According to Sam Smith, in his latest mailbag, the Knicks were trying to acquire Kirk Hinrich in exchange for Jared Jefferies.

I heard it was Hinrich the Knicks were trying to get for Jeffries not Tyrus for Harrington.

At first look, this trade idea sounds absurd, as Jeffries has had a reputation as a bad player on a bad contract for a couple of years now.

However, because of Kirk Hinrich’s complete uselessness on the basketball court, this trade is reasonable, as there is little difference between the on court product of Kirk Hinrich and Jared Jeffries.

The Bulls should keep on looking to see if they can find a fool to take Kirk Hinrich in exchange for an expiring contract, however, they are unlikely to find such a fool. If there are no better offers for Hinrich by the trade deadline, the Bulls should accept this trade.

The Bulls would have more cap space this upcoming offseason, as Jeffries makes less than Hinrich. But they also lose one year in contract when going from Hinrich to Jeffries. Jeffries could be used at the trade deadline next season as an expiring contract, in order to net the Bulls a useful player in return.

According to Sam Smith, the trade rumors that would have Tyrus Thomas being sent to the New York Knicks in exchange for Al Harrington have died down.

Well, that was a fun week with the Tyrus Thomas/Al Harrington rumor. Just about everyone on both sides seems to have thrown cold water on it as more speculation than reality. It does make some theoretical sense as the Bulls need scoring badly as they rank just barely ahead of the Nets at the bottom of the league. Are we talking shootout at the UC Tuesday? And the Knicks, well, who knows what they need. Harrington pretty much has gone off on a scoring spree since the rumored appeared, averaging 26.5 points and 9.5 rebounds and telling Knicks reporters that being mentioned in trade with a guy with a broken arm is like being offered for “a bag of balls.”

This trade never seemed to make sense from the Knicks’ perspective. While Al Harrington isn’t in their plans past this season, it is hard to seeing Thomas being in their plans past this season as well, as it would seem they could sign better players, such as their own David Lee, with the remainder of their 2010 cap space after they sign their max free agent.

If you are only keeping either player for one year, Al Harrington is the much better option. He is averaging 20.1 points per a game, and he is doing it on an efficient 57.1 TS%.

The trade would obviously be incredible for the Bulls. They would improve their near league worst offense, by adding an efficient 20 points per game scorer. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like the Knicks are going to gift the Bulls Al Harrington, so the Bulls will need to find some other way to improve their pathetic offense.

According to reports around the internet, including Bulls.com, Dwyane Wade has purchased for $1.7 million, a four-story townhouse on the river in Kinzie Park.

Some, such as Sam Smith, have suggested that this might be a sign that Dwyane Wade intends to sign with the Bulls. Will Wade sign with the Bulls? Maybe, but I wouldn’t count on it.

If Wade was planning on signing with the Bulls, it would have been wiser to get a home on the north side. Something much closer to the Bulls’ practice facility, the Berto Center, which is located in Deerfield. According to google maps, it would be a 33-40 minute car ride, depending on traffic, to the Berto Center from Wade’s new home.

There is another gym much closer to his new home, and this gym is likely the reason why Wade bought a new home where he did. That gym is in the Attack Athletics facility, which is a 65,000 square feet facility, which includes four full sized NBA courts and a 10,000 feet weight room.

Attack Athletics is where the top athletes go to train with the legendary trainer, Tim Grover. Athletes who have trained at Attack Athletics in the past include Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Hakeem Olujawon, and Charles Barkley.

Some of the current NBA players that train at Attack Athletics are Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, Andre Iguodala, Devin Harris, and that Dwyane Wade guy.

According to google maps, Attack Athletics is just 2.8 miles and a 9 minute drive away from Wade’s new home.

I find it highly likely that Wade bought this new home, just so he would have a nice place to stay at during the summer as he works out at Attack Athletics, not some prelude to him signing with the Bulls through 2010 free agency.

A few days ago, a tweet was made on what appears to be the twitter page of B.J. Mullens, which stated that he got a guarantee from M.J. town, which is obviously Chicago.

It is unclear of whether the twitter page is actually B.J. Mullen, as it does not have the verified button on it. However, this does not mean it is not his page, as other confirmed stars also do not have this verified button.

Also, the Chicago Tribune says that B.J. Mullens told Charlotte reporters that the Bulls and Pistons have expressed the most interest.

It is said that Mullens has received a top 16 guarantee, and Chad Ford means that probably means it is from the Bulls.

Sam Smith stated on Bulls.com, that while the Bulls have interest in Mullens and may draft him, no such guarantee was made.

Even if the Bulls did give Mullens a guarantee, they are going to deny it.

If the Bulls do decide to take Mullens, I like the pick just based on the principle behind it. The Bulls already have a host of quality big men in Brad Miller, Tyrus Thomas, and Joakim Noah. They could add another using the MLE, or get a different style big man, simply by trading one of these guys. The problem with these three guys, is while they’re quality, none of them are destined for stardom. I have no clue as to whether Mullens will turn out to be a good player or not, but he at least has star potential.

