Ed Szczepanski-USA Today Sports
Rumors have been circulating that the Chicago Bulls could pursue a trade for the Sacramento Kings small forward Rudy Gay. This trade would make sense for both sides and could potentially make the Bulls the immediate favorites to win the NBA title.
The current small forwards on the Bulls’ roster are Mike Dunleavy, Doug McDermott and Tony Snell. With Dunleavy sidelined for at least eight weeks with a back injury, McDermott and Snell, neither of whom have regularly started games, will be called upon to carry the load. Adding Gay to the roster would give the Bulls an established veteran capable of logging a lot of minutes at the position.
Not only would Gay help solidify the lack of depth and talent the Bulls have at the small forward position, but he would also provide a much-needed offensive skill set. The Bulls have been a fantastic regular season team the past few seasons due to former head coach Tom Thibodeau’s defensive tactics but have managed to advance past the conference semifinals only once in the past seven years.
During the offseason, the Bulls brought in former Iowa State head coach Fred Hoiberg to take over for Thibodeau. One of Hoiberg’s main goals this year will be to improve the Bulls’ offense, something Gay could definitely help with. Gay has a career average of 18.5 points per game and posted a career high last year, averaging 21.1 points per game for the Kings.
While Gay isn’t exactly a renowned defender, his length and athleticism have helped him play sufficient defense in the past. Besides, with players like Jimmy Butler and Joakim Noah, the Bulls are by no means desperate for defensive help.
Of course, to acquire Gay, the Bulls would have to give up something. The Kings would most likely ask for a small forward to replace Gay, making McDermott a logical option as he is only 23 years old and has a ton of potential. The Kings would also likely ask for a big man due to their lack of depth down low. After drafting Bobby Portis, the Bulls have a plethora of big men, including Taj Gibson, Nikola Mirotic, Pau Gasol and Noah. Gibson would make the most sense, as he’s a very talented all-around player capable of averaging double-digit points and playing suffocating defense.
A trade sending Gay to the Bulls makes perfect sense as it would be beneficial to both sides, especially to the Bulls. Their window is closing, and if they want to make a run at the championship this year, acquiring Gay should be among their top priorities.
