Bulls look pretty solid so far this year and have been fun to watch. We'll see how the circus trip out West goes this month. Most surprising thing by far has been Joakim Noah. What got into him? He's like a completely new player who is confident and assertive on the offensive end. His rebounding has been out of this world. Deng is much improved and so is the team defense. Looking forward to Salmons/Hinrich/Miller to get it going and solidify us as the #4 team in the East. Add D.Wade to this team in 2010 and we are a contender, if not the favorite!
Well Lovie and Jerry's prayers have been answered. A day after their team looks so bad and sports radio is abuzz their failure Vinnie's boys have stolen the headlines with an historic choke job. They blew a 35 point lead to the Kings this evening. :pottytrain4:
Hey, 3 in a row on the road vs. 3 playoff teams in the West. @PHO, @HOU, @SA. Things are looking up as Rose has elevated his game to a new level.
this team is very talented. Rose's jump shot looks 100% better than last year, and Noah is turning into a NBA player. I like their chances of getting back into the playoffs, probably better than the #8 seed. Very strong road trip will help matters.
Agreed, we have a great base for a championship team if we pick up a bigtime player in the 2010 free agent class. Rose is averaging a 20 and 6 in his 2nd year. This is a future superstar and top 3 point guard in the NBA. Noah is the most improved player in the NBA, averaging 11 and 12 with great defense. He's a top 5 center in the East right now. Deng is a very servicable forward who can do everything well. His length on defense gives other small forwards a lot of problems. He can hit open jumpers and get to the rim.
Plug in LeBron, Wade, Bosh, or Joe Johnson onto this squad and I think we're the best team in the East right now. Even Amare Stoudemire could make us a top 2 team in the East although I'm not quite sure about him.
From what I understand, we need to get rid of a Hinrich or Tyrus Thomas contract in exchange for an expiring contract to make this happen. There are several contenders who could use another guard who can play defense like Hinrich this season, so I could see that happening. I'm not extremely hopeful that LeBron or Wade are coming to Chicago, but I could see the Bulls having a realistic shot at Bosh, Johnson, or Amare. Who knows, it will be entertaining to see how this turns out. In the meantime I'd love to see the Bulls make at least the 2nd round of the playoffs this year.
Bad news guys, Aaron Gray got traded.
How about that Rose dunk against that white boy on the Suns?
RE: The Gray trade, do the Bulls really need another guard? Speaking of guards, get rid of Pargo.
Quote from: dana on January 26, 2010, 02:36:57 PM
RE: The Gray trade, do the Bulls really need another guard? Speaking of guards, get rid of Pargo.
They do if they are getting ready to trade Hinrich. I hope Tyrus is part of the deal.
Bulls got rid of Salmons' contract last night which clears enough cap room for the Bulls to sign 1 max contract free agent this summer. This could be huge. Right now the only teams capable of stealing away a bigtime free agent this summer are the Knicks, Bulls, Clippers, Nets, and Heat. Possible targets for the Bulls are Wade, Bosh, and Joe Johnson. Adding Wade or Bosh with Rose and Deng immediately makes the Bulls a top contender in the East alongside Cleveland and Orlando.
Unless Miami gets a top-tier free agent to come play with Wade, I can't understand why he would want to stay in Miami and keep playing for a .500 team in a half-empty stadium every night. Why not go to Chicago (his hometown) and play for a Finals contender with one of the best point guards in the game for the next decade in front of a sellout crowd every night? It just makes too much sense.
Quote from: Dan Michler on February 18, 2010, 06:59:58 AM
Bulls got rid of Salmons' contract last night which clears enough cap room for the Bulls to sign 1 max contract free agent this summer. This could be huge. Right now the only teams capable of stealing away a bigtime free agent this summer are the Knicks, Bulls, Clippers, Nets, and Heat. Possible targets for the Bulls are Wade, Bosh, and Joe Johnson. Adding Wade or Bosh with Rose and Deng immediately makes the Bulls a top contender in the East alongside Cleveland and Orlando.
Unless Miami gets a top-tier free agent to come play with Wade, I can't understand why he would want to stay in Miami and keep playing for a .500 team in a half-empty stadium every night. Why not go to Chicago (his hometown) and play for a Finals contender with one of the best point guards in the game for the next decade in front of a sellout crowd every night? It just makes too much sense.
Do you or anyone else understand their math? According to my math they will have 35 million under next years expected cap and 45 million under the luxury tax threshold. Without Salmons and Thomas they only have 25 million under contract next year. A max contract is 18 million, maybe closer to 19 or 20 mil.. What are they going to do with the other 12 million. I think they had plenty of money to keep Salmons, who is very cheap and a good bench player, and sign a big time free agent. Even in a sign and trade they are crazy if they give anyone other than LeBron more than a max contract. No one else in this free agent class is worth the risk of more than a max contract. The others are barely worth the risk of a max contract. To give them more would be stupid.
My only guess is that they are really going after to 2 free agents this off season or they really think they can get LeBron. 2 max contracts would give them another 7 to 9 million to build a team with. Or give Lebron what it takes to get him and build with the rest. Either way is a win I think.
Maybe they are planning on keeping Tyrus Thomas around for 6.5 mil next year.
Help?
Lebron will not go to Chicago, so scratch that thought. If he leaves Cleveland, he will be a Knick!
Wade on the other hand, will be the best fit for the Bulls. I don't think Bosh would fit in as well? Wade has no team in Miami, and like Dan stated, Rose and Wade along with Deng and Noah, they would contend for the East title. Along with the biggest fact, again mentioned by Dannyboy, Wade's hometown is Chicago, I really think he will be in Chicago next season. Bulls fans can only hope!
Mike, I think you are misunderstanding something based on your numbers. Currently the Bulls payroll is 11.9 million over next year's salary cap. Take off their expiring contracts and that gives them 15.5 mill to work with under the cap. Not enough for a max contract. Take off Salmons' 6.4 mill, and suddenly you have 21.9 mill of cap space for next season. The 2nd link below is pretty cool and will give you a very clear picture of where each team stands.
http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nba/news/story?id=4922618 (http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nba/news/story?id=4922618)
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine (http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine)
I agree with Doug, LeBron is probably staying in Cleveland unless either the Nets or the Knicks end up signing a LeBron/Wade or LeBron/Bosh combo, which they both could potentially have the cap space to pull off. Otherwise, why would LeBron leave Cleveland where he's comfortable and loved for another team that will have the same supporting cast problems he currently has in Cleveland? If he wins a title with Jamison this year, there is no way LeBron is bolting. I say he plays out the prime of his career with Cleveland.
I just heard McGrady went to the Knicks. The Knicks get rid of Jefferies/Hill, which is another 9 mill off their payroll next season. From what I understand, the Knicks only have like 7 million committed for next season. It definitely seems they are going all-out to make a big splash this summer. Houston gets the Knicks next 2 1st round picks. The way the Knicks looked against the Bulls the last 2 nights, that could end up translating into Evan Turner! If the Knicks don't get LeBron, they may end up looking even stupider than they did when Isiah Thomas was their GM.
Tyrus Thomas to Charlotte. Bulls get back a couple bench players with expiring contracts and a 1st round pick next year. Charlotte is currently in position to make the playoffs, so its doubtful that will end up being a lottery pick. We've definitely given up talent and depth for any potential playoff run this season. I see us making a 1st round playoff exit again. If we land Wade, its worth it.
