose, then Mike Conley could join Lowry on the trading block.
Of course, adding a point guard would just create more of a logjam in the Bulls' backcourt, so further work needs to be done.
Basket protection
The theory here is that shot blockers who can intimidate opponents near the basket are the key to a strong defense. Building around Joakim Noah and Tyrus Thomas will require some patience, but the payoff may be sweet.
Noah has the lateral quickness to be one of the league's best help defenders. He can slide over to confront a driving LeBron James, for example, and still recover to challenge a shot or grab a rebound on the weak side.
Thomas has the tools to become one of the league's best defensive players. He has a knack for blocking shots and bothering shooters. But Thomas still needs game experience and must learn to avoid foul trouble.
The plus-minus ratings, which measure how a team fares when a player is on the floor compared to when he's not, can be misleading in the NBA. For what it's worth, Noah and Thomas ranked 1-2 in plus-minus per minute played among the Bulls' regulars.
These two young big men struggled at times against taller opponents, particularly late in the season when Washington used 7-footers Brendan Haywood and Andray Blatche together.
In keeping with this theme, the Bulls could pursue New Jersey center DeSagana Diop, a free agent who figures to go for a reasonable price. The 7-foot Diop doesn't do many things well -- he set a career high last season with 2.9 points per game -- but he does block shots.
Search for a star
This appears to be the least promising path, since the ship has sailed on Kevin Garnett and Pau Gasol, and there is little chance the Los Angeles Clippers will trade Elton Brand.
It's conceivable the Washington Wizards would balk at re-signing Gilbert Arenas if he follows through on a threat to opt out of his contract this summer.
A sign-and-trade deal for Arenas would be a risky proposition for the Bulls, though. The high-scoring guard would want something close to a maximum contract, but he played in just 13 games this season while recovering from knee surgery.
On top of that, Arenas has never played much defense and has won just one playoff series in his career (beating the Bulls in 2005).
A former star who will be readily available is Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal. He's another expensive risk, having missed at least 30 games because of injuries in three of the last four seasons. He's also owed $44.2 million over the next two years.
If the Bulls could send back Larry Hughes and another sizable contract, O'Neal wouldn't be such a gamble. Maybe he'd stay healthy and rediscover his all-star form. Then again it's difficult to imagine the Pacers agreeing to add much to their already soaring payroll.
Another path could open if Dallas and Denver don't pick up the competitiveness in the first round of the playoffs. It's conceivable the Mavs and the Nuggets could decide to end the Jason Kidd and Allen Iverson experiments.
Both of those players have one year remaining on their contracts worth more than $20 million, but it could be a way for the Bulls to move a longer-term salary and create some flexibility for the future.
New Jersey's Richard Jefferson, Miami's Shawn Marion and the Clippers' Corey Maggette also may be on the move this summer, but none would be a great fit since the Bulls already have a large assortment of wing players.