NBA Trade Deadline: The trade each team must make

Pippen Aint Easy (Chicago Bulls)

Chicago sends Mike Dunleavy Jr. and Taj Gibson to Miami for Luol Deng and Danny Granger

When attempting different scenarios in ESPN.com’s NBA trade machine, you can definitely encounter some unrealistic scenarios. Would it be crazy though for the Chicago Bulls to consider upgrading their SF position? Mike Dunleavy’s recent absence from the lineup showed how lacking they are at that position, and it seems prudent to consider which ways Chicago could upgrade before the trade deadline. One option seems particularly fitting after the player’s joyous return to the United Center recently.

It would be a legitimate move if the Bulls decided to trade Dunleavy and Taj Gibson for Luol Deng and Danny Granger of the Miami Heat. This is certainly not a decision you make without the emergence of Nikola Mirotic, but it is definitely an intriguing possibility to imagine for Chi-town. They never really wanted to let Deng go, however, it seemed like the right thing to do considering where the Bulls were in the standings at that point.

Mirotic’s play has been begging for more minutes, and even though he might struggle initially under a new role, Gibson’s production has started to decline with age. It might be more wise to sell high on the PF and get something in return for him.

John Hollinger’s prediction analysis claims this would increase Chicago’s wins by two throughout a full season of play, and I’m sure the Heat would not mind adding a player of Gibson’s quality. We will admit here at Pippen Ain’t East that this trade is not likely to happen between bitter rivals, however, it could be a lot of fun to reunite Deng with his brothers. I’m sure Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose would miss Gibson at first, but they would get over it once they have Jimmy Butler and Deng prowling the wings once more.

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