Bulls draft thoughts: the night before

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jun 24, 2009 10:37 PM CDT Comment 61 comments

I know this is just getting in on the hype...but I do have the feeling (and only a feeling, as I have no sources...I think you have to be nicer) something big will happen on draft night. Namely Amare.

So anything less will be a major disappointment and I'll blog-flog Gar Paxdorf continually through July 1st when Ben Gordon is a Piston. Then it'll be apocalyptic-scorched-earth-blogging (a.k.a. 'Hissy Fit 2009'). Could be fun.

But that's for later, as of now I'm still holding out hope that a major move will be made tomorrow, the first salvo in what will be the first Rose era of title contention. Do one now on his rookie deal, do one again in his prime. The Bulls are in a good spot if they are willing to pay out of some mistakes, whether they're of their own doing or ones of some other more cash-strapped team.

If they stay the course, before and after picking #16 and #26...they'll be irretrievably average. Maybe a bit better than that only to be dragged down by the coaching. That stinks. Moving up could help, but doing something bigger would really help. And I think they have it in them, though I continually rail otherwise. Don't they?

And though this 'major move' that I'm dreaming of doesn't have to happen tomorrow to effect next season, it seems like a logical time to do it. It's draft day! I'm excited.

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Boy, not setting your sights high or anything there, are you

I’ll be looking forward to the hissy fit – it will be nice consolation if there’s nothing awesome to discuss. ;)

Man-slave, bring me my PB&J!

by wjb1492 on Jun 24, 2009 10:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Matt, if you're expecting Amar'e, well, I'm expecting you to be pissed come Friday morning.

"Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy." --Newton

by fundamentallysound on Jun 24, 2009 10:47 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Pretty much, yeah.

"Vinny continues to act like a crazed arsonist pouring gasoline on our season while running around carrying a torch yelling 'I’m in charge. Don’t any of you foolish knaves try to second guess me. I know gasoline is a liquid but I’m pretty sure it isn’t flammable and the odor gives me a natural high.'" - Tyrusmancrush

by Illini15 on Jun 24, 2009 11:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think I'm expecting Amare.

But I’m with Matt. If something doesn’t happen I’m gonna be pissed.

by Edicus2288i on Jun 24, 2009 10:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Blog-flog?

Blog-flog?

That would be a rec. And come Thursday night, with no Amare, a reckoning.

The poster formerly known as Freethefro.

by MPG on Jun 24, 2009 10:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Can I just go on record ahead of time saying that Amare isn't really going to excite me?

I hate to say that, but I just didn’t like a lot of things I say after looking in depth around the trade deadline. He’s like the DeJuan Blair of NOT staying in the draft.

In my heart of hearts, I think Bosh is the guy this team needs. Perhaps we can get a good deal with Kirk to the Blazers, Tyrus, Outlaw, Blake, and the #16 pick to the Raptors. I dunno, I’m getting desperate here.

BullsTwo

by Sports2 on Jun 24, 2009 11:00 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I like Bosh as a player

but honestly, to me, Amar’e is the better fit here. He’s more of an inside guy on offense (although he has as good of a face up game as Bosh). He runs the floor better and is a better finisher. He’s close in rebounding but his defense is much worse than Bosh’s. It’s more of an effort thing than anything else though.

by Rose Colored Goggles on Jun 24, 2009 11:40 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

I'm on the side of getting Bosh instead

but I figure Amare’s more obtainable and maybe the Bulls (for once) don’t wait (?)

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by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jun 24, 2009 11:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like Amare, but maybe its more wrong with Stat than just his eyes! Knees also ?

man up!

by exult463 on Jun 25, 2009 12:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i'm an amare guy too

just because I think it will cost less and I think he is a better fit. Bosh can be a ball stopper on offense, and he isn’t the most physical guy. The injuries are really my biggest concern with Amar’e. I think Bosh is a bit overrated, but both would be great.

by Basketball Smurf on Jun 24, 2009 11:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

In my heart of hearts, I think Bosh is the guy this team needs.

I gotta agree. I’m a Bosh fan. And though I don’t see that happening tonight, I’d like to see some signs that we’re heading in that direction.

That said, if we land Amare, I’m not going to complain. If we keep both picks and take 2 average players that fit into our rotation as is, then I’ll actually be dissapointed bc I’ll know there’s no larger plan. Trading both picks for a slightly higher pick that lands us someone like Henderson would make me mildly happy at least.

What do I need to show fire for? I'm not a dragon. - Lou Pinella

by smash! on Jun 25, 2009 8:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I really wanna see Kirk dealt tomorrow.

