The Chicago Bulls' season is over. Blame it on all the injures as it would be fair to say that the Bulls could have pushed the Miami Heat to seven games had they been completely healthy. In 2014, instead of saying "what if" the Bulls could just grab one of the more durable centers in the game, which will help them in the paint and avoid having them lose when their jump shot isn't falling in the hoop.
Al Jefferson is one of the more under rated big men in the league. Ask any fantasy basketball or Utah jazz fan and they will tell you that he is solid every single day he's in the lineup. The Bulls are scrappy, but scrappy playing throughout the season lands you on the injured reserved. With Jefferson, the Bulls can be physical and good.
Jefferson averaged 17 points, nine rebounds and a block per game in 2013 as a member of the Utah Jazz. He's an athletic big man who can fill the paint for the Bulls attracting double teams. The Bulls have some terrific shooters from the perimeter. Jefferson can attract defenders and then hit the Bulls shooters who would be wide open or vise-versa, if anybody is attracting double teams on the outside, they could swing the ball to Jefferson who can finish at the basket.
The problem with adding Jefferson is literally big. Adding Jefferson would bump down Joakim Noah to a power forward spot, which will then bump Luol Deng into a shooting guard position. This would ultimately make the Bulls a slow team on the floor and will once again make them a scrappy team as they would have to chase and hustle after quicker ball players. However, Tom Thibodeau could create a A squad and B squad system that could give either Noah or Deng extended playing time from the bench.
With guys like Nate Robinson having to start in the 2013 playoffs as the injury bug was passed around the Bulls lineup, Chicago can have Jefferson added to their lineup and this would ensure a decent game on defense and offense. The Bulls are a seriously talented team and Jefferson could be that piece that can take them out of the second round of the NBA Playoffs.
