According to Mike McGraw, Aldridge wants the Bulls

[blumeany]

Trying to connect the dots here. Stein says acquiring T-Rob would be to flip him in another trade. I could see T-Rob going to the Blazers with Deng for Aldridge. But wouldn't Portland want more? And what do we do with Boozer? People mentioned either the Hump+22 or Brooks for Boozer trade. Another option would be Boozer for Gordon. Having both of them on the roster, even for a year, would be hyper redundant. Gordon would serve a purpose off the bench and could be part of the SG rotation with Jimmy as Jimmy also plays as the SF.

[AirP.]

I think it's possible, you may have to toss in some picks...
3 team trade...

Chicago
Noah -> Portland
Deng -> Lakers
Hamilton -> Lakers

Portland
Aldridge - > Chicago

Lakers
Gasol -> Chicago

Then you move Boozer for lesser players for depth, you have a hold at SF or SG, depending on where you put Jimmy... but you then have Rose, Butler, Aldridge and Gasol. Multiple scoring options, a lot of size and good defense.

[mschmidt64]

Also, I would trade Noah for Aldridge if we got an unprotected first rounder for next year from the Blazers. That may be worth is.

I would do that.

[blumeany]

Noah has injuries, but that's nothing having Rose back and another good backup C/PF wouldn't help. Even WITH his injuries, Noah powered through it last season.

[BrooklynBulls]

I'm a big fan of LMA and think he'd complement Rose just lovely. No way I'm giving Noah up though. He's the heart and soul of the Bulls.

He's also constantly injured and one-dimensional. I love Joakim, but if you can swap him for a 20/9 big man who can play solid D and is still young, you do it. LMA is an all-star level talent, he's just suffered from being on bad teams.

Noah is an all-star level talent. I know that because I watched him playing. In the game they only let all-stars play in.

[The Force.]

Honestly, I'd ship Joakim for Aldridge in a heartbeat. Aldridge/Taj is a great frontcourt, and all our wing players are excellent rebounders. We then would actually have two bigs who could space the floor, what a thought!

If the Bulls stand pat and Rose is a reasonable version of his former self (and if he's not all this talk about building a contender any time soon is moot), they are going to be a high seed in the East trying to take down a team that would be gunning for its 4th consecutive Finals appearance that was just pushed to the absolute limit in the playoffs and no other obvious world beaters in its conference.

There's no way a straight Aldridge for Noah swap is worth that risk.

An Aldridge/Noah swap is a lateral move at worst in terms of competing against the Heat. If anything it makes us a far more balanced team and would provide superior floor spacing (which you absolutely need against Miami).

[Woody Allen]

I'm not sure if I believe that Aldridge wants out that badly. Portland has a nice young core and max cap space (if they get rid of #10 pick and Meyers Leonard, which is very doable), which makes me wonder why they are not in the Dwight Howard rumors more often.

[Red Larrivee]

Trying to connect the dots here. Stein says acquiring T-Rob would be to flip him in another trade. I could see T-Rob going to the Blazers with Deng for Aldridge. But wouldn't Portland want more? And what do we do with Boozer? People mentioned either the Hump+22 or Brooks for Boozer trade. Another option would be Boozer for Gordon. Having both of them on the roster, even for a year, would be hyper redundant. Gordon would serve a purpose off the bench and could be part of the SG rotation with Jimmy as Jimmy also plays as the SF.

No chance the Bobcats deal Gordon's expiring for two non-amnesty-eligible years of Boozer.

[jc23]

This is why keeping Asik would have made things so much easier for us. More expensive but easier.

[SpongeWorthy]

Honestly, I'd ship Joakim for Aldridge in a heartbeat. Aldridge/Taj is a great frontcourt, and all our wing players are excellent rebounders. We then would actually have two bigs who could space the floor, what a thought!

If the Bulls stand pat and Rose is a reasonable version of his former self (and if he's not all this talk about building a contender any time soon is moot), they are going to be a high seed in the East trying to take down a team that would be gunning for its 4th consecutive Finals appearance that was just pushed to the absolute limit in the playoffs and no other obvious world beaters in its conference.

There's no way a straight Aldridge for Noah swap is worth that risk.

An Aldridge/Noah swap is a lateral move at worst in terms of competing against the Heat. If anything it makes us a far more balanced team and would provide superior floor spacing (which you absolutely need against Miami).