It’s so time.

by SoulEater7 on Jun 24, 2009 11:05 PM CDT reply actions 4 recs

+1

by sweetneyisfat on Jun 24, 2009 11:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

+2

man up!

by exult463 on Jun 25, 2009 12:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

thirded...

48 minutes of intensity...RIP NVL.

by Lt.Dan on Jun 25, 2009 7:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

use the rec button!

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by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jun 25, 2009 8:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pessimism test/ in a corner?

16 seems to be just on the cusp of being where Bulls don’t want to be picking…Pistons in a position to take player Bulls want picking at 15…

And 26 not worth enough to those teams that Bulls want to trade up with at 11, 12, 13, 14…

So, unless they trade a player (read Kirk) tomorrow…and that gets them a different draft pick, I don’t look to be that excited by what’s left at 16.

Is this a test of how pessimistic one is?

by Cholla on Jun 24, 2009 11:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm going to go ahead and say you are going to be disappointed

But, then again, you are disappointed with everything the team does, and seemingly the only thing that would bring you joy is if Jerry Reinsdorf was replaced with a money dispensing robot and Ben Gordon broke up with Jilian Jesk to move in to your basement.

If Amare became a Bull, I would be happy, but not excited as if Bosh came to the team. I think most people tend to overrate locker room issues and chemistry, but adding someone like Amare to a team with no real leader could be a huge mistake.

That Steve Nash is exactly the same as Kirk Hinrich, but worse.
by NBA Observer on Apr 8, 2009 12:23 PM CDT

by Ozzie Montana on Jun 24, 2009 11:10 PM CDT reply actions 5 recs

are they really going out?

by SoulEater7 on Jun 24, 2009 11:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Me and BG?

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by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jun 24, 2009 11:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

hahahahaha

People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. --Bruce Bartlett

by tyger1147 on Jun 24, 2009 11:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

there are good moments too

The pining for Brad Miller eventually came to fruition!

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by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jun 24, 2009 11:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I still don't understand your obsession with Brad Miller

besides the fact of being able to get rid of Nocioni’s awful contract, I guess he adds grittiness/slowness!

by FAN of the BULLS on Jun 24, 2009 11:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

how dare you.

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by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jun 24, 2009 11:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

(I was happy until I remembered who was coaching)

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by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jun 24, 2009 11:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly. That has to be priority One.

by hlac on Jun 25, 2009 10:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

"adding someone like Amare to a team with no real leader could be a huge mistake. "

Excellent point..

man up!

by exult463 on Jun 25, 2009 7:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am hoping for something to happen 2morow..

Chicago: Where Derrick Rose happens

by Juan dela Cruz on Jun 24, 2009 11:18 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I thought we definitely had BG for next year???

by sweetneyisfat on Jun 24, 2009 11:26 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

James Harden is down to #5????

DraftExpress is updating their rumor column:

Blake is obviously going #1 overall.

Virtually every team we’re speaking to right now has Hasheem Thabeet slated to be picked second by the Grizzlies. Memphis’ entire front-office met with owner Michael Heisley yesterday at his house to go through all the various possibilities for tomorrow night’s draft, and came to the conclusion that barring a trade, they will select Thabeet with the #2 pick.

1. Griffin
2. Thabeet

-Oklahoma City appears to have narrowed in on Ricky Rubio as their top choice with the #3 pick, at least according to what most NBA teams have on their board at the moment. For now, it seems like they will be keeping him. While we’re told that the Knicks will definitely explore a sign and trade with David Lee to acquire Rubio, it might take more to convince Oklahoma City to make that trade.

1. Griffin
2. Thabeet
3. Rubio

-With Rubio locked up at three, we can probably move our attention to Sacramento, where Jonny Flynn and Tyreke Evans are clearly the top two candidates on the board.

1. Griffin
2. Thabeet
3. Rubio
4. Flynn/Evans

Damn. The TWolves will definitely take Harden at No. 5. They just traded away two SG’s for the pick. I think they’d be smarter to trade back to 9th or 10th and take the “ready” Ty Lawson. He’s a good 3-pt shooter which would complement Harden’s driving ability well. I think Harden is very “ready” and obviously Love and Jefferson already are. WIth Lawson, Harden, Love and Jefferson, this team could be a real offensive force just 2 or 3 years from now. I mean, like Top-8 good. And 3-4 years and one or two good moves? Top-5 good.

On the other hand even if they take Curry, I think it will take longer and the team might be one of the most deliberate teams in the league, but it might scary good on offense. Sort of like Portland.

People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. --Bruce Bartlett

by tyger1147 on Jun 24, 2009 11:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Harden + Lawson would be pretty neat

BullsTwo

by Sports2 on Jun 24, 2009 11:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If only we could trade Hinrich and the 16th pick for the 5th pick

then pick up Harden. That way we would not have to worry about resigning Gordon. A back court of Rose and Harden for the next 12 years sounds good to me. With the 26th pick we could pick up a guy like Douglas who could back up Rose for 10 minutes a night.

