Rumors abound that the Bulls may trade for the Grizzlies' Pao Gasol. The Chicago Tribune's Sam Smith, who usually seems willing to trade anyone on the Bulls for a star like Gasol, says giving up one of Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon, or Luol Deng may not be worth it:

So who needs Pau Gasol?

Not a team that runs out the league's best team the way the Bulls did Thursday night, dominating the Dallas Mavericks in a 96-85 victory.

Right?

Not the way Ben Gordon blew by dazed defenders and pulled up for killer jumpers on the way to 30 points.

Not the way Luol Deng slashed and lasered his way between Dallas' big men for 21 points and nine rebounds and not the way Kirk Hinrich stepped out for a pair of devastating three-pointers down the stretch after the Mavs got within three.
. . . .
Games like Thursday night's against the Mavs make you think the Bulls are best sticking with what they have in Gordon, Deng, and Hinrich.

How could the Bulls give up any of them?

You can be sure they would have to if they want Gasol, even if none of them has been offered in preliminary discussions.

Read the rest.

The "weakness" on the Bulls right now is a lack of a low-post scoring threat, a power forward who can score inside the paint. Gasol would solve that problem. But, in a league where team unity over a number of years is a good path to success, it would be a mistake to give up Gordon, Deng, or Hinrich. Keep them, and leet Tyrus Thomas develop.