2009 Bulls Offseason Thread

[bcl412]

I'm not too sad to see Gordon go and long term it's for the best, but in a year where I've had to see DeRosa in a Cards jersey and Favre play for the Vikings, I'm not a fan of seeing Gordon in a Pistons uniform.

[Flames24Rulz]

this 2010 FA class is the most overrated story in a long time. My guess is most of these guys re-sign with their own teams

 

More than likely. The LeBron's of the world will probably stay with their current teams.

 

Guys like Joe Johnson are going to move though.

[Guest]

Who's psyched for a 6-8 seed? This guy.

 

I'll take a 6-8 seed on this squad. I do hope they can get Bosh or Wade to come here in 2010 and a playoff caliber team led by a budding star in Rose would be their best chance.

[SpongeWorthy]

They should at least battle for a 5 seed. You've got Cleveland, Boston, and Orlando locked in for the top 3 most likely. Atlanta's probably a 4 seed although they're not going to run away from anybody. A 7-8 seed probably means another record around .500. I expect at least some improvement off of that and fighting for a 5-6 seed.

[Flames24Rulz]

Who's psyched for a 6-8 seed? This guy.

 

I'll take a 6-8 seed on this squad. I do hope they can get Bosh or Wade to come here in 2010 and a playoff caliber team led by a budding star in Rose would be their best chance.

 

Me too. They have to make the playoffs though, otherwise that would be a major turn-off for any of the FA's.

[DivineBovine]

So camp is in full swing with the first preseason game against the Pacers on Friday. Not too much news to report out of camp so far besides vague reports of so-and-so added muscle and an organizational focus on defense.

 

Hollinger predicts we'll miss the playoffs which would be a huge bummer going into 2010 free agency: http://www.blogabull.com/2009/9/28/1059213/john-hollinger-optimistic-about

 

For those haven't followed the differences between the 12 guys on the roster aganist Boston and the current one are that Gordon, Anthony Roberson, and Tim Thomas are gone while Jannero Pargo, James Johnson, and Taj Gibson have been added. Deng's looking healthy so it's incumbent on him not to suck because we'll need him if we're going to make any noise this year.

 

Goals for the season:

 

Continued development from Rose and Noah

Improve the defensive rebounding

Get Deng back to 2006-2007 levels or at least something approaching it

Determine whether Tyrus will ever be anything more than a tease

Keep the cornerstone pieces healthy going into the summer FA sweepstakes or trade market

Either jettison VDN or see if he continues his modest improvement from the 2nd half of last season

 

 

 

Who is this Hollinger dude? He really goes out on a limb with those predictions, essentially predicting nearly the exact same standings as last year, except he somehow has Gilbert Arenas making a huge difference and carrying the Wizards into the playoffs. He seems like another one of an endless number of hacks who essentially make the same predictions as what happened the year before, accounting for some personnel changes. And of course this never ever happens.

 

He must think, oh my, the Bulls lost their leading scorer. Therefore, they will drop a few spots in the standings. Hack.

[imb]

lol how have you never heard of hollinger before

[wolf stansson]

That Hollinger guy prolly doesn't even watch games. Just waits for the spreadsheets to update. F him. PER? More like DERRRRRRRR.

[Flames24Rulz]

Yes, that 'hack' says the Bulls will drop a few spots because they lost their leading scorer and didn't replace him with anyone of any significant value in the offseason. I guess adding a healthy Deng will help, but I don't really think you can depend on him to be healthy for a full season anymore.

 

Again, I think the Bulls will finish at around the same spot they did last year but I don't see why you're arguing with Hollinger on this.

[DivineBovine]

Yes, that 'hack' says the Bulls will drop a few spots because they lost their leading scorer and didn't replace him with anyone of any significant value in the offseason. I guess adding a healthy Deng will help, but I don't really think you can depend on him to be healthy for a full season anymore.

 

Again, I think the Bulls will finish at around the same spot they did last year but I don't see why you're arguing with Hollinger on this.

 

 

APBRmetrics. Very interesting.

So he has all these fancy statistics to tell you this:

 

Hollinger predictions Last year

1. Cavaliers 63-19 1. Cavaliers 66-16

2. Magic 62-20 2. Celtics 62-20

3. Celtics 54-28 3. Magic 59-23

4. Hawks 44-38 4. Hawks 47-35

5. 76ers 42-40 5. Heat 43-39

6. Wizards 41-41 6. 76ers 41-41

7. Heat 40-42 7. Bulls 41-41

8. Pistons 39-43 8. Pistons 39-43

9. Bulls 38-44 9. Pacers 36-46

 

 

He's really going out on a limb. The only prediction that's really different here is the Wizards. He must love Gilbert Arenas.

 

He's no different than any number of "experts" who essentially predict the same standings as the year before. Come on. Anyone can make those picks.

 

As a Bulls fan, I have no illusions that they are going to overtake the Cavs, Magic or Celtics. But I don't think they are a worse team than last year. They add a healthy Deng and Hinrich. They have a more experienced and hopefully improved Rose, Noah and Thomas. They lose Gordon.

[Derwood]

 

As a Bulls fan, I have no illusions that they are going to overtake the Cavs, Magic or Celtics. But I don't think they are a worse team than last year. They add a healthy Deng and Hinrich. They have a more experienced and hopefully improved Rose, Noah and Thomas. They lose Gordon.

 

but an injury to any of those guys is a total disaster

[pitchcs]

I saw a bunch of the Bulls/Jazz game today in London on tv. Rose, Thomas and Salmons didn't play. They are gonna be better even without Gordon.

