The Chicago Bulls know they need offense. The only question is, how do they go about getting it? Welcoming back star point guard Derrick Rose at first health is probably a great start, while picking up some help in free agency or a trade would bring the offense up another level.

Chicago has long been rumored to be interested in New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony. However, with the possibility of bringing him on growing slimmer by the day, the Bulls may have their sights turned toward more realistic potential additions. Orlando Magic shooting guard Arron Afflalo may fit the bill.

According to Yahoo! Sports, Chicago knows it still needs outside shooting and overall scoring, and could probably get Afflalo without giving up too much in a deal with the Magic. Afflalo averaged a career high 18.2 points per game for a bad Magic team a year ago, and reportedly has been open to being traded away from a losing club.

Ideally, Afflalo would at the very worst provide timely outside shooting, solid defense and an extra scoring presence to help the offense flow better. At best, he gives the Bulls an added offensive boost without them missing a step on defense.

This potential move still doesn’t destroy the chances of the Bulls landing Melo, but it certainly complicates matter. Chicago would still have to find someone to take on Carlos Boozer’s massive deal, while also let talented big man Taj Gibson go for almost nothing. With those two obstacles looking quite difficult, landing Afflalo would at least help the Bulls make an upgrade and get a little bit closer where they want to be.

With that being said, Afflalo is a bit of a hot commodity as the 2015 NBA Draft inches closer. A lot of NBA teams wouldn’t mind his quality offense, while his high character can also assist in building chemistry and better team play in the locker room.

Kansas big man Joel Embiid displayed the size, talent and long-term upside of a potential number one overall pick heading into the 2015 NBA Draft. Unfortunately, concerns about his shaky health have negatively impacted his stock. Now they might just crush it.

According to multiple reports, Embiid underwent surgery on his foot and is expected to be out for roughly 4-6 months. The news could see Embiid’s draft stock plummet from the top overall pick, to potentially even outside the top-10 picks.

Scouts and NBA GM’s are reportedly concerned about Embiid’s availability for his rookie season in 2014, but are just as worried about his long-term durability. Players in the past like Yao Ming and Bill Walton have struggled to stay healthy with similar foot woes, as they became a chronic problem.

Already considered a sizeable injury risk even before the surgery, Embiid could now see a significant tumble down draft boards and is almost certainly not going inside the top three picks.

That has teams like the Orlando Magic (who hold the number four pick) gathering as much information as possible in an effort to assess the risk in taking Embiid. Orlando is likely now the first team that will take a shot at Embiid in the 2015 NBA Draft, while the Los Angeles Lakers (seventh overall) are also being rumored to be interested in nabbing him if he experienced a free fall on draft night.

Such a free fall is entirely possible given Embiid’s health and the exact type of foot issue he’s dealing with.

On the other hand, Embiid slipping outside of the top three picks could very easily give an NBA team the steal of the draft, as Embiid physically and skill-wise is one of the draft’s best prospects. With elite big men hard to come by as it is, it won’t be easy for anyone to pass on Embiid’s immense upside, regardless of health concerns

The Los Angeles Lakers have very few players on their roster with guaranteed contracts going into the 2014-15 NBA season. That can be seen as good or bad, but at least for now it could mean the door is open to them filling out that roster with major talent upgrades.

Golden State Warriors sharpshooting guard Klay Thompson might be part of the rebuilding plan.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the Lakers are engaged in talks with the Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves that could set up a massive three-team blockbuster deal centered around superstar forward Kevin Love.

In the proposed deal, Love and possibly shooting guard Kevin Martin would go to Golden State, while Thompson would go to L.A. The Timberwolves would then likely receive the Lakers’ seventh overall selection in this year’s draft, as well as a package of players and/or picks from Golden State.

If this deal goes down, it would thrust Thompson into the starting shooting guard spot for L.A., which would then likely push star guard Kobe Bryant over to the small forward spot. This could be the ideal move for Bryant, who has the size, range and versatility to handle the position switch, but might be better suited at his advanced age to cover the small forward position that the shooting guard position.

