2014 Bulls Offseason Thread

[RynoRules]

The Bulls do seem to be everyone's go-to team to leverage more money out of "desirable" destinations like NY, Miami, and LA.

[davell]

I honestly think we'll miss on the big guys again. I do think we'll get a Hayward or Stephenson though. I'm hoping for Afflalo, but seeing him attached to other rumors has me not liking our chances.

[Guest]

i'd give up noah, butler, and gibson in a s&t if it meant getting lebron.

[ChiCubsFan]

The Knicks trade is very interesting. To me, it appears that the Knicks are waiving the white flag on Melo. Why trade their 2nd best player (Tyson Chandler) who only has 1 year left on his deal in a deal that increases their 2015-16 team salary? They essentially added a little over 3M cap hit for 2015-16 to save approximately 3M for 2014-15. There's only 2 reasons the Knicks would want to clear cap space for this year. One would we be to try to create cap room to sign someone to entice Melo to stay. Even with this deal they'd still be $30M or so over the cap after signing Melo to a max contract, so that 3M isn't going to do anything. The other reason would be to get under the tax line after losing Melo. They could do this by just letting Melo walk. But they don't really want to lose him for nothing, if they can help it. So they clear just enough space to be able to take Boozer back (and all the assets that come with him) and still come in under the tax line.

 

There are many S+T deals that can be put together, but it'll probably look something like Melo and Calderon or J.R. Smith for Boozer, Dunleavy, Snell, 2015 1st round pick, Sacramento pick, and non-guaranteed contracts to make money match. It's possible that the Bulls will include 1 or both of the guys they take in the draft tomorrow as well. I don't see Mirotic being included, but he can be added in if necessary. The Bulls would also be taking back a multi-year contract to help the Knicks clear space for the 2015 offseason.

 

I am an optimist and so maybe I am reading too much into it, but it just seems very strange that the Knicks would make a deal that would reduce available cap space for their 2015 offseason plan if they still hope to retain Melo.

[gscool89]

Can't wait to see the Bulls strike out again in another free agency. Eventually people are going to see there's a problem with the organization. Reinsdorf, Paxson, and Forman are the most dysfunctional people in the NBA right now. The Bulls are going to continue to be unwatchable next season and for seasons to come under them.

[Guest]

Can't wait to see the Bulls strike out again in another free agency. Eventually people are going to see there's a problem with the organization. Reinsdorf, Paxson, and Forman are the most dysfunctional people in the NBA right now. The Bulls are going to continue to be unwatchable next season and for seasons to come under them.

Looooooooooooooooooooooool

[ChiCubsFan]

Agree on the LOL. If we "strike out" it won't be some great travesty. We are a top 3 option for one of the best players in the league. If we end up losing out, it's because he either loves New York too much or he was overwhelmed by the opportunity to play with the best center and SG in the league. And he makes a little extra money with no state income tax. Despite the overhyped Pax/Gar/Thibs feud, we have one of the most stable and respected ownership/front office/coach combinations in the league.

[apete6]

Agree on the LOL. If we "strike out" it won't be some great travesty. We are a top 3 option for one of the best players in the league. If we end up losing out, it's because he either loves New York too much or he was overwhelmed by the opportunity to play with the best center and SG in the league. And he makes a little extra money with no state income tax. Despite the overhyped Pax/Gar/Thibs feud, we have one of the most stable and respected ownership/front office/coach combinations in the league.

 

And all of that will result in never winning a title unless they get another FA superstar. Congrats on getting the respect of other owners and the media, though.

[Sammy Sofa]

Can't wait to see the Bulls strike out again in another free agency. Eventually people are going to see there's a problem with the organization. Reinsdorf, Paxson, and Forman are the most dysfunctional people in the NBA right now. The Bulls are going to continue to be unwatchable next season and for seasons to come under them.

 

The hell? Please explain how the ownership and FO are the most "dysfunctional" in the entire league right now.

[Guest]

Can't wait to see the Bulls strike out again in another free agency. Eventually people are going to see there's a problem with the organization. Reinsdorf, Paxson, and Forman are the most dysfunctional people in the NBA right now. The Bulls are going to continue to be unwatchable next season and for seasons to come under them.

 

The hell? Please explain how the ownership and FO are the most "dysfunctional" in the entire league right now.

A league that still, for the moment anyway, has Donald Sterling as an owner.

