The Bulls didn’t get one of the three big named free agents and the three players signing to another eastern conference team like the Miami Heat was discouraging but I have been awaken by the same people for the discouragement.

At first, the signing of Carlos Boozer didn’t seem like such a good move.  He definitely wasn’t big enough bait for LeBron to come to Chicago and at times he has brittle bones.  But, he when he is healthy, which is more than half of a season, he is a dependable 20 and 10 guy.  Plus, he is an eight year veteran who can mentor Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson. Actually, Boozer is the eldest player on the Bulls; he can give tips to the entire team. Also, he has playoff experience past the first round. After personal debate, I am excited to see Boozer as a Bull.

Reinsdorf has also offered Orlando Magic restricted free agent, J.J. Redick, a three year deal worth $20 million.  He hasn’t proven himself as a great player, so the contract may be a little much.  On the other hand, he has shown progress each of his four seasons in Orlando.  Redick was the only offense the Magic had in a couple of the games against the Boston Celtics in the quarter finals of the playoffs. The Bulls offer is based on potential and the player he could become, it is worth it.  He has shown he can play at the NBA level.

I GIVE THE FRONT OFFICE CREDIT. They are making the best out of a situation that looked like doomsday.  I would much rather have Boozer, Korver and Redick than the three guys that were traded for expiring contracts: Tyrus Thomas, John Salmons and Kirk Hinrich. Boozer is a man, Thomas is a little boy.  Korver is a better three-point shooter than Salmons and is more reliable to hit shots.  On the other Salmons plays better defense and unlike Korver, he can create his own shot.

I love Hinrich.  The Bulls should have traded Luol Deng and kept Hinrich, but he did have an overpaid contract they wanted to get off of the books.  Hinrich is the best backup point guard in the league.  He is a premier perimeter defender, a superb assist man and can he shoot from anywhere on the court.  The problem is, Rose is more valuable and when they traded Hinrich, so was LeBron, Wade or Bosh. Redick is bigger and is a more consistent shooter.  Plus, he has younger legs and still has plenty of upside.

The Bulls are putting together a team instead of relying on one superstar player to take the “team” to the next level.  To win a championship in the NBA, the organization has to have a team, not one guy.  It has been proven over and over again.  LeBron didn’t win in Cleveland because he didn’t have a team around him and didn’t play with what he did have.  The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers win because they have role players who know what they have to do on the court.  They perform their jobs well and let the Kobe Bryants, Paul Pierces, Pau Gasols and Kevin Garnetts of the world do what they do.

The Bulls are not at a championship level at the present time but they’re a better team than they were last year.  The summer isn’t over and the Chicago Bulls still have the money to pick up whomever they wish.

The answer is…the Miami Heat.  James is going to join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to form a super team.  This big three is better than any other star combination in the league. I believe they can win at least four championships.  The question now is, who will Pat Riley to play with the super team.  We will find out the answer to that later this summer.

This is depressing. The Bulls traded their entire team away except for five players: Derrick Rose, Taj Gibson, Luol Deng, James Johnson and Joakim Noah.  While trading the team away they signed expiring contracts at the end of the 2009-2010 season so they would have money to spend.  They even fired their head coach.

With James deciding to go to the Heat, the Bulls missed out on all three of the big free agents.  The only move they have made was by signing Carlos Boozer.  This move is good, but he is not a franchise player.  The Bulls still need a lot help on their roster to even be an eighth seed in the eastern conference.

The Bulls are going to be hurting for quite some time now. The elite talent is already signed.  They didn’t pick up anybody in the draft because they traded their pick away.

What are they going to do?  They need scoring, especially perimeter shooting.  Ray Allen is going to stay in Boston.  The only options in the free agency market are Mike Miller, Kyle Korver or J.J. Redick.

Rose is a on the verge of becoming a superstar.  Boozer is a legitimate all-star when he is healthy.  Joakim Noah is a scrappy garbage bucket collector who is a solid low post defender.  Taj Gibson showed a lot of potential his rookie year to be a solid front court role player. Luol Deng can do everything, but at mid-level,  he will not be an all-star.  What do the Bulls plan to do with this lineup?  This lineup is the first stage of a rebuilding process.  The Bulls wanted to immediately build an elite team, they failed.

The Bulls are by far the biggest loser of free agency.  The Bulls were the best option for Bosh, Wade and LeBron but something about Chicago’s proposal didn’t work.

Looking at this with the most optimism I can, the Bulls still have money to make some moves.  Like I said, the roster needs some shooters and some lengthy defenders.

Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf needs to seriously think about firing his front office.  General Manager Gar Forman and Vice President of Basketball Operations John Paxson should be forced to pack their bags and find a new career because obviously getting the best NBA talent  available is too difficult for them.

Wade is the third best player in the league behind Kobe Bryant and Lebron James.  As a member of the Miami Heat, he won a championship and finals MVP in 2006, a scoring title 2009, six time all-star, NBA All-Star game MVP and the list of achievements goes on forever.

Wade would be great for the Bulls.  We need scoring and a perimeter defender since the Bulls traded Kirk Hinrich, the best one they had.  Besides his scoring accomplishments,  he has been on the all-defense team three times.

He would be perfect in Tom Thibodeau’s defensive system.  He is a great help defender, picks off passes in the passing lane and knows how to rotate in zones.

I would love for Wade to come to Chicago.  If he did, there is a great possibility he would bring Lebron James or Chris Bosh with him.  These guys want to play together and most importantly, win championships.  They would have the perfect opportunity to do this if they joined Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose.

The only negative against Dwyane Wade is the comments he made about loyalty in the Bulls organization.  He questioned loyalty because previous stars such as Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen do not associate with the team.

As adults,  I think both parties can let bygones be bygones  and unite to form a championship team.  This is what both sides want, so, lets make it happen.

10 Two Way Tie Between- Rudy Gay and John Salmons

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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.

This past year Joakim Noah became a defensive and rebounding machine.  Another perfect reason why the Bulls should get Bosh.  Bosh and Noah are almost the complete opposite.

Bosh is an absolute go to man offensively.  He has a fully developed low post game and can step out and hit a 15 foot jumper.  Bosh plays decent defense, but could get better in a system set up by Tom Thibodeau.

Noah is an a defensive hustler.  He doesn’t stop on a play and knows what he is doing.  When he was healthy this season,  he was easily grabbing 13 boards a game.  Noah can’t step out and hit the 15 jumper but he is a monster on the offensive boards for put backs and easy baskets.

These two are a perfect front court duo.  For the first time since I’ve been a Bulls fan (1990), the Bulls would have size down low with scoring skills.  Elton Brand might count, but he was never on Bosh’s level.

Bosh has become one of the best big men in the NBA while playing for the awful Toronto Raptors, who have had no one on their roster to help him.  They tried with Hedu Turkoglu, but he did not play well at all this season.  Bosh has averaged 20 ppg for his career, but this year finished with a career high 24 ppg.  He set another career high this season by grabbing 11 rebounds a game, his career average is 9.  Other career averages include one block, 80% from the free throw line and 50% from the field.

Bosh has been named to the All-Star team five times in his seven year career. Only seven years?  Yeah,  he is only 26 years old and has plenty of basketball left in his young career.  Like I said with David Lee, the Bulls want to sign a talented young player who will sign for a six to seven year deal.  After getting nowhere in Toronto and seeing the assets the Bulls possess, why wouldn’t he want to come to Chicago?

There would still be a little money left over to pick up a three point shooter.  Not much money, but enough to get a player who will step in a game and knock down a clutch basket.

These are the two areas the Bulls must improve on.  Bosh is the answer.  We need him just as much as he needs to play for a good team in a good market to get some exposure.  Let’s face it,  he doesn’t get much in Toronto.

I say, get Lebron James, Dwyane Wade or anybody else who has been in this countdown only if Bosh refuses to come to Chicago. Bosh all ready listed the Bulls as one of the five places he wants to play for, so there is no way he would refuse, another team would just have to make a better offer.

We need a big man who is a top scoring option, can play defense and is a complimentary player to Noah.  This is why, Bosh is the best option for the Bulls to climb out of the rut they have been in for the last four years and gain eastern conference elite status.

One, besides putting up video game numbers and winning two consecutive MVP awards, he hasn’t won when his team needed him too.  The Cleveland Cavaliers have only been to the finals once.  This post season,  he choked against the Boston Celtics just like the rest of his team.  If he is supposed to be the leader of the team,  he has to get his game together too.  I know what your saying,  he led them the entire season.  Well, the season didn’t end for the Cavaliers until Boston beat them in the playoffs,  when James didn’t show up.  How does Cleveland post the best record in the NBA for two seasons and then get upset in the playoffs?  Lebron can’t handle the pressure at the brightest stage.