Landing Thompson would be a great star for the Lakers to rebuild their roster into a legit contender, as the 6’6” swing man has proven to be a quality scorer and lights out shooter at the NBA level. While not always the most consistent performer, Thompson provides solid versatility and has shown he also can be a more than capable defender.

Thompson would be a building block for the Lakers to work around even after Bryant retires in two years, while he’s one extra solid piece that could help attract bigger talent. With free agency closing in and names like Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James about to hit the open market, the Lakers could suddenly be in position to make several big splashes in a row. A small wave created by trading for Thompson could merely be the beginning.

The Boston Celtics haven’t been shy about their interest in acquiring Minnesota Timberwolves star forward Kevin Love. Unfortunately, the Timberwolves haven’t really been shy about their denial of Boston’s rumored trade offers.

With Love to Boston apparently not in the works, the Boston Herald is now reporting that the Celtics could finalize the “blowing up” of a one time championship roster. The team already began the process last year by trading away Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the Brooklyn Nets, and if they can’t secure Love in a trade star point guard Rajon Rondo could be the next to go.

Rondo to this point has not expressed much interest in leaving Boston, but the star pass-first guard is heading into a contract season and would likely leave the team in free agency next year if improvements aren’t made. Beyond landing Love, it’s unlikely Boston is going to do enough to convince Rondo to stick around.

The writing was already on the wall last season, as the Celtics traded away head coach Doc Rivers to the Los Angeles Clippers and moved on with rookie head coach Brad Stevens. That passing of the torch at the head coach spot was probably the final key move to show everyone Boston was clearly headed for a rebuilding process. Getting something back in return for Rondo might be the true final step.

The only question might be, is where will Rondo go?

He surely won’t be short for suitors, but several teams in need of legit point guard play come to mind. The Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks are two big teams that could use a point guard upgrade and could emerge in trade talks, while other teams like the Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat and Houston Rockets could express interest thanks to a lack of two-way point guard play on their rosters.

It’s anyone’s guess where Rondo might be headed this early in the process, but if the Celtics can’t land Love in a trade, it’s probably a safe bet we’ll be seeing him in a different uniform come next season.

T.J. Yates isn’t cut, after all. Instead, he’s now a Falcon. Despite reports previously in the week suggesting the Houston Texans had cut the backup quarterback, the former North Carolina Tarheel has actually been traded to the Atlanta Falcons.

Per reports, Houston had fully intended on waiving Yates, but word got out around the league and other NFL teams started calling with trade offers. Atlanta won the bidding war.

Yates was sent off to Georgia in return for inside linebacker Akeem Dent and is fully expected to compete for the top backup job behind starter Matt Ryan. Yates isn’t a lock for that gig, however, as Dominique Davis, Sean Renfree and Jeff Matthews are all also on the roster and ready to compete.

Renfree was a hot sleeper pick late in mock drafts heading into the 2013 NFL Draft and could be a dark horse for the position, while Davis has shown well in preseason play in the past and also has a good chance at locking down the number two spot. Matthews could be in play, but is more than likely going to be the odd man out.

Yates was initially seen as a potential gem himself, coming out of North Carolina, and almost proved to be exactly that in 2011 when he was called upon to fill in for an injured Matt Schaub. Yates ended that season with three touchdowns to three interceptions and even appeared in Houston’s playoff loss.

The last two seasons haven’t been as kind to Yates, however, as he saw almost no time on the field in 2012 and did not take advantage of his opportunities after Schaub was benched in 2013. Yates put up zero touchdowns to two picks in three appearances last season before being permanently passed over by third stringer Case Keenum.

On the other side of the trade is linebacker Akeem Dent, who could come in and compete for a spot in Houston’s linebacker rotation. A starter of seven games for the Falcons a year ago, Dent has proven to be a sure tackler and strong in run support. He could be looked at as a backup plan if Brooks Reed’s transition from outside linebacker to the inside doesn’t pan out, although he would be a liability in pass coverage.

