Bulls Offseason Thread

[bleedingblue]

I just watched an interview with John Calipari and there is no way he's coming to Chicago. Kentucky is his dream job and it took him 20 years to get there. There's no way he'd take the opportunity to make a bunch more money and possibly coach LeBron James.

 

Kentucky hasn't been caught cheating yet so that's why Calipari isn't leaving. Couple more years, and he'll flock somewhere else before the crap hits the fan.

 

Did it at UMass. Did it at Memphis. Will do it at Kentucky.

[Keener98]

Rose has to go to the Berto Center to take calls from Lebron?

 

Where in that article does it say that?

[davell]

Trib is saying WWW is trying to sell Lebron and Calipari as a package deal. Not that it's a surprise at all.

[seanimal]

Rose has to go to the Berto Center to take calls from Lebron?

 

lol where did you get that?

[17 Seconds]

if all the stuff about WWW trying to sell LBJ/JC as a package deal is true, then that's an enormous advantage we have over the knicks. obviously.

[RedFlash]

Is there any chance that LeBron takes less money so the Bulls or any other team can sign him and another top free agent? Part of the reason that LeBron and players like him can't win is that they take up too much salary. Is there a precedent for top free agents taking less money to get another player to sign with him?

 

I agree with Flames in that LBJ will not take less money, but there is a good chance that he won't sign a full 6 year deal either. I think LBJ might do another 3 year to reach his 29 birthday, for the main reason if LBJ only signs short-term deals at full max he keeps the pressure on the FO of whoever signs him to keep making moves that will improve the team.

[Soul]

This is going to continue until when? End of July?

 

LOL, this is going to be like Favre or something.

[bukie]

This is going to continue until when? End of July?

 

LOL, this is going to be like Favre or something.

July 1, since FA can't sign until then.

[Magnetic Curses]

Is there any chance that LeBron takes less money so the Bulls or any other team can sign him and another top free agent? Part of the reason that LeBron and players like him can't win is that they take up too much salary. Is there a precedent for top free agents taking less money to get another player to sign with him?

 

I agree with Flames in that LBJ will not take less money, but there is a good chance that he won't sign a full 6 year deal either. I think LBJ might do another 3 year to reach his 29 birthday, for the main reason if LBJ only signs short-term deals at full max he keeps the pressure on the FO of whoever signs him to keep making moves that will improve the team.

 

lebron can only sign a 6-year deal with the cavs.

[UMFan83]

Is there any chance that LeBron takes less money so the Bulls or any other team can sign him and another top free agent? Part of the reason that LeBron and players like him can't win is that they take up too much salary. Is there a precedent for top free agents taking less money to get another player to sign with him?

 

I agree with Flames in that LBJ will not take less money, but there is a good chance that he won't sign a full 6 year deal either. I think LBJ might do another 3 year to reach his 29 birthday, for the main reason if LBJ only signs short-term deals at full max he keeps the pressure on the FO of whoever signs him to keep making moves that will improve the team.

 

As I've said before, I doubt it because the NBA is likely to have a much less player friendly CBA in the next couple of years. Actually it's inevitable that it will change (I think the CBA expires after next season), but to what extent is anyone's guess. It's very likely there will be some sort of lockout or stike after next season, as sides are presumably pretty far off. Instead of the max contract being 6 years 100 or whatever it would be now, the max might be 4 years (2 guaranteed), $60 min or close to that,

[wolf stansson]

if all the stuff about WWW trying to sell LBJ/JC as a package deal is true, then that's an enormous advantage we have over the knicks. obviously.

And the Nets.

 

Apparently big Oak came out today and said it's either Miami or Chicago.

[David]

if all the stuff about WWW trying to sell LBJ/JC as a package deal is true, then that's an enormous advantage we have over the knicks. obviously.

And the Nets.

 

Apparently big Oak came out today and said it's either Miami or Chicago.

 

 

I don't see why it's an advantage over the Nets... :confused:

 

 

Anyway, that Oakley comment came out 2 or 3 days ago. I can't see him teaming up with Wade in Miami, but who knows.

[UMFan83]

A source with direct knowledge of the Chicago Bulls front office says the team believes it has the right players in place -- namely, Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Luol Deng -- to surround LeBron James when it makes its case with the free agent to-be on July 1.

 

But the source said there has been no discussion of bringing Kentucky coach John Calipari in with James as part of a package deal.

 

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5194333

 

I think the Bulls are doing this because they like to have control over their coaches and they want to hire another potential whipping boy in case things go south. This is of course stupid as hell. If you have a chance to acquire a once in a generation player in the early part of his prime, you pull out all the stops to get him. If he asks to have John Paxson tied up to the Jordan statue and get tarred and feathered and left up there for 48 hours, you have to do it. I'd hire Cal on the 25% chance that this rumor is legit. I certainly don't want to piss off the apparent power of WWW and co. by ignoring their plan that they've apparently spoken directly to the Bulls about.

 

But who knows, we obviously only get to hear little bits a pieces about what's happening, so it's possible it's being made into a bigger deal than it is or whatever, or they could be trying to downplay everything so the media isn't on top of every development.. Just don't want to see the Bulls blow this like they do everything else.

[ConstableRabbit]

A source with direct knowledge of the Chicago Bulls front office says the team believes it has the right players in place -- namely, Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Luol Deng -- to surround LeBron James when it makes its case with the free agent to-be on July 1.

 

But the source said there has been no discussion of bringing Kentucky coach John Calipari in with James as part of a package deal.

 

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5194333

 

I think the Bulls are doing this because they like to have control over their coaches and they want to hire another potential whipping boy in case things go south. This is of course stupid as hell. If you have a chance to acquire a once in a generation player in the early part of his prime, you pull out all the stops to get him. If he asks to have John Paxson tied up to the Jordan statue and get tarred and feathered and left up there for 48 hours, you have to do it. I'd hire Cal on the 25% chance that this rumor is legit. I certainly don't want to piss off the apparent power of WWW and co. by ignoring their plan that they've apparently spoken directly to the Bulls about.

