WrigleyField 22

So according to a "source" the NBA will take back their $62M flex cap option and push for a $45M hard cap once a lockout begins. I really hope this "source" is just a negotiating tactic, otherwise there won't be a 2011/12 NBA season. http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/214454/Source_Owners_Will_Push_For_$45_Million_Hard_Cap_Once_Lockout_Begins

I'm coming into the question late, but it kind of depends on if average is defined as the mean or median in mathematical terms. If you have a given position with top heavy talent the mean will be higher than the median. So if you are looking for mean production, certain positions will have more or less players that fit that description. If you just are just looking for the median, then theoretically yes, it would be just as easy at each position (assuming every player is equally available, which obviously isn't true, but can vary just based on the on the particular off season)

Lie about their sexuality and say they are gay. For credibility.

Bulls should try and sign David Lighty. A month ago he was higher rated than Marshon Brooks who everyone is gushing over now. Shot nearly 50% from the field and 42% from 3. Not real big. Not real athletic. Could turn into a decent role player a few years down the road though. Will probably do a little of everything.

Confirmed/Reported Trades: Bucks get Beno, Stephen Jackson, Shaun Livingston & 19. Bobcats get pick 7 & Maggette. Kings get 10 & John Salmons. Spurs trading George Hill for rights to Kawhi Leonard and #42 The Rockets and Wolves have agreed to trade J Flynn and Montiejunas to Houston for Brad Miller, 23rd pick and future 1st, source says (per Adrian Wojnarowski) Minn trades #23 to Chicago for #28, #43, and Cash (per Adrian Wojnarowski) Boston trading #25 to New Jersey for #27 and 2014 2nd round pick #28 pick (via Minn) to Miami for #31, future 2nd, and cash #26 & Felton to Portland, Andre Miller to Denver, Rudy Fernandez to Dallas #45 to New York for $1M Confirmed Picks: 1. Cleveland (from L.A. Clippers)- Kyrie Irving G Duke 2. Minnesota- Derrick Williams F Arizona 3. Utah (from New Jersey)- Enes Kanter C Kentucky 4. Cleveland- Tristan Thompson F Texas 5. Toronto- Jonas Valanciunas C Lietuvos Rytas 6. Washington- Jan Vesely F KK Partizan Belgrade 7. Charlotte (from Sacramento)- Bismack Biyombo C Baloncesto Fuenlabrada 8. Detroit- Brandon Knight G Kentucky 9. Charlotte- Kemba Walker G Connecticut 10. Sacramento (from Milwaukee)- Jimmer Fredette G Brigham Young 11. Golden State- Klay Thompson G/F Washington State 12. Utah- Alec Burks G Colorado 13. Phoenix- Markieff Morris F Kansas 14. Houston- Marcus Morris F Kansas 15. San Antonio (from Indiana)- Kawhi Leonard F San Diego State 16. Philadelphia- Nikola Vucevic C USC 17. New York- Iman Shumpert G Georgia Tech 18. Washington (from Atlanta)- Chris Singleton F Florida State 19. Milwaukee (from New Orleans via Portland via Charlotte) -Tobias Harris F Tennessee 20. Houston (from Memphis via Utah via Minnesota)- Donatas Motiejunas F/C Benetton Treviso 21. Portland- Nolan Smith G Duke 22. Denver- Kenneth Faried F Morehead State 23. Chicago (from Orlando via Phoenix via Houston via Minnesota) - Nikola Mirotic F Real Madrid 24. Oklahoma City- Reggie Jackson G Boston College 25. New Jersey (from Boston)- Marshon Brooks G Providence 26. Denver (from Dallas via Portland) - Jordan Hamilton F Texas 27. Boston (from L.A. Lakers via New Jersey)- JuJuan Johnson F Purdue 28. Miami (from Miami via Toronto via Chicago via Minnesota LOL)-Norris Cole G Cleveland State 29. San Antonio- Cory Joseph G Texas 30. Chicago- Jimmy Butler F Marquette Second round 31. Minnesota (from Minnesota via Miami LOL)- Bojan Bogdanovic G Cibona VIP Zagreb 32. Cleveland- Justin Harper F Richmond 33. Detroit (from Toronto)- Kyle Singler F Duke 34. Washington- Shelvin Mack G Butler 35. Sacramento- Tyler Honeycutt F UCLA 36. New Jersey- Jordan Williams F Maryland 37. L.A. Clippers (from Detroit)- Trey Thompkins F Georgia 38. Houston (from L.A. Clippers)- Chandler Parsons F Florida 39. Charlotte- Jeremy Tyler C San Diego High/Tokyo Apache 40. Milwaukee- Jon Leuer F Wisconsin 41. L.A. Lakers (from Golden State via New Jersey)- Darius Morris G Michigan 42. San Antonio (from Indiana)- Davis Bertans F Union Olimpija Ljubljana 43. Minnesota (from Utah via Chicago)- Malcolm Lee G UCLA 44. Golden State (from Phoenix via Chicago)- Charles Jenkins G Hofstra 45. New York (from Philadelphia via New Orleans)- Josh Harrellson C Kentucky 46. L.A. Lakers (from New York)- Andrew Goudelock F College of Charleston 47. L.A. Clippers (from Houston)- Travis Leslie G Georgia 48. Atlanta- Kieth Benson C Oakland 49. Grizzlies- Josh Selby G Kansas 50. Philadelphia (from New Orleans)- Lavoy Allen F Temple 51. Portland- Jon Diebler G Ohio State 52. Detroit- Vernon Macklin F Florida 53. Orlando- DeAndre Liggins G Kentucky 54. Cleveland (from Oklahoma City via Miami)- Milan Macvan F Serbia 55. Boston- E'Twaun Moore G Purdue 56. L.A. Lakers- Chukwudiebere Maduabum F NBDL 57. Dallas- Tanguy Ngombo F Qatar 58. L.A. Lakers (from Miami)- Ater Majok F Sudan 59. San Antonio- 60. Sacramento (from Chicago via Milwaukee)-

