According to ontheinside2 on the Oregon Live Forums (a massive Blazers forum that is part of an Oregon newspaper’s website), the Bulls are discussing a trade that will send Kirk Hinrich and Cedric Simmons to the Portland Trail Blazers for Raef Lafrentz and Sergio Rodriguez.

ontheinside2, according to Blazer fans, is a reputable source who has broken news in the past, such as the Zach Randolph trade.

This trade is valid under the CBA. This trade would make a lot of sense form the Bulls side. Raef Lafrentz is a big expiring contract. By trading Hinrich for Lafrentz, Paxson will be doing two things: 1. Sending a message to Ben Gordon that he is their preferred second guard to Rose and 2. We are commencing with the 2010 plan.

One problem that remains with this trade is that the Bulls take on $1.854 million in extra salary in the trade. This trade is actually detrimental to getting back under the luxury tax threshold. But if the Bulls are hellbent on getting under the luxury tax threshold, they can simply trade Tyrus Thomas out for a 2nd round pick swap option or something like that.

The Bulls also cut Demetris Nichols earlier today, which might have something to do with getting our salary down closer to the luxury tax threshold.

This will be a great trade for the Bulls as it sets into two motions two things. Ben Gordon being here long term and the Bulls making a run at another star in 2010 to add to the Rose, Gordon, Deng core.

Here is a link to the original O-Live forum post.

Lafrentz Salary Update

In 31 more games, 80% of Lafrentz’s salary becomes covered under insurance, so the Bulls will make up all of their luxury tax losses through those savings if they make this trade.