In 2006 Paxon picked LaMarcus Aldridge and traded him to Portland for Thomas. A number 2 pick became a bust as it has now been traded to shed salary. Would Aldridge have been traded for salary? He has been an above average player but not a superstar. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/stats?playerId=2983 He is certainly worth more than the bag of balls that the Bulls got in return for Thomas. This off season should either confirm Paxon as a shrewd player or he should be fired. He is on the line and nobody else. With maximum contracts anybody who is in position to offer a max contract is in play. A team must do two things. 1) have money available and 2) be attractive. The Bulls appear to have accomplished number 1. Now they have to show that they are number 2. They seem better off than the Knicks. The Bulls will not get Lebron. However, I cannot believe he would go to such a poorly run organization. The question is whether the Bulls perceived to be any better of an organization by the players and their agents. If so, they will be in play for a big time player. If not, they will be like the kid all dressed up for prom holding a corsage in one hand and himself in the other. What have they done in the past dozen years other than trading away Elton Brand, overpaying Heinrich and Deng, and blowing a draft pick on Tyrus Thomas, Eddy Curry and Chandler. 1)They won the lottery and didn't screw it up and bypass Derrick Rose. 2) They made a good pick on Noah in the first round and stuck by him while he slowlly developed. 3)they didn't fire Del Negro while the team floundered. I don't know if he will be the coach if they every become a powerhouse. However, he seems to have figured out how to win more games with the current cast and appears to have the team listening to him. If I were a player I would be attracted to playing with Rose but would not think much of the organization.
Quote from: Dan Michler on February 18, 2010, 10:21:41 AM
Mike, I think you are misunderstanding something based on your numbers. Currently the Bulls payroll is 11.9 million over next year's salary cap. Take off their expiring contracts and that gives them 15.5 mill to work with under the cap. Not enough for a max contract. Take off Salmons' 6.4 mill, and suddenly you have 21.9 mill of cap space for next season. The 2nd link below is pretty cool and will give you a very clear picture of where each team stands.
http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nba/news/story?id=4922618 (http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nba/news/story?id=4922618)
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine (http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine)
I agree with Doug, LeBron is probably staying in Cleveland unless either the Nets or the Knicks end up signing a LeBron/Wade or LeBron/Bosh combo, which they both could potentially have the cap space to pull off. Otherwise, why would LeBron leave Cleveland where he's comfortable and loved for another team that will have the same supporting cast problems he currently has in Cleveland? If he wins a title with Jamison this year, there is no way LeBron is bolting. I say he plays out the prime of his career with Cleveland.
I see where my mistake is now. Anything above the softcap can only be used to resign the teams own free agents. So the second free agent would have to come from a sign and trade more than likely today. During the off season it will cost a lot more in players to match salary. Plus I did not understand that the Bulls have to pay Tyrus the qualifying offer if no one offers him a contract. Salmons salary was not guaranteed but if he was healthy enough to play they have to play him. That is most of the missing money. But even if that is the case they could have kept Salmons and still have 20 million under the cap. They only have 37.7 mil on the books for next year with Salmons. The cap is 57.7mil I thought it was 60.9mil. That would only leave them 2 mil for about 2 or 3 more players but I think it would have been worth the gamble for 2 years. Same team minus Miller and Pargo plus the addition of one of the Big4 free agents. Would have sounded good to me. Maybe they could have brought Miller back for the NBA minimum.
Here is the link to the Bulls salary http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=9193
So the cap is 57.7mil. The math still does not work. I still see only see 37.7mil in salary, w/Salmons. That leaves 20mil. I do not understand the math. Without Salmons I see them at almost 26mil under the cap. Where is the 6mil dollars at? The 11mil that they are over that cap they are paying to players who are not even on the team. Jerome James 6.6mil and Tim Thomas 4.8mil. That cap money is gone next year. Who else do they owe money to?
If LeBron really wants to be the highest paid athlete in sports history or whatever he statement was a few years a go. IMO Chicago is the place to be. Jordan proved that. This is the place to be. There is no competition for the sports dollar in Chicago. The next great Chicago star is going to be treated like a King. LeBron would be an instant success here. My goodness the town is all up in arms about the Blackhawks. I love watching Hockey but in sports market the sport does not even compete. Imagine if Lebron won a NBA championship in Chicago. He will have to compete with all kinds of celebrities in NY not just sports. In Chitown he would instantly be #1. But that is up to him. Youngest of the group.
Wade is good choice. He has a lot of miles on that body at a young age. He night only be worth the money for the first 2 or 3 years at most. But that is true of Joe Johnson as well. His team sucks. The Heat will suck even if they do get 1 big time player. That whole team sucks besides Wade. They will still need to build a team around Wade and whoever they get. The Bulls are a lot closer to winning the Heat are. Probably closer than all of the listed free agent contenders. The Bulls are probably 1 piece away from being a serious contender. Risky for a long term Max contract. 28yo but has taking a beating over the years.
Joe Johnson: Same situation as Wade minus winning a championship. Older but I think Wade is probably playing about the same age. Risky for a long term Max contract. Oldest of the group at 30 going into the season. Stats show that NBA players performance drops pretty significantly after 32yo.
Chris Bosh: My only concern here is Power Forwards do not win NBA championships. Maybe being with Rose and the rest of the supporting cast it would be different. 2nd youngest of the group at 26yo by 6 months. Great investment for a max contract.
All good points Dave! The Bulls have really debacled things since 1998.
However, when comparing our organization to the Knicks, Nets, and Clippers, we come out looking not so bad! And the fact remains that Chicago is a great place to play. The fans are totally into it and the United Center is packed every night. Don't think the players don't notice and care about that. Its a hell of a lot more fun to play a home game in front of 25,000 instead of 12,000. And as Clark said, Jordan proved that you can become a money-making sensation playing in Chicago.
I need to learn to read better. I had thought that the NBA had made the cap official early this year at 57.7mil. After I read Dan's link more closely I see that the cap can be anywhere from 50 to 53mil. That is stupid. I do not know how a team is supposed to prepare for the future when they do not even know how much money they have to work with. At least the Bulls have put themselves into the best position possible to get one of the top guys available. Maybe 2 with the right sign and trade deal. They have a lot of pieces to work with now.
Glad to see Tyrus went somewhere. What a continuation of a big mistake it would have been to pay him 6mil next year. That frees up money for another good player next year. Expiring contacts plus a draft pick to add to the bench. Not bad.
Paxson has done a good job of getting rid of some bad contracts. It just too bad that he made some of the choices that led to the bad contracts in the first place. He has been average at best. Player's attitudes have been as much of the problem as his decisions. Wallace, Thomas, Gordon come to mind first. At least he has been able to get rid of the garbage.
Snuck into the playoffs. I predict the Bulls do win 1 game against the Cavs. I also predict that Orlando takes down Cleveland in the conference finals. The West is pretty wide open, but I think the Lakers will come out on top. The Spurs are my dark horse to make the Finals. Orlando over the Lakers in the Finals, 4-2.
