Since the 1998-1999 season, Chicago has seen a mass amount of players come and go. Some were drafted then traded to get a veteran who could help the team. The veteran retired after a season or two or moved on after failing to bring the bulls to a winning season. We all know how the roster played musical names in the early 2000′s.

Even though the team went through a long rebuilding period, there was still enough solid players to form a top ten, especially since the team has been to the playoffs five of the last six years.

This top 10 includes Bulls players from the 1998-1999 season to the 2009-2010 season. I would like to consider Carlos Boozer  or Kyle Korver, but they haven’t played a game as a Bull.  With this said, lets get to the Top 10 Bulls After Jordan and Pippen Left.

Honorable Mention: Eddy Curry, John Salmons, Tyson Chandler and if he would not have been on his motorcycle, Jay Williams.

10:  JAMAL CRAWFORD 2000-2004

Crawford played with the Bulls for his first four years in the league. He battled Williams and other point guards for minutes, but he used his minutes to his advantage to market himself for other teams. During his final season as a Bull, 2003-2004, he averaged 17 points and five assists a game while leading all Bulls in points.

9: Brad Miller 2000-2002 and 2008-2010

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Miller has had two stints with the Bulls, both were for a season and a half. He brought much needed toughness  and a soft scoring touch to the Bulls front court. In the playoffs two seasons ago, he hit a couple of big threes to extend the epic first round series against the Boston Celtics.

8: Ron Artest 1999-2002

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Before he was fighting in Detroit or winning championships with the Lakers, Artest was the backbone of the Chicago Bulls defense. He led the team in steals for three consecutive series.

7: Elton Brand 1999-2001

Brand only played for the Bulls two years, 1999-2000 and 2000-2001. As a rookie, he led the Bulls with 20 points a game and 10 rebounds. To this day, he is the only big man Chicago could rely on for points in the paint.

6: Joakim Noah 2007-present

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Noah is the new version of Dennis Rodman. He devotes his body to getting rebounds and diving on the court for loose balls.  He has led the team in boards two of his three seasons,  second in his rookie season, and led the NBA for more than half of the 2009-2010 season as he averaged a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds a game.

5: Luol Deng 2004-present

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Deng has averaged double digits points per game in each of his six seasons as a Bull. He has also grabbed five or more rebounds a game including seven per contest in the 2009-2010 season. He has been the x-factor for the Bulls and a reliable second or third option during his entire stay.

4: Jalen Rose  2001-2004

Rose was the first star to play for the Bulls after Jordan and Pippen left. He had been in Reggie Miller’s shadow in Indiana for his entire career before he came to Chicago. In his two full seasons, he led the team with 23 and 22 points a game. He also averaged five assist and grabbed four rebounds a game.

3: Kirk Hinrich 2003-2010

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Hinrich is the longest tenure player since the post Jordan/Pippen era. He led the team in assists for five consecutive years and scored in the top four on the team for five years. During his stay in Chicago, he was the best perimeter defender on the team and one of the best shooters.

2: Ben Gordon 2004-2009

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Gordon led the Bulls in scoring in each of the five years he was on the team. He was the go to guy and the only premier shooter the Bulls have had.  If he wasn’t on the team, the Bulls would have never pushed the Celtics two years ago, because he was the fire power matching up against Boston’s Ray Allen.

1: Derrick Rose 2008-present

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In two seasons, Rose has done more than any other Bull has since 1998. He won the rookie of the year award and was the first player from Chicago named to NBA all-star team since Jordan in 1998. Derrick is the first franchise player, someone they can build a team around, the Bulls  have had in this time period. He doesn’t only put up stats and bring home awards but he is also the first sign of hope to returning the Bulls as an elite team in the NBA.

The 12 year veteran is returning to the western conference after a year and a half hiatus as a Chicago Bulls.  Before being traded to the windy city, Miller played for the Sacramento Kings for five and a half years.

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I thank Miller for his time and service for the Bulls, but it isn’t a sad day.  I like the wily center, but he has seen better days.  In April, Miller turned 34.  He has been past his prime for the last three or four seasons and is on cruise control until his jump shot fails him.

The Bulls are building a team around a young nucleus and need athletic guys to run with them.  Miller isn’t the guy to sprint to the other side of the court to contribute whether it’s a transition bucket or fast break help defense.  He is a grinder with a tough redneck mentality the Bulls will miss against bigger physical teams, but he is not the guy they need for their up-tempo style of play.

