If the Chicago Bulls have no plans on tanking their season, they are doing a bad job of proving it. After losing Derrick Rose again, the team traded away All-Star Luol Deng. The team continued to stress that the trade was not opening the door to a rebuilding period despite the draft picks acquired. However, another discussed trade proves the team is not as committed to the 2013-14 season as originally stated.
The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Bulls have had discussions about trading Taj Gibson. The Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Wizards and Charlotte Bobcats have all called about his availability and while no discussion got past the preliminary stages, Chicago did consider the option.
Gibson currently has three years remaining on his contract, so Chicago never put him on the trade blocks to begin with. However, most NBA teams are aware that the Bulls might be looking for free salary cap space and could use a player like Gibson. Chicago has made plans to make a splash in free agency over the next two seasons. In order to make a run at someone like Carmelo Anthony, they need money and getting rid of a player like Gibson would remove $8 million from the books.
The Bulls have gone 9-4 without Deng during a soft portion of their schedule. That has caused the bigger picture to start becoming more of a focus over this season. They followed the Deng move by trading Marquise Teague. They received an expiring contract in return. That leaves over $64 million in committed money for next season.
The next move may or may not be using the amnesty cause on Carlos Boozer. The team has toyed with the idea, but the Sun-Times reports the Bulls are not sold on the idea just yet. Getting boozer off the books would free up around $16.8 million. With the salary cap projected to be at $62.1 million next season, the bulls would be well on their way for free agency.
Right now, the Bulls do not plan on moving Gibson. Getting rid of a solid player who could be in the running for Sixth Man of the Year would pretty much kill any idea of Chicago competing this season.