Two, because he would hurt the development of Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose.  For all the praise he gets, we forget James is a selfish player.  Every play he has to have the ball.  Most of his points are off shots he created himself, not assisted by a teammate.  Yes, players who can develop their own shot are better than ones who can’t but not if it looks like one player is playing against five.  This is more than half of the Cavalier’s offensive sets in more than 80% of their games.

Lebron was in the top ten in assists,  again because he has to control everything.  This would be great for the Bulls, if Rose didn’t need the ball.  Rose is a point guard who has been trained to control tempo and position his team to score.  How is he going to be able to do that, when he doesn’t get the ball.  Maybe, Lebron would learn how to play with a pure point guard, instead of him having to be in complete control.  Wishful thinking,  I think it will be difficult for James to get past his ego.

In addition to point two,  James will always have to be the guy.  It is Lebron and his Cavaliers.  If he came to Chicago it would be Lebron and the Bulls.  It wouldn’t be considered the big three or Rose and James the dynamic duo.  He would suck the life out of the team concept the Bulls have built.  Every team likes and needs to have stars, but teams win championships.  Why hasn’t James won one yet.  Most say because he didn’t have a team around him, but, when they were in the process of winning the most games in the regular season, he supposedly did.  He is selfish and doesn’t know how to play with guys.

Three, James is a physical specimen created to dominate a basketball court.  No one can deny Jame’s God given athletic ability and is arguably the best player in the game.  I think Kobe is because of his killer instinct and clutch performances; Lebron doesn’t have that yet.  Jame’s video game numbers would help any team, especially the Bulls.  They have one consistent scorer, Derrick Rose.  James is also a solid defensive player.  He has made countless highlights when he comes out of no where to block a lay up from behind.  Tom Thibodeau would love to have an all around tool like Lebron on the court,  it would make his job easy, real easy.

Lebron is the number two option because he is bigger than the NBA.  Jordan was bigger than the league, but he was on another level than Lebron.  I’ll get into that another day.

I don’t know if James will work well with the character guys the Bulls have on their roster.  On the other hand,  he is the best athlete in the NBA and probably any other league, so,  he is always wanted on a team, including the Chicago Bulls.  Signing Lebron would work out in the win department and the Bulls would become an elite team, but Cleveland has been an elite team in the east since Lebron arrived in 2003.  What did they do?

Michigan State’s Head Coach Tom Izzo was interviewing and looking at his options for a job in the NBA.  He had discussions with the Chicago Bulls but nothing happened.

Then came news of the Cleveland Cavaliers pursuing Izzo in attempts to keep their superstar Lebron James.  As of yesterday,  he declined the offer stating he is going to be a lifer at MSU.

Good.  If Chicago can’t have him, then Cleveland can’t either.  Without a coach of Lebron’s liking, I have a great feeling he is gone.  James has to be sick of not winning a championship and only getting to the finals on one occasion.

Without Izzo, John Calipari or Phil Jackson, I don’t think there is anyway James stays.  Maybe, Chicago can have James now.

This is when the plea for the Bulls roster comes up.  James has a perfect opportunity to come to Chicago and win some championships.  We have all heard the story about the young nucleus consisting of Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Luol Deng.  Plus, the Bulls will give him whatever contract he wants.

The hiring of Boston Celtic’s assistant coach Tom Thibodeau as next seasons head coach should entice him to come as well.  the Bulls have a defensive mastermind on the sideline, who has had his team ranked in the top ten in defense for a decade and a half  The Celtics would not have won the championship in 2008 if Thibodeau didn’t run the group in the fashion he did.

Anyway,  I’m glad Izzo is staying put.  He has created a college basketball dynasty, which is incredibly hard to do.  Although,  he has the opportunity to win more championships in the NCAA, it would have been interesting to see if he could have changed the stereotype of college coaches failing in the NBA.

It won’t be Izzo,  maybe another college coach will step up to the challenge.

Steve Kerr at a press conference

What if, he only did this for a year and decided he wanted an office job in the NBA once again?  Honestly,  he won’t jump back into it in the 2010-2011 season, because most guys like a break, but maybe he would want to come back the following year.  This  happens all the time in every sport.

Chicago could be a destination for him to go to.  Lets think about it.  John Paxson has been stuck in a rut for the last few years.  The Bulls finish the regular season right around .500, or, for the last two seasons, exactly at the average level with 41-41 records.

He has been the GM since 2003 and has only been past the first round once.  The only way he has got players who fans or management want to stay on the team is via draft.  He can’t make a deal to bring in players who will take the team to the next level.  If he fails to bring in Dwyane Wade, Lebron James or Chris Bosh during free agency, he needs to be fired.