[ChiCubsFan]

Agree on the LOL. If we "strike out" it won't be some great travesty. We are a top 3 option for one of the best players in the league. If we end up losing out, it's because he either loves New York too much or he was overwhelmed by the opportunity to play with the best center and SG in the league. And he makes a little extra money with no state income tax. Despite the overhyped Pax/Gar/Thibs feud, we have one of the most stable and respected ownership/front office/coach combinations in the league.

 

And all of that will result in never winning a title unless they get another FA superstar. Congrats on getting the respect of other owners and the media, though.

 

They have the respect of players too. Which kinda matters. There's only so many superstar FAs to go around so there's 25 other teams missing out left and right on these guys too. We're in a better position than most. I was only replying to the comment that there's something wrong with the organization and that we're the most dysfunctional in the league. I agree that we have to land one of them at some point if we want to put ourselves in position to be one of the front runners for a title.

[scarey]

Agree on the LOL. If we "strike out" it won't be some great travesty. We are a top 3 option for one of the best players in the league. If we end up losing out, it's because he either loves New York too much or he was overwhelmed by the opportunity to play with the best center and SG in the league. And he makes a little extra money with no state income tax. Despite the overhyped Pax/Gar/Thibs feud, we have one of the most stable and respected ownership/front office/coach combinations in the league.

 

And all of that will result in never winning a title unless they get another FA superstar. Congrats on getting the respect of other owners and the media, though.

 

I can't believe that the 'we need a superstar' sentiment is still so strong after watching the Spurs easily handle the Heat. Sure, the Spurs have Parker, Duncan, and Leonard, but those three are not on the same level as LeBron and Melo (especially at Parker and Duncan's age).

 

I'm not trying to say the Bulls are better off without a LeBron/Love/Anthony, but to act like it's the only way they can win is close minded.

[Soul]

The Bulls do seem to be everyone's go-to team to leverage more money out of "desirable" destinations like NY, Miami, and LA.

 

I think the Bulls can be used as leverage -- because they are a plausible destination. That doesn't mean they will always be used as leverage.

[WrigleyField 22]

Can't wait to see the Bulls strike out again in another free agency. Eventually people are going to see there's a problem with the organization. Reinsdorf, Paxson, and Forman are the most dysfunctional people in the NBA right now. The Bulls are going to continue to be unwatchable next season and for seasons to come under them.

 

The hell? Please explain how the ownership and FO are the most "dysfunctional" in the entire league right now.

They're only a little dysfunctional in that Forman and Thibs likely hate each other. I think all the other relationships are okay though.

 

And plenty of FO don't get along. True dysfunction is measured in losing and in that regards the Bulls have one of the better FOs in the league.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[SouthSideRyan]

Agree on the LOL. If we "strike out" it won't be some great travesty. We are a top 3 option for one of the best players in the league. If we end up losing out, it's because he either loves New York too much or he was overwhelmed by the opportunity to play with the best center and SG in the league. And he makes a little extra money with no state income tax. Despite the overhyped Pax/Gar/Thibs feud, we have one of the most stable and respected ownership/front office/coach combinations in the league.

 

And all of that will result in never winning a title unless they get another FA superstar. Congrats on getting the respect of other owners and the media, though.

 

I can't believe that the 'we need a superstar' sentiment is still so strong after watching the Spurs easily handle the Heat. Sure, the Spurs have Parker, Duncan, and Leonard, but those three are not on the same level as LeBron and Melo (especially at Parker and Duncan's age).

 

I'm not trying to say the Bulls are better off without a LeBron/Love/Anthony, but to act like it's the only way they can win is close minded.

 

The Spurs are also coached by the best head coach in American sports, and run by one of the best FOs in the same. Saying, "just be like the Spurs!" is pretty silly.

[scarey]

Agree on the LOL. If we "strike out" it won't be some great travesty. We are a top 3 option for one of the best players in the league. If we end up losing out, it's because he either loves New York too much or he was overwhelmed by the opportunity to play with the best center and SG in the league. And he makes a little extra money with no state income tax. Despite the overhyped Pax/Gar/Thibs feud, we have one of the most stable and respected ownership/front office/coach combinations in the league.

 

And all of that will result in never winning a title unless they get another FA superstar. Congrats on getting the respect of other owners and the media, though.

