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.

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.

This is huge.  Tom Izzo is a legendary basketball coach.  He has been at Michigan State University since 1995.   In this time he has won a NCAA Championship in 2000, has been to the finals twice and has been to the final four six times. Under Izzo, the Spartans have been to the tournament 13 consecutive years.

Izzo is well thought of and highly respected.  On the Dan Patrick show a couple months ago,  Izzo said he gets contacted by NBA teams every year.  He said some are thought provoking and others are something he might have read in a joke book.

The Bulls head coaching job would be perfect for him and him perfect for Chicago.  The young roster needs someone who is tough and would demand respect.  They also need someone that knows every aspect of the game of basketball.  Izzo is the guy.

He has been around the game since 1973 when he played college ball for Northern Michigan University.  He has been coaching since he graduated in 1977.

Izzo is known for coaching strong guard play and rebounding.  Does that ring a bell?

The Bulls have a point guard named Derrick Rose, who many think is top five in the league at his position.  Then there is Joakim Noah who can grab any ball in a 50 foot radius.   If he came to Chicago, he would have two immediate stars in his system, but oh,  he can teach too.

Izzo knows how to work with players.  He turned Mateen Cleaves into a Spartan hero.  Jason Richardson and Shannon Brown blossomed under his knowledge.  Brown was an NBA champion last year and Richardson has always been a dominant scoring threat. He also had a guy named Zack Randolph, who could be the best low post scorer in the league, if he had his mind right.

There is no doubt in my mind that Izzo would turn the Chicago Bulls organization around.  Usually I hate when college coaches try their skills in the NBA game, but with Izzo,  I’m excited to see his greatness.

He knows how to make any five guys on the court work as a well oiled machine.  Izzo has the tested mind of someone who has been in the business 37 years.  He has dealt with all types of players and has shaped those different types into great ball players. Chicago deserves a coach who can turn the Bulls current roster into great ball players.  Izzo would be a perfect fit.

Summer free agency has been the biggest concern around the Chicago Bulls organization.  Who will they get?  Would they fit well with Rose, Noah, Deng, Gibson and Hinrich?  Why would these free agents want to come to Chicago?

If the Bulls had Tom Izzo on their sideline the possibilities are endless.  I’m sure Lebron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade know and respect Izzo.  Wade went to Marquette University in Wisconsin, I know he heard about the Michigan State Spartans and Tom Izzo who went to the elite eight in 2003, Wade’s last year in the NCAA.

Izzo would be something new to the league, meaning a new beginning for any of these superstars.  The supporting roster is all ready there, and with Izzo, there would be a proven and respected head coach.

Plus,  hiring Izzo, would show the free agents that Chicago is ready to do whatever it needs to do to get more championship banners hung in the rafters.  1998,  the last hanging banner, is 12 years ago.  Isn’t it time to bring championship basketball back to Chicago and its fans?

Izzo has proved he can win.  Izzo has proved he can create NBA talent out of any player whether a big man or a guard. After 15 years of the same job, isn’t it time for a new challenge?

The Bulls job is the perfect challenge for Izzo.  He could prove he can coach in the NBA.  He could possibly coach arguably the best player in the game.  Plus, he could bring championships back to the mid-west, where he has practically been his whole life.

Izzo is a perfect candidate for the job.  I hope he goes into this interview with a chip on his shoulder to show Bulls management he wants to do the best to his ability with the opportunity.

Honestly,  this is what the Bulls need.  They need a guy who is going to come into the club house and get the best out of their players. The Bulls need someone who is going to demand respect but at the same time be a father figure to a young squad.  They also need someone who is fluent in teaching and motivating a team to win ball games.

Izzo can do that.

The MVP year ended by getting swept in the first round by the eighth seeded Golden State Warriors in one of the biggest upset series in league history.

The Mavericks have followed the failure ever since then; 2008 was a first round exit, 2009 beat in the semifinals and were took out in the first round this season as well.

It isn’t like the Mavericks are going into the playoffs in the seven or eight seeds; they’re advancing to the post season in the one through three seeds.

The Mavericks super star Dirk Nowitzki is the number six option in the top ten free agent options for the Chicago Bulls.

He is a great talent.  Besides Larry Bird, he is the best seven foot three point shooter to ever grace the NBA.  On any night, Dirk can put up 40 points.  Since the 2000-2001 season, he has averaged more than 21 points a game.

During these playoff blunders, Dirk’s numbers stay the same.  Actually his points per game go up.  He doesn’t crack under pressure, but his team does.  Is this his lack of captain leadership?  One blunder maybe not, but with four consecutive early exits, the question has to be asked.

