Can Bulls be Lebron's 2010 dark horse?

by SoulEater7 on Jul 5, 2009 1:51 PM CDT Comment 68 comments

"Well, I think with free agency in 2010, every team is going to try to get better," said James. "It's not just New York, it's not just Brooklyn, it's every team. Every team wants to strive to be the best, and every team wants to win an NBA championship, so it's not going to be a two-team race between Brooklyn and New York. It's going to be a lot of teams that are going to try to strengthen their teams, and there's going to be a lot of free agents out there in 2010, so if you guys want to sleep right now and don't wake up until July 1, 2010, then go ahead, because it's going to be a big day."-Lebron James

Yup Im going to bring it up after R-Fed just won his 15th Grand Slam. When the latest Bulls news is journeyed Jannero Pargo meeting with Bulls brass.

Do the Bulls have a shot to land Lebron? Yes everyone is down on this organization for many reasons which I won't rehash but is it for a bigger coup than D-Wade or Chris Bosh? Will the Bulls go all in for LBJ. You can be sure the entire league is primping for the summer of 2010. Wearing their best dress.

I think the assumption is that Lebron is going to NYC or staying with the Cavs. Maybe playing for Jay-Z in Brooklyn. I understand LBJ has a love for New York and the Yankees blah blah blah.

Maybe it's too late. Maybe the path is cleared if the Knicks can land Kid with a coach like Mike D'Antoni and GM Donnie Walsh. Maybe he just wants to be in NYC and thats that.

But don't the Bulls have as good a chance as anyone? Money, market, players.

Could the best draw to the Bulls over any other team be MJ? Could Lebron fancy MJ's cape? He wear's 23. Maybe it sounds silly but why not? They have a the side kick that Lebron has been lacking for years. The unselfish Derrick Rose. The tandem would be young and talented for years to come. Something NYC couldn't offer with Kid getting older.

Why not keep Tyrus and Noah together in the front court?

Could you imagine a team of Rose, Salmons, James, Thomas and Noah? Athletic, young and talented. Could you imagine what it could to the NBA? It's a pretty scary thought.

This is the Bulls plan. It's the only way back to glory. Lebron James.

Going into that last regular season game, the Bulls needed to beat Toronto to get to six and a matchup with Orlando. I thought that was the best chance for the Bulls to advance (I know, I know. Nice pick). We weren't sure Kevin Garnett was out yet and no one thought the Cavs could be had early. I was talking to Bulls coach and he said he preferred the Cavs. I was shocked. He said let LeBron play against the Bulls for two weeks, see the kind of players they now had, see the city and the organization and the facilities and the community and in 2010, who knows.-
Sam

FanPosts are user-created posts from the BlogABull community, and are to be treated as the opinions and views of that particular user, not that of the blogger or blog community as a whole.

1 recs | Comment 68 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

rose-lebron-deng-bosh-noah

championship.

by patagonia on Jul 5, 2009 3:09 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

singular?

by SoulEater7 on Jul 5, 2009 3:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

With that lineup

I envision no less than 9 straight titles. Anything less would be a failure.

(and before anyone freaks out on me, that was a joke… Still it would be an incredibly, ridiculously awesome lineup)

"One time I went to a social gathering, I brought a bottle of Tanqueray and a shotgun and showed those motherf&#@ers the best time they ever had!"- Kenny Powers (Eastbound and Down)

"Why give 100% when 35 can still get you paid and laid."- Kenny Powers

by gridiron_assassin on Jul 5, 2009 3:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think it's more like...

rose-lebron--bosh-
Chapionships.

For my true fans, I feel bad for them. The longtime fans of the Chicago Bulls – I just felt like they’re being cheated. Not with me, but just things that happened in the past. I feel like the fans deserve a lot better. - BG7

by smash! on Jul 5, 2009 4:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ok, first I misspell championships, then the html editor cleared my space-holder symbols I had for the 3 and the 5 positions. Doh. My point was simply, we don’t even need Deng or Noah, putting Rose-Bron-Bosh together equals greatness, regardless of who else fills out the roster. It’s nice to daydream:)

by smash! on Jul 5, 2009 4:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The PREVIEW button is your friend.

"Whoever was responsible for pulling that offer [to Ben Gordon] off the table...bring him before me and I'll punch him right in the face " - Frederick Pfeiffer

by Granny Waiters on Jul 5, 2009 5:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who do the Bulls get back from NY for Rose? Cap relief?

by hitlesswonder on Jul 5, 2009 7:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Duhon

Vinny Del Negro Offensive Gameplan, Part 1
-When there's less than 30 seconds left in the game, that's me with my hands cupped around my mouth yelling.
"BEN! SHOOT! SHOOOOTTTT!!! WHY AREN'T YOU LISTENING TO ME?!?"
-This segues nicely into my Timeout Management classes - order now!

by Prevenge on Jul 5, 2009 11:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

NY?