 

I can't believe that the 'we need a superstar' sentiment is still so strong after watching the Spurs easily handle the Heat. Sure, the Spurs have Parker, Duncan, and Leonard, but those three are not on the same level as LeBron and Melo (especially at Parker and Duncan's age).

 

I'm not trying to say the Bulls are better off without a LeBron/Love/Anthony, but to act like it's the only way they can win is close minded.

 

The Spurs are also coached by the best head coach in American sports, and run by one of the best FOs in the same. Saying, "just be like the Spurs!" is pretty silly.

 

Thibs isn't exactly the Mike Quade of the NBA.

 

Look, I'm not saying the Bulls = the Spurs. I'm saying you don't need a situation like Miami's to win championships. Is that really such a ridiculous thought? Or can it only be done in San Antonio, Mr. Basketball Authority?

[Bobson Dugnutt]

Well, cross Arron Afflalo off the list as a plan B.

[Flames24Rulz]

I don't understand Orlando's thought process in that deal, but okay.

[SouthSideRyan]

Agree on the LOL. If we "strike out" it won't be some great travesty. We are a top 3 option for one of the best players in the league. If we end up losing out, it's because he either loves New York too much or he was overwhelmed by the opportunity to play with the best center and SG in the league. And he makes a little extra money with no state income tax. Despite the overhyped Pax/Gar/Thibs feud, we have one of the most stable and respected ownership/front office/coach combinations in the league.

 

And all of that will result in never winning a title unless they get another FA superstar. Congrats on getting the respect of other owners and the media, though.

 

I can't believe that the 'we need a superstar' sentiment is still so strong after watching the Spurs easily handle the Heat. Sure, the Spurs have Parker, Duncan, and Leonard, but those three are not on the same level as LeBron and Melo (especially at Parker and Duncan's age).

 

I'm not trying to say the Bulls are better off without a LeBron/Love/Anthony, but to act like it's the only way they can win is close minded.

 

The Spurs are also coached by the best head coach in American sports, and run by one of the best FOs in the same. Saying, "just be like the Spurs!" is pretty silly.

 

Thibs isn't exactly the Mike Quade of the NBA.

 

Look, I'm not saying the Bulls = the Spurs. I'm saying you don't need a situation like Miami's to win championships. Is that really such a ridiculous thought? Or can it only be done in San Antonio, Mr. Basketball Authority?

 

In the last 10 years, yes, only the Spurs have been able to. The Bulls have 1 player under contract who would be in San Antonio's top 6 in PER last season. Jimmy Butler would be tied for 11th If the Bulls come away from this offseason without LBJ(No), Melo (35%), or Love (I dunno, 10%?), then the team as constructed is not a serious contender.

[Sammy Sofa]

Hey, getting a healthy Rose back is like signing or trading for a superstar!

[Guest]

we're getting lance stephenson

[SouthSideRyan]

we're getting lance stephenson

 

That would be a really good value signing if you can keep him under control. Just seems un-GarPax-like

[Ryne Ween]

If that's all it took to get afflalo garpax screwed up big time. He's basically exactly what we are going to need regardless of whatever else happens in this FA and draft. Butler and a pick would have done it and that sucks. Afflalo was what we needed baring some Hail Mary signing. Very disappointed.

[scarey]

 

In the last 10 years, yes, only the Spurs have been able to. The Bulls have 1 player under contract who would be in San Antonio's top 6 in PER last season. Jimmy Butler would be tied for 11th If the Bulls come away from this offseason without LBJ(No), Melo (35%), or Love (I dunno, 10%?), then the team as constructed is not a serious contender.

 

Given the way the two teams were constructed last year, the fact that the Bulls lost their superstar for the season, and that Thibs was forced to play offensively limited players long minutes... wouldn't you expect the Bulls to have terrible PERs?

 

I don't expect last year's team +Rose to win a title. I like the idea of adding a Stephenson or Ariza along with Mirotic. I love the idea of adding Love/James/Anthony. Will I be disappointed with the former scenario? Sure, but I think it's a team that could compete depending on how well Mirotic actually plays.

[UMFan83]

If that's all it took to get afflalo garpax screwed up big time. He's basically exactly what we are going to need regardless of whatever else happens in this FA and draft. Butler and a pick would have done it and that sucks. Afflalo was what we needed baring some Hail Mary signing. Very disappointed.

 

I wouldn't go that far, we don't know if the bulls could afford him and another target. Sounds like the trade was just a salary dump for Orlando right