NBA Rumors: Chicago Bulls To Pursue Blake Griffin

Blake Griffin is a top target of the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls will look to acquire the star forward before the trade deadline. And if unsuccessful in getting him, during free agency.

That is one of the latest NBA rumors going around when people discuss the Chicago Bulls. Blake Griffin to the Bulls, DeMarcus Cousins to the Bulls, etc. are the recent gossip topics hitting the NBA chat boards. The Bulls interest in Blake Griffin seems to be truthful.

According to a report by Basketball Insiders Steve Kyler, the Bulls are among several teams keen on the idea of a Blake Griffin addition.

The Bulls, Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Orlando Magic are all looking to poach Griffin from the Los Angeles Clippers. They all will monitor what takes place on the Clippers. If it appears that the chemistry will continue to go lacking, and if the Clippers get the feeling that they cannot re-sign Griffin during the offseason, they could trade him. The above teams will be lining up to attain him in a trade. Each team is armed with trade pieces to complete a deal.

The team that could land him via trade has to be assured that he will either sign an extension, or re-sign as an unrestricted free agent. Given this idea some teams may find themselves eliminated from the discussion of a trade.

The Magic is taken out of the conversation in this formula. Unless Griffin wants to live in a city with zero state income tax, he will not re-up with the Magic.

Oklahoma City has a chance because they play not that far from where Blake Griffin grew up. He could team up with Russell Westbrook as they attempt to wrest away the supremacy of the Western Conference from the Golden State Warriors’ hands. According to NBC Sports, Griffin will be the top offseason target for the Thunder in 2017.

Blake Griffin the @OKCThunder's No. 1 free agency target next year? Another report says so https://t.co/8SPvcuNpea pic.twitter.com/eQD78b3Lx3

— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) August 5, 2016

The Boston Celtics gives the all-star forward an opportunity to immediately compete for an NBA title. While they will not have a super team, the will have a good team. Adding Blake Griffin gives them a box office player.

Then there is the Chicago Bulls.

The Bulls have long wanted to build a super team. While their rosters in the past seasons does not suggest that, in essence they had a big three every season for the last six years. Injuries is one of the reasons why the Bulls did not live up to their promise. The other reason is LeBron James.

James has to get old at some point, and any team with designs on taking him out must assemble within the next year. That is enough time to iron out any potential chemistry problems.

The Bulls already have one player in line to form a super team in guard Jimmy Butler. They could have two transitional players that a super team needs in Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo. What the Bulls have to find out is can one of their younger players step up and ascend to star status.

There are three players on the Bulls who currently fit that description — Nikola Mirotic, Bobby Portis and Denzel Valentine. Mirotic and Portis have had flashes of strong play for the Bulls. In the Eastern Conference, Mirotic could be a fringe candidate for the All-Star team if his scoring and rebounding rises.

The Bulls may have a secret find in Bobby Portis. With the extension of his shooting range from beyond the three-point line, scoring should go up. There maybe more talk about him if he was a flashier player. His second season with the Bulls could be a breakout year.

The jury is still out on Valentine. If he gets the playing time he will be a first-team, All-NBA rookie team member.

To a lesser extent, Doug McDermott fits that description also. If he can shore up other factors in his game, he could be the Bulls’ missing piece.

Before anyone generates a lot of hope, if the Chicago Bulls added Blake Griffin in a trade, two of this quartet would be included to make the deal. In all likelihood, the first two Bulls’ players mentioned, Mirotic and Portis are headed out in that trade.

.@stevekylerNBA names #Bulls as 1 of 4 teams that have trade assets to acquire Blake Griffin. I'll still be shocked if LAC trades him at all

— Carlos Douglas Jr. (@TheRealC_Los) August 7, 2016

Should the Bulls attempt to sacrifice two of their promising young players in an effort to add a more complete Blake Griffin?

The Chicago Bulls will kick the tires on a Blake Griffin trade, but there is nothing suggesting that the Clippers are looking at moving him yet. Some will argue that any combination of Mirotic, Portis, Valentine and McDermott is too much to for the Bulls to give up for a player who is more known for his ferocious dunks, than overall play. You can watch what NBA.com considers to be Blake Griffin’s top 10 plays below.

In order to have a super team, one that can compete in the long run, there needs to be a young star present. The Bulls would have to move two of those players with the ability to turn into stars. That may force the Bulls to wait until free agency to pursue Blake Griffin. It will at least give the Bulls a chance to see what they have in the players who could get traded.

Is something imminent between the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Clippers? Are the Bulls closing in on a Blake Griffin trade? Is any NBA team closing in on a Griffin trade?

The simple answer is no to all questions.

The Bulls, like other teams are interested in Blake Griffin. The Bulls are going to work the phones to see if they can pry Griffin away from the Clippers. As of now, there is only speculation that Chicago Bulls will find a way to get him in the near future, or down the road. Let’s wait and see how this unfolds.

[Photo by Harry How/Getty Images]