The Chicago Bulls are looking to make major moves this summer and Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James are prime free agent targets and reports say the team could consider a trade with star Joakim Noah to try and sign him or acquire Kevin Love and that likely will include a trade with Carlos Boozer or using the amnesty clause on his contract to get space to make it happen.
The Bulls are in the market for a third star and while many though Noah would be off limits, a report from Pro Basketball Talk writes that he now could be in play and so could Boozer. Anthony is the top option and the team also thinks it has a chance to sign James if he opts out of his contract. Both players are expected to hit the market and this could give the Bulls an opening and moving Boozer is a priority after his so-so season and he made over $15 million.
The team has talent to move with Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson and they could be making their way to Love, Anthony or James through those moves. The Bulls need more scoring, as they ranked in the top of the league in defense, but last in points per game. Anthony wants to win and Chicago is one place to do that and it would be ironic with Phil Jackson taking over in New York that he would do that. Anthony supposedly is leaning towards leaving, but that could change over the next couple weeks and the Bulls will react accordingly.
The Bulls are going to have to make a move with Carlos Boozer no matter what happens, as he is making over $16 million and the way he played last year does not justify that salary. The team will either trade him or use the amnesty clause on him and that is due to the fact that they need relief to get Melo or to get Love to sign an extension. Love averaged 26.1 points and 12.5 rebounds last season and factored into the MVP voting and now he would like to test the market after not making the playoffs in each of his first six seasons.
Teams that miss out on Kevin Love or Carmelo Anthony could look at Aldridge and if Anthony leaves for the Bulls or Rockets, the Knicks could try to pull a move, but that is unlikely with the money issues they have. The Bulls are in on the Kevin Love trade rumors and on Anthony, but they too may miss out on both and that could lead to something involving Aldridge. Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose would fit in nice with Aldridge and the Bulls are looking to get rid of Carlos Boozer and that is the only way they can afford to make one of these bigger moves.
The Bulls will need to make moves to have any chance at getting Love, as they will have to trade Carlos Boozer or use the amnesty clause on him and players like Jimmy Butler or Taj Gibson also could be in the mix. The Warriors have moves they can make with players like David Lee, Harrison Barnes and Klay Thompson on the roster, while the Celtics also have some assets. The team would like to keep Rajon Rondo, but they have players available along with draft picks. That latter addition could be what brings the Suns in, as they have picks and players, including Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe.
Love has long been expected to opt out of his contract after next season in the summer of 2015 if he remains with the Timberwolves and is not traded and he has not made it clear that he is not signing an extension with the team. Minnesota convinced Love to sign and extension a couple years ago and gave him the opt out to get it done and now the clock is ticking on a trade. According to ESPN.com, Love likes the Chicago Bulls and Golden State Warriors the best for a deal, as they are winning situations with talented rosters. The Timberwolves have so far given no indication about what they will actually do, with owner Glen Taylor saying that the team will not trade Love and other reports from ESPN.com and Pro Basketball Talk reporting that the team is open to listening to offers.