Despite how much time I have invested this season going to games and watching them on t.v, part of me wanted them to miss the playoffs this year. I know it is valuable experience for a team with a lot of young guys, but if we would have missed the playoffs we would have had a chance (albeit a small one) to keep our own draft pick. It also would have made it a lot easier for management to fire Vinny this off season. However, I also think we can steal a game or two from Cleveland, and I hope we can snag a decent coach and also that top-tier free agent we are going to need to break in to the upper echelon of Eastern Conference teams.
Quote from: Dan Michler on April 15, 2010, 05:48:13 AM
Snuck into the playoffs. I predict the Bulls do win 1 game against the Cavs. I also predict that Orlando takes down Cleveland in the conference finals. The West is pretty wide open, but I think the Lakers will come out on top. The Spurs are my dark horse to make the Finals. Orlando over the Lakers in the Finals, 4-2.
I like your dark horse. Those old guys in San Antonio know how to win, and with Parker back, they could upset the Lakers in the conference finals. I think Lebron gets it done this year though. The Jamison pick up will be what they needed to get by Orlando. And enough to win it all.
The Bulls will win a game, but not more than that unless Lebron gets hurt or blinded somehow. Nice to see 2 years in a row in though. D Rose will get them past a 1st round soon.
This Bulls team has really stepped up their play in the playoffs the last 2 years. Cleveland has dominated .500 teams all year and they have really had their hands full all series long. Bulls were tied in the 4th qtr in Game 2 in Cleveland and we come away with a big W tonight. Very happy with the effort. You can tell they really believe they have a chance. Perhaps D Wade will take notice?? I almost hope the Heat go down in flames despite my hatred for the Celts just to give Wade extra motivation to leave town.
I am impressed with the way the young core has stepped up in the playoffs. Deng has started to play a little tougher. I thought he was a lost cause. Noah has stepped up big time. Rose just continues to get more impressive every game. I really hope the top free agents are watching the Bulls/Cavs series. The Bulls are 1 top scorer away from being a serious contender in the league. I am looking forward to seeing Bosh on this team next year.
I'm bummed there are no more games this season. It was a fun season to watch other than that 10 game losing streak with Rose, Deng, Hinrich, and Noah on the bench. They really played the Cavs tough, coming back from 9 down with 3 min to play. A couple bounces our way and we win that game and force a game 6 in Chicago. Gotta give the Bulls credit for the determination to keep coming back against a superior team on the road.
Looking forward to next season....
they need to make some kind of move this offseason, like you said before. If they could get Wade, they will win a playoff series next year. But yes, all in all, it was a great season. 2 years back 2 back playoffs is a step in the right direction for these youngsters.
Keep your heads up Chicago fans. Rose will have this team clicking plenty of years to come!
I hope all Bulls fans are pulling for the Celtics tonight.
If the Cavs lose tonight I think there is a 75% chance that LeBron is leaving Cleveland.
If LeBron leaves Cleveland I think the Bulls are the front runners to get him.
1. Best supporting cast available. Rose, Noah, Deng, Gibson. Plus enough money to put together a really good bench.
2. Best sports market in the country. Jordan proved that.
3. He grew up a Bulls fan.
4. He plans on changing his jersey number from 23 in honor of Jordan or is it because that number will not be available when he comes to the Bulls.
5. He wants Jordan's number retired trough out the league.
6. He wants to win more championships than Jordan did. What better place to do it than his childhood team?
In my mind if LeBron leaves Cleveland it is a done deal. Now hopefully it will happen in reality.
Support the cause. Check out http://sendlebrontochicago.com/
Don't you have some serious question marks about LeBron's desire to win? He really hasn't seemed all that bothered by the loss in Game 5 and wasn't at all bothered by the blowout in Game 1. His comment after his abysmal Game 5 performance, "I've spoiled people with my play. When you only have 3 bad games in 6 years, they are easy to point out." Seriously LeBron? Can you imagine Michael Jordan saying that? I remember situations like this with Jordan's Bulls and Jordan would flat out say the team sucked and we need to play better the next game or we're going home. I remember Larry Bird calling his teammates a bunch of girls after an embarrassing playoff defeat. There was no question how bothered Bird or Jordan were by losing and there was no question about how far they would go to win. There is definitely questions about LeBron. Perhaps once it settles in that his 'image' is going to ultimately be tarnished if he can't get it done in the playoffs, then he'll step up. He's only 25 and might undergo some personality changes in the coming years, but the guy is definitely motivated by different things than a Jordan, Bird, Tim Duncan, or Steve Nash.
That being said....PLEASE come to Chicago LeBron!!!!!!!!!!! Tonight is a big moment in the career and legacy of LeBron James. It'll be interesting to see which way this thing goes.
LeBron a Bull? Man would that be an exciting lift to that franchise. Can he and Rose play together is my only question.
Calipari coming to be the head coach? He coached Rose at Memphis, and has a great relationship with LeBron. This is shaping up to be the best early Christmas present Chicago fans have ever seen. Is it to good to be true though? All the talk has Chicago the front runner to land him.
The latest talk making the rounds regarding Chicago is that the Bulls could be the best fit because they already have a top-tier point guard in Derrick Rose and an athletic big man in Joakim Noah, plus they have a coaching vacancy that could conceivably end up being filled by John Calipari, who is extremely close to both Rose and James confidante William Wesley. The Bulls did make a head-scratcher of a trade when they gave away John Salmons and their No. 1 pick to Milwaukee at the trading deadline, but the deal gave them the flexibility to have max money available this summer. Yes, James would have to play the next several years in the shadow of Michael Jordan, but the generation that is as old or younger than James (25) has more vivid memories of Jordan as a Wizard, or as owner of the Bobcats, than they do of him winning six titles for the Bulls
I hope LeBron goes to NYC or the Clippers only so I can get back to watching good basketball without the sound of the announcers trying to blow LeBron every time he touches the basketball.
are you sure about that Taylor? I sure you would sing a different tune if he was to sign in Detroit ;)
Nope, I've said for years I wouldn't want that to happen. I honestly prefer team basketball much more so than stardom. Big dunks and pats on the back from refs are fun to watch if that's your team, sure, but it's much more exciting when the little guys on a team are making the star plays simply because they executed well. The Pistons team that won the championship in 2004 and continued to play together over the next few years is arguably the best TEAM in NBA history. (Yes, I know my opinion is worth about as much as anyone else's and just as biased as anyone else's) The Bulls when they went 72-10 is definitely a big part of that argument and tough to compare on some levels.
Tayor, no question that 2004 team played outstanding team ball and had no true superstar. They have a handful of selfless stars. However, the 1980's Celtics, or any of the Russell led Celtics from the 60's would be the template for team ball. The boring but perennial Spurs teams led by Duncan were a great team. They are still a pretty good team. The Knicks teams w/Walt Fraizer were a great example of team ball. The Bulls team that never got to the top with Van Lier and Sloan et all played great team ball. They had no superstar but a roster of team oriented stars.
