<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan @ Jan 13 2008, 12:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Is there anyone left that actually believes Paxson has the stones to pull off a trade for a big name that could actually help the Bulls?</div> No, but I believe he could end up doing something like bringing in McGrady Seriously though, Denny is on the mark. TMac is certainly a better player than Wallace, but the man makes a ridiculous amount of money and I don't see how the Bulls would be able to resign both Deng and Gordon while staying under the luxury tax if they signed him. Of course, they could just say to hell with the tax, but I don't see that happening either. One thing I could sort of see making sense on the TMac front would be Noc and Wallace as the principles for TMac and another player (not James, someone on a shorter contract like Francis and/or Head). That'd end up being more or less salary cap neutral for most teams. Of course, the question would be why on earth the Rockets do that. I guess only if they're as sick of TMac as we are of Wallace.
There's still a month-plus until the trading deadline. Houston seems to have taken a step back from last season's level of play and the Bulls obviously are serious disappointments. TMac's performance has steadily declined over the past 3-4 seasons (remember how Wallace's did, too?), but he's only 28 or 29. Houston may be satisfied to fill TMac's minutes with Battier and Thomas. Wallace and Thomas fill the starting PF and backup C roles decently enough. The Rockets take a big hit on the scoring front, and such a deal would mean they're ready to go to Mao for points when they really need 'em. TMac for the Bulls gives us a real logjam at SF. Can he really guard SG's? I'm not so sure anymore. We'd also be quite a bit to thin at PF and C. So the only thing that makes sense is for the Bulls to package Deng and Hinrich for Gasol. Hinrich simply has the contract heft to make the deal happen, and then there wouldn't be the cap hit for re-signing Deng that MikeDC point out. Bulls would then be: Duhon/Gordon/Thabo TMac/Nocioni/Noah Gasol/Gray/Noah I'm not thrilled with the balance, but a BIG 3 of TMac, Gasol, and Gordon isn't too shabby. It'd be ideal if we could get Warrick back in the Memphis trade to solidify our PF position.
