Given the shape of their roster, the Chicago Bulls might now be listening to offers for power forward Taj Gibson. Although a trade is far from imminent, Gibson is arguably Chicago's best asset to facilitate a deal that would net the team a high-volume scorer.
Gibson proved last season he's a starting-caliber forward. While he's known more for his energy off the bench and his defense, he upped his scoring to 13.0 points per game - a 5-point per game increase from his 2012-13 campaign.
The Bulls' current roster, though, makes him expendable. The addition of four-time All-Star Pau Gasol keeps Gibson relegated to the bench with little chance, barring an injury, of supplanting the 7-footer for the starting job. Chicago also has Nikola Mirotic, who will be competing with Gibson for playing time at the 4-spot.
Per Basketball Insiders' Yannis Koutroupis:
"There's no reason for the Bulls to flatly announce that they are putting Gibson on the trade block, but the fact of the matter is, they could really use some more proven firepower out on the perimeter more so than they could a starting caliber big man coming off of their bench when they already have Mirotic, (Joakim) Noah, Gasol and (Doug) McDermott. ...
"It just makes the most sense for both parties to see if there's something out there that is mutually beneficial for both of them. The offers are going to come, and it shouldn't take too much holding out for the Bulls to find something of their liking.
"No matter how much they've grown to like and appreciate Gibson, they've reached a point where trading him could be the difference maker in beating the Cleveland Cavaliers and winning the Eastern Conference."
Gibson's defense - his shot blocking (1.4 bsp) is in the ballpark of Dwight Howard (1.8 bsp), for perspective - and his cap-friendly contract - three years left and never exceeding $8.95 million - makes him a steal for a cap-conscious team needing help in the paint.
If a trade were to happen, Gibson appears amendable to the idea. The 29-year-old was crucial for Chicago in the playoffs last season, and CSN Chicago reported he is unhappy about continuing to be a bench player.