I see your point. I really don't know if LeBron knows what a team game is. In high school he was the Stud, and that has carried over to the NBA. That is why I originally asked, can he and Rose play together?? Your taking Rose's game away from him if LeBron comes to Chicago. And Rose is why the Bulls have made the playoffs 2 years in a row. Maybe LeBron takes them to the next level, but then again maybe not. But to see him in a Bulls uniform would almost for sure make them a higher seed in the playoffs than an 8 seed. But until he does learn, that you need a team to win championships, he will struggle at persuing his ultimate goal. MJ had Pippen, Paxson, Grant Cartwright, Rodman, Lakers had Magic, Kareem, Worthy, McAdoo, Celtics had too many to name, Pistons had Thomas, Dumars ,Laimbeer, Rodman. 1 guy wont win a title.
But to argue your point...... 72-10 says it all Sir! Pretty sure they never lost back to back games that year. :o
This is an interesting argument. I advise you to read The Book of Basketball by Bill Simmons. Came out last year and much of the book is spent discussing this exact topic as it releates to the history of the NBA.
The formula for winning multiple titles. You need 1 dude that is your unquestioned alpha dog. For the Bulls it was Jordan, the Pistons had Isiah, Bird and Bill Russell with the Celts, Magic with the Lakers, etc.....
You fill in around that guy with with at least 1 other all-star caliber scorer/defender and other players who are committed to the team (especially to playing defense!) and understand who the alpha dog is. That doesn't mean you can't have all-stars/hall of famers as your supporting players (Pippen, Worthy, McHale, Parish for example), but there can be no question as to who the alpha dog is.
Perfect example: Shaq was the unquestioned alpha dog of the Lakers in the early part of the last decade. The team looked capable of winning 8 consecutive titles if they stuck to what worked. Of course, this did not sit well with Kobe. As we all know, LA had to ditch Shaq to keep Kobe who wanted to be the unquestioned hero of the Lakers, which ended that dynasty.
I have no clue where LeBron is going and quite frankly have grown completely weary of hearing about it. If he does come to Chicago, I don't forsee friction between Rose and James at this point in Rose's career. Rose would be the all-star caliber support (Mo Williams is a long way from being Derrick Rose) currently does not have. I see that team meshing quite well at first. That doesn't mean that after experiencing success there wouldn't be some yearning for more stardom that could lead to team strife as in the Shaq/Kobe Lakers situation. If say, D Wade and LeBron hooked up on a team (2 alpha dogs), I would put serious question marks on how long that situation would stay healthy. I'd predict 1 title followed by trade demands and team feuds.
Either way, Bulls fans would be crazy not to want James right now. He is completely self-absorbed and annoys the hell out of me, but I could learn to like the guy if he's winning titles in Chicago. Say what you want, he's the best player in the NBA.
Now lets wait til July 1st before we continue this speculation game.
well put Dan, but I would like to say this before July 1st.
LeBron the best player in the NBA?? Seriously?? Okay maybe all together player, cause he scores, rebounds, and has the assists, but KOBE is a true WINNER. Put the game in his hands, and 9/10 times he will win that game. Clutch player as well as they come. LeBron can't say that, yet! Or he would still be in the playoffs. LeBron could be the next MJ, but for now, the titles speak very loud, he has to get better than Kobe to be like Mike!
LeBron after 7 years is a better overall team value than Kobe after 7 years. Kobe has taken his team and his attitude to a new level in the past 3-4, so with the added experience it's a tough argument (and not even comparable). If LeBron can take a cue from Kobe and improve his team's confidence and competitiveness in the next 6, Kobe's stats will be a shadow in comparison. All except for the championships stat. Let's face it, Kobe made Luke Walton even look like he could play basketball (sometimes). That's saying something!
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YRLZBoiUFHQ/R8IeuKWjXFI/AAAAAAAAARA/I4nzITNVS_A/s400/kobe2.jpg)
I agree with everything Dan said except that LeBron is the best player.
LeBron and Rose would get along fine for at least a few years. Just like Shaq and Kobe did. It might only last until Rose is up for his first big contract but that is long enough to win a title or two.
The NBA is a star driven league. Even San Antonio and Detriot had their alpha-dog. They may not have stood out as much but they were there. I do not think to many players crossed Tim Duncan or Chauncy Billups.
I think the Mavericks and Suns are really good examples of teams that have not won championships because they do not have "THE GUY". A ton of talent but never could get over the hump. Seriously who would be intimidated by Dirk Nowitzki or Steve Nash. They are really good players, maybe great. But they do not have what it takes to get it done in the NBA.
IMO
LeBron is the most talented player in the NBA with the most potential. He is not a proven winner. He can carry a team to the finals. But has not carried them to a title.
Kobe is the best player in the league at the moment. He has the best combination of talent and winning. He can carry a team to a title and has.
To be the best in professional basketball you must win championships. In Baseball and Football you can find players that are the best at their position and play for really horrible teams most of their careers. Basketball not so much. Free agency has change that a bit for all sports but it still holds true for the most part. It is much easier to build a winning team in Basketball once you have a proven star than any other sport. The Celtics did it in 1 year with Garnett, Allen, and Pierce. If the Bulls sign LeBron and pull off a sign and trade for either Wade or Bosch they will be in the same position but a lot younger. Even if they just sign LeBron they are instant contenders for a title.
http://wcwpsports.blogspot.com/2010/05/west-sleeping-with-lebrons-mom-reason.html
Hilarious if true!
Thanks for the link Taylor. Thats some good stuff. LeBron's mom did have him when she was a teen, so she's probably perfect for the cougar hunting West....unreal.
I can't believe you guys are dragging me into this Kobe or LeBron argument.
As far as Payne's argument that Kobe is the best at the end of games. Click on this link for production in clutch time and show me where Kobe was better than LeBron. http://www.82games.com/0910/CSORT11.HTM (http://www.82games.com/0910/CSORT11.HTM)
As far as Kobe's titles go, give the Cavs Pau Gasol on a platter, throw in Bynum and Artest and LeBron would be winning titles too. As for Kobe's first 3 titles....Shaq was the alpha dog. Remember the Lakers post-Shaq and pre-Gasol? They were not close to LeBron's Cavs.
I'm not a Kobe hater, he is the greatest scoring and defending 2 guard in the history of the game besides Jordan. His best days are behind him. The Lakers beat OK City despite Kobe's less than stellar performances. In 2010, 25 year old LeBron is just plain better.
That being said, I'm pulling hard for the Suns since the Bulls were eliminated. I love watching Nash. I went to a Suns game in Phoenix in March. You'd be hard pressed to find a fan base in any sport that is more behind a player. I'm very jealous of Phoenix that they have gotten to watch a guy like that for the better part of a decade. Hopeully Rose will develop into something similar. Fingers crossed...........
pretty good article here on this exact topic.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/100514&sportCat=nba (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/100514&sportCat=nba)
Quote from: Dan Michler on May 14, 2010, 04:34:51 PM
Thanks for the link Taylor. Thats some good stuff. LeBron's mom did have him when she was a teen, so she's probably perfect for the cougar hunting West....unreal.
I can't believe you guys are dragging me into this Kobe or LeBron argument.
As far as Payne's argument that Kobe is the best at the end of games. Click on this link for production in clutch time and show me where Kobe was better than LeBron. http://www.82games.com/0910/CSORT11.HTM (http://www.82games.com/0910/CSORT11.HTM)
Dan, your gonna throw a link out that has 1 years stats? Cmon dude.
