The Chicago Bulls are still hanging around in the eastern conference standings despite trading away Luol Deng to the Cleveland Cavaliers and now names like Mike Dunleavy, Carlos Boozer or Kirk Hinrich could be next to get moved before the deadline and as that goes on, star Joakim Noah has not spoken much to the media and finally made his first public comments about the move this week.
According to ESPN.com, Noah spoke for the first time over the weekend about the move of Deng to the Cavaliers, saying that the trade hurt and that the team is working hard to move forward. The Bulls are dealing with a major injury to Derrick Rose for the second season in a row and now many have speculated that Mike Dunleavy, Carlos Boozer or Kirk Hinrich could be next to move and one team in the Houston Rockets has already expressed interest in the sharpshooter.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Rockets have had initial discussions about getting Dunleavy, as they could use a valuable shooter on the bench for their team. Noah is one of the best players left on the Bulls and Boozer and Hinrich are coming off the books over the next two seasons and that makes them vulnerable to moves as well. Hinrich could get moved this season and a team like the Kings could be sniffing around, while Boozer will be a free agent after next season and that could spark some movement as well once the trade deadline comes around.
Dunleavy is only getting paid $3 million a year for this season and next season and that makes him an interesting option and the Rockets would love to snag him. According to USA Today, the Rockets are motivated to make the move, but the Bulls really like Dunleavy and won't just give him up for anything.
The Bulls are just one game under .500 now and are playing better after losing Rose and the team may not want to totally break things down as he tries to return. The team has the chance to make the playoffs in the very weak east and making moved for Boozer and Hinrich could derail the team from making the postseason. Rose said that he hoped that the team wouldn't start rebuilding while he was out and while the trade of Deng may signal that, his deal may have been more about him becoming a free agent in a couple months.