Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat brass should discuss a deal that would put Ben Wallace in Miami and Shaquille O’Neal in the Windy City.

Before you label me a psycho, think about this: if the Bulls were willing to part with one of their best players, Luol Deng or Ben Gordon, plus 2006 fourth overall pick Tyrus Thomas or P.J. Brown, for Memphis’ Pau Gasol, why wouldn’t John Paxson explore possibility of bringing in a guy who has four titles?

On Miami’s end, the move would free up cap space: Shaq is owed $60 million over the next three years, whereas Big Ben is owed $36 million over the same time period.

I firmly believe Ben was brought in by Chicago to be a leader in the locker room and on the court. His performance in this Eastern Conference Semifinal against the Pistons shows he’s far from the general type. It could be he still loves his boys from Motown. It could be he’s now on Rasheed Wallace’s old “CTC” kick. Whatever it is, Ben looks like he’s ready for his summer vacation.

Although he’s not the 29 and 17 Shaq of the mid-90s, O’Neal, who, if you believe rumors could be dealt this summer, anyway, is still one of the best big men in the game. He would fill the need the Bulls have for a post scorer and he’s a great passing big, as well. I know reports have Paxson enamored with Gasol and Kevin Garnett, but Gasol’s teams are 0-12 in three playoff appearances. And, with all due respect to the Big Ticket, Garnett’s T’Wolves have made it out of the first round just once in his 12-year career and haven’t sniffed the postseason since 2004.

If Paxson is feeling the pressure to win now, why not roll the dice on a proven winner. Chicago won 49 games and had no post threat for the entire season. Even if Shaq plays no more than 50 games a season for the next couple years, the Bulls would win the East each year because, added with those 49, I guarantee Diesel is good for 7-8 wins on his own. Don’t forget, O’Neal, 35, led the Heat to a 16-7 record in the 23 games Dwyane Wade was out with his shoulder injury, averaging 19.3 points and 7.8 board a night during that stretch. In his three years in Miami, O’Neal has also shown he’s willing to defer to anyone who doesn’t have a big “8” on his back, as well. Yea, Shaq is getting up there in age; but, in 40 games, his 17.3 ppg and 7.4 rpg bested Wallace and Brown’s combined 12.5 and 15.5.

A deal of Shaq for Wallace, Deng and Brown would accomplish a few things: Chicago would get the (short-term) post threat it’s longing for; Wade would get a long-term running mate in Deng; and the pressure would be off Wallace to lead a team, since Wade and Pat Riley would control the reins in Miami.

Draft night, June 28, could soften the blow of dealing Deng, too for Chicago. The Bulls and Knicks swapped picks in this year’s draft in the Eddy Curry deal. That pick, projected at No. 9 by NBADraft.net, could turn into the likes of Florida’s Corey Brewer, Georgetown’s Jeff Green or Kansas’ Julian Wright. Bulls’ coach Scott Skiles would likely want to bring his rooks along slowly, so a crafty deal for free agent Gerald Wallace or Bonzi Wells would fill the void left in Chicago’s starting group left by Deng’s departure. The Bulls 2007-08 rotation would then be Kirk Hinrich, Gordon, Wallace/Wells, Malik Allen and Shaq, with Chris Duhon, one of the three aforementioned draft picks, Andres Nocioni and Thomas coming off the bench.

If Riley makes smart deals, Miami could trot out free agent Mike Bibby (or Chauncey Billups), Wade, Deng, Udonis Haslem and Wallace. In print, this group looks to be as perimeter heavy as this year’s Bulls. This year’s Bulls, however, don’t feature the 2006 Finals MVP, the ’04 Finals MVP, or a guy who walks like he’s got King Kong’s sack when he hits a big shot.

Miami would get somewhat younger with the deal, too. Gary Payton and Alonzo Mourning will likely retire this offseason; and Antoine Walker and Jason Williams are on the wrong side of 30. Swinging these deal would also lessen my belief that “Riles” mortgaged the future of the Heat franchise to win the title last season.

Both O’Neal and Wallace have a need to be coddled, but that’s a whole ‘nother story. These deals, I think, could potentially make both these malcontents happy. Riley loves tough defense — right in Ben’s wheelhouse — and I’m sure Skiles has bowed his head and closed his eyes and asked for a pivot with at least some semblance of an offensive game.

With the benefits this deal provides, if it’s made, both sides could shout, “Hallelujah!”