Could Juwan Howard be the next piece which helps bring the Chicago Bulls back to respectability?

A recent report by Roman Modrowski in the Chicago Sun-Times indicated that Bulls forward Jalen Rose, Howard's teammate at Michigan, would very much like for his team to persue Howard when he becomes a free agent next offseason.  Howard would take over the role currently occupied by Corie Blount, who is unlikely to return next season, as an experienced big man to contribute on the court while helping accelerate the learning process of Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry.

"I'm on the phone with Juwan every day,'' Rose said.

The Bulls are again expected to be over the cap next season, meaning they will have their $4.5M mid-level exception on offer.  Howard, who finishes his infamous seven-year, $105 million contract this season, is unlikely to make more than the mid-level exception anywhere else (barring a sign and trade).

Added another anonymous Bull:

"That would be great. It would be a homecoming for him, first and foremost. And we could get a skilled big man who can play and someone to rely on to get low-post scoring."

"Of course, we've talked about it. Are you kidding me?
He's receptive, but the NBA business is just that. Just because he and I are talking about it ... there have to be bigger powers than me to get it done.''

"If he comes to our team and these young guys get better, who's to say we can't be a contender?'' the anonymous Bulls player said. "If you look at the big men in the Eastern Conference, he can match up with any of them.''

And what does Howard think about all this attention?

"When any player is about to be a free agent, it feels very good when players, other teams and other people in management view you as part of their team. But free agency is a long way away. I'm not even focusing on that right now. My main focus is this team and how we can we stop (losing)."

With Donyell Marshall and Jalen Rose performing well thus far for the youthful Bulls, the addition of an experienced frontcourt player the calibre of Howard could be what is needed to propel the team to it's first playoff appearance post-MJ.