The loss against the Portland Trailblazers: terrible.
The loss against the Los Angels Clippers: pathetic.
The loss of Derrick Rose: heartbreaking.
Rose is more than just your everyday player, and he should be to all Bulls fans. He's a poor kid from Englewood who had a meteoric rise from amazing high school talent to become the first overall pick for his hometown team. He came into the league just as the Miami Heat were on the cusp of creating the greatest NBA villain since the 90's New York Knicks, and the selfless, all-about-basketball Derrick Rose was the perfect foil to the "I'm taking my talents down to South Beach" LeBron James.
Instead of becoming our generation's Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, the Rose/James rivalry has been more of a Kobe Bryant/Tracy McGrady. And it saddens me. Believe it or not, as great as a team Miami is, this Bulls team had a 2-year window where they could have taken them down. That time is over.
Derrick Rose's torn meniscus in his right knee should be fully repaired if it needs to be, and that means he will be out for the entire season. That means another lost year. But more importantly, it means it's time to break-up this beloved Bulls team.
It pains me to say this, because I really do love Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, Kirk Hinrich, and Carlos Boozer like family. I respect and cherish every bit of effort we have received from these wonderful players, and I'm incredibly grateful that I was able to experience the second greatest era in Chicago Bulls basketball. Unfortunately, the Bulls only have one real superstar, and with the status of his health a question mark in perpetuity going forward, it is time for the Bulls to be bold and acquire another.
#1: Trade Luol Deng
I love Deng, and he is a one of a kind person. I love his effort, and I've really loved watching him grow into a perennial all-star. He's a fantastic third star on a team that has three third stars.
Now is the time to strike. Luol does literally everything well, and he never slacks off. However, the Bulls need to lose games to receive a better draft pick, and Deng's will to win would not work towards that goal.
Deng is an expiring contract, so moving him shouldn't be a problem, especially since it would give a team that might want to sign him in the off-season a leg up on the competition. Still, he somehow earns more than both Tim Duncan and Tony Parker.
Why this trade works: Memphis, run by a true sabermetrics guy, picks up 4 wins while dumping Tayshaun Prince's fairly terrible contract. The Bulls depart with Marquis Teague while picking up a wonderful chucker in Jerryd Bayless, who would love to put up 20+ shots a game running the show for the Bulls. Ed Davis can fill in for Boozer when we trade him (just wait a minute for that), and Memphis receives a player in Deng who is a perfect fit for their system
#2: Trade Carlos Boozer
Boozer is playing the best basketball of his Bulls career, so he's too good, and must be traded. Why not trade him for Nene's horrendous contract? The Wizards could use a versatile 4 like Boozer while the Bulls could start Nene until they amnesty him in the offseason.
#3: Trade Taj Gibson
Taj Gibson has performed his own #TheReturn this season, but he must go for a player with less offensive talent. Drumroll...
Why this trade works: Houston receives a player who can come in and start at power forward right away, while ridding themselves of Omer Asik and his bad attitude. The deal provides Houston with reasonably priced power forward for the next four seasons. Asik comes back to Chicago where he will get playing time because...
#4: Trade Joakim Noah
It pains me to say this because I absolutely love Joakim, but with Asik back on the roster, he becomes expendable. Noah is quite injury prone, and he's the heart and soul of this Bulls team. What better way to crush a team's spirits than to trade its emotional leader. I really do not think the Bulls will part with Noah, but hey, it could happen.
Why this trade works: The Charlotte almost Hornets really want to compete, and Noah gives them a premier defensive center to pair with Al Jefferson. The Bulls receive a capable scorer, and, I assume, a decent draft pick. Ben Gordon can be resigned for a quickly rebuilt Bulls in the offseason for a reasonable deal, but in the meantime, he becomes an extremely good salary match.
Our Starting 5:
PG: Bayless
SG: Gordon
SF: Butler
PF: Nene
C: Asik
That is a team that's poised to tank.
Good luck to Derrick Rose on his surgery. He will come back as great as ever, and I will reveal the next step in my plan later this week...
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