4/15 - Bulls (41-40) vs. Toronto (32-49) - 7 pm, CSN

[SpongeWorthy]

At least we have a coherent plan in place now.

 

Kind of disappointing to see Thabo go but I'm pleasantly surprised we got a first round pick out of it. He seemed like a savvy pick up when we traded for him but the skill level just isn't there.

[17 Seconds]

Would have been better off trading Hughes for a 2nd round pick.

 

Salaries have to match in the NBA.

 

I know they do. I'm just saying.

 

That the Bulls should have done something that was not possible?

[RynoRules]

Pax did much good today, but he's still the worst GM in town for putting himself in this position in the first place.

 

At least he tacitly admitted to the Wallace and Nocioni contracts being mistakes. And getting a 1st round pick for Thabo is a good haul. Now he needs to find a way to get rid of Hinrich and - perish the thought - find a "big" who can actually score (at least Gooden could do a bit of that).

 

Sadly, he's wasted one of his trading chips in Gordon. We'll get nothing but cap room for him when he departs this Summer.

[17 Seconds]

Bosh Bosh Bosh Bosh Bosh

[RynoRules]

Bosh Bosh Bosh Bosh Bosh

 

I've seen this movie before, except last time the GM was a rather large individual with enormous bags under his eyes.

[Flames24Rulz]

More than anything, I think the writing is on the wall for Hinrich to be traded. Really the only team that I could see taking Gordon for more than $7 million a year would be Oklahoma City. Paxson made it sound like in his presser that he was going to do whatever he could do to bring Gordon back.

 

I'd much rather have the guard rotation be Rose, Gordon, and Salmons than Rose, Hinrich, and Salmons. I think Paxson realizes this too. I really soured on him in the last couple of years, but his last two deadlines - especially this one - have been outstanding.

Edited February 20, 2009 by Flames24Rulz

[ChiCubsFan]

Rose/backup PG

Gordon/Salmons

Deng/Salmons

Thomas/Noah

Bosh/Noah

 

Is that team good enough to compete at the top of the Eastern conference?

[SpongeWorthy]

Bosh Bosh Bosh Bosh Bosh

 

I've seen this movie before, except last time the GM was a rather large individual with enormous bags under his eyes.

 

Those were the worst teams in Bulls history pretty much. Brand was a nice piece but he wouldn't attract a big time FA like Rose would. Plus the Crumbs factor was a negative at that point.

[Tyrant]

Rose/backup PG

Gordon/Salmons

Deng/Salmons

Thomas/Noah

Bosh/Noah

 

Is that team good enough to compete at the top of the Eastern conference?

 

If Rose develops into what everyone thinks he will, then yes.

[wolf stansson]

Rose/backup PG

Gordon/Salmons

Deng/Salmons

Thomas/Noah

Bosh/Noah

 

Is that team good enough to compete at the top of the Eastern conference?

Absolutely not as long as LeBron is in the east.

 

That's no better than any Magic team with Howard either.

 

That team is a 3-6 seed that loses in the second round.

[Tyrant]

Absolutely not as long as LeBron is in the east.

 

That's no better than any Magic team with Howard either.

 

That team is a 3-6 seed that loses in the second round.

 

I think you're underestimating how good Derrick Rose is going to be. Just out of curiosity, would you think this team can compete in the East?

 

Dwayne Wade

Ben Gordon

Luol Deng

Tyrus Thomas

Chris Bosh

 

You probably would. And realize that in a few years, Rose might be as good as (or possible better than) Wade. Here are their per-36-minute stats from their rookie years:

 

Wade (age 22): 16.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, .465 FG%

Rose (age 20): 16.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 6.2 assists, .474 FG%

 

So, comparing the two player's first years in the NBA, Rose scores at almost the same rate, but more efficiently. He also distributes better. And he's two years younger than Wade. I don't think he'll ever average 28 a game because he'll be playing the point, but I think it's very possible they'll have similar value.

[wolf stansson]

Dwayne Wade

Ben Gordon

Luol Deng

Tyrus Thomas

Chris Bosh

That team could contend, but I'd put my money on the Cleveland/New York LeBrons, whichever it is.

 

You have some seriously high expectation for Rose. Chris Paul has had some of the best seasons ever for a point guard in the last three years and what's his team done?

 

It's hard to win championship built around point guards. You need depth, a good system/coach, defense and studs to run with.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I think the sad fact is that as long as LeBron is in the East and the management that has him is remotely competent, the Bulls will never be favorites.

[Tyrant]

 

You have some seriously high expectation for Rose. Chris Paul has had some of the best seasons ever for a point guard in the last three years and what's his team done?

 

Well, when they were healthy last year, they won 56 games in the Western Conference. That's a pretty good accomplishment. And they've had some injuries this year, but are still sitting at 32-20.

[Guest]

Well, the solution is to sign LeBron in 2010, then.

 

(And I agree, any competent team with LeBron will be a favorite from now on.)

