The Chicago Bulls had a terrible time getting out of the gate this NBA season. Part of the problem was the talk of Kobe Bryant wanting out of the Lakers, and into the Bulls. Part of the problem was key Bulls players freaking out, thinking they were on the next plane out to Los Angeles. Poor excuse for a lost Bulls season. The Kobe Bryant talks went nowhere, but neither did the Bulls season.

The Bulls are fighting for the last playoff spot in the NBA East, but the season began with so much more promise than that. The Kobe Bryant talk for whatever reason, took the concentration level down to the point where loss after loss just kept on piling for the Bulls. It would have been nice if John Paxson would have squashed such talk, but he never said that Kobe Bryant talks were off. That is because they lingered, and so did the Bulls’ attention.

Fault needs to go to ex-Bulls Coach Scott Skiles, who could not turn the team’s attention back around to the NBA task at hand. Fault to key players like Luol Deng, Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon, who helped dig such a deep hole for the Bulls, that it may not allow them into the NBA Playoffs, an unimaginable thought before the NBA season.

So Kobe Bryant stayed put with the Lakers, edging perhaps towards his first NBA MVP. Ironically, the poor Bulls season will lead to a new round of trade talks, but not for Kobe Bryant.

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The Chicago Bulls are getting ready to go to market. The NBA should be their oyster, as John Paxson has many chips to play with, and opposing NBA teams who need guards and forwards are waiting to see what Paxson has in mind. It is the crossroads for the Chicago Bulls and Paxson this off-season.

For the Chicago Bulls, this off-season will be more important than the current NBA season. All the draft picks that Paxson has used to create this collection of misshapen parts, albeit in good condition, need to be reconfigured if the Chicago Bulls are to make a move back towards the NBA elite.

There are assets to be moved on the Bulls, to be sure. The question is whether Paxson can finally make a deal, where a few of these good players on the Bulls can be moved for one great one. That, in my view, is what the Bulls need, particularly a big man that could go 20 and 10 most nights.

That low-post presence would keep defenses honest, giving the Bulls outside shooters more space, and hopefully more fallen jumpers. The price for such a player will be from among your favorites. Could be Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon, or Luol Deng included. The idea that a Luol Deng was untouchable when Kobe Bryant’s name came up is now laughable, and it wasn’t such a great concept back then, either.

John Paxson has to make a deal, and it might be the most important deal for the Chicago Bulls in years.

The Chicago Bulls looked like an also ran, run out of the Celtics building, 116-93. The Chicago Bulls trailed by 20 at the half, and looked every bit the NBA lottery team, while the Boston Celtics improved to 48-12, leaders of the NBA Eastern Division.

The Bulls were led by backup Guard Ben Gordon, who poured in 20 points, while new acquisition Larry Hughes added 16. Ben Gordon had 4 assists as well. Joakim Noah, now the starting Center since the trade of Ben Wallace, played relatively well versus the Celtics’ big-men, scoring 10 points to go with 7 rebounds.

The Chicago Bulls lost an opportunity to keep up with the New Jersey Nets, who currently are the 8th seed in the NBA East. The Bulls are at 25-37, and play versus the Detroit Pistons, another difficult contest, Sunday night.

The Bulls, even if a run is to be made for the 8th seed, would face these same Boston Celtics in the opening round of the NBA Playoffs. Not a pleasant thought considering the carnage of this game. Kevin Garnett had 16 points and 8 boards, and should go over 20,000 career points in his next outing.

The 4th Quarter was garbage time for both the Bulls and the Celtics, and old friend PJ Brown was actually inserted, as well as new Celtic Sam Cassell, looking for another ring this year.

New Chicago Bulls big-man Drew Gooden did not come to play, going for only 3 points and 4 rebounds in the loss. He is the only real low-court presence for the Bulls, and will be needed desperately down the stretch if any kind of NBA Playoffs push is to be realized.

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