Rose/Douglas
Harden/Salmons
Deng/Salmons
Thomas/Miller
Noah/Miller

Who would you guys rather have Harden or Gordon?

by FAN of the BULLS on Jun 24, 2009 11:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm fine with Salmons starting over Harden for a year.

I’m patient.

People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. --Bruce Bartlett

by tyger1147 on Jun 24, 2009 11:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm fine with that as well since we only will have Salmons for a year (hopefully)

A Rose/Harden backcourt is making me giddy. The Bulls really got to try to make it happen. Plus Reinsdorf would approve because he would not have to worry about signing Gordon and would save a ton of money. I can’t believe I even have to worry about the financial side of things, damn you Reinsdorf

by FAN of the BULLS on Jun 24, 2009 11:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I imagine they're hoping for Evans to fall to them...

I think he’ll be the best player from this draft when all is said and done, and if he falls, landing Harden & Evans would be pretty nice. I don’t think they’ll be dissapointed with Rubio falling either, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.

What do I need to show fire for? I'm not a dragon. - Lou Pinella

by smash! on Jun 25, 2009 8:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Matt, Shaq was just traded. Maybe they're ready to deal with the Bulls and rebuild.

People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. --Bruce Bartlett

by tyger1147 on Jun 24, 2009 11:35 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I tend to think the opposite

Pavlovic’s deal is not guaranteed, so this deal cuts $7M or so off Phoenix’s cap. In other words, it saves them financially.

They’re no longer a contender, but they also no longer have an obvious motivation to trade Amare. In fact, if you were going to rebuild, wouldn’t he be the guy to rebuild around?

BullsTwo

by Sports2 on Jun 24, 2009 11:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And they will look to buy out Wallace...

Saving even more money to rebuild/retool around Amare

" I've looked at these numbers and decided the #1 problem

is that Ben Gordon is selfish..." -your friendly bulls blogger

by Dionysus2.0 on Jun 24, 2009 11:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

According to sources a while back

the suns would trade either Shaq or Amare, not both

by FAN of the BULLS on Jun 24, 2009 11:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

yes, that makes sense

i’d say that without actually knowing, it seems pretty… ambiguous. If you think Tyrus Thomas is any good, getting he and Noah and a pick might almost be better to build around.

Or Deng + Noah + DeJuan Blair (16th). I’d almost rather have that than Stoudemire.

Jennings (better yet, Lawson) + Deng + Blair (or Daye or Earl Clark) + Noah. That’s intriguing to me.

People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. --Bruce Bartlett

by tyger1147 on Jun 24, 2009 11:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Imagine Phoenix getting Deng and Blair and Noah and drafting Lawson.

Then, for shits and giggles, throwing a max deal to Joe Johnson next season when they let Steve Nash go. That’s the fastest (and luckiest) rebuilding project eva!

(I know there are other players like Barbosa and Richardson, but whatever.)

People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. --Bruce Bartlett

by tyger1147 on Jun 24, 2009 11:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't trade all of them for Amare

BullsTwo

by Sports2 on Jun 24, 2009 11:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would love to deal Deng, Thomas, and the 16th pick

I’m not sure if the Suns would accept, though

by FAN of the BULLS on Jun 24, 2009 11:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If we get Amare, I just don't want to give up Noah

I really want to see Amare and Noah play together.

by FAN of the BULLS on Jun 24, 2009 11:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

I’ll throw a lot of players and picks at PHX to get Amare, but only under the assumption we’re building around Stat, Rose and Noah. I’ve said all along I think this will get us Stat (and I believe Barbosa as well):

Deng, Tyrus, Jerome James, 16 and 26

That’s two 1st round picks, 2 young building blocks and an expiring contract covered by insurance. What else could they want?

by Rose Colored Goggles on Jun 24, 2009 11:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If we get Amare

We need to sign Gordon, who the hell cares if were paying the luxury tax.

Rose/Hinrich
Gordon/Hinrich
Salmons/Sam Young (26thpick)
Amare/Miller
Noah/Miller

That is a title contending team for years to come, please JR

by FAN of the BULLS on Jun 25, 2009 12:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

meh, I see 'owner approval' is the only stumbling block

In other news, Mike D’Antoni will coach the Bulls!

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by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jun 24, 2009 11:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think "owner approval" would be a problem

The suns would save money and the Cavs are desperate to keep Lebron and Shaq helps that cause

by FAN of the BULLS on Jun 24, 2009 11:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can't tell what this trade means...

on one hand it looks like they did it to clear cap/save money in order to resign Stat. On the other hand, it looks like Kerr has messed up this former 61 win team so bad that he is just blowing it up and rebuilding completely (ie. no Amare). It seems like Stat’s worn out his welcome and is not likely to resign anyways….

