Chicago Bulls Must Be More Aggressive in Seeking Blockbuster Trade

While the now Brooklyn Nets, formerly of New Jersey, made the big moves that secured them the re-signing of superstar free agent Deron Williams and the Miami Heat seem to have secured the services of ring-chaser Ray Allen, the Chicago Bulls have been quiet in the free agent and trading markets.

While a bold trade kept top free agent, Deron Williams, with the Nets, the Bulls have been gunshy in addressing their biggest problems this off-season.

It has been over two months since the injury to Derrick Rose that completely reshaped the Bulls' fortunes for the immediate and near future. And without having consummated any draft day blockbuster deals, the Chicago Bulls are now quickly entering the void between being a championship contender and being a rebuilding team, i.e. mediocrity.

While a large part of this will be due to the injury to of Derrick Rose, the Bulls are also guilty of having a flaw. While complete as a team, they are still a team centered around a single, spectacular, superstar player. So, although they want to reject the model of building a team around multiple superstars, the Bulls are still reliant on its superstar talent in order to compete at the championship level.

Despite wanting to keep this great group of guys together, the Chicago Bulls must do whatever it takes to get superstar talent. The Rose injury, while costing the Bulls the 2012 NBA Championship, is really a great opportunity to undertake a minor rebuild, while expectations are low, to sell players at their peak to obtain young superstar talent, and to build a dynasty.

The Seattle Supersonics are the most recent example; they parted with their two "stars", Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, and built a new team through the draft in a 5 year complete rebuilding project. Draft picks that were acquired turned into Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Kendrick Perkins (via trading Jeff Green), and Serge Ibaka-- nearly the entire starting lineup of the team that they took to the 2012 NBA Finals as the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Oklahoma City Thunder turned All-Stars Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis into much of the starting lineup for their 2012 NBA Finals team.

And while many teams are now trying to duplicate the Oklahoma City Thunder model, the Bulls hardly require a complete rebuild. Some savvy moves to parlay their high-value, high dollar players for young talent (on rookie scale contracts) and draft picks would help the Bulls not only to get below the salary cap (thereby avoiding the luxury tax and associated penalties) but to stretch their window for winning championships.

Rumblings continue about the Sacramento Kings dealing Tyreke Evans for Luol Deng because they were unable to secure a small forward in the draft. After an All-Star season, Deng's value is high right now, and the Bulls should be able to get a draft pick and/ or the inclusion of another young player to make the money work.

With Rose lost for much of the coming season, a move to get younger would also serve an additional purpose. It would be a low-risk way of letting the young players develop and learn Coach Thibodeau's system. In addition, a minor rebuild carries with it lowered expectations for winning, and by missing the playoffs, the Bulls could strike gold again in the lottery. The Bulls could get under the luxury tax while acquiring and developing young talent into the stars they will need to topple the Miami Heat, and others.

The Bulls' front office has been smart in building this Chicago Bulls team while also maintaining attractive trade assets. Now is the time to sell.

Rose and the Bulls Extend Win Streak to 8, While Ending Deron Williams and Nets' Streak at 5 Games; Retake 1st Place in East

NEWARK, NJ. Before Chicago's coming out party against the Miami Heat earlier this month and then taking over first place in the Eastern Conference with their win over the Washington Wizards two nights ago, it looked to be the type of game against an underrated New Jersey Nets team that the Bulls might experience a letdown.

And after dominating for 3 quarters, the Chicago Bulls looked like they just might let the game get away as the Nets stormed back in the 4th quarter in front of their home crowd. But this is not the Chicago Bulls of last year or even earlier this season.

This is the Chicago Bulls team that Jordan touted as "Title Ready" and worthy of comparisons to the 1991 NBA Championship Chicago Bulls team that he led.

So when the Nets tied the game up at 69 - 69 with 4:35 remaining, the Bulls. as a team, put their game in another gear to finish off on a 15 - 4 run to win 84 - 73 and retake sole possession of 1st place in the Eastern Conference.

DRose made another MVP statement by holding Deron Williams to 1 of 12 shooting and only 5 points.

Derrick Rose did not have a great offensive game in the win, but did his work on the defensive end, shutting down new Nets star point guard, Deron Williams. Rose managed 21 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and had two big blocks on the night. With the great defense by Rose, DWill finished with only 5 points, on 1 of 12 shooting, along with 11 assists.

Omer Asik was the Bulls player of the night, putting in 11 points and pulling down 16 boards and had 2 blocks in just 25 minutes, once again rewarding the Bulls for their choice to hold on to the Turkish big man rather than trading him in a package for a shooting guard at the trade deadline.

Asik is an asset that will come in handy against the likes of Orlando, Boston, San Antonio, or Los Angeles as the Bulls look forward to making a deep playoff run this post-season.