Make the Damn Deal, Chicago

Please. I'm tired of hearing about it.

Unless you've been living under a rock (in Iraq), you probably have heard about the ongoing Kobe Bryant-trade rumors saga. Deals sending him to Chicago, Dallas, Phoenix, New York, and Washington have been mentioned, but it's the Bulls who have the pieces and the best chance to get 24.

They also have the biggest need (among contenders at least) for Kobe. To put it bluntly, the Bulls are overrated. Bill Simmons has them winning the East, which is proposterous. They have no interior post presence, and they go through too many long stretches of limited offense to even get out of the first round.

Quite simply, they have no stars. Luol Deng, Ben Gordon, and Kirk Hinrich are good players, but they're not stars. They might all be good together, but they're not stars. You can't count on them to carry you for an entire series. Even though he's never done it without Shaq, Kobe can definitely carry you in the Eastern Conference.

Give the Lakers Gordon, Tyrus Thomas, Joakim Noah, and Chris Duhon and the Bulls are instantly a top-2 team in the East. Don't, and you're a perennial second round flameout.

It looks like the teams are close to making a deal. A rumored 3-team trade between the Bulls, Lakers, and Kings fell through last night, but it appears a deal is still in the works.

Make it happen, Paxson. Championships are earned through risks.