http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-trian ... gency-roomChicago might be able to pry a late first-round pick from some borderline contender in exchange for Deng — the desperate Wizards just coughed up a potential lottery pick for Marcin "the towel ripper" Gortat — but even if they can't, the Bulls might net some combination of savings and second-round picks. Potential Deng suitors could include:
Cleveland: The Cavs are a disaster with a revolving cast of bricklayers at small forward, an ownership group that talked very loudly about making noise in the postseason, and a pile of trade assets. Deng would help this season without soaking up the cap space Cleveland has saved up to make another run at LeBron. (Stop laughing!)
Milwaukee: The Bucks have stumbled into a tanking gold mine, but their owner, Herb Kohl, has long been open about his preference that the Bucks compete for a bottom-rung playoff spot instead of chasing Ping-Pong balls. The Bucks have expiring contracts that can fit, plus more second-round picks than anyone in the league.
Atlanta: Come on, Hawks! The Eastern Conference is in flames around you! You're the third-best team in the conference now by complete accident! Go for it! This roster is built to trade, and Paul Millsap, on a bargain deal, will instantly become perhaps the league's most tradable player when the calendar flips to December 15. Millsap is a valuable piece, and the Millsap/Al Horford pairing gives Atlanta impeccable spacing. But he's also something of a Horford Lite, and if Danny Ferry can turn him into a game-changing wing or center (Omer Asik?), then they should at least think about it — especially if said trade target carries an expiring contract that doesn't impact the cap flexibility Ferry has worked so carefully to build.
You could build a lot of interesting two- and three-team trades using the Hawks, especially since Atlanta is due an extra first-rounder from Brooklyn. Just saying.
New York: Never underestimate the lunacy of a 3-9 team whose owner actually thinks they should be title contenders. The Knicks can't trade any first-round pick before their 2018 selection (thanks, Andrea!), but the Bulls might be able to foist the Deng/Boozer platter onto New York for Iman Shumpert, Amar'e Stoudemire's body, and a future pick.
You could make the case for San Antonio and Oklahoma City, both in need of backup small forwards, and with small-ball friendly rosters that could incorporate another rangy wing without suffering major diminishing returns. But the Thunder are only $1.4 million under the tax, making it difficult for them to take on Deng's salary and offer the Bulls much in the way of savings. The same is true for Memphis, which has a bit more breathing room under the tax but lacks a big expiring contract or a tradable first-round pick. The Wolves have a ready package on hand of Derrick Williams, J.J. Barea, and Alexey Shved, but Corey Brewer has fit in nicely at small forward, and said package leaves Chicago with more long-term money on the books than it has now. The Nuggets and Pellies, the latter currently starting Al-Farouq Aminu's broken moon-ball jump shot at small forward, introduce the same issue of long-term money coming back to Chicago in any workable Deng deals.
Bottom line: Chicago is toast as a contender without Rose, and if the Bulls conclude that the odds are against Rose returning to anything like peak form this season, they should begin exploring trades now. The foundation for the next Bulls team is already here, in Rose, Noah, Butler, the overseas star Nikola Mirotic, and an extra first-round pick the Bobcats still owe Chicago for (gulp) Tyrus Thomas. Butler can guard most small forwards already; it would be worthwhile to test the market for both Deng and Gibson.
But the Bulls aren't there yet, and they won't be until they get the specifics on Rose. Please be well, Derrick.