And it wasn't Payne's argument, it was 3 of us that said you were wrong. I said all around player, yea LeBron is that, but NOT the BEST in the NBA. The BEST knows how to win rings. How many does LeBron have after 7 years? In those 7 years, how many does Kobe have? Again, like the best in football argument.... Championships speak louder than individual stats!!
man, I screwed that post all up. Guess I shouldn't have drank that last beer at bowling tonight.
but actually, we shouldn't even be arguing. we both would love LeBron to be a Bull, best in the NBA or not, he would help the team we both cheer for. So for once dude, buddy up! Quit hating on me all the time. >:(
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-lebroninfluence060510 (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-lebroninfluence060510)
http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nba/news/story?id=5249031
This is awesome.
The full court press on LeBron is awesome.
Bulls coming away with Boozer which became pretty obvious as soon as Bosh committed to the Heat, which in hindsight was clearly going to happen all along. This whole 2010 free agent class hasn't been nearly as dramatic as the media wanted it to be. I believe LeBron is staying put in Cleveland and I'm about 90% sure on that. I can't imagine him planning this ESPN special and then breaking the hearts of the Cleveland faithful on national TV. It just wouldn't make sense. So, Bosh and Boozer and Amare were really the only 2 big movers in this year's free agent class. Those 3 aren't exactly bigtime newsmakers. This whole LeBron thing has been ridiculous. Nobody's need for attention will ever surpass King James. Can you imagine Michael Jordan or Larry Bird contacting a TV network so they can announce their free agency decision to the world? Unreal! This guy is a joke. I don't think winning is even a significant factor to him personally if it weren't for the fact that winning a title would bring him more attention.
So, looking at the East after the completion of free agency (David Lee is still out there, but I think he'll probably end up on a noncontender like the Nets), I rank them as follows:
Orlando/Cleveland - They were pretty close most of last season and both failed to show up in the playoffs against the Celts. Its hard to choose between them. I think they'll both make some more minor improvements to fill in around their superstars. They will still be the top 2 teams in the East in 2010/2011.
Miami - I think they'll go from a 40 win team to a 50 win team with the addition of Bosh. They still have holes and they still have to worry about Wade staying healthy. Bosh can't carry a team as he proved with the 35 win Raptors. Not sure how Beasley even fits on this team now, I think they have to trade him. I don't see them becoming the top team in the East.
Chicago - Hopefully Boozer and Noah and Deng will be healthy all year next year. Boozer/Noah is a superb rebounding front line and Boozer will give them the low post scorer and pick and roll tandem that they've been craving since Elton Brand was shipped to LA. Rose keeps getting better and can carry this team deep into the playoffs. Staying healthy is going to be the key as Deng, Boozer, and Noah have all had multiple injury problems. The possiblity of acquiring Carmelo next year is very intriguing. He is the perimeter scorer and guy who know's how to get to the free throw line and put points on the board that would transform the team into the best in the East. Possibly a better fit than LeBron offensively as Rose plays the same style game that LeBron plays, although I don't think you can replace LeBron's defense. We'll miss Hinrich's leadership/3 pt shooting/defensive ability next year. We won't miss Ty Thomas. I think Taj Gibson played near his ceiling last season, so I'm not hoping for much more than what we got, which was serviceable.
Boston - It was a miracle run last year in the playoffs after tanking the 2nd half in the regular season. KG is done. Pierce and Allen have old legs. Rondo will keep them a contender, but its not enough.
Atlanta - Same team coming back. I'm not sure how anybody can believe in them after the way they quit in the playoffs last year.
Quote from: Dan Michler on July 07, 2010, 06:10:43 PM
Bulls coming away with Boozer which became pretty obvious as soon as Bosh committed to the Heat, which in hindsight was clearly going to happen all along. This whole 2010 free agent class hasn't been nearly as dramatic as the media wanted it to be. I believe LeBron is staying put in Cleveland and I'm about 90% sure on that. I can't imagine him planning this ESPN special and then breaking the hearts of the Cleveland faithful on national TV. It just wouldn't make sense. So, Bosh and Boozer and Amare were really the only 2 big movers in this year's free agent class. Those 3 aren't exactly bigtime newsmakers. This whole LeBron thing has been ridiculous. Nobody's need for attention will ever surpass King James. Can you imagine Michael Jordan or Larry Bird contacting a TV network so they can announce their free agency decision to the world? Unreal! This guy is a joke. I don't think winning is even a significant factor to him personally if it weren't for the fact that winning a title would bring him more attention.
So, looking at the East after the completion of free agency (David Lee is still out there, but I think he'll probably end up on a noncontender like the Nets), I rank them as follows:
Orlando/Cleveland - They were pretty close most of last season and both failed to show up in the playoffs against the Celts. Its hard to choose between them. I think they'll both make some more minor improvements to fill in around their superstars. They will still be the top 2 teams in the East in 2010/2011.
Miami - I think they'll go from a 40 win team to a 50 win team with the addition of Bosh. They still have holes and they still have to worry about Wade staying healthy. Bosh can't carry a team as he proved with the 35 win Raptors. Not sure how Beasley even fits on this team now, I think they have to trade him. I don't see them becoming the top team in the East.
Chicago - Hopefully Boozer and Noah and Deng will be healthy all year next year. Boozer/Noah is a superb rebounding front line and Boozer will give them the low post scorer and pick and roll tandem that they've been craving since Elton Brand was shipped to LA. Rose keeps getting better and can carry this team deep into the playoffs. Staying healthy is going to be the key as Deng, Boozer, and Noah have all had multiple injury problems. The possiblity of acquiring Carmelo next year is very intriguing. He is the perimeter scorer and guy who know's how to get to the free throw line and put points on the board that would transform the team into the best in the East. Possibly a better fit than LeBron offensively as Rose plays the same style game that LeBron plays, although I don't think you can replace LeBron's defense. We'll miss Hinrich's leadership/3 pt shooting/defensive ability next year. We won't miss Ty Thomas. I think Taj Gibson played near his ceiling last season, so I'm not hoping for much more than what we got, which was serviceable.
Boston - It was a miracle run last year in the playoffs after tanking the 2nd half in the regular season. KG is done. Pierce and Allen have old legs. Rondo will keep them a contender, but its not enough.
Atlanta - Same team coming back. I'm not sure how anybody can believe in them after the way they quit in the playoffs last year.
Well Dan yesterday sources say that the indications are that James is gonna sign with the Heat but I believe that he is gonna stay in Cleveland. Wade and Bosh said yesterday on ESPN that they are willing to take less money instead the of the max amount of 16.6 millions a year they will take most likely 11.5 million with give em enough flexibility to bump up there roster. I also believe that Beasley will get traded to maybe in a Sign and Trade to the Raptors for Bosh. If James does Sign the Heat will be the definite contenders for the title this coming up year but they need to fill the bench right now only Clamers and Beasley are under contract. Fisher is available still in the market but I am pretty sure he is gonna go back to LA. Well this is gonna be an exciting day today when we hear where James is gonna sign.
Ok Stank, I'll bet you 5 bucks James is staying in Cleveland.
