Bulls 10-11

[Mike Clark]

This is getting confusing. Are we talking upgrade or blockbuster trade?

There is nothing wrong trying to upgrade your team when you can. But I am not willing to trade any of the core of this current team for anyone who is available this year. Not even Mello. The way Deng is playing right now I would not trade him. To get Mello the Bulls would have to part with either Noah of Deng just to match salary. I would not be willing to give up either of those guys for Mello. If someone wants JJ, or a similar player, and some picks for Mayo, C.Lee, S.Jackson or some other quality 2 guard so be it. I guess J.R.Smith is in the picture now as well. S.Jackson is interesting but where are The Bulls going to find 9mil in salary to trade for him. OJ and J.R.Smith salaries match up better. But they both have character issues. Good luck getting those guys past Paxon and Uncle Jerry.

The Bulls just do not have any high priced contracts to get rid of for a high priced player. Now there are all kinds of exceptions that I am not clear about that might let them get something done. But there is nothing obvious.

Now if there were some sort of deal available where you could get 1 of the 5 best players in the league. That is a different story. If for some reason Kobe or LeBron, even Wade for that matter were to want to come to Chicago that is something worth considering.

Players the Bulls have I would be willing to trade to get S.Jackson:
Korver- 5mil
JJ- 1.8mil

Those 2 and a little more will get you S.Jackson. But if that little more is Taj that is too much for me. Is that worth it? Is anyone really going to take Korver if he is overpaid like Dan says. Everyone else makes less than 2mil and not very good.

If Houston would take JJ and some picks for C.Lee that would be doable. Not really giving up anything and does not mess with the current team too much

For reference: http://hoopshype.com/salaries/chicago.htm

I consider Brewer a very solid 2 on this team. Again I do not understand why he is not starting. Cause he can not hit an outside shot? Then start Korver and live with the defense. But then we have no defense in the backcourt. I guess that is why Bogans has to start. He can play defense and sometimes hit the open jumper. S.Jackson could solve that problem for the short term.

[Dan Michler]

All this aside, really looking forward to the Thursday night games on TNT the next 2 weeks. 
Spurs @ Bulls
Heat @ Bulls

Lets get it on!

[Mike Clark]

I am super excited to see the Spurs vs Bulls coming up. The Bulls are super hot at home. Pretty sure they have the 2nd best home record in the league. 1/2 game behind the the Celts. Love watching the Bulls at home.

[pdga#7648]

very nice win tonight against a very strong Spurs team. A very big plus headed to the break. 38-16 is a great start. The division record looks awesome at 11-0, but every team is below .445 winning percentage. The road record at 13-12 has to be very concerning. They also play alot of road games after the break, so hopefully they find a hot streak away from the UC. Cause Boston is 15-9, and Miami is 21-10 on the road, so going to either one of them in the playoffs is a tough win. The Bulls only have a 4-4 record vs other division leaders.
Lets just hope when Noah gets back, the team doesn't lose any of their agressiveness. Who leaves when Noah does return? anybody?


MVP Rose had a career high 42 points tonight. Dude is slick!

[philvb85]

Rose continues to surprise me, not only with his scoring but his true urge to help his team mates score.  With about 4 minutes to go (Rose had 36 at this point, 3 short of tying his career high) on 4 consecutive possessions he continued to find open looks for the other guys on the floor.  It wasn't until they missed shots on all of those possessions that he took over and scored 6 more.  It almost seemed as if he didn't care (or maybe just wasn't aware) that he was that close to tying or surpassing his career high in points. 

A great win going into the all star break, can't wait to get Noah back.  I personally think we should DNP Thomas for a couple weeks.  He's old and we could really use his fresh legs and fouls come playoff time when Thibs might be more hesitant to trust Asik anyways. 

[Mike Clark]

The way Rose played the at the end of the Spurs game was some great basketball. If he continues to hit that open jump shot he is unstoppable.

The Hamilton rumor came up earlier in the year and I loved the idea but thought there was no way due to Hamilton's contract. It sounds like the Pistons might be buying out his contract. If this happens it makes a lot of sense for him to sign with the Bulls for the veterans minimum. That would be a steal and a half for the Bulls if that were to happen.

http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chicago-bulls-confidential/2011/02/bulls-leading-candidate-to-land-hamilton-and-other-trade-rumors.html#more

Another link discussing the Bulls options.
http://www.nba.com/bulls/news/smith_110221.html

[Dan Michler]

So the Pistons would be releasing Hamilton and the Bulls would acquire him for the rest of this season?  If that is the case, it'd be worth a shot.  He can still shoot and has a ton of playoff experience.  He might end up providing exactly the same thing we get from Korver though.  The hell with J.R. Smith.  That guy takes more bad shots than Antoine Walker in his prime.