 

Taj Gibson and James Johnson were great picks and are gonna contribute right away. I think Johnson could be a semi-star in a few years, Danny Granger-ish. Gibson is a huge body and fundamentally sound...kinda like Noah but more athletic. Noah is gonna have a real good year I think. Deng should be healthy and around 18-19 ppg. Hinrich is real solid. And they have Brad Miller & Jannero Pargo. That's a good 10 guys, real deep.

[SpongeWorthy]

Unless Gibson's really bulked up in the last few months I wouldn't characterize him as a huge body. Dude's a beanpole with a nice wingspan.

[UMFan83]

JJ looked really good. Even hit a game winning jumper at the buzzer to win when the Bulls were trailing by 1. Awesome.

[Keener98]

Taj Gibson will not be much of a contributor this year.

[SpongeWorthy]

Just saw the JJ game winner. Pretty cool. The team went pretty crazy for him which was nice to see.

 

Seems to have been a nice crowd for a preseason basketball game in London, too.

[ZMovieman]

Just saw the JJ game winner. Pretty cool. The team went pretty crazy for him which was nice to see.

 

Seems to have been a nice crowd for a preseason basketball game in London, too.

 

I agree. Plus, on a side note, it was nice to see, as an MU grad, Wesley Matthews have a nice game trying to earn a roster spot with the Jazz. If their injuries keep piling up, he just might.

[Flames24Rulz]

I saw a bunch of the Bulls/Jazz game today in London on tv. Rose, Thomas and Salmons didn't play. They are gonna be better even without Gordon.

 

Taj Gibson and James Johnson were great picks and are gonna contribute right away. I think Johnson could be a semi-star in a few years, Danny Granger-ish. Gibson is a huge body and fundamentally sound...kinda like Noah but more athletic. Noah is gonna have a real good year I think. Deng should be healthy and around 18-19 ppg. Hinrich is real solid. And they have Brad Miller & Jannero Pargo. That's a good 10 guys, real deep.

 

I don't think Gibson was a great pick. I loved the JJ pick, though.

 

I don't expect Deng to average 18-19. If he can give me 16-17 and 8 on a regular basis, I'd be fine with that. Like I said, I think they're probably going to be about the same as they were last year.

[Cubbie Swagger]

I think we'll be better this year than last year. Getting rid of Gordon will be a plus, as it will free up some more possessions for the rest of the team. Having Salmons and Miller for the whole year will get us a few extra wins as well. Plus if we can get improvement from Rose, Tyrus, and Noah... plus some decent production from Deng... then we're looking at a good team. Not to mention a healthy Hinrich.

 

Now let's just hope everything works out.

[DivineBovine]

Much of how you feel about this team obviously has to do with Gordon. Some people love him and think he meant everything to the team. Others think he is one dimensional and doesn't make those around him better.

 

Consider me in the latter category. He was very mediocre for much of the season, but definitely contributed more in the playoffs. I still 100% agree with the decision to let him go, and think the team will be better off without him in the long run, and at least as good this year without him. A healthy Hinrich and Deng makes up for Gordon and then then some. I can't see the Pistons being too happy with his contract in a few years.

[Tyrant]

He's no different than any number of "experts" who essentially predict the same standings as the year before. Come on. Anyone can make those picks.

 

You're right. People should be shaking things up. Here are my Eastern Conference picks:

 

1. Charlotte (76-6)

2. Miami (58-24)

3. Washington (56-22)

4. Cleveland (44-38)

5. Boston (43-39)

6. Utah (42-40)

7. Milwaukee (41-41)

8. Chicago (21-61)

 

Look me, out on a limb. I'm not a part of your system, maaaaaan. I took Hollinger's lame predictions, and I THREW THEM ON THE GROUND.

Edited October 7, 2009 by Tyrant

[Soul]

Much of how you feel about this team obviously has to do with Gordon. Some people love him and think he meant everything to the team. Others think he is one dimensional and doesn't make those around him better.

 

Consider me in the latter category. He was very mediocre for much of the season, but definitely contributed more in the playoffs. I still 100% agree with the decision to let him go, and think the team will be better off without him in the long run, and at least as good this year without him. A healthy Hinrich and Deng makes up for Gordon and then then some. I can't see the Pistons being too happy with his contract in a few years.

 

Yeah, I just don't know how we would know which is true about Gordon until we see them for an extended period without him. I'm reserving judgement.

[Derwood]

One dimensional or not, I don't know how you remove a team's leading scorer and call it an upgrade

[David]

One dimensional or not, I don't know how you remove a team's leading scorer and call it an upgrade

 

 

it could be, if the players who replace him are decent enough scorers who play significantly better defense and you get the ball in the hands of a better player (although he wasn't yet better last year) more often as a result of it.

 

 

the jury is still out on whether that winds up being the case, though.

[pitchcs]

I saw a bunch of the Bulls/Jazz game today in London on tv. Rose, Thomas and Salmons didn't play. They are gonna be better even without Gordon.

 

Taj Gibson and James Johnson were great picks and are gonna contribute right away. I think Johnson could be a semi-star in a few years, Danny Granger-ish. Gibson is a huge body and fundamentally sound...kinda like Noah but more athletic. Noah is gonna have a real good year I think. Deng should be healthy and around 18-19 ppg. Hinrich is real solid. And they have Brad Miller & Jannero Pargo. That's a good 10 guys, real deep.

 

I don't think Gibson was a great pick. I loved the JJ pick, though.

 

I don't expect Deng to average 18-19. If he can give me 16-17 and 8 on a regular basis, I'd be fine with that. Like I said, I think they're probably going to be about the same as they were last year.

 

Who were the Bulls uppossed to take at #26?? That's real low

 

Gibson is 6'10 with like a 7'2 wingspan. That can be extremely valuable in the NBA