2013-2014 Chicago Bulls Thread

[Sammy Sofa]

Why add players? This team is just going to get squashed like an insect come playoff time.

 

Describe in great detail how much you hate this run they've been on.

[davell]

I like Thibs a bunch and he is one of the better coaches in the NBA obviously. But his "win every game at all costs" style is one of the reasons we can't stay healthy. This year doesn't matter, but in a year we're actually a contender, I'd take 5 less regular season wins to be fresh for the playoffs.

 

Again with this...which major injuries are the result of him playing guys too hard? I completely get and agree that I'd like to him to play or have played some guys with fewer minutes, but even with that said it really hasn't cost them. Noah's PF is just something he has and either he can play or he can't. Deng's wrist? Rose's knee? Those are things that would have happened regardless of Thibs and didn't have anything to do with excessive playing time. Everything else looks like the usual wear and tear of an NBA team. It's not like they play exhausted at the end of the year or in the playoffs...so what do you point to when you decide this?

 

It's not that you can point to a single injury or anything. I think the minutes, in general, wear a player down. Were we at our absolute best against the Heat a few years back? I'm honestly not sure. And I'm a guy that truly thinks the Heat had more talent too. So, yeah, it's praising Thibs one way(thinking its possible he could have out coached Spo and won the series anyway) while damning him for doling out too many minutes at times earlier in the year....

 

Bottom line for me is its undecided, but if he never wins a title, it'll be what people (me included) always come back to.

 

Again, I want to reiterate I like Thibs a bunch. Pop is the only guy I'd trade him for. So I'm holding him to an extremely high standard.

[Sammy Sofa]

I like Thibs a bunch and he is one of the better coaches in the NBA obviously. But his "win every game at all costs" style is one of the reasons we can't stay healthy. This year doesn't matter, but in a year we're actually a contender, I'd take 5 less regular season wins to be fresh for the playoffs.

 

Again with this...which major injuries are the result of him playing guys too hard? I completely get and agree that I'd like to him to play or have played some guys with fewer minutes, but even with that said it really hasn't cost them. Noah's PF is just something he has and either he can play or he can't. Deng's wrist? Rose's knee? Those are things that would have happened regardless of Thibs and didn't have anything to do with excessive playing time. Everything else looks like the usual wear and tear of an NBA team. It's not like they play exhausted at the end of the year or in the playoffs...so what do you point to when you decide this?

 

It's not that you can point to a single injury or anything. I think the minutes, in general, wear a player down. Were we at our absolute best against the Heat a few years back? I'm honestly not sure. And I'm a guy that truly thinks the Heat had more talent too. So, yeah, it's praising Thibs one way(thinking its possible he could have out coached Spo and won the series anyway) while damning him for doling out too many minutes at times earlier in the year....

 

Bottom line for me is its undecided, but if he never wins a title, it'll be what people (me included) always come back to.

 

Again, I want to reiterate I like Thibs a bunch. Pop is the only guy I'd trade him for. So I'm holding him to an extremely high standard.

 

Like I said, I'd like to see him scale some guys back, and I'd probably with the agree that he's been lucky so far that more serious injuries have not occurred, but I just think it's faulty to argue that it's cost them anything significant thus far.

[Derwood]

You can't positively say that Dusty's high pitch counts on Wood/Prior directly caused their injuries either, but wouldn't you have preferred he hadn't played them into the ground?

[WrigleyField 22]

Jimmer is a no-brainer. If they can get him and keep him at a min, they should be hanged if they dont.

 

They don't want to go into the tax, though.

 

Came across this on Real GM: "The Bulls are approximately $600,000 below the tax threshold and the team believes it can sign a player to a prorated deal and avoid going down as a tax team."

 

That would be awesome if true. I'd really like to see Jimmer here. I think he would play well next to Hinrich, as Kirk can guard most 2's and allow Jimmer to guard the opposition's PG. I'd also be excited to see Ben Gordon back as a Bull. Hopefully they can snag one of them and stay under the tax line.

The talk lately was they were afraid of Taj getting a 250k or 500k bonus if he got 2nd or 1st team all D. If he does, they could go over the tax.

 

Hence they've been doing their cycle of 10 day contracts dropping down to the 12 player minimum for the maximum of 12 days. So they're basically cutting their 13th man cost in half for the back half of this season. They are in the clear around early April though so that's when we should see a permanent 13th man. Not sure most of the good target will wait that long though.

 

Thanks for clearing that up. In the clear meaning they could absorb the full 500k bonus and still be under the cap. I don't think there's any chance Taj makes 1st team all D.

Yes that's what in the clear would be. And I agree with the decision. A 13th man is so unimportant. It's unlikely you'd even get a guy Thibs will trust in that short time. I'm personally prepping for Mike James.

