The Chicago Bulls are coming into the offseason looking to make a big splash and a Kevin Love trade or signing free agent Carmelo Anthony from the Knicks remain the top options and to do that, the Bulls likely will have to trade or amnesty Carlos Boozer while also looking at potential deals for Taj Gibson, Kirk Hinrich, Jimmy Butler and Mike Dunleavy to help create a big 3 for Joakim Noah, Derrick Rose and coach Tom Thibedeau.
The Bulls just spent their second straight season with Derrick Rose on the shelf with a long-term injury and this offseason the team is hoping to make an addition that would elevate the team and take pressure off of Rose. The Bulls expect him to be back and healthy for the first time in two years this season and to get a championship, the team needs a legitimate scoring threat, as they were one of the lowest scoring offensive teams in the league. It was evident against the Wizards in that series loss that the team is lacking on offense and that is one of the main reasons why they are interested in Love and signing Anthony away from the Knicks.
According to ESPN.com, the Bulls are a legit option for Anthony along with the Houston Rockets, as both teams are looking for a player like Anthony that can score from anywhere on the floor. The Bulls need a player that can get their offense going and while losing Rose was one reason why they were so bad, the same thing cropped up even when he was healthy and that is why the Bulls have identified Anthony as an option. The Bulls will have to make some major moves to get either Love or the Anthony deals done, as they don't have much cap space as things stand now and on top of that, Anthony and Love are max players so it's not like they can just carve out a little space and hope they can sign the players.
Anthony is coming off of a very solid year with the Knicks and one reason the Bulls feel like they have a chance to sign him is because of how terrible they were this season. Anthony led the team in scoring, but he did not have much support from anyone and the team missed the playoffs, meaning Melo was out of the postseason for the first time in his career. Melo is looking to start winning titles now that he is getting older and a team that regressed as much as the Knicks may not look like a favorable situation to him anymore.
The Bulls are coming into the offseason knowing they need to make big move and Boozer is likely gone in a trade or with the amnesty clause, as he had his worst season in Chicago. The team has spoken with Syracuse guard Tyler Ennis ahead of the draft and he could be a target to bring in, as he could fit very well into Tom Thibodeau's system. Thibodeau is in an interesting situation, as he has been a target for teams this year as a coach and the lakers are hoping to get permission to interview him, while the Knicks could be in the running as well, but he likely isn't going anywhere.
