By Patrick DorseyThe Daily Northwestern

On some Bulls billboards around Chicago, various players stand next to the phrase, “For the love of the game.”

Maybe they should say, “For the love of God, trade for Kevin Garnett already!”

That’s because, despite all the hype and excitement, the Baby Bulls (just 22-17 after Monday) aren’t going to reach adolescence anytime soon with this roster.

General manager John Paxson deserves credit for assembling a load of talent, mostly through the draft. But despite all the pretty good players Paxson has amassed, he has failed to get even one consistent go-to player.

It’s like making the world’s best margarita mix – and forgetting the Cuervo.

That Cuervo is Garnett, whose Timberwolves are No. 7 in the West but can’t possibly get much higher. Those ‘Wolves need to rebuild around youth – and the Bulls have a lot of that.

Meanwhile, because they sank $60 million into aging, offensively challenged Ben Wallace, the Bulls need another big buy to turn their group of role players into a contender in the less-than-beastly East.

The NBA Beat’s proposal: Garnett for rising star Luol Deng, raw rookie Tyrus Thomas, expiring contract P.J. Brown and bench player Michael Sweetney. It fits under the salary cap, gives the Bulls a formidable starting five and the ‘Wolves two pieces around which to rebuild (along with some potential cap room/ luxury tax relief at the end of the year).

Maybe then the Bulls will be playing for more than just the love of the game at season’s end.

HOLY MUTOMBO

While in South Florida last summer, I and a few other reporters caught up with elbowy center Dikembe Mutombo. At one point, he was asked whether he’d be back this season.

“Definitely,” Mutombo said emphatically in his endearing Cookie Monster voice.

How right he was.

Yao Ming went down with a broken leg in late December, forcing the 40-year-old Zaire native into the starting lineup, even after 99 percent of NBA followers thought he’d retired to a life of TV commercials or “Best Damn Sports Show Period.”

FREE-THROWS

Michael Redd’s injury means Earl Boykins – every short man’s hero – will now get his 20 a night with the Bucks. But it also means the resurgent Heat will return to the playoffs to defend their NBA Title … Chris Webber might give a little boost to Detroit, but only because Dale Davis and Antonio McDyess are the Pistons’ next-best options.

Assistant sports editor Patrick Dorsey is a Medill senior. His NBA Beat column appears every Tuesday. He can be reached at [email protected].