As quickly as the Chicago Bulls built their current roster to championship form they have already torn it down. Given the doubts for next season can Derrick Rose expect big moves from his team in 2014?
Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer moves won't make sense this year
Fans shifted nervously when the Chicago Bulls couldn't trade Luol Deng and didn't amnesty Carlos Boozer. Looking back, it wasn't a great surprise. Since Rose is out for at least the first half of next season and Deng possibly having wrist surgery after the Olympics, neither move would make sense. No team wants a banged up small forward and it's not great policy to release the one scorer a team has left when the other two are injured. As for other free agency moves the team was already up against the salary cap. The Boozer and Deng contracts join for almost $30 million with Rose and Joakim Noah taking up another huge chunk. By 2014 things will have changed. Deng will likely be healthy. His defensive ability and long ranging shooting could come high in demand. The Bulls would then use the amnesty clause to release Boozer. This would open the door for free agents to join a healthy Derrick Rose and Noah in the starting lineup under a highly respected coach. However, is that all the Bulls brass can do?
Kyle Korver trade and Rip Hamilton sale says Bulls aiming young
Tom Thibodeau has made his first coaching job on favoring veterans but given his experience and teaching skill the Bulls front office would not do him any favors by loading the team with them. Championship success is built on young stars and it's almost impossible to find them in free agency. That could explain why Gar Forman and Jon Paxon traded sharp shooter Kyle Korver and want to deal shooting guard Richard "Rip" Hamilton. They already got a second round pick for Korver. While interest in Hamilton is almost nonexistent several experts think that will change when next season starts and injuries start to happen. Paired with not matching the offer to backup center Omer Asik and Chicago could come through with at least two draft picks and millions more in salary cap to use after the 2013 season. By then Rose will likely have returned to his All-Star form and interest in the team will start to rise.
The Chicago Bulls and their fans have no reason to panic. One season does not make a career for talents like Derrick Rose, especially at the age of 23. If Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer don't pan out they will find their ways out, leaving the team free to reap the fruits of deals like Kyle Korver and possibly Rip Hamilton.
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