There isn’t a single reason why they shouldn’t want to play in Chicago.  Money for their big contracts, Chicago has it.  Solid basketball players to play with,  Chicago has them in Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, Taj Gibson and possibly Kirk Hinrich.  Plus, who knows what other role players will be coming off of the bench next year.  Hopefully, someone who can shoot the ball. Only Paxson and the front office will.

Plus, the other teams with money to spend are not appealing.  New York has been in a tailspin for the past ten years.   There is nobody to help the big named free agents get an eighth seed, let alone an NBA championship.  Miami, has Wade, but if he leaves, nothing.  The Los Angeles Clippers seem to have some kind of lineup, but they always seem to do and always tank.

The New Jersey Nets are awkwardly enough the second best place to go besides Chicago.  They just hired Avery Johnson, great move, and have two solid players in Devin Harris and Brook Lopez. After them,  anyone can tell why they were the worst team in the league this past season.

Steve Kerr’s resume in Phoenix is impressive.  The Suns were just in the western conference finals, although some people had them being eliminated in the first round by the Portland Trailblazers.  Brandon Roy’s injury might of had something to do with the Sun’s dominance, but they won it sure handily.

Kerr did make a bad trade, sending Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks to the Miami Heat for Shaquille O’Neal.  To his defense, their problem the previous year was they didn’t have a big man.  Kerr made an executive decision to make a change, Shaq simply couldn’t play with the run and gun Suns.

He made up for his blemish by trading him away to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Ben Wallace, who will retire and be free money, Sasha Pavlovic, who can hit the trey, a draft pick and cash.  He got more than enough value out of the decaying O’Neal.

Kerr would be a good general manager for the Bulls.  I think Paxson deserves a final chance, but if he fails to make this roster look spectacular on paper, then fire him and pursue Steve Kerr.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Either way,  the Boston Celtics assistant coach Tom Thibodeau has been hired by the Chicago Bulls to replace Vinny Del Negro.

Thibodeau is well respected as a defensive master mind, helped the Boston Celtics become one of the best defending teams in the league.  Boston would never have beaten the Lakers in 2008 for the NBA Championship, if their team defense didn’t rotate and communicate like Thibodeau taught them.  It also helps that Kevin Garnett, one of the biggest mouths in the NBA, is on the Celtics.

In his 21 year coaching career, he has traveled the NBA ranks.  He began as an assistant to the expansion Minnesota Timberwolves in 1989.  In 1991, he was a scout for the Seattle SuperSonics.  He has been an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets and until this years post season is over, the Boston Celtics.

Thibodeau has aided his teams to finish in the top ten in team defense for 15 seasons.  This is impressive.

The Bulls were a solid defensive team last year.  Thibodeau will help them become great.  Joakim Noah wants to play defense and showed signs of defensive brilliance this season.  Kirk Hinrich is a good perimeter defender.  Derrick Rose is quick, giving him the ability to get in front of any match up and Luol Deng has great length and hoops to block shots from the corner.

They have the skills, now Thibodeau will give them techniques.

The question I have is, how does this help Chicago’s scoring?  The Bulls scoring was a huge problem this season.  The offensive sets resulted in Ros running around and trying to drive, or they were stagnant.  Three players roamed on the perimeter while Noah and Taj Gibson got faced until they needed to get a rebound.

Maybe Thibodeau has more than one trick up his sleeve, plus,  he will have assistants and hopefully an elite talent after free agency begins.

The hire could draw big names.  Thibodeau is well known and respected.  Basketball players need to know their coach can or wants to win before they believe in the system.  Thibodeau helped win a championship in 2008 and was a part of the Knicks trip to the finals in 199 with Jeff Van Gundy, Patrick Ewing and Allan Houston.

Thibodeau should be a good coach.  Some assistants who are supposed to do well, stumble and fall.  Others coach a team to two three-peat championship run, aka Phil Jackson.  He will not reach Jackson’s level, but he could be the coach to get Chicago further in the playoffs than first round.  This would mean a better record, so they’re not the eighth seed.

On a faith level, I have 85% faith that he will help the Bulls get to the next level.  The doubts I have are on offense.  If the defense can get points off of its hard work than that doubt would be quieted.  The other doubt, is if Thibodeau is a coach the big named free agents want to play for.

Lebron James might want to be on the same team with Thibodeau instead of receiving the wrath of his zone defensive schemes.