According to Bill Ingram of Hoops World, the Bulls will keep Ben Gordon, and move a front court player to make it happen financially.

Faiz in Chicago, IL:
Will the Bulls make a trade this offseason? or will they stay the same? what about Ben Gordon? Please tell me some good news, i dont want the same mediocre team.

Bill Ingram:
Ben will be back . . .and they’ll move one of their front court players to help make that happen.

I can’t see the Bulls doing a salary dump of Tyrus Thomas, given how much hard work he has been putting in this offseason.

That means that Jerome James and Tim Thomas would be the logical targets for the Bulls to be trying to move, to make room for Gordon’s contract financially. If the Bulls sweeten the deal with future draft picks, the rights to Mario Austin or Omer Asik, and cash considerations, a deal might be able to be made.

In a Yahoo Sports draft article, Adrian Wojnarowski, Kirk Hinrich has been telling friends he has been dealt to Portland.

Chicago Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich(notes) is telling friends that he thinks he’ll be dealt to the Portland Trail Blazers, who have interest in pairing him with Brandon Roy in the backcourt.

Wojnarowski is reputable. Usually you see this player telling friends storys on sites like Hoops World. When Wojnarowski says it, it holds a little more clout, and should be taken seriously.

Speaking of Hoops World, Bill Ingram is saying via twitter that a trade is agreed to, and that Steve Blake will be sent to Chicago in exchange for Kirk Hinrich.

We’re hearing Portland has a deal for Hinrich . . .Blake and something else going to Chicago

If the Hoops World rumor turns out to be true, I think that Travis Outlaw would be the additional piece going to Chicago.

Both Travis Outlaw and Steve Blake. The Bulls would be able to waive one or both of them, to give themselves lots of flexibility in regards to re-signing Ben Gordon.

While there is a lot of buzz about Kirk Hinrich going to Portland, it is nothing more than rumors at this point.

During a HoopsWorld Chat, Bill Ingram hinted that the Bulls would make a major move with one of their front court players.

Argie Grigorakos in Toronto, Ontario, Canada:
Hey Bill, Have you heard any rumours about the Bulls in regards to BG, the Draft, or Free Agency. Thanks.

Bill Ingram:
They’re set on bringing back BG, but expect to see a major move involving one of their front court guys. I can’t say more than that, but there will be a deal . . .think about what they almost did at the trade deadline.

The trade that Ingram stated was almost done at the trade deadline was a trade for Amare Stoudemire. The question with Amare is whether he will be healthy. Ingram keeps saying that Amare’s eye is in real bad condition. However, I would imagine that Amare is going to be fine. If the Bulls can get Amare Stoudemire now, they need to do it. It’s a risk that you have to take. Worst case scenario, Amare just ends up being a big expiring contract.

The other good news in this little chat is that the Bulls are set on bringing back Ben Gordon. Regardless of what else happens, it is essential that the Bulls bring back Ben Gordon.

So can the Bulls keep Ben Gordon and also go out and trade for Amare Stoudemire? That is a description of my dream offseason for the Bulls. Seems a little bit too good to be true.

Hoops World has begun weighing in on the Amare Stoudemire trade rumors, and according to their inside information, Amare to Chicago is looking likely.

The first piece of information came from Steve Kyler in the Hoops World morning report. Here is what Kyler wrote in the morning report:

Making A Decision on Amar’e: The Phoenix Suns are expected to make the firing of Terry Porter official today, and will then name Alvin Gentry the interim head coach. Word is Suns’ owner Robert Sarver put Porter’s firing in motion himself and attempted to pressure GM Steve Kerr into coaching, but was convinced, according to sources near the situation, to name Gentry as the next coach. Gentry, a player favorite supposedly has committed to bring back the “Fun and Gun” offense, which could change Phoenix’s plans with Amar’e Stoudemire. After last night’s All-Star Game, Stoudemire sounded resigned to the idea that he would be traded and that it could happen as early as today. League sources in Phoenix have hinted that the long rumored deal between the Suns and Chicago could get consummated as early as today, a deal that would send the expiring contract of Drew Gooden, Thabo Sefolosha and Tyrus Thomas to the Suns in exchange for Amar’e Stoudemire. It’s also believed that the Bulls would take on an additional player using their $5.4 million dollar traded player exception to help Phoenix reduce it’s luxury tax exposure as the final concession to getting a deal. Ironically, Bulls’ forward Drew Gooden was in Phoenix last night. Gooden smiled at the notion of a trade saying he hadn’t heard anything yet, but laughed when prodded if he was looking for a new house in Phoenix. The Bulls seem to be the front runners when and if the Suns make a deal. The Suns were doing a good job with the PR spin in Phoenix, telling some reporters that the pending coaching change could end trade talks involving Amar’e, but league sources say too much has been done to say talks are dead. The Suns do have other suitors who have expressed real interest in Amar’e including the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are reported to have offered the ending deal of Wally Szczerbiak and rookie J.J. Hickson. The Philadelphia 76ers have been linked to the Suns as have the Portland Trail Blazers who have been distancing themselves from Amar’e talks recently and seem to have turned their sights to Richard Jefferson of the Milwaukee Bucks - more on that as it develops.

The most interesting part of this is the trade exception part. To incorporate the trade exception into the deal, the Bulls would actually be doing a second trade with the Suns, as trade exceptions cannot be combined with player packages. This means that the Bulls will be going into the luxury tax. Just maybe, Reinsdorf is actually committed to paying for a winner. Still, Amare is only part of it. He’d still have to commit to re-sign Ben Gordon this summer if the Bulls are serious about contending.

In addition to the Kyler report, Hoop World’s Bill Ingram fanned the flames of the trade talks more in his chat. Here are three trade related questions that Ingram addressed in his chat.

Besil Mammen in Gurnee, IL:
What do the bulls have to trade to get Kaman and/or Camby? How close are the bulls to getting amare?

Bill Ingram:
Neither of those guys are on the block . . .I’m hearing you’re about 80% to get Amar’e, with the only question being whether or not they think Gentry can use Amar’e, in which case they would trade Shaq instead.

Chris in Chicago:
The rumors about the Bulls and Stoudamire and Camby/Kaman are making my head spin! Which end is up?

Bill Ingram:
The Clips aren’t moving a big, I can tell you that. Amar’e headed to Chicago unless there’s a last second change of heart. The ink is drying on the trade.

Bob in Bulls, CHI:
What are the odds of Amare coming to Chicago in your opinion? Do you see any other moves besides that this deadline?

Bill Ingram:
I’ve heard from two extremely good sources that Tyrus, Gooden, Thabo, and the TE are headed to Phoenix. Tyrus is looking at houses.

If these guys are right, it looks like Amare will be a Bull. Remember to proceed with caution, we’ve been through this all before with Kobe Bryant and trades being agreed to. Until you see on ESPN, “Amare Traded to Chicago” assume that nothing is final. But for now, things are looking good in regards to Amare becoming a Bull.