A New Direction for the 2008-09 Bulls
I wanted to address Matt's post about trading Deng and Gordon, but I thought my idea took up a little too much space to be a response. With that in mind, here's what I'm thinking:
I know a lot of Bulls fans are really biased towards BG and Deng, but there are a couple of young restricted free agents that I would much rather the Bulls went after.
Josh Smith, Monta Ellis and Andre Igoudala are all going to be restricted free agents this summer. Let's make a play for one of those guys.
Let's look to make a deal moving as many of Nocioni, Gooden and Hughes as we can. Perhaps Hinrich, too. We've got a young group intact. Thabo, TT and Noah will still be here. Say Hinrich stays, too. If we could get any one of the above mentioned free agents I'd be ready to roll with that 5 as my starters.
Any way we can get some of our junk out of town is a plus. If that can't happen, then play them, but limit the hell out of their minutes. I'm talking off the bench no more than 10-12 minutes a piece. We have talked so much about depth. I think it's overrated. Teams with a good starting group let them get most of the meaningful minutes. You need two quality reserves, and a couple of space fillers for when your starters are tired or in foul trouble.
So imagine a starting lineup with Hinrich, Thabo, TT, Noah and one of Ellis, AI and Josh Smith. Coming off the bench to spell them is maybe a PG you drafted this year, whoever you picked up in the Noc trade, Gooden and Hughes if you got stuck with them and then our end of the bench, just-in-case scrubs.
We would be young, athletic, fast, defensive-minded and perfectly built for a fast-paced run-and-gun style team. Bring in a like-minded coach who wants to play up tempo with a swarming defense. We would also be in good financial shape moving forward.
In summary, we had some good times with Gordon and Deng, but this year was unacceptable. They both have flaws. They both stepped back when we needed them to step forward. Let's not throw money at a couple soft guys that showed their true colors in their contract years.
Just out of curiosity, I included a poll to see what you guys think of the Bulls' potential options this summer.
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the Bulls aren't getting other teams' RFAs
by hscs on Apr 3, 2008 8:09 AM CDT 0 recs
Plus,
by bullhockey on
Apr 3, 2008 11:24 AM CDT
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I figured his athleticism would make him
by MarketMaker on
Apr 3, 2008 1:24 PM CDT
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exactly
by shoryuken on
Apr 3, 2008 1:28 PM CDT
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Baron Davis is big enough to guard other teams'
by MarketMaker on
Apr 3, 2008 2:07 PM CDT
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fair enough
by shoryuken on
Apr 3, 2008 3:18 PM CDT
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Yes, and Hinrich was obviously abused on constant
by snley on
Apr 3, 2008 3:51 PM CDT
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Did you read any of the other comments?
My main point was that GS is an ideal situation for Ellis. He gets to play to his strengths on offense at the SG position (shooting, using his athleticism to get to the rim). He also gets to minimizes his weaknesses (height, weight) by being allowed to defend the PG position. If Ellis had to guard other 2 guards, he would be consistently posted up by bigger guards. Throw in the fact that GS cleared out cap space by trading Jason Richardson, it becomes highly unlikely that Ellis will leave GS.
by shoryuken on
Apr 3, 2008 4:45 PM CDT
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the BYC issues for Deng and Gordon
(they don't, for example, apply to Gilbert Arenas, who if he opts out and gets a max deal, isn't getting a 20% raise)
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 3, 2008 8:58 AM CDT 0 recs
Is the BYC issue for all sign and trades
by snley on
Apr 3, 2008 9:03 AM CDT
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it's all 'signs', if
* The team is over the salary cap, it extended the player's rookie scale contract, and the player received a raise greater than 20%.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on
Apr 3, 2008 9:31 AM CDT
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Are these guys not at the same risk
by MarketMaker on
Apr 3, 2008 1:12 PM CDT
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this definitely could have gone in the other diary
by bullshooter on Apr 3, 2008 9:08 AM CDT 0 recs
Is that worth saying?
by MarketMaker on
Apr 3, 2008 1:08 PM CDT
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why don't you post another diary
by bullshooter on
Apr 3, 2008 11:04 PM CDT
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fair enough,
by MarketMaker on
Apr 4, 2008 4:41 AM CDT
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Don't sweat it
by bullshooter on
Apr 4, 2008 9:14 AM CDT
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Iggy
Igoudala will be an elite player in the NBA and is a hard worker. Lute Olsen says he is the best player he ever coached... nuff said really. His size, talent and athleticism are remarkable.
We need to resign Ben Gordon long term. I am not sold on Deng who should have been traded last year when his value was higher. But Deng also suffers from the bulls' lack of a pg (cuz Hinrich is garbage).
Noah, TT, and Gooden are good. Gray can be a decent backup.
by Zac23 on Apr 4, 2008 4:31 AM CDT 0 recs
wait
by your friendly BullsBlogger on
Apr 4, 2008 9:41 AM CDT
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Can you believe that the Bulls
by bullhockey on
Apr 7, 2008 8:50 PM CDT
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Paxson
by Zac23 on
Apr 8, 2008 8:39 AM CDT
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Yeah, and then there's
But at the time, Pax was just desperate to make the playoffs, and so you can understand why he wanted gym rats over high-ceiling guys.
Tyrus Thomas was just a complete departure, though. Having "proven" himself as a good drafter in the conservative style (gym rats), he felt like he could gamble a bit on a high ceiling guy in Thomas.
So I guess the 07-08 season destroyed (or at least dented) his reputation as both a conservative drafter of gym rats and as a guy who can evaluate the talent of high ceiling guys.
by bullhockey on
Apr 8, 2008 9:42 AM CDT
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I'd be interested to know
My own opinion is that none of these guys has shown that you can build a franchise around them. Iggy seems to have the momentum right now, but his team has been good for a grand total of 30-40 games during his career. Is that enough to get you the big deal?
by bullshooter on Apr 4, 2008 10:52 AM CDT 0 recs
it likely will be enough for the Sixers
I don't think it matters, as the Sixers are going to keep him. 'face of the franchise' and all that. Worked for Hinrich!
by your friendly BullsBlogger on
Apr 4, 2008 10:56 AM CDT
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Not to mention,
He's also more "athletic". Better yet, he's more of a "pure athlete".
Still, there could be some redundance with Rodney Carney there. Maybe we could take him off the Sixers' hands.
by bullhockey on
Apr 7, 2008 8:53 PM CDT
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I think Iggy is the best of the 3
The money these guys make will throw a wrench in the debate, too. I gotta think the pullback by Deng and BG is gonna hurt them in the pockets, while Iggy would seem to be in line for the best payday of the 3.
by MarketMaker on
Apr 4, 2008 3:58 PM CDT
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I agree, but by how much
by bullshooter on
Apr 4, 2008 7:33 PM CDT
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I really
by Kemp on Apr 4, 2008 1:39 PM CDT 0 recs
Monta Ellis
by arjoseph on Apr 6, 2008 4:25 PM CDT 0 recs
here's the problem with your stance:
by MarketMaker on
Apr 7, 2008 10:19 PM CDT
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I think arjoseph is saying
by YaoPau on
Apr 9, 2008 1:29 AM CDT
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