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NBA: 5 Teams That Should Trade For Derrick Rose

By Gerald Bourguet

Jan 31, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) runs on the court during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 31, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) runs on the court during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 5, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) makes a jump shot against Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverley (2) during the game at United Center. The Chicago Bulls beat the Houston Rockets 114-105. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets desperately need a roster shake-up of some kind, and have reportedly been exploring trades for center Dwight Howard. The Bulls may be considering some retooling of their own — short-term AND long-term — with Butler missing the next few weeks and the 35-year-old Gasol hitting free agency this summer.

Gasol is still playing at an All-Star level, averaging 17.0 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.0 blocks per game on 47.9 percent shooting from the field and 41 percent shooting from three-point range. But overpaying for his services as his career stretches into his late 30s might not be Chicago’s best option to contend for a title, so perhaps including him a blockbuster trade to capitalize on his current value would be a better option.

Related Story: NBA Trade Rumors: 5 Landing Spots For Dwight Howard

In this deal, the Bulls avoid overpaying for Gasol this summer and Rose next summer, bringing in the defensive pest Patrick Beverley and a former Defensive Player of the Year in Howard. Chicago would have to worry about re-signing Howard this summer, but overpaying for the services of a 30-year-old center is wiser than doing so for a 35-year-old center, even if D-12 brings none of the same floor spacing to the table.

Chicago’s identity is still grounded in its defense, even under Hoiberg, who was supposed to revamp the Bulls’ offense when he arrived. Beverley is a solid perimeter shooter and pure bloodhound on defense, and though Howard’s defense has fallen off, he could thrive again when surrounded by teammates who actually give a damn on that end of the floor.

A future first rounder would need to be included here for the Rockets, who would finally have a star point guard to play alongside James Harden in the backcourt. Houston would need to worry about re-signing Gasol this summer, but he’d provide more spacing on offense and add a savvy veteran presence to a team that’s still trying to figure itself out.

More hoops habit: NBA Trade Rumors: 10 Landing Spots For Blake Griffin

However, what the Rockets might need is a full-scale rebuild, and this move would be in the dead opposite direction, even with a future draft pick thrown in. Houston might be able to find better offers for D-12, and even though Gasol is still an excellent player now, it’s hard to see how he’d fit with the Rockets for the short-term or the long-term.

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