Former Indianapolis Colts star tight end Dallas Clark is officially calling it quits. News broke on Monday that the longtime Colt would “hang’em up”, capping his solid NFL career at seven seasons.

Clark leaves the game at 35 years old, arguably with still something left in the tank, but evidently not enough desire to continue through the rigors of an NFL training camp. Clark’s free agency stock had apparently dried up considerably, as well, despite a somewhat productive final season with the Baltimore Ravens.

Clark is easily best known for his days as a specialty “move” tight end with Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. Clark helped make that position into what it is today, as he was more of a slot wide receiver than a true tight end for the majority of his career – specifically with the Colts.

While he had numerous solid seasons in Indy, Clark’s best season was without a doubt in 2009, when he hauled in a ridiculous 100 receptions for 1,106 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Clark scored a career high 11 touchdowns in 2007, as well.

One of Manning’s most reliable targets in the passing game in Indianapolis, Clark battled through numerous nagging injuries to rack up 58+ receptions in three straight seasons from 2007-2009. The injuries started to finally take a toll on Clark following his awesome 2009 season, however, as he wound up missing a combined 15 games over the next two years.

Clark remained in Indianapolis through 2011, when Manning succumbed to a neck issue that robbed him of his entire season. With Manning moving on to the Denver Broncos the following season, the Colts cut ties with many of their veterans. That sent Clark off to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he surprised many with his best numbers in three years, as he caught 47 passes for 435 receiving yards and four touchdowns.

Clark wrapped up his NFL career with his final season in Baltimore last year, where he caught 31 balls for 343 receiving yards and three scores.

Arguably finishing his career as one of the best pure receiving tight ends of the current generation, Clark holds one Super Bowl ring and two appearances in the big game to his name, as well.

LeBron James is headed for another “decision”. He can choose to stay with the Miami Heat for two more years and get paid a handsome $42 million over the next two seasons, or he can opt out this summer and pursue more money or other opportunities.

Part of his decisions won’t be based around taking any type of pay cut, however. According to the NY Daily News, King James isn’t particularly interested in playing for less money. To do that, James would have to opt out and re-sign. Per reports, though, James will only consider doing this if he gets a commitment from the team to bring in competitive talent with the money being saved.

That’s easier said than done. The Heat are a ravaged roster going into the summer, as James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh can all opt out. Chris “Birdman” Anderson has already opted out, while the likes of Ray Allen and Shane Battier might decide to retire.

Only point guard Norris Cole has a guaranteed contract for the 2014-15 NBA season. Clearly, this is a situation that either is going to end with another (albeit different) star-studded roster, or the Heat are about to go down in flames.

James can go down two paths. For the first, he can suck it up, take the pay cut and trust that the Heat will do what is necessary to rebuild a contender around him in Miami. After all, if he publicly does what is needed to save the team some cash, Wade and Bosh are sure to follow. To be frank, he probably will only do so if they agree to, as well.

If that happens, the Heat can try to bring in another star (Carmelo Anthony is one crazy rumor), or at least re-tool the bench and overall supporting cast to make sure the Heat are deeper than they had previously been constructed.

Or James can do what he did four years ago and leave for what he deems to be greener pastures.

Rumors suggest James and his wife “love Los Angeles”. That could realistically put the Lakers or Clippers on the map, while some rumors suggest even the New York Knicks could be in the running.

Leaving doesn’t make all that much sense. James is already in Miami and loves it there. Bosh and Wade are there, too. Also, the Heat just lost to a much better Spurs team, but they still got to their fourth straight NBA Finals series. It’s not like their team is a roster full of scrubs that isn’t accomplishing anything.