[Ryne Ween]

You could potentially say that Deng played 2-3 mpg more than under a different coach. You can't say that about any other player thibs has coached. Who has he overplayed? Noah is an all star center. If he isn't in foul trouble he Gould be on the floor like every other prime player. Rose played young superstar minutes. He plays guys the appropriate amount. The only reason butler had the heavy minute load when he did was because thibs literally had no other option.

[Sammy Sofa]

You can't positively say that Dusty's high pitch counts on Wood/Prior directly caused their injuries either, but wouldn't you have preferred he hadn't played them into the ground?

 

That's a horrendous comparison.

[Ryne Ween]

Compare Noah's minutes to Duncan's minutes at similar ages.

[bcl412]

I don't see any way that Rose's injury could have been avoided and that's the important one (duh). I think some fans want to blame something when really, bad things happens some times for no real reason.

[Ryne Ween]

I don't see any way that Rose's injury could have been avoided and that's the important one (duh). I think some fans want to blame something when really, bad things happens some times for no real reason.

 

People say that when it happened the game was in hand and he should have not been on the floor. It's bad logic and dumb but that's the argument. Rose's minutes are consistent with top players so you can't blame it on minutes. Deng led league in minutes one year so people use that to criticize thibs which is also dumb. Noah has PF and people that don't understand PF criticize thibs usage of Noah.

 

Thibs is living proof that many people, no matter what, can never be happy with anything and this winter is going to be dark and cold and will last the rest of your life.

[Banedon]

The Chicago Bulls are closing in on signing former Sacramento Kings guard Jimmer Fredette, according to sources close to the process.

 

Sources told ESPN.com on Thursday that -- while stressing a deal is not yet complete -- serious mutual interest between the sides has made Fredette's landing with Chicago look increasingly likely.

 

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/10525785/chicago-bulls-cleveland-cavs-interested-jimmer-fredette-sources-say

[SpongeWorthy]

my white nativist relatives will have a new favorite player

[WrigleyField 22]

We'll looks like they're taking their chance on Taj at the very least not making 1st team all D.

[Ryne Ween]

Is this even looked at as a remote possibility? I think Taj is tremendous defensive player but I wouldn’t put a non-starter on the all-D team. Its not like Ibaka’s d is falling off to the point that they will give a 1st team D position to a non-start who doesn’t have great BLKs STLs or DREBs. The idea you wouldn’t sign a guy for fear that Taj makes all-D team is kinda absurd.

[WrigleyField 22]

Is this even looked at as a remote possibility? I think Taj is tremendous defensive player but I wouldn’t put a non-starter on the all-D team. Its not like Ibaka’s d is falling off to the point that they will give a 1st team D position to a non-start who doesn’t have great BLKs STLs or DREBs. The idea you wouldn’t sign a guy for fear that Taj makes all-D team is kinda absurd.

The luxury tax repeater concern is nothing to scoff at especially if you happened to get stuck going barely over due to signing a relatively insignificant player in a year that your best player was injured.

 

That being said, the 1st team is really a improbability. I think 2nd team is within the range of probability to strongly consider it in personnel moves. Remember the defensive teams are coach, not media votes- and is not voted on positionally- meaning its just top 5 and next 5. I think coaches will value Taj's D pretty highly. The biggest thing that would hurt his vote totals is probably the presence of Noah and coaches that won't vote for both on the same team. But from the rumors of a couple weeks ago, perhaps the Front Office has struck 1st team consideration from their thinking. Or maybe they just really like Jimmer.

 

The repeater tax is really not something we want to worry about in 3-4 years and even some of these better cuts like Jimmer are REALLY not that significant. And Taj is a REALLY good defender- who by the way is an elite shot blocker on a per minute basis.

[Proven Veteran]

I'm sure the Pacers and Heat will vote for him on the first team then.

[Ryne Ween]

Interested to see Monta play tonight didnt catch the Mavs game earlier this year and havent seen much of him but it looks like hes having a solid season for dallas.

[Ryne Ween]

We officially have Jimmer. Jimmer a Bull now. I really do believe that in a good environment he will make a difference for an NBA team. This is a good place for him. With Dunleavy and Dj and now Jimmer, I think our 3pt shooting may enter "acceptable" territory whoch would be absolutely huge for this team. If Kirk can stay hot the rest of the year we could potentially have a decent offense. Really like the signing and hope he gets 10-15 minutes consistently so we can see what he can add.

[Wilson A2000]

The Carmelo Anthony to the Bulls talk is heating up now that Anthony is getting ever frustrated with the Knicks this year. They have nothing for the foreseeable future. If Anthony wants to opt out and come to Chicago for 3 years, $36 million the Bulls would have to be interested. For those who say that Carmelo doesn't play defense, you're right. But if you want a guy at SF who can create his own shot and play defense, there's LebRon and Paul George and that's about it. Those guys don't grow on trees. I think he could be a serviceable defender under Thibs. But isn't the bigger problem that the Bulls are going to bring Mirotic over? You can't pay him and Anthony. Wouldn't that be $20 million at least?

