Okay, not exactly a remake...but the face of the team changed on Wednesday and Thursday as their GM, John Paxson, dealt off some parts with an eye on the future.

First, he dealt Drew Gooden, Andres Nocioni, Cedric Simmons and Michael Ruffin to the Sacramento Kings for center Brad Miller and swingman John Salmons.

Then he dealt problem child Larry Hughes to the Knicks for Tim Thomas (who was a Bull before), Jerome James and Anthony Roberson.

Finally he dealt Thabo Sefalosha, the 6'6" guard from Switzerland, for a low first round draft pick.

The Sacramento deal sends the expiring contracts of Gooden, Simmons and Ruffin in exchange for deals that expire, I believe, both in 2010, just in time for the Lebron/Dwayne Wade/Chris Bosh/Amare Stoudamire free agent class. Nocioni will still be under contract (now to the Kings) but he could be a valuable piece for them. Whether any of those guys will sign with the Bulls is a different issue.

Getting Brad Miller gives them a post presence who can score both inside and outside, and most importantly, he can pass. This should help the Bulls' shooters like Gordon and Deng the most, but should also help Derrick Rose with a big guy like Miller patrolling the lane and protecting him a bit. Gooden didn't really provide this, nor did Nocioni. Joakim Noah and Tyrus Thomas, the Bulls' young big men, are just not experienced enough yet, and hopefully Miller will help Noah learn the postion.

Getting John Salmons gets them a guy who can play the off-guard, who plays some defense and who has some size, and who knows how to score. Sefalosha was the Bulls' hope for that role, but he wasn't developing here. The change of scenery could help him, if he gets minutes in Oklahoma City.

Hughes wasn't dressing or traveling with the team, and Thomas played that role for the Bulls a couple years ago when they got him from the Knicks in a trade for, I believe, Eddie Curry. This time around, he's with a different coach and he is no longer a max contract guy. Maybe he'll be able to play a role for this team. James is injured, won't be back this year, and Roberson...well, I just don't know anything about the guy...

All in all, it's a marginally better Bulls team at LEAST. And it's positioned well for the free agent class of 2010. We'll see what happens.