Chicago Bulls
by Ric Bucher
Objective: Add inside and outside scoring threats.
Assets: $20.5 million in cap space and the No. 17 pick in the draft.
The plan: Other than LeBron, Hawks free agent Joe Johnson appears to be their next choice among perimeter scorers, which is understandable; his range (deep) and personality (quiet) would create space for Derrick Rose to penetrate without creating a conflict in leadership. If Atlanta agrees to a sign-and-trade -- with Kirk Hinrich the principal piece going back to the Hawks -- the Bulls would have enough cap room to sign a low-post threat (Boozer or Bosh) in addition to landing Johnson.
Alternative advice: There's no need to rush into picking up a low-post threat if it means overpaying for one, and there's a good chance of that happening this year. It would be better to add a few more shooters via free agency -- Kyle Korver, Channing Frye -- who can space the floor and let Rose do the rest, scoring in the paint off penetration. It wouldn't hurt to add some experienced size and toughness on the front line; both Heat power forward Udonis Haslem and Mavs center Brendan Haywood are free agents, and word is Haywood wants to return to the Eastern Conference.
