The Wolves need a small forward/wing who can both defend and score. Options discussed included adding Rudy Gay via trade or free agency, drafting Evan Turner, or hanging on until the trade deadline/offseason  to see if a starter cn be had from teams cutting salary or in need of a point guard.

I'd like to revisit a potential trade that was kicked around last year: Al Jeff for Luol Deng and Joakim Noah.

The Bulls are thiiiissss close to dumping Vinny Del Negro. But the problem with that is they also envision themselves as big potential players in the Free Agent Frenzy next summer. Trying to woo certain stars next summer will be more difficult if the coaching position is up in the air. Plus, Derrick Rose is telling the team that Del Negro has made him a better player, and apparently wants to keep VDN around.

Adding AlJeff would improve their low-post scoring, might open up the perimeter for Hinrich and Salmons, and give the less-offensively-minded-but more-physical 3-4s (Gibson, Johnson, Ty Thomas) more room to move. The Bulls would also still have plenty of cap room left over to dangle in front of DWade.

For the Wolves, Deng is just a year older than Gay, a better player, and makes less than AlJeff (and about what Gay thinks he should be paid). Noah is a better defender than AlJeff, still signed for $2m or so into next year, and could provide some comfort for the enigma that is Corey Brewer. Yes, the Wolves would have to pay to keep Noah after 2010, but they should still have cap and money left over to pay a 2-guard in a trade or free agency pick up.

This is a decent young (and more balanced) roster:

Sessions/Flynn

Brewer/Ellington

Deng/Gomes/Brewer

Love/Gomes

Noah/Hollins/Jawai

And still leaves lots of room to add an FA at the 2, and/or room for draft picks to play at the 3-4-5.

The questions:

1. Would it improve the Wolves?
2. Would the Bulls go for it?
3. Is it a fair enough deal for the Wolves?
4. If not, what pieces can the Wolves/Bulls add into the trade that would still work, but make it more palatable to both teams?