NBA Trade Rumors: Chicago Bulls Must Pass on Dwight Howard

The Bulls have league’s best record, and manipulating a roster that clearly isn’t broken could prove costly down the stretch.

That shouldn’t be too hard though, right? After all, Orlando seems poised to take their chances with Howard over the offseason and Chicago wasn’t on the center’s list of preferred destinations anyway.

While all of this is true, the Bulls are reportedly the team that the Magic would like to negotiate with most if they opt to deal Howard.

From CBSSports.com:

“But the team that can make the strongest case for Orlando to depart from its risky strategy of holding onto Howard are the Bulls, who could offer 7-footer Omer Asik, Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer for Howard and Hedo Turkoglu, sources said. The Bulls also could offer a valuable first-round pick from Charlotte — top-14 protected in this year’s draft but unprotected by 2016.”

It’s easy to conclude that the Bulls don’t need Howard when he isn’t considered a viable option. But to make the same conclusion after they have been told they can offer the best package is an entirely different story.

Howard’s impact on any team is undeniable. He is a shot-blocking and rebounding machine, has developed a nice touch around the basket and is the epitome of physical fitness. Simply put, he stands to be the driving force behind any contender’s quest for a title.

Just not the Bulls’.

The price that Chicago would have to pay to acquire Howard is arguably reasonable. Carlos Boozer has become a crap shoot on offense these days and remains a defensive liability, and Omer Asik is used sparingly. All-Star Luol Deng would be the toughest asset to part with, but not one that would be a deal breaker. In any other situation, that is.

The Bulls are rolling right now. Derrick Rose is once again an MVP candidate and at full-strength, Chicago looks like a team that could fend off the superstar powerhouses that are Oklahoma City and Miami. That said, there is some concern that they cannot, hence the interest in Howard.

As much as the Bulls would welcome the addition of another top-five player, it’s just too risky.

The Knicks blew up their roster for a superstar last season when things were going well, and look where that has gotten them. If Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire struggle to co-exist, just imagine how difficult it will be for Joakim Noah and Howard to ever compliment each other.

There’s also the fact that Chicago is still not a place that Howard has agreed to sign long term. While the price the Bulls have to pay for the big man is reasonable, it becomes overkill if Rent-A-Howard applies.

Whether or not Chicago has the depth to defeat the Thunder and Heat is debatable, but the unnecessary risk involved in acquiring Howard is not.

There are smaller caliber deals that can be searched for and pursued to shore up the Bulls as title contenders. And there are other impact players who would welcome the opportunity to play in Chicago.

No, none of these other deals or available players stand to make the same impact as Howard, but given what’s at stake, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.