The Chicago Bulls are heading into the offseason with big moves on the horizon and the team has been mentioned in the Kevin Love trade rumors and they also have been linked to Carmelo Anthony as well as LeBron James and the team could make runs at both players along with Luol Deng, Lance Stephenson or Zach Randolph in free agency to help create a big 3 with Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah.
Anthony is the top target according to SI.com and he could bring the scoring touch they need and if the Bulls get back Rose healthy they are set. The Knicks just hired Derek Fisher and while that doesn't mean Anthony will sign, he did say he approved of the choice and now he has to make a decision himself, as he has to see if he will opt out or stay or sign elsewhere this summer. The Houston Rockets are also planning on going after Anthony and that could be very enticing as well.
The Bulls may look at James because everyone is, but they actually could have a chance at signing him, but he likely stays in Miami. Stephenson is very talented and has some issues but he could be a solid option, while Randolph could replace Boozer if he is traded. Boozer had his worst season with the Bulls and made over $15 million and now he is on his way out of town most likely.
Stephenson has supreme talent and the Pacers know that he can take over games, but at times he can make some major mistakes, including when he called out LeBron James before Game 4 and that turned out terribly for the Pacers. Stephenson is heading into free agency this offseason and it's very likely that the Pacers will not re-sign him and that mostly has to do with money over their actual desire, as they have deals in place already with David West, Roy Hibbert and Paul George and there simply may not be room for Stephenson anymore.
Derrick Rose was out most of the year, but the Bulls still made the playoffs and played some great D all season and now they need offense to back that up. According to SI.com, the Bulls are expecting to make a big push for Anthony and he could leave the Knicks after the year they just had. Anthony led the team in scoring, but they started 3-13 after winning the division last year and they were a total mess and now the future is up in the air for Anthony.
Stephenson is likely not getting signed back by the Pacers and he could be an option if the team missed out on Melo. Randolph could be a stand-in for Kevin Love if that trade doesn't go down, while the Bulls would love to sign back Deng after trading him away to the Cavaliers. The two sides could not come to an agreement during the season, but things could chance now that Deng spent the rest of the year in Cleveland, though he will be a very attractive free agent for a number of teams and the Bulls will have competition for him.
The Bulls are a very interesting option for Love, as they have the players to move that could sway the Timberwolves to deal, with names like Carlos Boozer, Taj Gibson, Jimmy Butler and Tony Snell options along with draft picks. The team also is a near-championship ready roster with Derrick Rose coming back and Joakim Noah already there and if the Bulls miss out on Love, they likely will go after Carmelo Anthony as a free agent target from the Knicks. SI.com reported that the Bulls and the Houston Rockets are the two teams to watch other than the Knicks in the Anthony sweepstakes and if both those teams miss out on big trades for Love or Rajon Rondo, they will go hard at swaying Anthony.
Anthony is heading towards free agency this summer and while it's not a guarantee that he will opt out of his contract with the Knicks, everyone is treating it like a foregone conclusion. The Knicks feel that they have the best chance to sign him since they can give him the most money and the longest contract, but according to ESPN.com, Anthony will weigh his options this summer and the Chicago Bulls and Houston Rockets are both expected to make strong pushes to sign him no matter what the Knicks do. Phil Jackson has spoken about how he wants to keep Anthony and the two have met already this offseason and that could lead to a deal getting done.
