The Chicago Bulls are looking to make major moves this offseason and a Kevin Love trade is still in the mix if Carmelo Anthony doesn't sign, while Chandler Parsons, Lance Stephenson, Trevor Ariza, Pau Gasol and Eric Bledsoe could be other free agent options if the team misses on Melo and that could happen if Carlos Boozer is used in a trade or hit with the amnesty clause.
The Bulls are going hard after Anthony, as they think he is the missing piece to their championship puzzle, but if they miss out on him they could go a number of different ways. According to CSN Chicago, Parsons and Stephenson are potential options if Melo heads back to NY or elsewhere, while Pau Gasol and Trevor Ariza could also fit if the team gets rid of Boozer. According to ESPN.com, the team has notified Boozer that he likely will be used in a sign and trade or have the amnesty clause used on him to clear out his salary.
The Bulls were mentioned early on in the Kevin Love trade talks and while that has died down, the team could get back into it if they miss out on Anthony. The Bulls have pieces to move and Love is going to get traded at some point and if it doesn't go down now, he likely will be moved at the trading deadline, as teams like the Celtics, Warriors and Rockets remain interested. What happens with Anthony could dictate that deal.
Taj Gibson was mentioned in trade rumors earlier in the offseason, but that appears to be out of the mix now, as he was in on the Anthony pitch meeting. Stephenson could be an option if he leaves the Pacers and Pro Basketball Talk is reporting that the team and Stephenson are at a road block in contract talks. The report says that the Pacers have offered Stephenson a five year deal worth over $40 million and he is looking for more money, but right now that is all Indy can realistically give with the other contracts they have.
Stephenson is a major talent and a solid player, but he also is a bit of a head case and that could be one reason why a team like the Bulls avoids signing him. The Bulls have great chemistry with Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson and Derrick Rose and adding someone as volatile as Stephenson to the mix could mean trouble. The talent is clearly there, but after the way he acted in the eastern conference finals against Miami, teams could pause at signing him, especially when he is asking for such a large chunk of money.
Last season Stephenson had one of his best years in the league, averaging 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists, but he also was called out as one of the reasons the Pacers imploded. The team had a horrible second half and Roy Hibbert called out Stephenson as selfish and that was verified by other players in the locker room. The team got sick of his antics and they also were angry with the way he worried more about stats after being snubbed as an All-star, with ESPN.com reporting that the team felt he was more concerned with his own numbers than the team winning.