How valuable is Chicago's No. 1 draft pick? Could it bring the Bulls a superstar ... right away?

The Chicago Tribune has reported that the Bulls could attempt to use the first pick in the draft to acquire Dwyane Wade.

Wade has heard those rumors, too, telling the Tribune, "I have heard my name being talked about, and I can't worry about it. There is one thing in this league that you have no control over. If another organization wants you, then you should feel good to be wanted."

A Heat source on Wednesday laughed at the rumors, saying, "It's going to be very difficult to rebuild this team around Dwyane if he isn't here. We aren't trading Dwyane."

Then again, it was the Heat who, earlier in the year, laughed off reports about trading Shaquille O'Neal. We all know what happened there.

I wonder if the rumors are as insane as they appear. If the Bulls were to offer, say, the No. 1 pick, a couple of young prospects like Joakim Noah and Thabo Sefolosha and a player in the last year of his deal like Drew Gooden, that wouldn't be a terrible deal for Miami.

The Heat could use the first two picks in the draft on Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley -- and then use Shawn Marion (and his expiring contract) as trade bait this summer. In doing so, they would have restocked their roster with young talent and be well under the cap in 2010 to pursue a top free agent.

Considering the Heat won just 15 games this season and are bringing in a young, inexperienced coach like Erik Spoelstra, that may not be a bad way to go.

For the Bulls, it would be a no-brainer. They could really use a veteran star to help bring together this team. If they were to add Wade and then move Ben Gordon in a sign-and-trade this summer, they would immediately be considered favorites to challenge the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons as the top team in the East.

Here are the kickers:

First, I don't know how you trade a superstar like Wade. He's just too good. You build around guys like that. I know the Heat love Rose -- I do, too. But he's not Dwyane Wade ... not yet, anyway. Many around the league have said they're concerned about Wade's ability to stay healthy. But is that concern real enough to trade him now?

Second, Wade is a base-year player, which makes his contract very difficult to trade. If the Heat are going to move him, it probably won't be until July (after the draft), when his base-year status disappears.

I do think the chatter tells you how highly Rose is rated around the league. And because of that, I expect we'll hear more trade rumors like this over the coming weeks. While I'm skeptical the Heat would give up Wade, it's not as farfetched as it sounds.

Speaking of the Heat, a source says that Pat Riley and his staff will work out O.J. Mayo on Saturday morning in Chicago.

Riley is a fan of Mayo and could be looking at him as the No. 2 pick in the draft. Mayo, a combo guard, would be nice complement in the backcourt with Wade.

From there, the Heat will be heading to Los Angeles to get a close look at Rose.

At some point, they'll likely have the players fly to Miami for another workout.

Look for the Golden State Warriors to pursue Milwaukee Bucks forward Yi Jianlian strongly in the coming weeks. During last year's draft, the Warriors agreed to trade Jason Richardson to the Charlotte Bobcats for the No. 8 pick, with the hope that Yi would fall to the Bobcats at that spot.

The team was shocked that the Bucks, for whom Yi refused to work out, took him at No. 6. The Bobcats took Brandan Wright and traded him to Golden State. While Wright played well for the Warriors toward the end of the season, they still covet Yi, according to sources.

If the Warriors were to offer Wright and the No. 14 pick for Yi, that might be too much for the Bucks to pass on. The team is in rebuilding mode and might be ready to accept a two-for-one deal.

With the Pistons firing coach Flip Saunders and GM Joe Dumars promising further changes, I wouldn't be surprised to see them find a way to move up in the draft.

One of Dumars' biggest concerns about Saunders (as well as previous coaches Larry Brown and Rick Carlisle) was his unwillingness to develop the younger players on the roster. You can bet that incoming coach Michael Curry will get a stern mandate from Dumars.

The team is very high on Rodney Stuckey and Amir Johnson but still needs another young player or two for the pipeline.

As far as tradable assets go, the Pistons are in great shape. Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess are heading into the last year of their contracts. Richard Hamilton and Chauncey Billups would have great value, especially to teams trying to get over the hump in the playoffs. Tayshaun Prince, the youngest of the core veterans, is someone who would interest almost any team.

In other words, if Dumars wants to remake the roster, it won't be that difficult.

My guess is that Wallace will be the one most in play. I could see the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, Houston Rockets, Warriors and/or Bobcats making a run at Wallace this summer. And each of those teams, except the Rockets, has a first-round pick good enough to interest the Pistons.
Chad Ford covers the NBA for ESPN Insider.

would u guys trade D Lee & the #6 for Yi, the #8 & #37?

Yes. You could switch Charlie V with Yi and I would also make the trade.

Posted by TMS:

how about D Lee, Curry & the #6 for Yi, Bogut & #37

C - Bogut / #37 pick (Nathan Jawai or Joey Dorsey) / Turd
PF - Zach / Fishlips / Malik
SF - Yi / Balkman / Q Rich
SG - Jamal / Chandler
PG - Marbury / Nate / Mardy

[Edited by - TMS on 06-05-2008 9:10 PM]

I'd definitely do that also. That instantly replaces our loser of a center in Eddy Curry with a center who can defend the paint effectively with his shot blocking skills and rebounding skills while still putting up about 15 PPG. We also become stronger on the wing with Yi, who would most likely flourish in Mike San Antonio's system. And we can also find a poor man's David Lee with the 37th pick.