If he goes to Miami and they all take 15 mil/year as the theory goes, they will have to fill out the rest of the roster with league minimum players to join Beasley and Chalmers and stay within the salary cap rules. That sounds like potential for disaster. First of all you have to play Bosh at center which is not a natural position for him. He'll be matching up against bigger guys every night like Dwight Howard which would really be a mismatch. Beasley will have to play significant minutes which is a problem if you plan on contending for a title, mainly because Beasley sucks. Chalmers is your starting point guard? Thats not good. Wade and LeBron do the same thing offensively. Drive to the lane relentlessly. Its a wierd mesh. I do think this would be a scary defensive team, but they would lack consistent rhythm on the offensive end. And Wade and Bosh would be taking hits to their stat lines. Sure they say its fine with them now, but that never lasts. I'm saying right now, if these 3 hook up, they are not winning the title this year which will lead to inevitable bickering. These guys are all in their mid 20's and still have alot to learn. It would be interesting to watch. The attention they would get is undoubtedly the driving force behind James perhaps wanting to go there. However, that attention could turn very negative if they don't win. Not to mention, what happens when Wade goes down with injury as he so often does? James would be left with less of a team than he had in Cleveland in my opinion.
Why they would decide to hook up in a town like Miami which is just not a great sports town is beyond me. The Heat had half empty stadiums all last year. Alot of the residents down there are transplants and are more interested in the nice weather and beaches than they are the local sports teams. Its nothing like Chicago or New York. Nothing about this theory makes sense.
Quote from: Dan Michler on July 08, 2010, 07:30:31 AM
Ok Stank, I'll bet you 5 bucks James is staying in Cleveland.
He's going to Miami!
Quote from: Sr. on July 08, 2010, 07:53:06 AM
Quote from: Dan Michler on July 08, 2010, 07:30:31 AM
Ok Stank, I'll bet you 5 bucks James is staying in Cleveland.
He's going to Miami!
It makes me think of the 70's when the so-called supergroups weren't always that super. I hope James goes to Miami. I will be the first to bet that they do not win the title. I would still bet on a complete team that has 1-2 stars. Riley cannot build the Bronx Zoo in Miami as the cap will make the team really weak other than the big three. You cannot simply outspend the league as George Steinbrenner did. For all of Paxon's failures, he has a more measured and credible team right now than just about anybody else. That said, I still don't believe Lebron would be fool enough to go to Miami where I predict they would be a stunning failure. I am pretty sure the Bulls will not get James but New York (teaming with Stoudmire and the promise of reinventing that team) or Cleveland (can't leave the nest) seem more likely
Actually Barish, you are the 2nd to bet they wouldn't win a title as I just stated that very thing above. Not until they add some depth around those 3 guys. You need a perimeter shooter and an unselfish rebounder/defensive big man at the minimum. Also you can't expect these 3 guys to play 40+ minutes per night for 82 games and then make a run through the playoffs. Basketball just doesn't work that way. I'd like to see them prove to everybody by trying though.
And I still am betting James is staying in Cleveland. This Miami rumor was needed to build drama going into the 1 hour special tonight on ESPN. I think the Bulls and Knicks still have a better chance than the Heat.
if he leaves at all, it will be to Chicago. But will he let the entire State of Ohio down?? I doubt it!
If Lebron goes to Miami how do the build a team around those 3? They still need players to fill out the roster. They have to dress a minimum amount of players. Are they all going to be 2nd round picks. Just seems silly to me.
Cleveland or Chicago have the best chances to land LeBron
Boozer was a really good pickup. Probably the 2nd power forward available. If he is healthy and keeps a good attitude I think he is a better then Bosh overall and much tougher. Which is something the Bulls lack. Bosh is a better scorer without a doubt. Plus Boozer has been playing the pick and roll game in Utah for past 6 years. I wanted him when he went to Utah. Boozer played with LeBron for 1 year in Cleveland. That could be good or bad.
I think the Bulls are going to have a damn good team next year and for a few years to follow. A lot of it depends on the health of Deng, Boozer, Noah. They were a pretty good team last year when Noah was healthy. Deng stepped up his game in the playoffs. Rose should just continue improve. I do not see any reason they should not be a top 4/5 in the east next. If TT can teach these guys to play some defense all should be good. They do need a quality shooting guard. One that can hit n outside jump shot consistently.
They need to use the rest of the money very wisely if they do not sign LeBron. But they will have about 16-18mil to spend. That is more than enough to bring in a really good shooting guard and some other key positions. They have the mid level exception plus both veterans exceptions. Hopefully they will use the top level veterans exemption to bring back Brad Miller. They should bring him back. Then they just need 2 shooting guards and a back up point guard. Another small forward would help, I am not excited about James Johnson. They can also bring back some other guys from last year to take up minutes and be back ups. If they find a quality shooting guard this can be a really good team for a long time. Maybe even contend for the title. With Lebron that would be a no brainier. Ronnie Brewer, Mike Miller, Kyle Korver, Anthony Morrow, Quentin Richardson all these guys could fill the shooting guard roll for this team. Anthony Morrow might be a favorite choice. He is 6'5" and a really good outside shooter. He is only 24yo atm.
After reading that LeBron apparently has rented out some houses for a party in Miami this weekend, I'm starting to believe he is actually going to break the hearts of every Cleveland fan on national televison tonight. That is cold! King James better be ready for a bigtime backlash. Especially in New York and Cleveland.
That city has had a rough go with its sports teams without a championship since the 60's, Ernest Byner's fumble in the AFC championship in '87, Jordan's shot to eliminate the Cavs in '89, the Game 7 loss to the Marlins in '97, the Browns leaving town, and on and on....now LeBron fails to show up the last 2 postseasons after having the #1 seed in the East and then decides to make a big production out of his decision to leave for Miami and leave Cleveland in TOTAL shambles. How is this not a cop out? Joining D.Wade in Miami where Wade is already The Man and will take the pressure off of LeBron, which was apparently too much for him to handle. LeBron just keeps proving he lacks the competitive instinct of the Jordan's, Bird's, and even Kobe Bryant's of the world.
Mike, the league minimum is 500,000. If all 3 agree to take just 15 mill/year, that leaves 13 mill under the cap. Beasley makes 5 mill, maybe they'll trade him. Certainly they'll be getting below average NBA players to fill those other 9 roster spots.
Supposedly Bosh, James, Wade, and Chris Paul became best buds and made a pact at the Olympics in 2008 to play together. Chris Paul is a free agent in 2012. How they can work their deals to also acquire him in 2 years is beyond me. This is why players shouldn't be GM's.
I wouldn't throw long-term deals at any of those players you listed Mike. We still need to lock up Noah long-term. This team will significantly improve this year (although we'll miss Hinrich) and could be a top 4 seed in the East. Carmelo is a free agent next summer. He fits perfectly with this team. Get him to team with Rose for 5 years and we could have another dynasty in the making as we'd have a real basketball team 8 deep instead of a 3-man Dream Team that is headed for a giant flame-out in Miami.
yea, with the 6 beach houses already rented for the weekend in Miami, sounds like he will be leaving.
on a good note. If the Bulls don't get him, needing a pure shooter,, I would listen to Boozer when he talked about signing Kyle Korver. Watched him in college since I follow Bradley, a MVC team. And having a dish and getting the NFL and NBA package every year, I watched alot of Utah games following Deron Williams. Korver can score a big number on any night.
Boozer was HUGE, now maybe he can teach Noah a thing or 3??
Money wins again. 14 million saved by not paying state taxes seals the deal.