[Tyrant]

I think the sad fact is that as long as LeBron is in the East and the management that has him is remotely competent, the Bulls will never be favorites.

 

That's a fair point, yes. But I think if the Bulls can land Bosh next summer, just as he hits his prime, they'll have as good of a chance as anyone. But you're right, any team that has LeBron James in the next 12 years is going to be very good.

 

Also, you never gave me your plan to turn the Duhon, Hinrich, Noc, Garnett core into a championship team.

[wolf stansson]

Also, you never gave me your plan to turn the Duhon, Hinrich, Noc, Garnett core into a championship team.

Sign LeBron?

 

 

 

 

Seriously though, I think we could contend after 2010 with

 

Rose

Joe Johnson

Deng

Bosh/Amare/Boozer

Noah

B - Thomas, Hinrich, Salmons, depth.

[Tyrant]

Also, you never gave me your plan to turn the Duhon, Hinrich, Noc, Garnett core into a championship team.

Sign LeBron?

 

Genius! Sign me up. :thumbsup:

 

Seriously though, I think we could contend after 2010 with

 

Rose

Joe Johnson

Deng

Bosh/Amare/Boozer

Noah

B - Thomas, Hinrich, Salmons, depth.

 

I think that'd be a great lineup, but I'm not sure how it'd fit into the cap. If they can shed Deng's salary and get a good replacement-player for him in the draft, it might be a possibility. But even still, having two big money guys in Johnson and Bosh, plus leaving room for Rose would be tough.

 

Also, I'm not sure I want any part of Carlos Boozer.

[Magnetic Curses]

i'm not all that infatuated with lebron. he's the best player in the east, but is he a player that you want taking the shot at the end of a game? maybe i'm just spoiled by the 90's.

[Tyrant]

i'm not all that infatuated with lebron. he's the best player in the east, but is he a player that you want taking the shot at the end of a game?

 

Why not?

[Guest]

Well, the only guys I can think of who I'd prefer taking that final shot more than Lebron would be Kobe and Wade.

[sneakypower]

Amare's out 8 weeks after eye surgery for detached retina

 

funny how that worked out

[UMFan83]

Absolutely not as long as LeBron is in the east.

 

That's no better than any Magic team with Howard either.

 

That team is a 3-6 seed that loses in the second round.

 

I think you're underestimating how good Derrick Rose is going to be. Just out of curiosity, would you think this team can compete in the East?

 

Dwayne Wade

Ben Gordon

Luol Deng

Tyrus Thomas

Chris Bosh

 

You probably would. And realize that in a few years, Rose might be as good as (or possible better than) Wade. Here are their per-36-minute stats from their rookie years:

 

Wade (age 22): 16.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, .465 FG%

Rose (age 20): 16.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 6.2 assists, .474 FG%

 

So, comparing the two player's first years in the NBA, Rose scores at almost the same rate, but more efficiently. He also distributes better. And he's two years younger than Wade. I don't think he'll ever average 28 a game because he'll be playing the point, but I think it's very possible they'll have similar value.

 

I don't think you can *only* compare 2 players based on statistics. Wade is a very good scorer and does it in many ways, from jump shots, to slashing in the lane, plus an amazing ability to draw contact in the lane. Wade seems to have a bigger reach as well, allowing him to get shots up over taller defenders (their height isn't a big difference, Rose is 6-3 and only 20, while Wade is 6-4)

 

I'm not dogging on Rose, I think he is going to be a terrific player and can rival Wades impact. But to just compare them on their rookie numbers isn't telling the whole story. Wade's ability to score is unique and Rose might not be able to score in the same ways. Wades way of scoring might give him a higher ceiling that Rose's abilities might.

 

There's no doubt that Rose is only going to get better though. His jumper is already better than Wade's is right now, and he has the ability to get to the lane easily. His first step is unrivaled in the NBA. I think he'll be a 25ppg scorer when all is said and done, if he doesn't focus more on distribution.

[Tyrant]

I don't think you can *only* compare 2 players based on statistics. Wade is a very good scorer and does it in many ways, from jump shots, to slashing in the lane, plus an amazing ability to draw contact in the lane. Wade seems to have a bigger reach as well, allowing him to get shots up over taller defenders (their height isn't a big difference, Rose is 6-3 and only 20, while Wade is 6-4)

 

Absolutely. I was just using it as a very simple baseline, because I think there are some similarities in their games. I don't think Rose will be as strong as Wade, and he probably won't get to the line as much. But I think he'll be a better jump-shooter and has a better chance at developing a three-point shot. I just wanted to point out that he could have a similar impact as Wade and how, in theory, he and Bosh could be a 1-2 punch to rival LeBron in the East.

 

Of course, Bosh needs to actually come to Chicago first....

[Magnetic Curses]

i'm not all that infatuated with lebron. he's the best player in the east, but is he a player that you want taking the shot at the end of a game?

 

Why not?

 

he's not a jump shooter. he'll overwhelm you with physicality, but i don't think he has even as many game winning shots as ben gordon does.

 

anybody else think he looked bad during the olympics?