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Who Does Rose Need For A Ring?

With names galore available for the Bulls, a team that is probably one piece away from contending for the Larry O’Brien Trophy, it will be interesting to see how big of a name Jerry Reinsdorf’s squad will go after.

Giving up a guy like Luol Deng, even Carlos Boozer, who underperformed this past postseason, could be the price the team will have to pay in order to rise up the ranks in the NBA.

Is it worth risking team chemistry?  Especially if a guy like Monta Ellis, who is a phenomenal scorer, really wants to come to the Windy City like he says he wants to.  You jump on that opportunity, right?  According to the Bulls owner, the missing piece was a shooting guard, like Ellis.

“We probably would have won the Miami series if we had a 2 guard who could score the ball.”

Surely, Monta would be the answer to the Bulls search for finding a viable scoring option next to Rose in the backcourt.  Envision a Rose-Ellis duo, for just a moment.  That tag-team of explosive scorers would solidify Chicago as not only a contender in the East, but possibly one of the favorites to win the NBA Finals.  It’s simple, Rose needs some help shouldering the load offensively.

However, it all goes back to what the Bulls are willing to give up to get Ellis.  If they are not willing to go all in for the Warriors shooting guard, then how about going for a post-player as a final piece to the championship puzzle?  Not only a final piece, but a super-sized piece.

Michael Wilbon, a respected NBA analyst, and Chicago native, gave us this possibility:

“What is emerging is the information here in Chicago that the Bulls are gonna get involved somehow with pursuing Dwight Howard, who is a free agent.  At first those rumors sounded crazy, but you’re starting to hear more and more of it from credible people.”

You know what this tells me: somehow the Bulls are going to find a way to emerge as a more legitimate contender this off-season.  Whatever it takes, they will pursue that missing piece to compliment Rose.  Whether it be a backcourt mate or a true post-presence, it’s going to happen.  Now the question is: how big of a piece will they go after?

With Dwight Howard (who is making noise on wanting out of Orlando), you are going to have to get rid of at least two of your three starters on the frontline.  That, along with another player and/or draft pick.  For Ellis, you are more than likely going to trade Deng or Taj Gibson as the centerpiece of the trade.  If shooting guard is a weakness, then small forward will become a weakness.  How much will the Bulls sacrifice to become a perennial contender?  It’s almost certain with the team they have now, they are not yet ready to be there year after year because of a lack of scoring.

So with that said, will the Bulls travel down the road of becoming more like an L.A. or Miami by going for the big superstar to team up with Rose?  Albeit, they will have to disrupt team chemistry and completely change the face of their roster.  Or, do they go for Ellis, a lesser star, even though they will have to give up a key piece of their team.  Who knows, what if they stay put and follow the Mavs plan?  Remember, this is the same team that didn’t capitalize on trading for Kevin Garnett and Pau Gasol when they were available in ’08.  So, are the Bulls going to get serious about getting this “one missing piece” that could get them over the hump?  This time around, they better think big and act big, if they want to compete in an even bigger way.