I’m with you yfBB, bring me Amare tomorrow night!

by Rose Colored Goggles on Jun 24, 2009 11:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i heard reports that the Suns were trying to trade Amare and Shaq

so I don’t think it out of the realm of possibility that Amar’e still gets traded. I think the Suns would like to retool that entire team around Steve Nash.

by Basketball Smurf on Jun 24, 2009 11:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

ah here is the post

but its not really well sourced: http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/59811/20090614/suns_trying_to_deal_shaq_and_amare/

by Basketball Smurf on Jun 24, 2009 11:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, Amar'e is going nowhere

Steve Kerr, you stupid fuck, learn a thing or two from Kevin McHale on how to manage a team you don’t actually have a job with.

That Steve Nash is exactly the same as Kirk Hinrich, but worse.
by NBA Observer on Apr 8, 2009 12:23 PM CDT

by Ozzie Montana on Jun 24, 2009 11:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

this really takes the wind out of my sails

even a Hinrich deal isn’t too exciting, it just cements that the Bulls are refusing to pay the tax. I know I should’ve given up that fight long ago, but still :-/

That said, I’m signing off and we’ll see if Shaq’s really a Cav tomorrow…

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by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jun 24, 2009 11:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

hmm interesting

Before we break this down, let me just say that there’s a good chance the Suns aren’t done. And I don’t mean just some picks swapped. I am hearing that this could very well be the beginning of a full blow up that could include Amare and Nash gone. I am not going to go into details. You can take it for what it is…another rumor. We will know soon enough anyway

-the suns blogger,

Maybe something special will happen on draft night

by LoveForTheGame on Jun 25, 2009 1:16 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh, we've got to get tat 5th pick somehow if Harden slips.

Gah. But how. … Maybe they’ll do a Gordon S+T and another good player[Hinrich/Salmons/TT] for their crap?

-I was wrong about Pau Gasol. I have been shamed. :(

by Prevenge on Jun 25, 2009 1:55 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Can we be a true contender?

Adding just Bosh or Amare doesn’t make us title contenders at all. I don’t know why you all think so. At best, we are a 3rd seed, more likely 4th. Neither Bosh or Amare are true franchise players. I wouldn’t mind having either but we need to do more than get one of those dudes to really be contenders.

Let’s start thinking of how to win titles not just make the playoffs every year.

Rose is a #2 option on a championship team. We need an actual #1 not regular stars like Amare or Bosh. If we get an Amare or Bosh, we still need one more All-star. And we need defenders too. Cause if our D stays the same as it’s been, we are going nowhere in the playoffs

Amare-huge injury risks, both knees and now eye issues which can get worse and be career-threatening. Poor defender. Doesn’t seem interested in winning, more into personal stats

Bosh-not a true post player, shoots a lot of Js, too thin to really mix it up, I don’t seem him as a true game-changing superstar.

We all wants PaxDorf to make moves though and there aren’t many options are there?

by C Smoove on Jun 25, 2009 2:12 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

nobody thinks that just by adding Bosh or Amar'e the Bulls will become contenders

i’ve never heard anyone on this site say that. The hope is that you get one of those guys to pair with Rose and than you attempt build a team around those players. And don’t tell me it can’t be done because I watched Orlando build a team around Howard-Lewis-Turk, 3 players with serious flaws in their games.

It is not that far of a stretch to believe that the Bulls could compete with Bosh-Rose-3rd option to be named later if the Bulls surrounded those players with quality talent like Noah, Deng, Gordon etc.

by Basketball Smurf on Jun 25, 2009 2:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Honestly...

predicting whether or not it is possible for Rose to be a first option after his rookie season when he was 20 years old is absurd.

by McCabe on Jun 25, 2009 5:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

if he's not

the Bulls are pretty boned for a long while. So lets pretend he is.

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by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jun 25, 2009 8:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why get your hopes up?

We’re Bulls fans.

Besides luckily drafting the G.O.A.T., have we really ever had much hope?

If we ever did, they were soon to be squashed anyways. I don’t expect things to change tomorrow.

by Option27 on Jun 25, 2009 4:20 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

In a chat today at hoopsworld.

“Yeah – think it’s only a matter of time before the Suns put a big “For Sale” sign on their NBA.com/roster page. I wouldn’t be surprised if Nash, Amar’e and Shaq are all trade by February"

http://www.hoopsworld.com/chat.asp?status=&CHAT_TOPICS_ID=342

by McCabe on Jun 25, 2009 5:04 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs