As the basketball world still buzzes about LeBron James pairing with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in South Beach, the Chicago Bulls have quietly put together a very good roster for next season. With the Cavaliers likely to take a gigantic step back next season and the Celtics’ future still uncertain, the door is wide open for both the Bulls and the Heat to ascend to the top of the Eastern Conference. Though most will likely point to Miami as the favorite in the conference next season, and rightfully so, the Bulls now have a complete team that could be a serious thorn in the side of King James and his new kingdom.

After squeaking into the playoffs last season with an injury-riddled roster, the Bulls were in great position to bring in free agents this offseason. The Bulls had enough room under the cap to sign both LeBron and Bosh, which had Bulls fans drooling at the possibilities of a star-studded roster. But the Bulls have far from struck out during the free agent mad dash. After Chris Bosh signed with Miami, the Bulls quickly signed power forward Carlos Boozer, who was also one of the most coveted players available. Though Boozer isn’t the sexy pickup that Bosh and LeBron would have been, he’s also a very good player with playoff experience, which should help considerably in Rose’s development.

Though Rose had a very good second season in the NBA, the one thing he definitely lacked was an interior presence. Joakim Noah is a very good defender and rebounder but has limited offensive game. Boozer, on the other hand, is exceptional at the pick-and-roll and will force defenders to step away from the basket to defend him. Skilled with both hands, Kamagra Soft Boozer has a nice back to the basket game as well, which allows Chicago to run a portion of the offense from the low block for the first time since drafting Rose.

Perhaps most importantly, the Bulls also signed Boozer for considerably cheaper than some of the other big-time free agents. Though Boozer is a more complete overall player, Amar’e Stoudemire signed a $100 million deal with the Knicks while the Bulls pulled off a sign-and-trade that will cost them just $80 million over the same five years. Stoudemire has also been criticized in his career for being a terribly inconsistent rebounder, which is something that has never been a problem for Boozer. Last season, Boozer averaged more than 11 boards per game and now he will team with center Joakim Noah, who also averaged 11 rebounds last season.

By signing Boozer and missing out on LeBron and Bosh, the Bulls also have considerable money left for other free agents. The Bulls didn’t waste much time in this regard and grabbed free agent Kyle Korver, a much-needed shooting guard who led the league last season in three-point percentage. Korver signed a three-year, $15 million deal with the Bulls, making him a very good value. With Boozer’s presence down low and Rose’s ability to get into the lane, Korver will get plenty of good looks from distance next season and can be either a fourth scoring option on their starting squad or a spark plug off the bench. Though Korver won’t directly sell tons of Chicago Bulls tickets, he’s also a good player who definitely improves their roster and season outlook.

The Bulls are targeting J.J. Redick and Josh Howard as well, which could potentially provide them with considerable depth. Redick might be tougher to secure but the Bulls have reportedly extended a three-year offer, though it’s likely that the Magic will match it. With the Bulls still not done tweaking and adding to their already formidable lineup, they seem to be in great shape to challenge the top teams in the conference next season. If the Bulls don’t sign Josh Howard, a projected lineup would likely be Derrick Rose, Kyle Korver, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah. Such a roster certainly lacks the star power of the Miami Heat but it is also a very balanced starting squad with a wealth of players who can shoot, rebound and get into the lane.

Not signing LeBron also should allow Rose to grow into his potential as a superstar in this league and many already think he’s on the cusp. Luol Deng has been criticized for being overpaid but he projects as a very nice third scoring option behind Rose and Boozer, though it’s possible he could be shipped in a deal to bring over Howard. Though the Heat still probably have the upper hand in the East, Chicago’s moves have made them a viable contender as they are now a team with plenty of young talent and veteran leadership. As the Big Three in South Beach get the majority of the attention next season, it’s not a good idea to look past the up-and-coming squad coming together in the Windy City.

Author Bio: This was sponsored by StubHub. StubHub.com sells Chicago Bulls tickets, as well as many other kinds of sports tickets, concert tickets, tickets to special events and theatrical performances.

Category: Recreation and Leisure/Sports/Basketball
Keywords: Chicago Bulls, NBA, sports, tickets, basketball