With Dirk on the court, he does draw an instant double team for most teams in the NBA.  This would work great for the Bulls.  Other players could cut to the basket without being blanketed or a big man would be left alone in the low paint.

His offensive game would open up the Chicago play book because of the big man who can hit a jump shot from anywhere on the court.  He can also run the floor, which would fit in perfectly with the Bulls since they’re all lean and athletic.

Nowitzki does lack defense, but like I said with Amare Stoudemire, the Bulls have Noah and the perimeter guys know how to play help defense.  Nowitzki does play some D, more than Stoudemire, just at a low level compared to others in the league.

Stated at the beginning of the post, the question is his leadership.  In Dallas, he has played with some solid players.  This year they had, Hall of Fame bound Jason Kidd, last year’s sixth man of the year Jason Terry, a motivated Caron Butler, and the high energy Shawn Marion.

If he came to Chicago,  Dirk would have budding superstars in Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, a decent third scoring option in Luol Deng and a couple of great guys to have come off the bench in Kirk Hinrich and Taj Gibson.

His Dallas rosters have been better.  The only thing in Chicago’s roster favor is their heart and desire.  They play harder than the Mavericks, just don’t have their talent.

Can Dirk lead them to a championship?  He hasn’t been able to with a better roster and great coaches. He played for Don Nelson, who was voted to be a top ten coach of all time.  Avery Johnson, who is a coach all the teams without a coach want and Rick Carlisle who has been to the playoffs in seven of his eight seasons as a head coach.

The Bulls don’t have a coach at the current time and the open market doesn’t have any super attractive guys.  Johnson could come to Chicago,  maybe that would bring Dirk.

Nowitzki has proved he is a great player whether it be one on one or in a 3 on 1 transition fast break with his teammates, but he hasn’t proved he can make his team better.

What if, he wasn’t the number one guy?  If Dirk came to the Bulls and was a number two option behind Rose, he would be golden.  The pressure of leading the team would be on the point guard and the star Chicago has named as their own.

All Dirk would have to do is shoot the rock.

This would make him a great choice.  Dirk has the offensive game the Bulls desperately need but he hasn’t helped his team get to the promise land.  This is why he doesn’t make the top five.

Click in tomorrow for # 5 in the top ten summer free agent options for the Chicago Bulls.

It might sound silly to say Salmons since the Bulls just sent him to Milwaukee for expiring contracts on the trade deadline, but in Milwaukee he proved can be a scoring option.  In Chicago, he was inconsistent.  He goes to Milwaukee and turned their season around from not making the playoffs to gaining the sixth seed  and scaring the Atlanta Hawks in the first round by forcing a seven game series.

The Bucks did this without center Andrew Bogut, who was a legitimate top three or four center in the league.  Rookie Brandon Jennings had something to do with the Bucks hot streak, but it was Salmon’s performances that had fans saying “Fear the Deer”.

I have said before, Salmons did the same thing to Chicago.  In Sacramento he was inconsistent and not a main player for the Kings who had little to nothing with an injured Kevin Martin.  He gets traded to the Bulls and shines at the end of the season, helping the Bulls make the playoffs and give the Boston Celtics a run for their money.

This year, Chicago played the Sacramento role and Milwaukee took the place of Chicago.

If he can play at the level he has at the end of the last two seasons, for an entire season, he is worth taking him back.  Salmons could be the two guard the Bulls had and now need to get back.  Maybe they made a mistake by dealing him.

In his 30 games for the Bucks he averaged 20 ppg, shot 47% from the field and 87% from the free throw line. During his 51 games with the Bulls he averaged 13 ppg, shot 42% from the field and 79% from the line.

An argument could be made about who is on the Bucks compared to the Bull’s top scores Rose and Deng.  The Bucks have Bogut and Jennings.  Jennings creates his own shot and Bogut is a serious inside scoring presence the Bulls don’t have.  Noah’s name could be thrown in, but he scores off of hustle not set up plays.

Rudy Gay has plenty of potential.  He has averaged 18 ppg, 6 rpg and is 45% from the field in his four seasons in the NBA.  In these four seasons he has only missed 10 games; he can stay healthy.

This season he was ranked third in the NBA in minutes played, 13th in total steals, 15th in field goals made, , 16th in total points and 18th in ppg.

Gay can take it outside, a career 35% three-point shooter, or can cut through the lane and throw it down. Gay isn’t automatic from 3, but can hit when he is on.  His dashing to the basket skills can be compared to Desmond Mason and Darius Miles when they were in their prime.

The problem with picking up Gay is,  he isn’t proven.  As a player, he has never been to the post season.  He can’t be held to full blame because of the Memphis roster, but he is a team captain and is looked to help this team get better.