[Mike Clark]

So the Pistons would be releasing Hamilton and the Bulls would acquire him for the rest of this season? 

Yes. Once the Pistons buyout the contract Hamilton can sign with who ever he wants. Back in the day Hamilton was a better scorer than Korver but I haven't seen him play in a few years. I am not too sure what Hamilton has left.
It is a long shot that Hamilton and the Pistons would come to an agreement on the buyout. Hamilton is owed $25mil after this year. He will not make that back on the open market. I guess it depends on how bad he wants out and what Detroit is willing to pay to get rid of him.

[Dan Michler]

Thank god this Carmelo BS is over with.  So sick of hearing about it.  The East coast bias is in full effect.  The Knicks are not suddenly a contender.  They downgraded from Ray Felton (17 ppg 9 assists) to the aging Billups (16 ppg 6 assists).  They lose Gallinari and Chandler (combined 32 ppg).  This team will play zero defense.  I don't see them being much different from what they currently are, which is a 28-26 team, the 6th seed in the East.  If the Bulls end up the 3 seed, we'll stomp this team in the 1st round.

[philvb85]

I agree with you Dan.  I'm no longer scared of the Knicks in the first round.  We match up better with them now that they won't have a great athlete who plays solid D at the 4 in Chandler.  I can't speak for Billup's D since I really haven't seen him play much this year, but being as old as he is you would have to think Rose matches up better with him. 

Can't wait to get my boy Joakim back tomorrow night. 

[Dan Michler]

Well I guess Paxson sees nothing in James Johnson.  Traded him today for the pick Toronto got from Miami in the Bosh deal.  That'll be a bottom of the 1st round pick, which in the NBA, is usually not much of an impact.

[dana]

I like(d) JJ.  He wasn't going to see any playing time so at least they got something out of him.  Good chance they can get a servicable player with a 27-30 pick.

[pdga#7648]

well, I guess Noah was ready to return. he had 10 rebounds in the 1st quarter  kind of sucks, he's going against me in my fantasy league. at least I have D Rose

[dana]

last night was a trap game in a half

[philvb85]

Toronto shot their best % of the season and scored 118 without hitting a single 3.  I don't know if we have allowed another team to shoot 58% from the field on us all year.  I'll just assume it was lethargy caused from too much time off, and not that our D was disrupted by Noah's return.

I think we made that JJ deal in hopes to have another bargaining chip for a trade today.  A draft pick is a lot more tempting to GMs than a JJ type player since GMs assume they can all strike gold and mold a player of their choice.  We will see what today holds.

[DaBus85]

Toronto just couldn't miss a shot.  It wasn't the best defensive performance by Da Bulls but when you hit some of the shots Toronto made it's hard to defend.  With that trade it gives Da Bulls three first round picks next draft.  So even if they don't make a trade this season they could in the off season or find someone good in the draft.  They have the pick from that trade, their own pick and the pick from the Tyrus Thomas trade to he Bobcats.  Should be a great game tonight vs. the Heat!!

[Dan Michler]

So incredibly slow to rotate over and help on defense the whole game last night.  58 points in the paint by the F'ing Toronto Raptors.  Brutal.  If that Bulls team shows up tonight, Miami is going to win big.  We beat a short-handed Miami team last month.  Expect the Heat to be extra motivated tonight to get revenge for that loss, and establish their dominance in the East.

[DaBus85]

The Heat were short handed but so were Da Bulls.  They didn't have Noah so we will see what happens.  GO BULLS!!!

[pdga#7648]

Bosh was 1-18 shooting. the worst since 1976(1-22). Great win again tonight, vs a strong Heat team. Asik's 11 rebounds were the edge at 52-39.  but at home once again. the team needs to play sooo much better on the road. still hoping with Noah back, they can become a little better on the defensive end. that will be key to getting a 3 or 4 seed, and a opening 1st round at home.

Deng was great once again tonight. I truly believe this team can beat the Heat in a playoff matchup. Wade and LeBron had huge games, and they still lost. Yea, Bosh was terrible, but thats just good defense. They defend home court, and find that way to win on the road, watch out everyone.

[dana]

WOW.

I am so hyped up right now.  What a game!!  How bout DENG!  Asik played HUGE tonite too.  Ronnie woo woo is a steal machine.

I have to admit that I got a little nervous when LeBron started denying D Rose the ball...

DENG IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!