Mar 23, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls power forward Taj Gibson (22) and small forward Jimmy Butler (21) battle for a rebound during the second half against the Indiana Pacers at the United Center. Chicago won 87-84. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Take a close look at this picture. It’s your starting power forward Taj Gibson and small forward Jimmy Butler. These two guys are important pieces to the Chicago Bulls success next year. These two were a major part of the success of the 48 win team last year. Now ask yourselves, are they worth giving up in a package for Kevin Love?
Just when I thought I could get a second to relax. I really thought that the Chicago Bulls front office was done for a second after signing Aaron Brooks. Well I was wrong because the rumors came back. As reported earlier by our rookie of the week writer Chris Brent, the Chicago Bulls have amped up their efforts to work out a trade for Kevin Love. Really?
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Marc Stein, the Bulls are now the third team that is effectively to be taken seriously in the Kevin Love sweepstakes along with the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Let’s get some things out-of-the-way real quick. If Kevin Love gets traded, he is not coming to Chicago. Sorry. Cleveland has that locked up.
Chris Broussard of ESPN (sorry to the folks that are tired of the man) has stated that the Cavs have already offered first round overall pick Andrew Wiggins, last year’s first overall pick Anthony Bennett and a first round pick for Kevin Love. Let me add to this real quick. Flip Saunders, the head of basketball operations is probably going to want (and probably get) Dion Waiters as well.
It’s not like the Cleveland Cavaliers are not sitting on their hands praying that something happens. The word around the campfire is that the Cavs traded the guaranteed contract of guard Carrick Felix (yeah I know, who?), a future second round pick and cash to the Utah Jazz for former Bulls guard John Lucas III and former Bulls forwards Erik Murphy and Malcolm Thomas. All of these players have non guaranteed contracts which means all of these players could be history by next week. I’ll bet that John Lucas III will be in a Chicago Bulls uniform by training camp.
This deal gives the Cavs more financial flexibility to make run at Kevin Love. You’d might want to pay attention. The last time the Cavs made a trade that made the news, well we all know about that LeBron James thing. With the move the Cavs now have three million dollars to play with.
Now this is the start of what the Cleveland Cavaliers have to do to even get the Minnesota Timberwolves to answer the phone to talk for five minutes. If you think this is a lot, it makes you wonder…
Why are the Chicago Bulls even wasting their time?
If you thought it was going to be expensive getting Carmelo Anthony into Chicago, what makes you think the Bulls are going to get Kevin Love at swap meet prices?
Let me tell you something Pippen Peoples. When articles go out about trades, there is something that you have to consider when you read them. It takes two teams (sometimes more) to make a trade. Both teams have to want to deal. Getting Kevin Love will be more troublesome than Carmelo Anthony ever was.
Gar Forman knows this so this is nothing more that a rumor on so many levels. Here’s why.
1) Kevin Love reportedly wants to play with The Fresh Prince of Cleveland.
Kevin Love wants out of Minnesota for one reason and one reason only. He is convinced that The Timberwolves will NOT make the playoffs. If you think about it, he might be right. If Rick Adelman couldn’t get this bunch over the hump. I don’t see anyone doing it at this time. If he goes to Cleveland and teams with LeBron James, he can plan for a playoff trip. Couple that with the fact he doesn’t have to battle the Western Conference teams to get in. He’ll be in heaven.
2) To get Kevin Love, the Bulls will gut the squad to get him.
As of this writing, it can be stated that the Bulls have the deepest squad in recent memory. This includes the 2011 squad with the “Bench Mob”. The Bulls don’t need to mess this up. I have already mentioned on this website the outstanding job the Bulls front office has done building this squad up after Carmelo Anthony passed and went back to New York. Why blow up a team that is built up in the financial dream sheet of Jerry Reinsdorf, while keeping Tom Thibodeau happy by keeping his favorite players in the fold. Here’s the bonus. I’m happy because I don’t have to cover a team that will struggle to score 82 points on some nights.
Let me tell you something Pippen Peoples. To get Minnesota to even pick up the phone, the Bulls will AT LEAST have to give up Jimmy Butler, Taj Gibson and/or Nikola Mirotic and some future first round picks. Based of what Cleveland is cooking up, the asking price will go up. Why mortgage your present and future for one player that you aren’t even sure that you can sign to an extension?
This offseason is the blueprint of the way the Chicago Bulls builds their successful teams. They have never been known to be successful with the quick fix. The teams are built through the draft and productive free agent signings. Big free agent signings or trades have never worked out.
Neither will this one.