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Are Bulls Looking to Add One Last Piece?

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Feb 28, 2011 4:40PM

In a big break from recent years, Last week's NBA trading deadline came and went without the Bulls making any significant moves. Their lone transaction was to ship James Johnson, buried deep at the end of the bench, to Toronto for a draft pick.

That's not to say that the Bulls weren't close to pulling the trigger on a couple of bigger deals in their attempts to upgrade the shooting guard position. Talks surrounding a deal that would have added Memphis Grizzlies guard O.J. Mayo progressed long enough that, by the time the Grizzlies walked away, they ran out of time to consummate a trade in place with the Pacers. The Bulls had offered Ronnie Brewer, two first-round picks and a second-round pick but wouldn't give up a big man. A deal with Houston to land Courtney Lee also broke down when the Bulls wouldn't include back-up center Omer Asik.

But just because the trading deadline has passed doesn't mean the Bulls have to sit tight. With $2.9 million in cap space, the Bulls can still add a player who is bought out of their contract before tomorrow, and still have that player available for the playoffs. Bulls management had hoped that the Detroit Pistons might buy out Rip Hamilton, but instead he was traded to Cleveland. The latest rumors suggest that GM Gar Forman is close to adding former Clippers swingman Rasual Bulter after the balance of his contract was bought out by Los Angeles. ESPN.com's Ric Bucher is reporting this morning that Butler intends to sign with the Bulls once clearing waivers, although other teams could put in a waivers claim ahead of Chicago. Butler has averaged 5.0 points/game in 41 games so far this season, and nearly 12 points/game last year while the Clippers' primary shooting guard. Perhaps not the upgrade at the two guard spot that could be the missing piece for this Bulls team, but by not having to give anything up to sign him, the risk is minimal. Not that the Bulls seem to need any pieces given how they've beaten the likes of San Antonio and Miami in the past ten days.