The Chicago Bulls have won four straight games as they begin to look like Eastern Conference contenders once again. Derrick Rose is finding his groove while Joakim Noah is trying to make the most of his time on the court. However, the four-game win streak is not enough to keep the Bulls out of the rumor mill with the trade market slowly starting to heat up as the team has been linked to DeMarcus Cousins in a trade that likely will not happen.
Michael Scotto of SheridanHoops.com stirred the pot when he reported that the Bulls were one of the teams showing "significant interest" in a deal involving Cousins. The Sacramento Kings center is certainly no stranger to this kind of talk. His name comes up every time NBA teams are trading and every time the Kings deny a deal getting done. That is the case right now as Scotto reports the Kings are not actively shopping Cousins, but have heard offers for him. The Bulls are reportedly one of them.
If the Bulls were at all interested in doing a deal, they have the means to get it done. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the Bulls would likely free themselves of the front-court log jam they have right now as they are loaded with expendable contracts. Noah's deal is expiring while Taj Gibson or former first-round draft pick Bobby Portis could also be an available option. With the trade deadline still two months away, fans should not expect this deal to go down any time soon.
One thing the interest in Cousins shows is the doubt that either Noah or Pau Gasol plan on returning next season. Noah's deal is expiring while Gasol can opt out. According to CSNChicago.com, Gasol will opt out of his contract in order to capitalize on the expanding salary caps. Noah is more of a mystery. His future will depend on his offer from other teams along with what his role is on the Bulls going forward. Noah has been coming off the bench more times than not, something he is not thrilled about.
For now, it appears likely the Bulls will stick with their current roster. With several frontcourt players already on the roster, adding DeMarcus Cousins would only make the roster unbalanced. Head coach Fred Hoiberg told the media that he wants Portis to begin playing significant minutes for the team. If the rookie looks the part of a first-round draft pick, there is no chance the Bulls make a move for Cousins whether the center is available or not.