The Bulls are not going to transform into the Spurs in one offseason. Adding shooting is critical but the Bulls would need to push their edge on the glass and win the possession battle as well.

[Woody Allen]

Trying to connect the dots here. Stein says acquiring T-Rob would be to flip him in another trade. I could see T-Rob going to the Blazers with Deng for Aldridge. But wouldn't Portland want more? And what do we do with Boozer? People mentioned either the Hump+22 or Brooks for Boozer trade. Another option would be Boozer for Gordon. Having both of them on the roster, even for a year, would be hyper redundant. Gordon would serve a purpose off the bench and could be part of the SG rotation with Jimmy as Jimmy also plays as the SF.

No chance the Bobcats deal Gordon's expiring for two non-amnesty-eligible years of Boozer.

Allegedly they wanted to part with the #4 pick for Bosh, who, based on this year's playoffs, isn't that much better than Boozer. So you never know.

[The Force.]

I'm a big fan of LMA and think he'd complement Rose just lovely. No way I'm giving Noah up though. He's the heart and soul of the Bulls.

He's also constantly injured and one-dimensional. I love Joakim, but if you can swap him for a 20/9 big man who can play solid D and is still young, you do it. LMA is an all-star level talent, he's just suffered from being on bad teams.

Noah is an all-star level talent. I know that because I watched him playing. In the game they only let all-stars play in.

Thing is, you have to give assets to get assets. People expect the Bulls to acquire that "magical missing piece" with Deng and draft picks. We're going to have to give up a player like Noah to get anything significant in return. If LMA isn't that significant to you then I suppose we'll agree to disagree.

[burlydee]

This is why keeping Asik would have made things so much easier for us. More expensive but easier.

Exactly, and many of argued exactly that at the time. It was a good financial move, a bad basketball move.

[pylb]

What ? Bosh was great. He couldn't handle Hibbert, but then again not a lot of people could when he gets going.
He played terrific defense against the Spurs.

[otwok]

Also, if Aldridge comes in we have to send Boozer out. No way Booz will be coming off the bench

[KiLleRInStiNcT7]

I figured out whats happening... Cleveland gets Deng, Portland lands #1, Bulls get Aldridge. See you Thursday.

[Bulls69]

I'm not sure if I believe that Aldridge wants out that badly. Portland has a nice young core and max cap space (if they get rid of #10 pick and Meyers Leonard, which is very doable), which makes me wonder why they are not in the Dwight Howard rumors more often.

Now Days players wants that big market attention unlike playing in Portland.

[BrooklynBulls]

He's also constantly injured and one-dimensional. I love Joakim, but if you can swap him for a 20/9 big man who can play solid D and is still young, you do it. LMA is an all-star level talent, he's just suffered from being on bad teams.

Noah is an all-star level talent. I know that because I watched him playing. In the game they only let all-stars play in.

Thing is, you have to give assets to get assets. People expect the Bulls to acquire that "magical missing piece" with Deng and draft picks. We're going to have to give up a player like Noah to get anything significant in return. If LMA isn't that significant to you then I suppose we'll agree to disagree.

You have to give to get but if you give as much as you get you end up with the same damn thing you started with. Deng is also an allstar, but he's expiring and we have a replacement for him in Butler. If we had Asik, I'd be all for a Noah-Aldridge swap. But we don't. Aldridge is NOT a center. And we can't expect a starting Center in return for Boozer. So we'd be ****ed.

[Jimmy Forums]

There's got to be something to this. We knew via Ralph long ago that LMA was wanting to come here. I think it was Stein a couple days ago who listed Deng, Aldridge, and Danny Granger as possible movers on draft day. My first thought was that LMA and Deng came from the same rumored deal.

We have to get this done. LMA is the game changer we've been waiting for.

EDIT: ALSO, the two rumored deals for T-Rob, either being to the Cavs for 19 or the Bulls at 20, might suggest some overlap, as in the two deals could be related. There is a mega.deal. brewing between Chicago, Cleveland, and Portland. (And Houston kind of.) Has to be.

[Bulls69]

I figured out whats happening... Cleveland gets Deng, Portland lands #1, Bulls get Aldridge. See you Thursday.

You have to move Carlos in order for this work to anyone because you are paying him big bucks to come off the bench.