If the Bulls deem that a player like Dejuan Blair will be nothing more than a quality role player, why take him if there is a player you believe can become a star still left untaken?

Mullens certainly has the physical gifts to become a star. He stands at roughly 7′1′ and 260 pounds. His maximum vertical reach is 11′11.5″, the highest of this draft class. The question with Mullens will be whether he can get his skills up to speed.

Mullens has the physical tools to become a star, and for this reason, Mullens would be a good pick. When you’re picking at 16, there is a high chance that you are going to draft a bust, so why not try to get a potential star with that pick?

Sam Smith is reporting on Bulls.com that Ben Gordon will be one of the finalists for the NBA’s Kennedy Award.

Bulls guard Ben Gordon is one of five finalists for the NBA’s 2009 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship award.

The award is presented annually by the NBA to a player, coach or trainer for outstanding community commitment and service. It is the only official NBA award in its post season selections voted exclusively by the Professional Basketball Writers Association.

“It’s truly an honor to be mentioned as a finalist for such a prestigious award as the Kennedy Citizenship award,” Gordon wrote in an email message. “I am grateful.”

The winner will be announced after the regular season in the rotation of annual NBA awards that leads to the naming of the Most Valuable Player.

The other finalists for the 2008-09 season are Bruce Bowen of the San Antonio Spurs, Devin Harris of the New Jersey Nets, Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic and Dikembe Mutombo of the Houston Rockets, who previously won the award when he was with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2000-01.

Gordon founded the Ben Gordon New Life Foundation, which is a youth self esteem program in New York and Chicago. Gordon has made substantial donations to the Mt. Vernon, N.Y. Boys and Girls Club and Juvenile Diabetes. He hosts Ben Gordon weekend in his Mt. Vernon, N.Y. hometown to raise funds for local athletic programs. Gordon serves as the athlete ambassador for the United Negro College Fund education program and has underwritten the cost of holiday parties for DCFS families in the Chicago area and personally serves meals and presents children with gifts. Gordon also is actively involved in holiday activities for children and seniors in CHA facilities.

Source: Sam Smith at Bulls.com

It would be great to see Ben win this, as he has done so much both in Chicago and back at home. He has never really been recognized for his efforts before. He’s never part of an NBA Cares commercial, or anything of that nature. He does a lot of his charity work under the radar.

Former Chicago Tribune writer and current Bulls.com columnist Sam Smith sits down with MOUTHPIECESPORTS personality Jillian Jesk to talk about his new gig. Hear why Smith is telling everyone to burn their newspapers and “stay away from bloggers.” Smith busts out the always-original “bloggers write in their underwear in their parents’ basements,” while simultaneously praising “internet writing.”

According to Sam Smith, the Utah Jazz might be willing to trade Carlos Boozer for Kirk Hinrich.

At All Star break I heard talk that the Jazz might be inclined to trade Carlos Boozer to the Bulls for Kirk Hinrich, a favorite of Jazz management. Boozer has an opt out after this season, so he could be a very short term rental. Of course, given his lack of play this season he could play one more season on his deal. The bigger issue is he’s missed with injury more than half the games the Jazz has played since he’s been there. And as for one of those wink, wink promises to resign, well, the Cavs thought they had one from Boozer before he signed with the Jazz. And Boozer supposedly made it when Jim Paxson, who is now on the Bulls staff, was running the Cavs.

I’d hope the Bulls wouldn’t consider that, though, like Stoudemire, he’d run a nice pick and roll with Rose. Still, I’d rather wait and see if Stoudemire is available this summer, or maybe even Lamar Odom. Other possibilities this summer are Hedo Turkoglu and Mehmet Okur.

I must say that Sam Smith is absolutely crazy in hoping that the Bulls wouldn’t consider this. This is an absolute grand slam of a deal for the Bulls.

When Carlos Boozer is healthy, he is a star. In the 12 games that he played this season, he’s averaged 20.5 PPG and 11.7 RPG. He’s averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds each of the past three seasons (including this one).

At the end of the day, Kirk Hinrich will be nothing more than a bench player for the Bulls. It is hard to imagine him being the Bulls starting shooting guard for years to come, even if Ben Gordon bolts in free agency.

There is absolutely no risk involved in this trade. If Boozer gets injured, at the very least, you have unloaded Kirk Hinrich’s 2010 unfriendly contract. If Boozer is healthy and bolts, same thing. But there is also the chance that Boozer stays healthy, re-signs with the Bulls, and makes them a better team. There is absolutely no risk involved with this deal, so if on the table, the Bulls should agree to it immediately.

This is the type of trade that even if the Bulls are able to swing a Chris Bosh or Amare Stoudemire deal, you have to do as well. Carlos Boozer is just that good of a talent.

If this trade is indeed on the table, I will be upset if the Bulls turn it down.