Potential Deal Breaker

A rumored deal that would send Larry Hughes to New Jersey (mentioned in yesterday’s post) is unlikely to happen unless the Nets change their stance of wanting either Joakim Noah or Tyrus Thomas to be included in the trade.  “Feeling the need for a small forward better than Bobby Simmons and the urge to break up their backcourt so Vince Carter and Devin Harris stop competing against each other for points, the Nets actively pursued Larry Hughes as reports claimed,” writes Peter Vecsey of the New York Post.  “Carter would’ve moved to the frontcourt.  However, the key to signing off on such a deal - unmentioned in everything I read - was Jersey’s insistence either Tyrus Thomas or Joakim Noah be included.”

This would be a deal breaker if this blogger were the GM of the Chicago Bulls.  Simmons is a decent player, but it wouldn’t make sense for the Bulls to part with one of their young big men to land him.  He’s overpaid and I doubt the Bulls want to get rid of Hughes that badly.  Also, from what I’m hearing, Kirk Hinrich is off the trading block, as the team has played better since his return from injury.  The only way I’d consider dealing Hinrich was if I was getting a serious inside scoring threat in return.

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