The Chicago Bulls could be an active team in free agency this summer and players like Luol Deng, Greg Monroe and Carmelo Anthony are their main targets heading into summer 2014 and if the team opts to trade or amnesty Carlos Boozer, they could be in the mix with the Los Angeles Lakers or New York Knicks as they try to sign Deng and Melo.
The Knicks have the best chance to sign Anthony because they can offer him the most money and the longest contract, but based on the way the team played last season that's no guarantee. Deng was traded from the Chicago Bulls to the Cleveland Cavaliers after not being able to come to a contract extension agreement last season and now the Bulls could be looking at Deng or Anthony as their main offseason target. The team likely will have to move Carlos Boozer or Taj Gibson to make the deal work and if they miss out on Anthony and LeBron James, Deng could be the main target.
Greg Monroe is an interesting situation to keep an eye on as well, as reports have the Lakers and the Bobcats looking at him as an option. Stan Van Gundy was hired in Detroit and reports say that he could look to trade Monroe, who will be a restricted free agent. Monroe has shown that he is a solid young player and he could command some attention on the market, especially for the teams that miss out on Anthony and Kevin Love this summer.
The Bulls are expecting to be active this offseason and Deng comes in after being a very consistent player with the Bulls in his career. This season was a struggle and in his career he has averaged 35 minutes per game with 16 points and six rebounds. The Lakers are expected to make a run at Deng whether they go for Anthony or not, while the Bulls, Knicks and Rockets all could be in the mix as well.
The Knicks are going to try and sign Anthony, but after the way things went last season that is no guarantee. Anthony missed the playoffs for the first time in his career and the Knicks took a major step back. The team won 54 games last season and won just 37 this year and now Anthony has to think about his future and where he will have the best chance to win a championship.
Some other names that are hitting the free agent market that could be options past the big players include Marcin Gortat, Jordan Hill, Spencer Hawes, Danny Granger, Trevor Ariza and DeJuan Blair. Gortat may have played himself into a nice contract for next season, as he was traded from the Suns to the Wizards early in the season and that ended up being one of the best moves of the entire year. The Wizards played the Pacers tough and won a series in the playoffs for the first time in years and Gortat along with Ariza were two of the main reasons why. Those two players are essential for the Wiz if they want some sustained success, but they may have some competition now for Gortat.