Earlier in the off-season, I said they should resign him.  This was before I realized they are picking up young athletic talent who like to run the floor.

On the other hand, the Rockets need him.  Yao Ming is coming back this up-coming season and is supposedly healthy.  Besides Ming and Luis Scola, Houston doesn’t have a proven low post rebounding presence.  This is where Miller fits in.  During the 09-10 season he only averaged five rebounds a game, but he played limited minutes on a athletic Bulls team.  In Sacramento the season before he averaged eight rebounds during his 31 minutes a game.  If he gets minutes he will throw his body around and grab boards when the Rockets need them.

Miller brings the Rockets more productive depth off of their bench.  They should have a good team who will challenge for the 5th to 6th spot in the western conference.  It all depends on Ming’s health.

I asked the question to you,  who would be a better for the Bulls, Kerr or Paxson.  Kerr dominated Paxson, getting 36 of the 52 votes.  I wonder if Kerr would beat Gar Forman, like he did Paxson. 

Steve Kerr was a back up point guard for the Bulls in the mid-to late 90′s and helped win a few championships with his sniper three point shooting.  Paxson did the same thing in the early 90′s. 

[picappgallerysingle id="8936579"]Kerr’s Suns made it to the western conference finals this season, losing to the now NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers in six games.  He helped the Suns by building a roster around his two key players, Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire. Kerr added athletic players who could run and gun, just like his two stars instead of different tempo and skill set guys. 

He did make some questionable trades like Shawn Marion to the Miami Heat for Shaquille O’Neal, but he made up for it by getting a second round draf pick, Sasha Pavlovic who is a solid back up player, $500,000 and a soon to retire Ben Wallace when he traded O’Neal to the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

[picappgallerysingle id="1997911"]Paxson’s resume is okay.  He hasn’t had a star, until Derrick Rose was gifted wrapped to him with a bow as the first overall pick in the 2008 draft.  Last season, he traded inconsistent Andres Nocioni, overrated Drew Gooden and Cedric Simmons to the Sacramento Kings for John Salmons, Brad Miller.  The trade helped the Bulls get the 6th seed in the post season and in the epic first round series against the Boston Celtics.  Both immediately fit well with the team, hitting key buckets when needed.  

This season, he made room in the team’s payroll to sign one of the big name free agents this summer. Paxson traded away a bad character guy in Tyrus Thomas to the Charlotte Bobcats  for two expiring contracts and a future first round pick.  He then traded John Salmons and a couple of second round picks for two expiring contracts.

[picappgallerysingle id="8616832"]If Paxson can land Lebron, Wade, Bosh or if it’s financial possible for two of them,  keep him.  He has repeatedly made deals to get the Bulls to the playoffs.  But if he can’t make THE deal, I would love to see Kerr in the Bulls front office.  He turned the Suns into a winning team, he could do the same for Chicago.

10 Two Way Tie Between- Rudy Gay and John Salmons

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Salmons was traded away by the Bulls at the February trade deadline in order to dump off contracts.  He went to Milwaukee and helped them earn a six seed in the playoffs.  Before he came they were on the outside looking in.  Rudy Gay is a young talented player with limited leadership skills.  Gay is on the verge of becoming a superstar but needs to play on a team besides the Memphis Grizzlies where he is the main attraction, because he shouldn’t be on any team.  Both players are respectable second options and great role players.

9 Amare Stoudemire

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The Suns power forward has little defense but is absolute dynamite on offense.  He can put up 30 points any night but if he is playing someone else who can score in the post, he can give up 30 points any night as well.

8 Joe Johnson

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He is one of the best shooters in the game now.  He adds instant offense.  The problem is he choked in the playoffs.  His Atlanta Hawks got swept by the Orlando Magic and he put up little fight.  Johnson showed lack of heart, lack of concern to the fans and a lack of being a go to guy.

7 Carlos Boozer

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Boozer is a double-double guy.  He can easily get 10 rebounds and 15-to-20 against anybody.  His defense is average but seems to always be in the right place at the right time for lose balls or blocks.  What he lacks in stats compared to some of the others on the lists, he adds in leadership.

6 Dirk Nowitzki

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Dirk is a great player and possibly the best 7 foot shooter ever to grace the NBA.  Again,  he would add instant scoring and knows how to rebound the ball.  He is in the last stage of his career, I give him five productive years.  Also,  he is a second option, not a number one.  If he became a Bull, he would have to realize his position on the team.

