NBA free agency is upon us and there are already whispers that the Chicago Bulls could be a major player, with big-named All-Stars on the cusp of switching teams. The rumor mill is swirling per reports that LaMarcus Aldridge has demanded a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers, and that Chicago was his No. 1 preferred destination of choice. Aldridge denied talks that he is looking to pull the ripcord from Rip City, but Chicago fans are hoping where there is smoke there is fire. Contract Situations - In order for a trade to work, the money always has to line up. Luckily, in this situation, the outrageous deal the Bulls struck with Carlos Boozer could be an asset. Boozer's $15.3 million and Aldridge's $14.6 million make it possible to nearly have a player-for-player swap in terms of contracts, or even a seamless sign-and-trade to make the figures fit. Playing the math is always a big deterrent to potential NBA trades, so it is a good sign that it likely wouldn't be too big of a problem in this situation. If Portland doesn't find Boozer appealing, Loul Deng also has an expiring $14.2 million contract that the Blazers could covet even more. Chicago Assets - Aldridge is the best player in this deal. His 21.1 ppg and 9.1 rebounds puts the Blazers' 6-foot-11 center in very elite big-man company. This is great news for whichever team ends up signing the two-time All-Star, but it also means that Portland may want more back in compensation. Luckily for Chicago, they have a lot of potential trade bait that will not affect their luxury-tax looming salary cap figure. Draft Picks -- By now, most Bulls fans know that Chicago was the team that initially drafted Aldridge in 2006, but later shipped him to Portland in exchange for the rights to Tyrus Thomas. The only reason this move does not go down as the absolute worst trade in NBA history is the fact that Chicago was able to flip Thomas to the Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets for a first-round pick -- MJ rescues the Bulls again. Charlotte's pick is protected until 2016, meaning, unless the Bobcats suddenly have a franchise reemergence, the Bulls are likely sitting with a 2016 lottery pick at their disposal. European Star -- The Bulls also have a big overseas asset in their talent cupboard. In 2011, the Bulls drafted a 6-foot-10 sharp-shooting forward from Real Madrid named Nikola Mirotic. The problem is that he makes more money in Europe right now than the salary-slotted No. 24 pick would pay. After next season, the Bulls can sign him to a much larger contract and bring him over to pair with Derrick Rose. Chicago is very high on Mirotic, and the comparisons he is drawing around the league may justify why. Memphis Grizzles' power forward Zach Randolph compared Mirotic's skills to those of Dirk Nowitzki. "He remains me of Dirk, and a little bit of Gallo [Danilo Gallinari]…But I can see the Dirk comparisons. I can see why, definitely." Read more http://sports.yahoo.com/news/chicag...-lamarcus-aldridge-trade-needs-164000174.html ESPN Bulls community Join us! We are long time Bulls fans. Would love to have you.
Who is this guy MJ Bowen? Never heard of him. This is just a fan post I don't think there's anything real to it.
I think the bolded statement, "He remains me of Dirk," was a tip off for me. Of course, maybe MJ Bowen is the next Alex Kennedy.
