After getting bounced in the first round of the 2014 NBA playoffs weeks ago by a younger, healthier up-and-coming Washington Wizards team, the Derrick Rose-less Chicago Bulls have some soul-searching to do.

With the Bulls' season ending in the first round of the playoffs for the second time in three seasons -- and their third straight playoff stint without Derrick Rose -- Chicago has a lot of questions they need to answer heading into the offseason. The current team of Rose, Joakim Boah and Carlos Boozer were supposed to be the nucleus of what was to be Chicago's first legitimate chance of winning an NBA title since Michael Jordan and the legendary 1990s Bulls reigned supreme over the league for much of that decade. Instead, the Bulls have been fighting, clawing and scraping to get by, relying on their defensive prowess and gumption to get to the playoffs each season thanks to ill-timed injuries to Rose and a lack of general star power on the team, particularly on offense.

Now, with the Bulls looking to retool, they're reportedly looking to the offseason's attractive free agency market for options. Chicago has plenty of power on defense, but where they really need help is in getting another primary scorer. They also need healthy bodies and more depth to their frontcourt -- needs that signing some key players due to hit the open market can alleviate. But more than that, perhaps, they really need another player -- another star, actually -- worthy of playing wingman to Derrick Rose. They need a player who can be on par with Rose's skills so that he can not only pick it up for the team when Rose is out but also thrive when he is on the court, so that the Bulls can get a true one-two punch on offense that they desperately need. Let's not confuse things here, Chicago doesn't need a Robin to Rose's Batman; they need another Batman or even a Superman to be paired with Rose. It's worked wonders in the past with such duos as LeBron James and Dwayne Wade, Kobe and Shaq, Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, and the list goes on. In short, Chicago needs a star -- and a big one.

Fortunately, this summer's free agency class will be chock-full of star power, and a couple of these superstar free agents would look pretty good in Chicago red and black. Let's take a look at some of them.

Carmelo Anthony

The biggest prize on the market -- and one who can realistically be attained by the right bigger -- Melo would be the perfect answer to Chicago's scoring woes. Last season's scoring champion is a one-man show on offense and would add much-needed depth to the frontcourt. Granted, Anthony has never been much of a defensive player, but in Tom Thibodeau's system, perhaps he can learn a thing or two. A Big Three of Rose (if healthy), Anthony and Noah would be something that would give a lot of teams in the Eastern Conference reason to be afraid.

Zach Randolph

This defensive beast would fit in seamlessly into Chicago's "D"-oriented system. Randolph has made his reputation for years as a torrid rebounder and physical defender with a big body that can gunk up the works for any opposing team's offense. A walking double-double, Randolph averaged 17.4 points and 10.1 rebounds for Memphis this past regular season, and he answers the depth problems on the front court on a myriad of levels for Chicago.

Dirk Nowitzki

This one may be more of a longshot, given Nowitzki's loyalty to the Dallas Mavericks franchise, and Mavs owner Marc Cuban's willingness to break the bank on him. However, Nowitzki, a certified future Hall of Famer, may want one last shot at another NBA title, and a tough Chicago team with an All-Star player in Noah and a superstar like Rose would give the German giant that opportunity. And with Nowitzki shoring up the frontcourt, Chicago would have depth in spades. Could a pairing of Nowitzki and Chicago be a match made in NBA Title Heaven?

Pau Gasol

He might not be the young stud he was during the Los Angeles Lakers' last title run in 2010, but if there's one thing Gasol showed this season, it's that he's still got the goods. Despite playing in an unfavorable situation on an injury-riddled Lakers team with a coach in Mike D'Antoni that the four-time All-Star was reportedly not happy with, Gasol still put up 17.4 points and 9.7 rebounds, which just about matched his career averages in each category. With that kind of effectiveness, Gasol could add a lot to Chicago paired alongside Noah at power forward. And he'd give Chicago a balance on offense that could either sustain them when Rose is out or help them overpower teams when Rose and Gasol are both on the court at the same time.

Chris Bosh

Of the Heat's "Big Three," Bosh is the most attainable. He doesn't have the superstar power of LeBron James or the Derek Jeter-like franchise identity that Wade has with Miami, but make no mistake: Bosh is good. Very good. He's had to make sacrifices to win titles in Miami, and even then, this nine-time NBA All-Star still put up 16.2 points and 6.6 rebounds in the regular season, stats which may have been much higher in another team and situation. By shifting him to his natural power forward position in Chicago while Noah plays center, Bosh would have the opportunity to become even more effective on offense, while giving Chicago a solid star to lead along with Noah. And with a healthy Rose on the floor, Bosh should fit in just fine. He's learned how to adjust with multiple stars on the court before, and there's no reason to think he couldn't do it again -- except he would be a sold No. 2 option on offense in Chicago, so he'd get his points and another shot at a ring.

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