They do have an up and coming star center in Marc Gasol, guard O.J. Mayo and all-star forward in Zach Randolf.  Gay is the all around most talented (Randolf is one of the best interior scorers in the league) on the team,  but he hasn’t been a leader.

The Bulls need a leader.  Rose and Hinrich try, but they’re not strong leaders.  Deng doesn’t talk or play dedicated like a leader.  Joakim Noah’s play (like Rose) could define him as a leader of the team, but it doesn’t always work.

Maybe the Bulls need a player with a voice, unfortunately, Kevin Garnett isn’t up for grabs.

Also, Gay’s play is similar to Deng.  Gay has a better jump shot but all in all, they play similar styles.  This could cause a problem with the starting line up or could help the team by having a strong scorer come off the bench.

The question is, who would come off the bench?  I’d go with Deng.  Have Rudy start and then interchange them throughout games in the two and three spots.  The Bulls would then have some length.

The reason this is a tie, is because Gay and Salmons are good at what they do, which is opposite of each other.

Salmons is a shooter, Gay is more of an inside banger who occasionally shoots outside.  Gay is a better defender and Salmons is better at running offensive sets.

Gay is a better re-bounder, probably because of size and Salmons is a better set up man, probably because of his better ball handling skills.

Money wise, Salmons is making $5 mill this year and Gay $3 mill.  Both have another possible year on their current contracts offering each another million.

If the Bulls picked one of these guys up, they could still shop for other prominent pieces like true shooters in Kyle Korver, Mike Miller or J.J. Redick.  If the Bulls want to continue to build defense,  Ronnie Brewer is available.

Number ten is a tie between John Salmons and Rudy Gay.  Between these two players, would you rather have Gay come from Memphis or Salmons come back to Chicago?

Click in tomorrow for # 9 of the top 10 summer free agent options for the Chicago Bulls.

Chicago has six players on the books for next season: Luol Deng, Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson, Kirk Hinrich and James Johnson.  They are allowed to have 15, so there is room for nine more players.

The NBA projects next year’s salary cap to be $56.1 million.  Chicago only has $33.6 million spent, meaning they have $22.5 mill to go shopping with.

Fortunately for the Bulls, they have plenty of money to replace at least one of these empty roster spots with an elite NBA athlete and add a few strong counter parts to the young and talented nucleus all ready on the team.

Let’s start by getting rid of the free agents that have no chance of coming to Chicago.

Paul Pierce has the early termination option in his contract.  The Boston Celtics are a serious threat to win the championship this year.  He has been in Boston his entire career and is loved there.  They looked old all season, but now, look like they’re in their early 20′s come playoff time. Rajon Rondo is a superstar and will be the new face of the Celtics, but Pierce is going to stay to pass the torch.  Plus, Doc Rivers doesn’t want to disband the big three: Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett.

Manu Ginobili already signed an extension with the San Antonio Spurs.  There was no reason for him to leave.  San Antonio is his city and he proved he can still play and lead them to victory when healthy.

Tracy McGrady is washed up.  He had his spot as an NBA superstar taken away by injuries.  In 13 seasons, he has only played in 70 or more games five times.  He can’t stay healthy and he can’t play at the elite level he thinks he can.

Shaquille O’Neal is at the end of his career.  He is still a legitimate 12 points and 7 rebounds a game kind of guy.  This isn’t bad for a center in the NBA these days.  Shaq’s size is also a positive for a low post presence on offense and defense.  He is just too slow and will not fit in with the Bull’s offense.  Chicago likes to push the ball.

Jermaine O’Neal is at the end of his career as well.  He didn’t do anything to help Dwayne Wade and the Miami Heat in the playoffs, he would be a waste of money.

Yao Ming has health injuries just as bad as his ex-teammate McGrady.  Ming is a scoring and defensive presence, but his ankles, feet and knees can’t hold up.

Josh Howard is too much baggage.  He can play, but he is inconsistent and has let off the court situations interfere with his NBA career.

Michael Redd would be a great piece to add because of his shooting.  He is one of the best pure shooters in the league but he can’t stay on the court.  In the last two seasons he has only played 51 games.  I would like to add him to the “get” list, but I don’t know how he’s going to bounce back from his injuries.

Tyson Chandler is all ready on the Bulls, Joakim Noah.  They play a similar style, except, Noah is younger, plays with more energy and can score further from the basket than Chandler.  If the Bulls get a big man, they need a scorer, not defense and rebounding.

Anybody not mentioned is up for grabs in the next 10 posts, come back tomorrow to find out who number ten is.