The Chicago Bulls have made a number of moves this offseason in free agency and now more could be coming, as names like Francisco Garcia, Emeka Okafor, Dante Cunningham, Elton Brand, Mike Scott, Ramon Sessions and Jermaine O'Neal are still on the free agent market and they could be options to give Derrick Rose support, especially if the team ends up trading Taj Gibson or Doug McDermott in the Kevin Love trade talks.
The Bulls are coming into this season with high expectations and they have made some very solid improvements, including getting rid of Carlos Boozer and adding both Pau Gasol and Aaron Brooks on deals. According to Pro Basketball Talk, the team may look at Garcia or Sessions as bench options, but since they already have Brooks that is not a pressing need. The Gibson deal could change things and that is what the team will base its next moves on, as they may have to trade Gibson and Nikola Mirotic along with McDermott.
The Bulls traded for McDermott on draft night with the Denver Nuggets and he should help the team from a shooting perspective on the outside if he remains in Chicago. According to ESPN.com, the Bulls are right there with the Cavaliers in the Kevin Love trade talks and they have offered a nice package, but right now it looks to be Cavs in front.
The team signed Aaron Brooks to be a backup for Derrick Rose and the team may also look at Francisco Garcia as a free agent option this summer. Last season Garcia averaged 5.7 points in a limited role with the Rockets and he opted out of his deal with the team to see what was on the market. Okafor or Elton Brand could be cheap options behind Gasol, but right now the team doesn't need that area for depth with Taj Gibson still on the team, but there is a chance he could be traded this summer for Love.
The Bulls got rid of Carlos Boozer this offseason and added Gasol and that was a major move for the team, as Boozer became a three quarter player and did not justify his massive salary. Now he is with the Lakers and looks like a bargain, but at the time the Bulls had no other choice. Gasol offers an upgrade on both ends of the court and even though he is getting up there in age, he should be energized coming to Chicago. Gasol still had very good numbers in LA last season despite how bad the team was and now he could be a piece of the championship puzzle in Chicago with Derrick Rose.
The Bulls now are in the toughest division in the league, as the Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers are also in the central. The Pacers will be good once again after winning the east, while the Cavs obviously have LeBron and may get Kevin Love, while the Bulls are in the same boat and they bring back Derrick Rose and signed Pau Gasol. The Bulls should have a tough time winning this division, but they definitely could be the team that does it.
