Bulls off-season thread

[pitchcs]

Not sure how I feel about Gobert rumors. It feels a little like signing Ben Wallace. I know, they are different players and at different stages of their careers, and this current team needs a defensive anchor much more than the 06 Bulls did, but its a lot of money and trade pieces for an elite defensive center. If you make this move you are basically saying that Gobert is the missing piece for a championship run. Assuming LaVine signs the max you are riding with DeRozan, LaVine, Gobert as your big 3 the next 2 seasons and probably don't have much flexibility to drastically alter things beyond that. Advanced stats show he is truly a difference-maker, and he solves 2 of the 3 biggest Bulls deficiencies in defense and a big man (3rd being high volume shooter). A big man who can defend is even more important in the east with Embiid and Giannis standing in the way.

 

I guess if you are going to ride with this talented but somewhat flawed group (instead of blowing it up), then its a defensible move, but I'm not sure it will bring the Bulls a title or even legitimate contention in the East.

 

I want no part of Gobert

[Old Style]

I'm not necessarily all in on Gobert but we have to move Vooch and find someone to matchup with guys like Embiid and Giannis if we want any shot in the East going forward.

[Regular Show]

 

Lots of good options and I haven't heard the Bulls linked to any specific prospects yet. I would prefer the Bulls keep the pick unless they move it with Vucevic to upgrade at C. I think that move happens (if it does indeed happen) later in the summer after the Bulls know LaVine is staying here and re-signing. No point in trading future/current assets if LaVine leaves. I do believe he re-signs on a 5-year max deal with the 5th year being a player option. Still, you have to do these steps in proper order.

 

In the latest mock draft on ESPN, the Bulls take my guy this time:

 

Jalen Williams

Santa Clara

SF

Age: 21.1

 

Rival teams say the Bulls aren't in love with their options here, and they are open to trading the pick, potentially in a package with combo guard Coby White. If they stand pat, the versatility offered by Williams could be attractive here, as Williams has the length to defend power forwards with his 7-2 wingspan, but also possesses the court vision, playmaking and shooting to be utilized at point guard in college, which should provide him with the versatility to slide all over the floor for a team that had to plug holes last season in an injury-plagued campaign.

[UK]

Depending on how far Duren goes, he'd be probably the only one I'd trade up to get (assuming he goes 10-15).

[Transmogrified Tiger]

For anyone looking for more draft content I highly recommend Hollinger's Top 75 prospect ranking: https://theathletic.com/3365655/2022/06/16/nba-draft-2022-top-75-prospects/?source=pulsenewsletter&campaign=4474669

 

It has a lot of contextual evaluation about how each player's game will translate, including defense which a lot of mock draft/player rankings pay lip service to. Also it's pretty opinionated without being hot takey, there's a few guys who are 20 spots higher or lower than the current mock consensus.

[UMFan83]

2 pieces of rumors

 

 

[Old Style]

ESPN is doing a mock draft show right now and they have the Bulls taking Malaki Branham from Ohio State. He shot just under 42% from 3-point range in his one college season but he took less than 3 per game on average.

[Tryptamine]

There really isn't anyone available near the Bulls' pick that I have much interest in. I hope they either make a pick for another team and use it to essentially trade up or they package it and add a proven player.

[UMFan83]

 

Should be an interesting night for the Bulls

[17 Seconds]

let's go get kd

[UMFan83]

let's go get kd

 

Bulls get: Durant, Gobert

 

Jazz get: Vucevic, DeRozan

 

Nets get: Williams, White, 2022 1st, 2023 POR 1st, Rudy Gay (to make salaries work)

 

The Nets say no because they can probably do better than the young chips the Bulls have and 2 non-lottery 1sts, the Jazz might say no (though it does change their dynamic while keeping talent level at roughly the same spot to keep Mitchell happy), Jerry Reinsdorf says no. But that's the closest deal I can put together where the Bulls end up with both guys haha. Bulls would still have biannual MLE (i think) and LLE but it would clearly be a very thin team unless we grabbed some ring chasers on minimum salary

[17 Seconds]

it could work if zach leaves too

[UMFan83]

it could work if zach leaves too

 

I don't think he has to leave for it to work. They can still sign him and in fact would probably have to for Durant to come here without causing a fuss.

 

Ball

LaVine

Durant

Caruso?

Gobert

 

Ayo

Green

Marko

MLE

LLE

Ring chaser 1

Ring chaser 2

 

For MLE, maybe something like Batum who is older but coming off a solid season and is a guy who can play well without needing to score. He can start at the 3 or 4 and move AC to the bench. Not sure who the ring chasers would be though. Again, really thin team that would have some holes, particularly a higher volume 3 point shooter and size off the bench. But even with those holes the Bulls would be an inner circle championship contender.

[17 Seconds]

i meant if lavine leaves, you could still get durant/gobert while keeping demar instead of zach

 

kd

demar

gobert

lonzo for 40 games

caruso

ayo

whatever

 

i'd rather keep zach, but this would be a nice alternative

[Old Style]

Dalen Terry is the pick.

[17 Seconds]

lonzo is dead

[WrigleyField 22]

Does he replace PWill when he goes in the Gobert trade?

[ChiCubsFan]

Ayo with more length?

 

Ayo, Coby, Pat and picks for KD now.

[We Got The Whole 9]

Sounds like a good fit and there's a feel for a 3 pt shot. I like the pick.

[Outshined_One]

Dalen Terry is the pick.

 

He wasn't on my radar and I knew very little about him going into last night, but he sounds like a guy with solid defensive potential, work needed on the offensive side of his game, good character, and potential for growth. The consensus seems to be that this pick signals AK is bringing the gang back together for another run next season.

 

He sounds like he'd be more useful to the Bulls as a bench guy than as a trade chip.

[Old Style]

Dalen Terry is the pick.

He sounds like he'd be more useful to the Bulls as a bench guy than as a trade chip.

Or maybe he'll help fill the gap of someone else who is a trade chip.

[UMFan83]

 

Not feeling super confident about Lonzo's knee for next season....

 

AK also mentioned continuity several times including when asked if Vuc is going to be the starting C next year. Could just be posturing but it seems like they really do want to run it back with a few changes in FA. He mentioned wanting size in FA, which is absolutely a need. But I would argue shooting is just as much of a need even if Lonzo and Zach are back.

[raw]

 

Not feeling super confident about Lonzo's knee for next season....

 

AK also mentioned continuity several times including when asked if Vuc is going to be the starting C next year. Could just be posturing but it seems like they really do want to run it back with a few changes in FA. He mentioned wanting size in FA, which is absolutely a need. But I would argue shooting is just as much of a need even if Lonzo and Zach are back.

 

Health has played a HUGE factor in the NBA playoffs in recent years. The Bulls probably aren't good enough to overcome any of their core players missing critical time. If Lonzo isn't healthy, I'm not sure anything else they do matters all that much. There's just nobody with his level of defense and shooting that the Bulls can afford to add as a contingency plan.

[Old Style]

They need somebody to match up with Giannis and Embiid if they want a shot of winning the East.

[17 Seconds]

i'm not going to have much interest if they run back the same team