With that said, Wade is aging and regressing before our eyes. If what we saw out of him in this year’s Finals is what we can look forward to down the stretch again next year, James may want to fully consider all of his options. For now, at least from a salary perspective, it appears that’s exactly what he’s doing.

The plan of attack has been the same from both sides the entire time. If the Spurs wanted to win the 2014 NBA Finals, they’d have to dominate the paint on offense and execute efficiently everywhere else. Above all else, they’d need to play the same top flight defense they’d been doing all season.

For the Heat, it’d take some x-factor performances out of Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, and quite possibly even sharpshooter Ray Allen – just like he did a year ago. Bosh was arguably the biggest key, however, as Miami’s only major force inside the paint. Chris “Birdman” Anderson would need to impact the game with some shot-blocking and Bosh would have to bring his game to another level on offense.

Through four games, the Spurs have mostly done what they set out to do, and the Heat simply haven’t. The lone game Miami has stolen in a 3-1 series hole was a narrow win in San Antonio, while they’ve dropped each of the last two in blowout fashion – on their home court, no less.

Facing a devastating 3-1 hole in the Finals, the Heat have history working against them. No team has ever come back from a hole like that in NBA Finals history.

That doesn’t mean a Heat team playing in their fourth straight Finals series can’t be the first.

In fact, it could be as simple as the Heat playing like the Heat we saw in just about every game leading into this Finals matchup. You know, as a team.

“None of us have played well enough,” admitted Heat guard Dwyane Wade. “Were not singling out anybody on the team. We as a team, the Miami Heat, we haven’t played well enough.”

Yes and no.

Wade certainly hasn’t played well enough. He could absolutely be referring to himself there. Chris Bosh hasn’t, either. In fact, say what you want about the Heat as a whole; just be sure not to include LeBron James. Take away his cramp-ridden game one, and he’s actually playing fantastic basketball.

The Heat have three avenues they can travel down on Sunday night when they take on the Spurs again. They can lie down and give up the series, LeBron James can put them on his back and take over, or the rest of the team can actually show up and help him out.

As might as the Spurs are, and as likely as it is that they’ll deliver the death blow at some point, this team is still too good to lose such a massive series in just five games. If only to extend their fate for one more night, King James or the Heat as a whole will delay the inevitable.

Pick: Heat 106, Spurs 98

The rich just keep getting richer. An already nasty Seattle Seahawks defense simply got even better on Thursday evening, as the team has reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with defensive tackle Kevin Williams.

The one-year deal is reportedly worth “in excess” of $2 million.

Formerly part of the “Williams Wall” in Minnesota with the Vikings for his entire career, the soon to be 34-year old Williams waited until now for the exact deal he wanted to come to the surface. He had been thought to be considering retirement if some team didn’t meet his contractual demands, but the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks saw major value in a still productive defensive lineman.

Seattle already did well to secure defensive lineman Michael Bennett to a long-term deal earlier in the offseason, but bringing in the versatile Williams ensures their already stout defense will remain a top-five unit. Williams does more than just help lock up the ground game, however, as he has also shown to be an effective pass rusher throughout his career.

Williams was actually dominant in that area early on in his career, initially starting off his career with the Vikes with back to back 10+ sack seasons. Minnesota eventually brought on Jared Allen and other pass-rushing specialists to help Williams and the line, however, which inevitably took pressure off of Williams. He then focused primarily on stuffing the run, but still racked up a solid 37.5 sacks between 2005-2013.

A warrior in the trenches, Williams has missed just five games in his entire 11-year career and will find a role in Seattle’s rotation. His exact role is anyone’s guess, however, as their d-line is already ridiculously deep with Brandon Mebane leading the way. Tony McDaniel and Jordan Hill round out the depth from the top, while second-year defensive lineman Jesse Williams has the ability to be an elite run-stuffer in the near future.

Williams should be slated to compete with McDaniel for one of the two starting spots in the middle of Seattle’s base 4-3 system. His acquisition could end up potentially making one of Hill or (Jesse) Williams expendable.