A recent article from a Chicago Bulls fan proposed that the team's starting center, two-time NBA champion Pau Gasol, should be "traded ASAP for a backup point guard", while also saying that Joakim Noah should be back as the team's starter and rookie Bobby Portis be given "a chunk" of playing time at the power forward spot. 

Like Us on Facebook

A fan post in SB Nation's Blog A Bull said that Gasol could not give the team's offense the "energy and movement" that Noah could provide and so the Spanish 7-footer must be dealt away in exchange for someone who could backup Derrick Rose and become a starter in case the 2011 NBA MVP would be sidelined again.

Currently, Chicago is sitting at third place in the Eastern Conference with a 6-3 win-loss slate behind powerhouse squads Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks, but allegedly their fans are still clamoring for more of the fan-friendly excitement and liveliness that former Bulls teams had shown in the past, as led by Noah.

The fan post also said that Chicago "needs to get younger, more athletic, and play with greater energy and urgency" for them to have a breakthrough year this time.

According to ESPN's Hollinger Team Statistics, the Bulls has a decent 100.8 rating in pace (10th among NBA teams), but only 98.4 when it comes to offensive efficiency (tied with Denver for 23rd in the league). Fred Hoiberg's crew is coping with a fifth-ranked 96.4 defensive efficiency, which makes them outscore opponents by two points per 100 possessions.

Last season, Chicago was 20th in pace with 95.4 possessions a game, 10th in offensive efficiency at 104.7, and 11th in defensive efficiency at 101.5.

These numbers indicate that the team indeed are relying more on their defense this season at the expense of a decreased offensive efficiency, perhaps because of the style of play the Spanish front court duo of Gasol and Nikola Mirotic delivers.

A trade with the Boston Celtics was eventually suggested by the fanpost article.

Cheat Sheet recently indicated that Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas "could be moving" in the midseason as the team tries to establish Marcus Smart as their true starting floor general.

Thomas is officially Smart's backup, but he demands starter minutes because of his effectiveness on the court.

Chicago may also ask for Evan Turner as an additional trade chip if ever the team would start negotiations for a Gasol-Thomas swap. 

TagsNBA 2015, NBA news, NBA News 2015, NBA rumors, NBA Rumors 2015, NBA News & Rumors, NBA News & Rumors 2015, NBA Trade Rumors, NBA trade rumors 2015, Chicago Bulls rumors, Chicago Bulls trade rumors, Pau Gasol, Boston Celtics rumors, Isaiah Thomas