Football is right around the corner, but I still have basketball on my mind.

The Miami Heat will face the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals next season.  There is absolutely no doubt about it.  Sorry Boston and Orlando:  you also have championship caliber rosters but you're definitely going to be on the outside looking in.  

In addition to the Heat, Lakers, Celtics and Magic there are about seven other teams that have been scrambling to reach elite status according to "those in the know" in the NBA.  These teams include Atlanta, San Antonio, Dallas, Utah, Denver, Portland and Phoenix (although the loss of Amar'e Stoudemire might make the Suns an also-ran in the Western Conference).   

While each of the seven aforementioned teams has various strengths, by the end of next season don't be surprised if the Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks (barring a serious injury to Andrew Bogut) are battling to be the fifth best team in the league.  Don't believe me?  Take a look at the Bulls and Bucks rosters:

Bulls Starters
Joakim Noah
Carlos Boozer
Luol Deng
Derrick Rose
Ronnie Brewer

Bucks Bench
Kurt Thomas
Taj Gibson
James Johnson
Kyle Korver
C.J. Watson

Bucks Starters
Andrew Bogut
Corey Maggette
Drew Gooden
Brandon Jennings
John Salmons

Bucks Bench
Carlos Delfino
Keyon Dooling
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute
Ersan Ilyasova
Larry Sanders
Chris Douglas-Roberts
Jon Brockman
Michael Redd (due back in February 2011)

The front offices of both teams deserve to be commended for vastly upgrading their respective rosters.  However, if I'm Gar Foreman in Chicago then I'm burning up the phone lines right now trying to acquire Portland's Rudy Fernandez.  Reportedly, the Celtics are on the verge of obtaining the sharp shooting Spaniard for a mere late round draft pick. 

Why not make the following three team deal:  Luol Deng, James Johnson and a 2nd round draft pick to Portland for Fernandez, Nicolas Batum, Jerrod Bayless and Joel Przybilla's expiring contract.  Bayless would then be shipped to the suddenly point guard depleted Minnesota Timberwolves and the Trailblazers would also receive a lottery protected #1 draft choice along with center Greg Stiemsma.

According to the ESPN Trade Machine this deal works and I think it's a win-win-win for all three teams...especially the Bulls.  Fernandez would thrive as the starting shooting guard and form a premier Big 3 with DRose and Boozer. 

Is that trio as good as LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh?  No, but I'd take it in a heartbeat over Boston's "Going in Style" threesome of George Burns, Art Carney and Lee Strasberg...er...Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.   

The Bulls are back and one more deal will make them a legitimate title contender for the next five years.  Only this time around Tom Thibodeau is going to be the one leading them to the promised land instead of Phil "I'm The Luckiest Man In The World" Jackson.  It's going to be a Zen Free Championship Zone in the Windy City and I couldn't be more pleased.