The NBA trade deadline just passed and the Bulls were very much an active team in an effort to set themselves up for the 2010 off season. Last night we passed along the John Salmons to the Bucks trade, at the time we didn't know who would be coming back.

The Bulls moved Salmons for Hakim Warrick and former top pick Joe Alexander. The Bulls also gave the Bucks 2011 and 2012 second round picks along with the chance to swap first round picks this season (if the Bulls aren't in the top 10). It might seem like a little bit much, but the Bulls clearly value having the 2010 cap space open more than a few draft picks. The move allows the Bulls to offer a max contract to a free agent this summer, bit it Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, or someone else.

The second move today involved former number 2 pick Tyrus Thomas, who had fallen out of favor with coach Vinny Del Negro a long time ago. Thomas was traded to the Charlotte Bobcats in exchange for Flip Murray, Acie Law, and a future first round draft pick. Both Murray and Law have expiring contracts, which means this deal doesn't change anything as far as the future is concerned.

Analysis after the jump

Clearly this is a huge win for the Bulls. They wanted to keep a playoff team this season, have enough cap space for free agency in 2010, and move Tyrus Thomas. The two trades allowed the Bulls to accomplish all of that, my only regret is that they valued keeping Kirk Hinrich over trying to open enough cap space for two free agents.

Warrick will be able to contribute to the Bulls this season, and replace a lot of what Tyrus was able to do, but do it without so much of the attitude. Warrick is averaging 10.2 points a game, and can play power forward and a little small forward. He brings a ton of athletic ability to the table as well, so while he isn't quite as good a player as Tyrus could be, he doesn't bring the downside Tyrus did.

Joe Alexander will probably never see a NBA court again, the Bucks had already waived his 2010 option year and he is currently playing in the D-League where is isn't even playing that well. He is scoring just 10 points a game down there while he recovers from a foot injury, he is a good athlete, but odds are we never see him. Correction: Turns out the Bulls will call up Alexander, I still think he won't play much, but I guess the Bulls will call him up and he will be on the team.

Acie Law is in the same boat, he is a former first round pick that hasn't played a ton and probably won't with the Bulls. He could see some minutes ahead of Jannero Pargo, but even that is a stretch.

Finally Flip Murray will get some playing time as a backup guard to Hinrich and Rose especially if Devin Brown continues to struggle. He has averaged about 10 points a game this season, but isn't a very good shooter so don't expect very much.

As I see it now the Bulls are still a playoff team, the starting 5 remained intact and the players who were traded are very replaceable. The team has a ton of room for a player this summer to transition from first round sacrificial lamb to title contender. For the rest of the season I see the rotation as this:

Starting 5: Rose, Hinrich, Deng, Gibson, Noah
Reserves who play: Warrick, Miller, Murray, Brown

Written by :

Justin Bridgman

 

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