Detroit, one of the premier teams in the Eastern Conference for the last decade and the Atlanta Braves of the NBA in that time frame shook up their roster by acquiring The Answer from Denver.
The Bulls' window for contending for a Finals spot ended at the beginning of last year when the Celtics acquired KG and Ray Allen. Now, Detroit answers the bell. So teams like Cleveland (who at least has a superstar) and the Bulls put on notice. Gone are the days of grinding away in the East, getting into the playoffs with about 50 wins and maybe getting to the championship series.
if you look at recent Eastern Division champions (and there aren't many), you have to have multiple stars to win. Pax tried to build the Bulls like those aforementioned Pistons teams, but now even Joe D. is giving up on that. After all, they "only" won one title, despite contending quite a bit.
The point isn't contending - it's winning.. That's why LeBron is going to skip out on Cleveland when he can. It's why Pax needs to sacrifice this season by moving some of these bodies for either cap space, or for another star player to go with Rose.
Pax needs to look at Jerry Krause's model - because it still works today - get your 2 stars. it's much easier to find the complimentary pieces after that.
Rick Armstrong 
Mike Knapp 
AI is 33 years old now. I have to wonder when all the wear and tear on his body is going to catch up to him.
Even with this acquisition, I still think the Celtics are head and shoulders above the Pistons and everybody else in the East.