The Chicago Bulls are coming into the offseason looking to sign a major free agent and the team could be willing to trade Joakim Noah, Carlos Boozer and Taj Gibson to get it done and their main targets are Carmelo Anthony or LeBron James along with a Kevin Love trade, as they feel Derrick Rose is ready to return healthy and the Bulls think they have a championship roster nearly ready to go and it needs just one more star.
The Bulls come into the summer after losing in the playoffs and this is the second year in a row that Rose has been injured and now things are starting to get pressure packed in Chicago. According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Bulls could be willing to trade Noah to get Kevin Love, but right now no deal is close to getting done, but this is a major change for Chicago. Noah was often called off limits for trades and while this one may take a great player to get him moving, it's very telling on the Bulls in how much they want to get a deal done.
Boozer is likely gone no matter what happens, as he made $15 million last season and had his worst year with Chicago. The team has young talent in Jimmy Butler and Tony Snell and those players could move as well, while Boozer could also get hit with the amnesty clause to get his money off the books. The Bulls are one of the favorites for Love according to ESPN.com, as he is willing to sign an extension there, but the Timberwolves still have not fully decided about trading him or not.
The Bulls would love to get James or Anthony, as they ranked first in defense last season and 30th in points scored and they feel both have an opening. James just lost the finals and Anthony is coming off of a year with the Knicks when they were terrible and both could be vulnerable enough to leave. The Bulls are looking to make some major moves and the Knicks are not just going to let Anthony go and they have the full court press on him. Anthony has the chance to sign the longest and most expensive deal in NY, but he wants to win championships and that could be his major priority in free agency, which he is entering for the first time in his career.
Anthony has praised Tom Thibodeau in the past and Noah has been working on recruiting him and if they clear enough space, Anthony could sign. James is likely staying with the Heat, but the Knicks, Rockets and Bulls all will go after him and while Miami looks to be the likely option, anything can happen. The Bulls see Rose as the key and if he can come back healthy the team can make a big run in the playoffs. The Bulls are looking to get back to the finals for the first time since Jordan and both Melo and LeBron could see that as a challenge to take on.