[ChiCubsFan]

The Carmelo Anthony to the Bulls talk is heating up now that Anthony is getting ever frustrated with the Knicks this year. They have nothing for the foreseeable future. If Anthony wants to opt out and come to Chicago for 3 years, $36 million the Bulls would have to be interested. For those who say that Carmelo doesn't play defense, you're right. But if you want a guy at SF who can create his own shot and play defense, there's LebRon and Paul George and that's about it. Those guys don't grow on trees. I think he could be a serviceable defender under Thibs. But isn't the bigger problem that the Bulls are going to bring Mirotic over? You can't pay him and Anthony. Wouldn't that be $20 million at least?

 

For just Melo. He's not signing for 3/$36M. He's signing for max.

[Wilson A2000]

The Carmelo Anthony to the Bulls talk is heating up now that Anthony is getting ever frustrated with the Knicks this year. They have nothing for the foreseeable future. If Anthony wants to opt out and come to Chicago for 3 years, $36 million the Bulls would have to be interested. For those who say that Carmelo doesn't play defense, you're right. But if you want a guy at SF who can create his own shot and play defense, there's LebRon and Paul George and that's about it. Those guys don't grow on trees. I think he could be a serviceable defender under Thibs. But isn't the bigger problem that the Bulls are going to bring Mirotic over? You can't pay him and Anthony. Wouldn't that be $20 million at least?

 

For just Melo. He's not signing for 3/$36M. He's signing for max.

 

Melo can't sign for $20 million with the Bulls. Isn't that over max? I thought he has already said he is open to signing for something less than max money. He has seen what LeBron and the rest of the big three did. They took less to win. It's his time to do that.

[imb]

The Carmelo Anthony to the Bulls talk is heating up now that Anthony is getting ever frustrated with the Knicks this year. They have nothing for the foreseeable future. If Anthony wants to opt out and come to Chicago for 3 years, $36 million the Bulls would have to be interested. For those who say that Carmelo doesn't play defense, you're right. But if you want a guy at SF who can create his own shot and play defense, there's LebRon and Paul George and that's about it. Those guys don't grow on trees. I think he could be a serviceable defender under Thibs. But isn't the bigger problem that the Bulls are going to bring Mirotic over? You can't pay him and Anthony. Wouldn't that be $20 million at least?

 

For just Melo. He's not signing for 3/$36M. He's signing for max.

 

Melo can't sign for $20 million with the Bulls. Isn't that over max? I thought he has already said he is open to signing for something less than max money. He has seen what LeBron and the rest of the big three did. They took less to win. It's his time to do that.

 

melo's not taking 12 million a year lmao gtfo

[ChiCubsFan]

The Carmelo Anthony to the Bulls talk is heating up now that Anthony is getting ever frustrated with the Knicks this year. They have nothing for the foreseeable future. If Anthony wants to opt out and come to Chicago for 3 years, $36 million the Bulls would have to be interested. For those who say that Carmelo doesn't play defense, you're right. But if you want a guy at SF who can create his own shot and play defense, there's LebRon and Paul George and that's about it. Those guys don't grow on trees. I think he could be a serviceable defender under Thibs. But isn't the bigger problem that the Bulls are going to bring Mirotic over? You can't pay him and Anthony. Wouldn't that be $20 million at least?

 

For just Melo. He's not signing for 3/$36M. He's signing for max.

 

Melo can't sign for $20 million with the Bulls. Isn't that over max? I thought he has already said he is open to signing for something less than max money. He has seen what LeBron and the rest of the big three did. They took less to win. It's his time to do that.

 

I believe the starting max salary is the same no matter if he stays with the Knicks or goes to another team. The Knicks, however, can offer him an extra year and larger yearly raises. I believe it's around 7.5% for the Knicks and 4.5% if he signs with any other team. And his starting max salary is over $20M. I think it's around $22M.

[SouthSideRyan]

The Carmelo Anthony to the Bulls talk is heating up now that Anthony is getting ever frustrated with the Knicks this year. They have nothing for the foreseeable future. If Anthony wants to opt out and come to Chicago for 3 years, $36 million the Bulls would have to be interested. For those who say that Carmelo doesn't play defense, you're right. But if you want a guy at SF who can create his own shot and play defense, there's LebRon and Paul George and that's about it. Those guys don't grow on trees. I think he could be a serviceable defender under Thibs. But isn't the bigger problem that the Bulls are going to bring Mirotic over? You can't pay him and Anthony. Wouldn't that be $20 million at least?

 

For just Melo. He's not signing for 3/$36M. He's signing for max.

 

Melo can't sign for $20 million with the Bulls. Isn't that over max? I thought he has already said he is open to signing for something less than max money. He has seen what LeBron and the rest of the big three did. They took less to win. It's his time to do that.

 

melo's not taking 12 million a year lmao gtfo

 

Well how else do you expect them to fit him and Kevin love under the cap?

[Ryne Ween]

There might be a Love Provision or something that will allow us to add both guys.