Tyrus Thomas: can one 'break out' in a water-treading season?

And some vague future of success that somehow materializes out of… Gar PaxDorf? I’d actually put them in the mix for replacement in a few more years as well. 2010 doesn’t go perfect, and we have new GM amalgamation configuring Derrick and the Pieces.

I liked it better when I could just cheer like hell for Tyrus’ blocks and envision great playoff runs with him and Ben and Noc… wait, not Noc. Anyway, it’s hard to sink your teeth into cheering when there’s basically no commitment to anyone on the team other than Derrick. Might as well trade him too.

Hmm. How to end this positively… Nope, couldn’t do it. Wait, I’ve got it. I’m going to go open a nice cold beer.

That’s the hugh fly in the ointment concerning TT. It seems to me they have two choices: sign him to an extension this summer like they did with Kirk in a similar situation or trade him before the trade deadline. The bad thing about trading him at the trade deadline is what if he really blossoms?

Just will ride Rose for the money.

No shame.

I’m tired of speculating on this. Wake me up if he actually gets consistently good.

I agree with much of the post. Look I am one that is all for getting rid of the cap hold and trading for Boozer. Then we have Boozer’s bird rights if we want to sign him to a deal and no hold so we can go after a FA right off the bat. I am as confused as you are to where the Bulls are going. Gar states he wants to go after a FA next season. If that is the case then we have to move Hinrich and deal with the Thomas hold before the trade deadline. However, it does not appear that the organization is trying very hard to move either player. So I am very confused and can only hope that they have a plan unlike the last 5 years.

1. If Tyrus was in the draft this year – a near 23 year old senior with Final Four experience, who’s a shotblocking machine, but who doesn’t have a polished offensive game – how would we view him, and where would he have gone in the draft?

First, wouldn’t the consensus be that he won’t develop an offensive game? How many seniors who aren’t scorers do we expect will become efficient 15+ppg scorers in the NBA? My guess is we’d think of him as an Earl Clark type, great defender at multiple positions, could become somewhat effective offensively, and he’d probably go 10th-15th (behind Jordan Hill, maybe ahead of Hansbrough, and probably no later than just behind Clark’s #14). He’s no longer the high-ceiling guy we thought he was two years ago, but he’s still a lottery talent.

2. Is there a precedent for a 23+ year old with 3+ years NBA experience who suddenly figures out how to score? Or becomes a star or even a semi-star?

Marcus Camby’s numbers were really close to Tyrus’ over their first three years. By year 5 (age 26), Camby finally figured it out by focusing more on rebounding and shotblocking, averaging 12ppg and 11.5rpg with a .559 TS%.

Donyell Marshall, also picked 4th in his draft, had just a .473 TS% through three seasons, and didn’t figure out how to score efficiently until age 27. After that he had a few capable years.

Kevin Garnett could always pass and defend better than Tyrus, but scoring wise, their numbers through age 22 are scary-similar (look at those per 36 numbers!). It’s easy to forget that Garnett wasn’t much of a rebounder early in his career, and it took awhile for him to figure out his jumpshot. Garnett figured it out at age 23 (his 5th year) in a big way.

Of course, Stromile Swift and Eddie Griffin were Tyrus-esque and never improved. And there’s really only one precedent (Garnett) for a Tyrus-type player who developed into a gamechanger offensively. But Tyrus can still become an impact player (as easily as just by improving his rebounding like Camby, Marshall, and Garnett did), and it’s not too late to keep hoping that something will click.

Tyrus is a done deal here. Why not try some kind of a sign and trade? I still think some teams would still be interested in him. He still has “potential” and had a decent season last year.

Deng and hinrich are the real problem (besides the coaching and management). Neither one can break down the defense off the dribble and finish strong/pass very well. Deng just wants to shoot that midrange j and kirk doesn’t really have a choice cuz he lacks speed and confidence. If we’re buiding the team around Rose (who I expect to break down defenses easily all year), then we need to shed those contracts. Tyrus is younger, he can run the floor with rose, finish at the rim, block shots…why wouldn’t you want him to be a part of your young nucleus. Our best player is 20 yrs old. I don’t even care if tyrus comes off the bench. Get better starters and a more experienced coach. Don’t get mad at your young developing talent.

Tyrus isn’t that great at finishing yet, it’s one thing to dunk all alone but he can’t take a hit and then finish. Also he can run the floor but he usually just wants to jog. I like Tyrus too but he can’t blame the org for lack of development forever….it’s his career and he’s gotta go all out to be the best he can be to get his $$$. Gotta look at the man in the mirror sooner or later and wise up. I honestly think he needs to sports psychologist. Seems like he has some kind of mental thing going on, either ADHD or some equivalent.

I’ve probably seen 99% of TT’s games as a Bull and I am still hemming and hawing . One minute I think he’s a bust. The next I see an extremely valuable piece to the Bulls contending. And the Bulls find themselves in the same position. I have no doubts he has practice sessions where he is unbullievable (hehe) and other practices where he stinks. That’s why they can’t pull the trigger on his future.

So everyone reply right now: Bust or Contributor. I’m saying Bust, mostly due to lack of court awareness and anticipation. A coach CANNOT play a player like TT at crunch time. It kills you. You guys keep ripping Vinny for benching TT in the fourth, but he had better options. Coaches don’t develop players, players develop players.

tyrus can guard lebron, it is perhaps my favorite thing about him. he is one of the few players in the league that can jump with lebron, and lebron’s physical domination of the game makes tyrus an attractive player to teams. In the east you have to be able to guard Lebron, same goes for Dwight Howard. I remember reading something somewhere that said “add tyrus thomas to the short list of people that can guard lebron” (maybe on truehoop?) and i couldn’t have agreed more.

I liked the block too, but let’s hold up before we proclaim Tyrus the “Lebron stopper”, remember where a similar proclamation got Ruben Patterson on Kobe’s shit list.