Muller: Deadline Deal Isn't Necessary For Bulls

By Shawn Muller-

(CBS) Let me say this right now:  If the Chicago Bulls don't get Dwight Howard from the Orlando Magic, which they won't, I don't want them to make a move at the trade deadline.

While I have been critical of Dwight Howard and the circus surrounding his future with the Magic, only a fool would say that they would not want him on their team.  He is the best center in the league, and seeing him team up with Derrick Rose would be quite the sight to see.

Unfortunately for Bulls fans, visions of Rose and Howard pairing up is a pipe dream.  But that is not because of Rose, Gar Forman, or anyone else within the Bulls organization.  In fact, many around the league don't seem to understand why Howard won't jump at the opportunity to play in Chicago.  If winning titles is what matters most, Howard's best chance to win—and win multiple NBA championships—would be to team up with his fellow Adidas spokesman, Mr. Rose.

But, regardless of what "Superman" says, championships aren't the most important thing to him -- being the biggest star in a major market is, and there is no way he would want to play second fiddle to Chicago's native son—and arguably the city's most popular athlete since Michael Jordan—D-Rose.

So, what is the second best option for the Bulls?

Pau Gasol's name has been tossed out there as a player Chicago has interest in, but the Lakers don't seem to be interested in any player—I'm looking at you Mr. Boozer—that the Bulls would be willing to give up, so it is likely that a third team would have to be involved in order to get the all-star forward out of Tinsletown.

While I like Gasol, and he would definitely be an upgrade over Carlos Boozer—especially on the defensive end of the floor—I'm not so sure he is the type of player that would get the Bulls over the hump.  Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't be upset seeing Gasol in the United Center, but I would have to see what Chicago would have to give up in order to land him.  I'm fine with Boozer leaving town, but if a deal has to involve any of Omer Asik, Taj Gibson, and/or Luol Deng, no thanks.

So where does that leave Chicago then?

I say they stand firm at the deadline.

Chicago has the best record—once again—in the league right now, and we have yet to see this team play at full strength all season long, so bringing in another player doesn't make the best option.  Sure, it can look like a good deal on paper, but no one will know how it will work out until the team takes the floor.  Sometimes everything just gels, but other times it all implodes.

I still think Chicago can win an NBA championship with the team they have right now.  Who knows, if Omer Asik doesn't break his leg in last year's playoffs, the Bulls may have gotten past the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals and the Dallas Mavericks for the Larry O' Brien Trophy.

Don't make a deal for the sake of making a deal.

The Bulls are more than capable of winning it all with the players they have right now.

Shawn Muller has lived in the great city of Chicago for 7 years. He is a 2002 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and, in October of 2010, Shawn received his certificate in radio broadcasting. In his free time, Shawn enjoys spending time with his wife Melissa and 3 year old daughter Ava, catching any live sporting event, and traveling. Check out his radio show, Grab Some Bench with Muller and Bangser" every Thursday night at 8:30 P.M., at www.blogtalkradio.com/spmuller24. Read more of his blogs here.