I agree with your thoughts on Boozer Doug. We were the #1 rebounding team last season and we just added another double digit rebound guy in Boozer. And he can score 20 ppg. That is a monster addition. I'm hoping we'll fill out the roster for next season with a solid defensive guard. Inconsistent defense is what led to our struggles last season.
I'm actually pretty happy I don't have to pump myself up to root for LeBron. Its much easier to ride him for being the giant D bag that he is. Miami better win it all next season or there is going to be some major disappointment. I like all the guys that the Bulls have and am really looking forward to next season. I really wish we still had Hinrich for next season, but what can you do. Korver would be a nice addition. I would not rule out the possibility of a trade deadline deal to bring in Carmelo next February and then signing him to a long-term deal. Who knows what will happen. Bottom line is we have a solid group of guys who will compete next season and we have no dispute about whose team this is, D.Rose.
It'll be interesting to see how Miami fills out their roster, but temporarily I'll predict the following seeds in the East: You could easily reverse 3-5 and Miami will struggle mightily if Wade or Bosh suffer any type of injury.
1.Orlando
2. Miami
3. Chicago
4. Boston
5. Atlanta
So long Cleveland. You just went from 1st to worst. Tough time to be a Cleveland fan once again!
This has been an entertaining distraction from the misery of the Cubs this year.
I say the Heat wont beat the Lakers if they even make the finals. If either of the 3 get hurt, they are in trouble. 7 roster spots to fill with 2nd and 3rd rounders! Not a very good decision in my opinioin. If he wanted to win now, and in the years to come, Chicago would have been the best fit.
I'm over it as well Dan.
Rose and Boozer will master the pick and roll, almost as well as Stockton and Malone. If Noah can keep his 10ppg and 11rbds, they should lead the league in rebounding. And Boozer has a good 16' jumper, so he is not just a low post scorer. I can't wait for the season to start. And how sweet it will be, advancing past the 1st round of the playoffs. But how sweet would it be to knock the HEAT out? ;D
Bulls are not done! Stay tuned for a blockbuster deal. Cap room is there. Plan 2 is coming.
Who needs another cry baby who can't even shake the oppositions hand.
I agree with the addition of Boozer.
Bulls will contend next year.
Now that LeBron has proven how much of a sell out he is I am glad he did not come here. It would have been nice cause I think he is the most talented player in the league but I want my star player to be the Alpha Dog. LeBron does not fit that bill. Wade is the Alpha Dog on that team. Lets see how well that works out. I do not see how they fill out that roster with 17mil and 4 players under contract. Good Luck. What team has won a title with a really good bench? They need at least 5 quality players to fill up the roster. With the average currently being $4-5mil per year for bench players I do not see it happening. Chris Duhon got $4mil per year.
Dan, 4-5 year deals are the current standard in the NBA. That is the price of doing business. The players I mentioned are probably about $6-8mil players with 4-5 year deals. That is not going to break the bank. If the Bulls do not over pay, the contracts for roll players should be easily traded if needed. The Bulls can renegotiate Noah's contract at anytime. If they do it at the proper time his salary eats up soft cap space. There is no rush. I do not think he is going anywhere. The Bulls need to get a competitive team together first. That includes a couple of guards and one of the needs to be a really good perimeter shooter. I would also like to see them pick up a good defender at the 2 guard spot. I like the Carmelo thing but who are they giving up to trade for him. No one is taking Deng's contract. Also the pick and roll is far less effective if you do not have a player with a perimeter shooter. I see shooting guard as their highest priority. My choices would be Ronnie Brewer and Anthony Morrow. They do not have to settle for 1 they can get both. And they need 2 guards. The Bulls have 1 guard under contract atm. I am not that worried about defense. That is what TT is for. He got Ray Allen and Paul Pierce to play team defense. I have no doubt he can make it work here.
Noah should be putting up more points via offensive rebounds with a legit power forward next to him. They is no way you can block him out with Boozer and Rose running a pick and roll. It should be nice to watch. Put a legit perimeter shooter on this team and this offense is close to unstoppable. And do not forget Deng as the 3rd offensive option on this team. He might be overpaid but he is not a bad player by any stretch.
The Bulls should be really exciting next year. I am excited about the season.
EDIT: Just found an article stating that Omer Asik, Bulls 2008 pick, is in camp and is expected to sign. More soft cap space in needed. Another big man he is 7'. That makes the front court even bigger. Sweet! Still would like to see Brad Miller come back for cheap. Can never have to many big men.
The Bulls signed Kyle Korver, and sent an offer sheet to J.J Reddick. He will most likely stay in Orlando. But the better news is, they are going after Josh Howard(Dallas)
Korver will be good off the bench. He reminds me of Nocioni, but a better shooter. If they can get Howard, I think Deng will be gone in a trade. But things are starting to look a little brighter in Chicago. Almost positive they will advance past round #1 of the playoffs.
I believe Orlando has offered Quentin Richardson a multi-year deal, which if he accepts would mean not matching our offer to Redick which would have put them over the cap anyway. We have put together a decent roster without the superstar acquisition. If we get solid production from our back-ups and barring any major injuries we should look good for a top 4 seed in the East.
Orlando is already way over the cap. ATM the have the highest payroll in the league. If the match JJ Redick's offer from the Bulls there salary will be around $98mil. They would be pay some $27mil in luxury tax. Holly sh@t. Where is Orlando getting all this money from? They probably will not end up the highest payroll but they will be in the top 3 for sure. The Lakers only have 8 players under contract atm.
This is a good sign for the Bulls getting Redick. The Bulls want Redick bad according to the report I have seen on the contract. Front loaded with $14mil up front. Eat the salary now and only have to $6mil for the final 2 years. Not bad. And really make Orlando pay to match the offer. Pretty smart. The Bulls should make Matt Barnes an offer as well. There is the defensive minded player they need.
Matt Barnes would be a significant score. Redick? He's maybe half as good as Hinrich was. Not sure how I'm supposed to be excited about that.
Udonis Haslem agreeing to come back and play for the Heat for about 1/3 the money he was offered by Denver and Detroit. Doesn't this sound fishy? I mean winning is nice, but this is a job too. How can he justify giving up that much money? Its not like a guy like Haslem has made all the money he could ever need. I understand the lack of state taxes makes up for some of that, but still, that is crazy. I wonder if they find a way to pay these guys on the side so it doesn't count against the salary cap. If I were Haslem, I'd ask LeBron to play for 1 million a season so they can pay me what I deserve. LeBron's endorsements/business deals far surpass his salary. He is the guy who should be giving up 2/3 of his salary for the sake of winning, not journeymen NBA role players like Haslem.
QuoteMatt Barnes would be a significant score. Redick? He's maybe half as good as Hinrich was. Not sure how I'm supposed to be excited about that.
I agree with this statement. Hinrich was only a good trade if we landed Lebron and/or Bosh. Since we landed neither, we really should not have traded him. He plays great defense and is an excellent role player.
That being said, it was impossible to look into the crystal ball and know that Lebron and Bosh would sign with Miami. Chicago was clearly the best pick if he wanted to win a championship next season. C'MON MAN!
