The Chicago Bulls have high expectations for the season. According to Derrick Rose, a championship is the ultimate goal. The Bulls made several moves this offseason to help reach that. Despite missing out on players like LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, the Bulls signed Pau Gasol in order to create a strong tandem with Joakim Noah. However, if the team begins to struggle, they will be forced to make moves come the mid-season deadline and many assume that will come at the expense of Taj Gibson.
Gibson has heard the talk all offseason. He has heard his name tossed into the Kevin Love trade rumors. He has heard his name in regards to marquee players like Anthony. However, Gibson remains on the roster and will stay there for the time being. The question becomes how long does that last?
According to Yannis Koutroupis of BasketballInsiders.com, the Bulls seem poised to make a trade of Gibson sooner rather than later. With the addition of Gasol, Gibson is poised for the bench, making him expendable. Right now, his value amongst other teams in the league is much higher than it is with the Bulls. Noah and Gasol push him out. The Bulls need more power off the wing to pair with Derrick Rose than they need Gibson off the bench.
It is being reported that the Bulls have been discussing a trade for Kevin Martin of the Minnesota Timberwolves, another player that has survived an offseason of rumors. ESPN is reporting that the Bulls are offering up Mike Dunleavy Jr and Tony Snell for Martin. Yes, he is an upgrade in the shooting front, but he is not as great of a defender as Gibson. Martin is also 31-years-old with three years remaining on his contract. Long-term, Gibson is the better option over Maritn.
The Bulls are also still trying to get Jimmy Butler signed to a new deal, something proving to be harder than expected. Butler is seeking $10 million as a restricted free agent, something the Bulls likely will not give in to. ESPN's Nick Friedell is reporting that the outlook of Butler signing a deal before the Oct. 31 deadline is grime. Chicago notoriously takes long on these talks and a contract size of $10 million is not going to make things any easier. Luol Deng is the perfect example of just how these types of talks can go. Butler could be forced to sign a one-year deal much like Greg Monroe.