Deal or no deal? Sorting through Bulls' trade options
Less than two weeks remain until the Feb. 19 NBA trade deadline, and Bulls general manager John Paxson is working hard to find sensible deals.
He's already admitted one goal: Finding a new home for unused guard Larry Hughes. Beyond that, the Bulls will have some tough choices to make, mainly: Should they clear enough salary-cap room to shop during the celebrated 2010 free-agent summer?
The counter-argument is don't bother with 2010, because so many teams will have cap room to spend, they'll inevitably end up either empty-handed or paying way too much for someone.
Also consider that the two top big-man targets, Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire and Toronto's Chris Bosh, are likely to be dealt before hitting free agency. Some reports have the Suns ready to trade Stoudemire now.
With so many possibilities, let's examine some of the Bulls' choice for making a deal:
Option 1: Goodbye, Larry - Trading Hughes is no guarantee, since he makes $12.8 million now and $13.7 million next year. But here's a good scenario: Hughes and Cedric Simmons to Sacramento for Mikki Moore and Kenny Thomas.
In theory, the Kings get someone who might help them be more competitive - and they've been awful lately - while giving up two guys who rarely play. The Bulls get a couple big guys who might help and two contracts that expire in 2010. Best of all, Simmons finally gets some playing time.
Milwaukee could work as a Hughes destination since the Bucks lost Michael Redd for the season. Center Dan Gadzuric would be a good target for the Bulls, but it's doubtful Milwaukee will trade any big men now that center Andrew Bogut is expected to miss two months with a stress fracture in his back.
The next best scenario might be a deal mentioned here last summer: Hughes to New York for Malik Rose and Jared Jeffries. It's good for the Knicks because Jeffries' deal runs to 2011, but it could also make sense for the Bulls because the 6-foot-11 Jeffries is a decent defender. Rose's contract ends this year, so the Bulls might also be far enough under the luxury tax to add a mid-level free agent this summer.
Option 2: Make a bold move now - Bosh is likely to stay put for another year, but Stoudemire could be on the move soon. Some stories make it sound as though the Suns can't wait to move Stoudemire, so the Bulls should proceed with caution.
Stoudemire is highly paid ($17.7 million in 2010-11 if he doesn't opt out), had microfracture knee surgery in 2005 and doesn't always show much interest in defense. Then again, he averaged 25.2 points, 9.1 points and shot 59 percent from the field last season.
If Phoenix would take Drew Gooden, Tyrus Thomas and Andres Nocioni for Stoudemire and Grant Hill, it might be worth a try. If Suns GM Steve Kerr wants the Bulls to tack on more assets, it becomes a tougher call. Luol Deng, Joakim Noah, plus filler for Stoudemire would have to wait until the summer because Deng is in the first year of a new, larger contract.
Another option might be Washington's Antawn Jamison. He's a consistent 20-point scorer and solid team leader, but after the Wizards' train wreck of a season, they might decide to go in a money-saving direction and accept an offer of Gooden, Simmons and Thabo Sefolosha. Maybe the Bulls throw in a big guy if the Wizards give back rookie JaVale McGee.
The downside is Jamison turns 33 this summer and will be 35 in 2011-12 when he's set to make $15 million.
Option 3: Clear salaries - Remember, the Bulls don't have to make any moves to create cap room, just let Ben Gordon, Gooden and Hughes walk away as free agents. So they should be in no hurry to take this path.
The easiest way to clear a long contract would be to move Andres Nocioni. Toronto needs another scoring option and could trade Anthony Parker with either Kris Humphries or Joey Graham. Portland is on the lookout for a consistent small forward, with PF Channing Frye and SG Martell Webster one of several options that work.
Option 4: Change the chemistry - The Bulls' improved play since Jan. 12 cuts down the need for a complete overhaul, which seemed to be a realistic option a month ago.
Don't expect the Bulls to give up on Deng early in his new contract or trade Kirk Hinrich when Gordon's future as a free agent is out of the team's control.
But Portland was considered a potential destination for Deng if he reached free agency, so one idea for an overhaul trade would be Deng, Hughes and Gooden to the Blazers for Travis Outlaw, center Joel Przybilla, Webster, Frye and Raef LaFrentz's expiring $12.7 million deal. Or maybe not.
Option 5: Go for the risk, reward - Here's the proposal: Gooden, Nocioni and Sefolosha to Utah for Carlos Boozer and Matt Harpring.
Maybe the Bulls have to throw in another big man. But this works if the Jazz is convinced Boozer is about to leave as a free agent. He can opt out this summer, with Miami and Detroit potential suitors. The Jazz don't need a third max player on top of Deron Williams and Andrei Kirilenko, while Paul Millsap is already a nice replacement at power forward.
It's risky for the Bulls, since Boozer may not re-sign and he also hasn't played since Nov. 19 with the infamous quad tendon strain. But the payoff could be huge.
The Bulls would have their inside presence and still keep much of their nucleus. Then they sit back and let the teams with cap room fight over limited prizes in 2010.