Hirich is a better overall player. Redick is a better perimeter shooter than Hinrich. Which is more of what this team needs the way it is put together. They are essentially the same player Redick is younger and cost about the same. It would have been nice to keep Hinrich but business is business and if they get Redick it will all work out in the end. Personally I wish the Bulls would have made a offer for Anthony Morrow. The only offer out there for him is 3 years $12mil. The Bulls could offer a little more than that. I guess they question his defense cause there is no questioning his shooting. They could end up with both if they made him an offer.
The Bulls simply had to trade Hinrch for to have the best chance at Lebron and a 2nd max contract. They tried to trade Deng. Nobody in the wanted the Deng's contract. Hindsight is what it is. I am happy the Bulls did what they had to do to free up money to their best shot at LeBron. It is not their fault he turned out to be a punk/sellout. If Boozer stays healthy I will be more than happy with Boozer over Bosh. Health is my only concern with Boozer. Plus he came to the Bulls for $2-3mil less per year than Bosh. Good deal for the Bulls.
The Magic reportedly matched our offer to Redick, which will cost them an extra 7 million in luxury tax on top of his salary for the first two seasons, effectively making him a 14 million a year player. Not entirely sure what they are doing down there already having signed Richardson to a deal.
I'm guessing we go after Ronnie Brewer next but the free agent talent pool appears to be quickly drying up.
Orlando ownership must be loaded. That match brings there current salary to about $91-92mil. More power to them. $20mil+ in luxury tax for a team that did not even make the finals last year, ouch. What a way to kill a franchise. I thought Mark Cuban owned the Maverick's. Maybe it his brother.
According to KC Johnson, next on the Bulls list is Brewer, Bogans for SG and Alston for backup PG. I am good with that as well. They are good role players. Brewer or Bogans could be starting SG. Athletic, good defenders, decent scorers. They just do not have the outside shot Redick does. Hopefully the Bulls here good news from Brad Miller today. There are a few guards out there still. Josh Howard is still available. He won't be ready till the All-Star break but still a good SG. There are also a couple of trade opportunities out there as well. Rudy Fernandez, Portland, and Andre Iguodala, Philly, are supposedly available.
Looks like the Bulls are going to sign Ronnie Brewer for 3yr$12.5mil. The 3rd year is not guaranteed. They still have around $10mil under the cap left.
It seems that everyone is getting overpaid this off-season. Brad Miller signed a 3 year deal at 5 million per year. There is no way I can see him being worth that much and I'm glad we didn't cave in and give him whatever else we have left in the cap. We still need to keep focus on finding a backup point guard.
Sounds like the Bulls are going to sign McGrady.
Not a huge McGrady fan, but I do think he may be good for this team off the bench. We aren't exactly heavy on guys who can score off the dribble. When Rose is on the bench, T-Mac would give the Bulls another scoring option. Not counting on him for more than 20 min a game and maybe 8-10 ppg as he has really old legs at this point. Hopefully this is not more than a 2 year deal and hopefully he'll feel like playing some defense. I'm still aiming at that 4th seed in the East for the Bulls this year.
Did they release the terms of a potential contract yet? I'm trying to figure out how much more money we have left after signing Kurt Thomas. Can't be more than 3-4 million per year. I don't really know where I stand on signing T-Mac, it could prove to be a great pickup or a colossal failure.
I haven't seen any numbers but I would think it is for the veterans minimum or close to it. The amount of money they have left depends on if they use their exceptions on certain players, like K.Thomas. It could be anywhere from 2-5mil. C.J.Watson used up a lot of that money. He is making 3mil next year. I was surprised by that. The Bulls had 7.8mil left after signing Brewer. So minus Watson's 3mil that leaves 4.8mil before Thomas. If they use a veterans exception on Thomas that number doesn't change. If not they have around 2-3mil left. Plus another veterans exception and mid-level exception if they want to use it. I think they have all their exceptions this year but I could be wrong. Omer Asik is going to make some where around 1.5-2mil. Not sure if that was before Brewer's signing or not. Basically they do not have much left just enough for a couple of guys if needed.
Free agent guard Keith Bogans has agreed to a two-year deal with tbe Chicago Bulls, according to a league source. The 30-year-old played last season in San Antonio.
The second year of the deal is partially guaranteed. Bogans was also considering the Knicks, who agreed to a deal earlier this week with former Spur Roger Mason, Jr.
The Bulls have been in pursuit of Portland guard Rudy Fernandez, who wants a trade from the Trail Blazers. The acquisition of Bogans does not preclude Chicago from continuing to try and get Fernandez; a source pointed out Friday that the Bulls still have some cap room and only 12 players under contract.
I realize most of us are sick of hearing anything about LeBron, but I read these quotes from him on ESPN today and he continues to blow my mind. He truly is on the level of a 10 year old mentally.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5470162 (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5470162)
Reading about possible Bulls trades for Carmelo. Trading Noah for Carmelo would get us no closer to winning a title. In fact, I think its a step backwards. This would leave us without size, without a defensive presence, and without an energy leader on our team. You don't win titles without size, the Miami Heat may prove this point in 2011. We wouldn't be as good as the Nuggets were with Carmelo. This would be a huge mistake.
Acquiring Carmelo for Deng and Taj Gibson would be a major addition. This is basically swapping out Deng for Carmelo in our starting lineup and losing Taj off the bench. Carmelo would provide exactly what this team is missing, with the exception of his lack of defensive intensity. Pencil in Carmelo and Boozer for a consistent 20+ ppg to go with Rose as one of the top 5 point guards in the game...this team could win some games.
The best part is that I don't think any of our star players would be stepping on each other's toes. With LeBron and Wade you have an odd tandem of 2 guys who do exactly the same thing on the basketball floor. Its yet to be seen how that will play out. With this potential Bulls team, you have Noah as the hustle guy, the rebounder and defender. Rose as the point guard and guy who can break down the defense off the dribble. Carmelo the wing man and perimeter scorer. Boozer the low post presence on the offensive end. It seems like a perfect mesh on paper.
Noah and Boozer would be the best rebounding tandem in the league. I think we'd be the team to beat in the East unless Miami adds a real big man.....that being said, why would Denver want to take on Deng's contract? Seems like a bad deal for them, I don't expect to see it happen.
99.9% sure he wont be a Bull anytime soon.... This was an ESPN headline today
One of the final significant hurdles for a blockbuster four-team trade that would send Carmelo Anthony(notes) to the New Jersey Nets hinges on the All-Star forward's willingness to agree to a contract extension with the Nets, two front-office executives involved in the deal told Yahoo! Sports.
Anthony is unhappy with the Nuggets' instability.
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The Denver Nuggets and New Jersey are having ongoing discussions centered on No. 3 overall pick Derrick Favors(notes) and the Nets' 2011 first-round pick and a protected 2012 first-rounder the Nets received from the Golden State Warriors going back to the Nuggets. The proposed trade also would involve the Utah Jazz and Charlotte Bobcats. Under the proposal, league sources said the Nets would also send point guard Devin Harris to the Bobcats, who would move forward Boris Diaw to the Jazz, who send forward Andrei Kirilenko to the Nuggets to complete what one front-office source described as a "very complicated" deal
Boozer breaks his hand while answering a doorbell? Out 8 weeks? My gut tells me this is foreshadowing Boozer's career as a Bull...
got D Rose on my fantasy team along with Noah. Pretty stoked. ;D