The Chicago Bulls flirted with the Kevin Love trade this summer and while names like Taj Gibson, Doug McDermott, Nikola Mirotic, Jimmy Butler, Tony Snell and Joakim Noah were mentioned as potential players to move, the team was beaten out by the Cavaliers, but if Derrick Rose is lost for the year for the third straight season, there is a chance that the team could pick up on those trade options.
The Bulls come into the season with very high expectations and the franchise is expecting Derrick Rose to stay healthy for the first time in two years. Having Rose back is like adding a massive free agent if he can stay healthy, while bringing in Pau Gasol gives the team and elite player up front and while he is older than his Lakers days, he should be a markedly better improvement over Carlos Boozer. The team has a deep roster and as long as Rose stays healthy, things should go according to plan for the Bulls, as they feel they can make a championship run, even with Kevin Love and LeBron James in Cleveland.
Back when Love was still with the Wolves, the team considered moving Doug McDermott, Taj Gibson and Nikola Mirotic in a deal and names like Tony Snell and Jimmy Butler also came up. The Bulls are not looking to make a trade and this is mostly speculation about whether they would make the move if Rose went down again. The team held itself back from blowing things up with Rose out over the past two years, but if it happened a third time they may not be able to wait. The Bulls are a strong team, but their window could be closing and the return of LeBron to the division will not make things any easier.
Rose may need some time to get adjusted back to playing and while many fans are worried about him playing in the FIBA World Cup, it could be exactly what he needs to get right for the season. The Bulls should be in the mix for the east this year and if Rose stays healthy they could be the team at the end in the east finals matching up with the Cavs.
According to ESPN.com, the team made a strong push for Kevin Love as the Cavaliers closed in, but the Timberwolves liked what Cleveland had in their deal better. The Cavaliers offered Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett and a first round pick in that deal and the Timberwolves also ended up trading for Thaddeus Young and now they feel they received a complete package for Love, which rarely happens in these deals.
The Bulls have a tough division to deal with this season, as the central has arguably the three best teams in the east this year. The Cleveland Cavaliers are now the favorites in the division and the Pacers should still be very solid despite losing Paul George. The Pacers now sort of understand what the Bulls have been going through over the past couple years, as they have lost their best player to an injury for the season. Chicago made it to the playoffs both times and won a series during that run, showing that losing the top man doesn't mean the season is over.
