Bulls may need help, but who's available?
The Bulls have been sporting the characteristics of an undermanned team all week.
Getting outrebounded 47-27 in a blowout loss at Portland late Monday is just the latest example.
The streak of three consecutive lopsided defeats began in Los Angeles last Thursday. The Lakers' taller front line produced a 60-40 edge in points in the paint, 22-8 in second-chance points.
The Bulls were never very competitive in the second half against the Lakers. In the next two games at Denver and Portland, they ran out of gas down the stretch.
The Nuggets outscored the Bulls 42-22 over the last 13 or so minutes of Saturday's loss, while the Blazers finished on a 45-25 run during the final 16 minutes.
Portland center Greg Oden turned in one of the best games of his NBA career with 24 points and 12 rebounds Monday.
Maybe Joakim Noah could have played better, but he's not getting much help on the glass. Noah finished with 8 rebounds against the Blazers, while Taj Gibson and Brad Miller combined for 7.
With two days off before facing Utah in a rare Thanksgiving night game, this is a good time to ask if reinforcements could help the Bulls. The two glaring needs right now are better perimeter shooting and some defensive help around the basket.
The Bulls continue to consider adding an extra body, but right now nothing is in the works.
Making a trade without squandering next year's cap space is nearly impossible. So here's a look at the limited list of players available:
Tyrus Thomas, Aaron Gray: Gray (stress fracture in left fibula) could be ready to play against the Jazz, but typically he does not log heavy minutes. It would have been interesting to see if he could have walled off Oden a few times Monday.
Thomas should get his broken left arm checked Monday and is hoping to be out of the splint for good. Tough to tell exactly when he will be back, but the Dec. 8 game against New Jersey probably is the best guess at this time.
Thomas is experiencing the frustration of having to sit at home and watch his teammates get pounded on the road. So this could bode well in the long run, because the Bulls need Thomas to bring a little extra energy and hunger when he returns.
Jake Voskuhl: This former Bulls draft pick might be the best big man looking for a job. Now 32, Voskuhl was cut in the preseason by Dallas.
Melvin Ely: This South Suburban Harvey native never has been much of a rebounder in the NBA, but he owns some post moves. He was cut by Sacramento in the preseason.
Chris Mihm: Another former Bulls draft pick hasn't been heard from in awhile. He was with Memphis last season and had ankle surgery in March. So he still might be recovering but is only 30 years old.
Wally Szczerbiak: Maybe the best outside shooter on the open market, but Szczerbiak, 32, had knee surgery in October and has admitted his career could be over.
Jerry Stackhouse: Mentioned recently that he'd like to join the Lakers but played in just 10 games last season for Dallas with a variety of foot problems. Age 35.
Rashad McCants: This former North Carolina sharpshooter, the No. 14 pick in the 2005 draft, was looking at Houston this summer.
But the Rockets turned him away, saying an abdominal injury would keep him from competing for a roster spot. If he's healthy, maybe McCants has a future as a 3-point gunner off the bench. He averaged 14.9 points for Minnesota in 2007-08.
Antonio Daniels: Both the Cavs and the Magic reportedly showed interest in this 34-year-old combo guard, but he's unsigned for now. Probably more of a slasher than a shooter, and that's tough to do at an advanced age.
Allen Iverson: He couldn't handle coming off the bench in Memphis, and it's unlikely the Bulls would start him next to Derrick Rose. Actually, less than unlikely might be a better prediction.
Antoine Walker: This Chicago native hasn't played at all since the 2007-08 season and was accused this summer of passing bad checks at casinos. Doesn't sound like someone who is ready to help an NBA team.
D-Leaguers: First, the D-League season doesn't even start until this weekend. Then a couple of the league's better outside shooters, like Derrick Byars and Blake Ahearn, already have signed in Europe.
The bottom line is the Bulls could have used some of these guys a week ago but still wouldn't have won any of the last three games. Maybe the worst is over.
Keep in mind, if the Bulls can win one of their last two road games against Utah and Milwaukee, they'll finish a brutal November schedule with a 7-8 record.
With more home games and a rejuvenated Thomas in their immediate future, maybe these 3 ugly losses will be quickly forgotten.