Just in case you were tracking the 28th pick: Miami (from Miami via Toronto via Chicago via Minnesota) LOL and #31 Minnesota (from Minnesota via Miami)

Bismak screams bust. The fact Jordan just picked him confirms it. And hey, that Charlotte pick keeps looking potentially better and better.

KBerg_CBS Ken Berger A swap of PGs -- Andre Miller from Portland to Denver for Ray Felton -- "looks like it could happen," source says KBerg_CBS Ken Berger Portland (21) and Denver (22) also would swap first-rounders in Miller-Felton deal, source says

Where are you getting this?

Not really an off season move, but Ron Artest has submitted documents to legally change his name. http://www.tmz.com/2011/06/23/ron-artest-world-peace-name-change-los-angeles-lakers-l-a/ World Peace... God Bless you Ron, I mean World.

I don't know enough about specific players to comment on Singler, but regarding team need, there isn't a single position or skill set that the Bulls have too much. Yes that is role player range, but the Bulls do go ten deep currently. You might find a guy to step in right away, yet he may not contribute for a couple years either.

Is Burks really worth that risk? Even if he is someday is a starter, he won't be right away. You'd be better off using Taj or Omer to get a guy like Mayo or to a lesser extent Lee who can play now and be a long term solution. Oh yeah, I would only want to trade up for Burks if the Bulls didn't have to part with Taj or Omer. 'Doh. I misread "without" as "with" Carry on.

Is Burks really worth that risk? Even if he is someday is a starter, he won't be right away. You'd be better off using Taj or Omer to get a guy like Mayo or to a lesser extent Lee who can play now and be a long term solution.

Why would you worry about team need when picking at the bottom of the first round?

Awesome news.

Gotta go all the way back to find the best one: http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ll3718nCxk1qk4a0ho1_500.jpg

Yea I knew that about hockey, but these articles are talking more about how teams can operate under/over the cap. Doing a little research, wikipedia tells me NHL teams can go a little over the cap for bonuses. Is that accurate?

So the new owners proposal is leaking some: $2B guaranteed to players in the next 10 years $62 cap ($4M higher than current) Some exemptions to cap (bird rights and MLE) but more restrictions on use of these They are calling it a flex cap, though I'm unsure how thats different than a soft cap In essence a 8% pay cut for players the first year League wants 10 year commitment I'm reading its similar to the NHL cap. Any hockey fans want to weigh in on what hockey's salary cap system is like? http://greenstreet.weei.com/sports/boston/basketball/celtics/2011/06/21/nba-offers-flex-cap/ http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chicago-bulls-confidential/2011/06/how-the-latest-salary-cap-structure-affects-the-bulls.html#more http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/sports/52049880-77/stern-cap-nba-players.html.csp http://www.nba.com/2011/news/06/21/asch-labor-negotiations/ Not sure it all makes sense, but we just have bits and pieces right now.

Not really that newsworthy either. I'd have been shocked if they kept the triangle.

Well yes, but its a zero percent chance we get him as a FA.

The Dwight Howard sweepstakes doesn't begin until there's a labor agreement. Too much up in the air for anyone to know how that will all go down. If he really decides to go to free agency Bulls won't be getting him. We will only get him via trade. However if he does prepare to hit Free Agency, the contracts of Brewer, Korver, and Watson are suddenly extremely valuable and could land us another top notch player.

What would REALLY help is to have a person that creates from the front court. Even having two creators can be more easily shutdown if they both are from the same spot on the court. I mean Terry, Kidd, and Barea are nice players and good creators, but they aren't as effective without a big man who also creates. Just makes it much more difficult to guard both spots on the floor. Obviously we won't be getting that though, so a SG is the best we can do, and it may very well be enough anyways.

No rings? What will he do instead?

Well hopefully Wade and co. get a participation trophy.

Deng obviously has more NBA mileage though. Although for as much injury flak that Deng has gotten, Noah has been just as brittle. Really when you look at our core, we have quite a few guys with injury history.