 

But who knows, we obviously only get to hear little bits a pieces about what's happening, so it's possible it's being made into a bigger deal than it is or whatever, or they could be trying to downplay everything so the media isn't on top of every development.. Just don't want to see the Bulls blow this like they do everything else.

 

I thought this was interesting:

 

However, ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard reported Monday on "SportsCenter" that according to his sources, James is not demanding Calipari coach him on whichever team he plays for next season. And a source close to Wesley told ESPN.com that Wesley had not contacted the Bulls or any other team about a James/Calipari package deal.

 

If true, then I want no part of Cal. He's not some ungodly coach.

[RedFlash]

Is there any chance that LeBron takes less money so the Bulls or any other team can sign him and another top free agent? Part of the reason that LeBron and players like him can't win is that they take up too much salary. Is there a precedent for top free agents taking less money to get another player to sign with him?

 

I agree with Flames in that LBJ will not take less money, but there is a good chance that he won't sign a full 6 year deal either. I think LBJ might do another 3 year to reach his 29 birthday, for the main reason if LBJ only signs short-term deals at full max he keeps the pressure on the FO of whoever signs him to keep making moves that will improve the team.

 

lebron can only sign a 6-year deal with the cavs.

 

IDK why I said 6, but you knew what I meant.

[RedFlash]

I thought this was interesting:

 

However, ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard reported Monday on "SportsCenter" that according to his sources, James is not demanding Calipari coach him on whichever team he plays for next season. And a source close to Wesley told ESPN.com that Wesley had not contacted the Bulls or any other team about a James/Calipari package deal.

 

If true, then I want no part of Cal. He's not some ungodly coach.

 

I read that as WWW and his teams hasn't talked to any teams about that package YET, for obvious reasons. I think it will happen (WWW selling James/Cal combo) but not till the end of the season).

[RedFlash]

I don't see why it's an advantage over the Nets... :confused:

 

It be one thing if the Nets lost their best player for extended periods of time during the season, but that not's the case. The Nets just stunk. They had Harris for 64 games. The had Lopez for 82 games. They had Courtney Lee for 72 games. CDR for 62 games. Terrance Williams for 78 games. So it will be hard to sell the Nets on FA when they stunk and their best players were reasonably healthy. Not to mention I doubt NJ will be interested in bring Calipari back to the franchise. And regardless of the ESPN report, James/Calipari will be discussed at some point, but not before the end of the season.

 

 

Apparently big Oak came out today and said it's either Miami or Chicago.

 

Anyway, that Oakley comment came out 2 or 3 days ago. I can't see him teaming up with Wade in Miami, but who knows.

 

If you believe Skip Bayless, and I don't, it would be because Lebron needs a "Batman" (Wade) to his (Lebron) Robin. Other then that, I could see James and Wade playing together but not in Miami. Miami is Wade's team, and I doubt James would want to be the 2nd fiddle. For them to play together, they would have to play in a neutral city, Chicago, NY, NJ.

[UMFan83]

Actually that's a great point about Cal/NJ. The Bulls could just be calling their bluff by not going after Calipari. The Nets won't hire Cal again, nor do I think he wants to go back there. The Knicks hired their coach 2 seasons ago for this offseason. The Heat aren't going to hire him. So that leaves the Bulls and the Cavs as the only options. Maybe Cal becomes Cleveland's coach, but the same issues surround LBJ's decision. Does he think he can win in the next 2 years with that aging Cleveland roster.

[SouthSideRyan]

Why wouldn't the Nets hire Cal again? Is there anyone still in the organization that was there last time he coached?

[jersey cubs fan]

Why wouldn't the Nets hire Cal again? Is there anyone still in the organization that was there last time he coached?

 

Is there anybody who follows the organization that would be upset with the move? This could be an issue if it was the Knicks and they had a big falling out, but nobody knows the Nets exist. Their entire business plan revolves around bringing a huge star with them to Newark and then Brooklyn, and I doubt they would let the potentially sticky PR issue of rehiring a failed coach if it came along with signing Lebron James.

[rawaction]

Is there anybody who follows the organization?

[Soul]

So true. Lebron would really be "getting in on the ground floor" if he went to NJ, so to speak.

[RedFlash]

Why wouldn't the Nets hire Cal again? Is there anyone still in the organization that was there last time he coached?

 

It's not so much about NJ rehiring Cal, as it is how much does Cal want to go back to the Nets organization? At this point, I would say there is little chance of him returning to the Nets organization.

[ConstableRabbit]

I thought this was interesting:

 

However, ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard reported Monday on "SportsCenter" that according to his sources, James is not demanding Calipari coach him on whichever team he plays for next season. And a source close to Wesley told ESPN.com that Wesley had not contacted the Bulls or any other team about a James/Calipari package deal.

 

If true, then I want no part of Cal. He's not some ungodly coach.

 

I read that as WWW and his teams hasn't talked to any teams about that package YET, for obvious reasons. I think it will happen (WWW selling James/Cal combo) but not till the end of the season).

I was more interested in the bolded part above.

 

I only want Cal if it's the only way we're getting LeBron. There are better coaching options out there.

[Soul]

Why wouldn't the Nets hire Cal again? Is there anyone still in the organization that was there last time he coached?

 

It's not so much about NJ rehiring Cal, as it is how much does Cal want to go back to the Nets organization? At this point, I would say there is little chance of him returning to the Nets organization.

 

He'd go if he knew Lebron would be there. I'm not so sure he'd go if he didn't know Lebron would be there.