5 Ray Allen

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Allen is the second best three point shooter in history behind Reggie Miller.  He would be great for the Bull’s offense because he never stops running.  The downfall is, he will be 35 by the time next season starts.

4 Dwyane Wade

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He is the second best two guard in the league behind Kobe Bryant.  I love Wade’s game and he brings the most energy to the court out of the ten guys on the court.  He can do everything: score, defend and all the intangibles in the middle.  He moved up the list because of his comments towards the Chicago Bulls.  I don’t think there is any chance he will be a Bull.

3 David Lee-Brad Miller-and a shooter (Kyle Korver, JJ Redick, Mike Miller)

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Lee is a solid power forward.  He can score down low, hit a 15 foot jumper and rebound.  He plays solid help defense and again,  is always around the basket for offensive rebounds.  Brad Miller is old and for the most part washed up, but he has veteran leadership and in his old age still put up 10 points and five rebounds as a third stringer.  The Bulls desperately need a shooter.  Korver, Redick and Miller are the best shooters available.  Chicago should combo the three together to make use of their money.

2 Lebron James

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James is the most athletic player in the league, no doubt about it.  He puts up video game numbers every night and would bring an incredible level of excitement around the United Center.  I will not be mad if James comes to the Bulls, that is for sure, but I think his superstardom could hurt the team.  Derrick Rose is a great point guard all ready and could develop into one of the best to ever play for the Bulls.  I question if the addition of James would hurt Rose’s development and the Chicago Bulls become the Chicago Lebrons.  He is great, but he has never won a championship.

1 Chris Bosh

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From a team perspective, he is the best fit for the Bulls.  We need low post scoring, experience and a second option.   Bosh will give 20-to-22 points a night and could teach Joakiim Noah some post moves.  He isn’t the best defender in the paint, but he is average, enough to get by in the NBA.  His skill set is exactly what the Bulls need.

I put Lebron James as the number two option for the Chicago Bulls during free agency.  As I re-think the situation, maybe he should move up a little bit to four  or even five, behind the combo deal of David Lee, Brad and Mike Miller at three, Dwyane Wade at four and Ray Allen at five.

He has all the ability in the world individually, but can’t help his team win.

The writers at Bleacher Report agree with me.

What if Lebron James is Joe Johnson, just a better athlete.  All season both of these players put up great numbers and helped there team get to the playoffs in great positions.  Lebron helped the Cavaliers get the number one seed and Johnson helped Atlanta get a three seed. Lebron did better because he is a better athlete, but they both crack under pressure in the playoffs.

James might get signed to the Bulls and get them a championship in a year and then they get to the finals a few years and then struggle.  The Bulls don’t need a drama queen, they need a blue collar athlete.

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David Lee is the number three in the top ten countdown of free agent options for the Chicago Bulls.  The good thing is,  Lee will not be a max contract guy, so, other impact players could sign as well.  This makes the third option, a deluxe deal like a number one Whooper combo from Burger King.  The Bulls could sign Lee,  resign Brad Miller and then sign a shooter.  Kyle Korver, JJ Redick and Mike Miller are all available.

Lee is developing into a star in New York.  If he can become a great player on a horrible Knick roster,  he could blossom into a superstar in Chicago.  This season, the 27 year old power forward put up career high numbers and was selected to his first NBA All-Star game.  He averaged 20 points, 11.7 rebounds and four assists per game.  In April, he recorded his first triple-double with 37 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists.  He is the first person to do this since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

He plays with intensity.  His low post offensive moves are above average and he knows how to position himself for rebounds.  He doesn’t block a lot of shots, but he plays help defense and makes sure he gets his body on his assignment when he has the ball.  Honestly,  Lee is a year away from his prime.  He can still develop into a more efficient defender and a better help defender.  His potential isn’t at it’s end.  The Bulls are looking to secure a top talent for many years.  Lee is young and is looking for a long contract. This is a green light.

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Brad Miller is 34 and at the end of his career, there is no doubt about it.  The good thing is, Miller is a veteran leader.  He is vocal, something the Bulls need for their young talent in Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson.  I am a firm believer in Miller making Noah the dominant low post defender and rebounder he has become.  When he does get in the game,  he doesn’t dissapoint.  Chicago doesn’t ask much from him but he still delivers 10 points a game and five rebounds.  These are not huge numbers, but great for a second string guy, who could be moved to third string depending on the Bulls free agent pick ups.  If Lee was picked up,  he would be behind Noah, Gibson and Lee.  At this point in his career, Brad Miller would be perfect to resign for this spot on the team.

The Bulls showed a desperate need for some perimeter shooting this past season.  Rose isn’t extremely consistent and Kirk Hinrich has troubles finding his shot for long stretches of time.  There are three legitimate mid-value shooters in this summer’s free agency.

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Utah’s Kyle Korver is a great shooter.  As a Southern Illinois Saluki,  I hate Creighton and everything about them.  Unfortunately, they had a great player in Korver, who has began to shoot the ball even better after college.  This season he shot 53% from beyond the three point line.  The Bulls need a shooter who can drop them in at a percentage like that.  The problem is, he doesn’t really do anything else.

Orlando’s JJ Redick is another great shooter.  During the playoffs, he stepped up and was one of the few bright spots against the Boston Celtics in their three consecutive loses.

Washington’s Mike Miller is probably the best choice of the three.  He has more experience and is a more versatile player.  He shots the trey at  a 40% career average during his ten seasons as a member of the Orlando Magic, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves and Washington Wizards.  He has averaged five rebounds and three assists too.  He can help the team in more ways than simply shooting.  Also, he would be a great guy to have come off the bench.  He was a leader for the Timberwolves when all they had was young talent.  They didn’t win a ton or get to the playoffs but he was still able to get his teammates to play hard with their little skill sets.

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Lee, Brad Miller and Mike Miller or Korver or Redick is a good option for the Bulls.  They would get an up and coming superstar who is going to drop 20 ppg and grab 11 rebounds a game, veteran leadership and an outside scorer.  Add these elements to the hiring of defensive mastermind Tom Thibodeau, Derrick Rose and his all around solid play,  Noah becoming a monster down low on both sides of the ball and three decent players in Luol Deng, Gibson and Hinrich.  This would make a great team.

The ninth selection in the Bulls top 10 summer free agent options is a go to low post offensive player but can’t play defense at all.

The offensive sunny spot but defensive black hole is none other than the Phoenix Sun’s Amare Stoudemire.

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Inside the paint, he is explosive, whether it’s throwing it down or hitting a low post jumper.  In his eight seasons, he averages 21 ppg while shooting 58% from the field.

At 6-10 and 250 pounds, he would be an inside scoring option the Bulls have not had in some time.  I would venture to say the early 2000′s with Elton Brand when he was a rookie and a second year player.  Stoudemire is more athletic and explosive.

He has been to the playoffs five times, so he has more post season experience than all of the Bulls except Brad Miller and Lindsay Hunter. Amare could add veteran leadership as a needed guy instead of off the bench or in street clothes like Miller and Hunter.

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Many will say Steve Nash is because of this, but I don’t think Nash gets there without the inside presence of Amare. Stoudemire shows up in the playoffs as well, averaging 24 ppg.

The main problem with Stoudemire coming to Chicago is definitely his defense.  He is a the dark whole in the Sun’s low post defensive core.  Opponents know to go at him because he is going to foul, the Sun’s will have to double (leaving a shooter open) or another low post scorer could simply take him to the hoop.

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On the boards, he plays little for his size.  At 6-10, he should be able to get more than 9 rebounds a game, although he is 15th in the league this year with 732.  He doesn’t get a lot of blocks for his height, with 83, he is 30th in the league.

The Chicago Bull’s upside to Stoudemire’s defensive problem is that they have a great defensive low post player in Joakim Noah and a solid one in the making with Taj Gibson. Noah, when he was healthy, was leading the league in rebounds for a little while,but held on to second place, behind Howard, for most of the season.

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Wouldn’t one great scorer and one great defender be great for the Bull’s roster?

Right now, they don’t have anybody to be a solid inside option.  The Bull’s offense is a one trick pony, guard play.  If a shot is missed, Noah will get a board.

Stoudemire would allow the Bulls to spread the floor.  He would draw double teams meaning there would be an open shooter.  I don’t think the Bulls know what an uncontested shot is at this point.

On defense,  the Bulls would definitely have to work on helping.  The guys would have to rotate in efforts to strip the ball or cause a turnover.

Of course,  this would only work if the Bulls pick up a shooter or two.

IS AMARE’S OFFENSE NEEDED OR IS HIS DEFENSE TOO MUCH OF A RISK?

John Salmons and Tyrus Thomas were traded for five expiring contracts and a first round draft pick. Plus four preexisting contracts will be expiring as well, including, Brad Miller, the over paid and never played Jerome James, the down and out Lindsey Hunter and Tim Thomas.

The only contracts on Chicago’s pay roll next year is the young talented nucleus of Deng, Rose, Hinrich, Noah, Gibson and Johnson.

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The question is, what position will the Bulls shop for? I am hoping for a big man. Noah and Gibson have done their thing all season long, but it will not get them far in the post season if nobody else is added. The Chicago Tribune asked Taj Gibson if he was cool with being a number two forward; he said not a problem.

This is the best attitude Gibson could possibly have. He is right. If Carlos Boozer, Amare Stoudemire, Chris Bosh, Tyson Chandler or a skilled big man comes to Chicago, Gibson is going to learn more about the game. He will lose minutes, but the ones he gets will be more valuable.

There are certain rookies who have the right to be a first year starter, Derrick Rose is one of them. Gibson, however, is the type of player who needs to start his career by coming off of the bench and then work his way into the line up during injuries or in his second or third year, after he shows he can handle the NBA game on a nightly basis.

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Right now, Gibson is getting more minutes than he knows what to do with. He is playing well, no doubt, but learning from one of these guys will help him out in the long run. Hopefully, his long run will be with the Bulls and hopefully Bosh can be his mentor.

Would it be better for Gibson to learn on his own or have a veteran teach him a thing or two?

Chicago led the entire game. They went on a scoring streak in the second quarter, braking the game open with a 34-22 advantage. The Pistons cut the lead to seven in the fourth quarter but could not handle Derrick Rose and Ronald Murray in the final minutes.

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Murray scored 23 points while Rose added 21 and 9 assists. Brad Miller added 17 points and Taj Gibson was one point shy of a double-double with 9 points and 10 rebounds.

This is great for the Bulls since they’re fighting for a playoff spot. With this victory they are only a half game back of the Toronto Raptors for 8th place.

They won four of their last five games. Of course, the one loss was a 29 point blow out from Dwayne Wade and the Miami Heat but they did win the games they should win. The Bulls beat the awful New Jersey Nets and Philadelphia 76ers, Pistons and the down and out Houston Rockets.

Wins like this will help them pass the Raptors. If they keep winning they could possibly find themselves in 7th place, but lets take it one seed at a time.

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When the Bulls traded John Salmons and Tyrus Thomas, I believed they had a strong chance of picking up one of the two and turning the Bulls into a deep playoff threat instead of a first round out. 

Then I read Chicago Bull’s blogger Sam Smith’s post about the Bulls opting for plan C.  I have changed my mind.

Smith is right.  One big name player could change the climate of a team, but it could fail too.  Chris Bosh has been playing with Hedu Turkoglu and a bunch of scrubs.  Dwayne Wade has been playing with Michael Beasly, an up and comer with plenty of talent, and then a bunch of scrubs.

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Smith did state, the Bulls do have a strong nucleus of Derrick Rose, Luol Deng, Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson, so they would be a formatable change for Wade or Bosh.

In our society, everything revolves around money.  In the NBA it is called a salary cap. With the cap, the Bulls could only get one of these players and would probably have to lose a Hakim Warrick, Brad Miller, Ronald Murray and maybe a few others or different players.

The back bone of the Bulls would be gone.  There would be a strong starting five, but no depth to back up injuries or foul trouble.

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Put in Smith’s plan C.  Smith is right, trading Kirk Hinrich for Monta Ellis, James Johnson and the number one pick from the Thomas trade.  Throw in another Golden State Warrior to add with Ellis to not make it extremely one sided and it is a great deal.  Of course, the Bulls could then drop the extra or package him in some other trade.

Ellis would be the 2010 Ben Gordon.  He can slash in the inside, can hit the long trey, runs the fast break well, plays D and averages five assists a game on a bad team.  I would love to see Ellis and Rose in the Chicago backcourt. 

The next part of Smith’s plan C is to pick up New York’s David Lee.  Perfect!  Lee is an athletic big men who can score, rebound and defend in the post.  Adding him to the roster would mean the starting five would have the hustling, blocking, ball hawking  Naoh and a scoring, technicaly sound Lee.

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Also, there would be money left over to resign one of the role players the Bulls would not want to draft. 

I am still in favor of seeing Bosh or Wade in a Chicago uniform.  This might not be a great financially idea for the Bulls, though.  This could simply be my bias for the Bulls to have another extremely impactful player. 

However,  I do see the value in Smith’s plan C.  This would mean the Bulls would have three All-Star caliber players in Rose, Lee and Ellis and possibly Noah.  Deng would complete the package being the all around talent he is and there would be good players coming off the bench. 

This is a great idea.