What does NY have to do with this?

by kozzer on Jul 6, 2009 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

To explain the joke, "smash!" posted that the combo of Rose, James and Bosh would win multiple championships.

“hitlesswonder” implied that NYK would sign James and Bosh, so Rose would have to be traded to NY for that combo to happen.

“Prevenge” then suggested that the Bulls would trade Rose for Duhon.

"Whoever was responsible for pulling that offer [to Ben Gordon] off the table...bring him before me and I'll punch him right in the face " - Frederick Pfeiffer

by Granny Waiters on Jul 6, 2009 8:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nobody to space the floor with that lineup. A lot of congestion. Funny thing though. A guy like...

…Ben Gordon would fit perfectly at the 2 in a lineup like that with LeBron playing his natural 3 spot.

by lexdiamonds0730 on Jul 7, 2009 12:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe Jesus could be our 6th man.

and God could coach us. I fear this is wishful thinking.

by drosekillsall on Jul 5, 2009 5:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

i dont think god would agree to anything less then a CEO position. i think.

by masputo on Jul 5, 2009 5:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Reinsdorf would also lowball God.

“Let’s take a look at your resume. Ok, I see that you’ve only ever held one other job that isn’t really basketball management related. Wow, less direct basketball experience than VDN. What if I tell you that we have a 1 million dollar coaching offer for you…is that something you might be interested in?”

"Worker bees can leave.
Even drones can fly away.
The Queen is their slave."

by jpchi on Jul 5, 2009 5:48 PM CDT up reply actions 9 recs

LOL! Hed offer him 927000 not the full mil though

by TRiCioNeRo on Jul 5, 2009 7:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

thats so fkd up

yet so hilarious

I was watching the 1995 Playoffs VS the Magic's and remembered how much I hated Horace Grant. Horace Grant - i hope you burn in bball hell

by Belize on Jul 5, 2009 8:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

but lebron cant wear 23 if he comes to the bulls!!!!

he won’t want to change his number so there’s no chance…..

See Red, BABY!

by iamsasquatch on Jul 5, 2009 5:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

and the headband rule.

Don’t forget about that.

by SoulEater7 on Jul 5, 2009 6:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

nah i think we'd change that if we got lebron lol

See Red, BABY!

by iamsasquatch on Jul 6, 2009 12:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

lets make him a special 23.5 jersey

by sin on Jul 6, 2009 4:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shaq changed his number when he went to the Lakers

seriously, if LeBron won’t go to a team because he can’t wear 23, that would be really stupid. I wonder, though, if the Bulls would make an exception for him (with Jordan’s approval if JR felt like he wanted/needed to get it) if LeBron requested that.

by kozzer on Jul 6, 2009 2:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I've been saying the same thing

There is no reason why Chicago shouldn’t be in the mix. People have said that NYC is most attractive because it is the biggest market, but how much greater could his endorsement income be if he plays for the Knicks versus the Bulls? I don’t even think VDN is a stumbling block, since he’s been playing for Mike Brown (who is terrible). The Bulls should focus on him as the prime 2010 target. The problem, though, is that I doubt the Cavs let him walk for nothing and they probably would not want to do anything that results in a division rival getting the league’s best player.

by Stay Chisel on Jul 5, 2009 5:35 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

As the BG situation shows...

If Lebron is intent on leaving, there isn’t much (i.e. nothing) the Cavs can do to stop it

by shine218 on Jul 5, 2009 6:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed...

…but the difference is when BG walked some fans complained on a message board. If James left Cleveland, fans would burn down the Quicken Loans Arena.

by Stay Chisel on Jul 5, 2009 6:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

why stop there?

they’d probably also take down Progressive Field, set fire to Lake Erie and throw molotov cocktails through the Rock and Roll hall of fame.

by CubFan81 on Jul 5, 2009 8:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

In other words...

There would be no more ‘Mistake by the Lake’, although Reinsdorf seems intent on making the Bulls into just that….

by shine218 on Jul 5, 2009 11:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You're implying that "water" in and around Cleveland needs help catching on fire.

see: Cuyahoga River 1969

"Worker bees can leave.
Even drones can fly away.
The Queen is their slave."

by jpchi on Jul 6, 2009 5:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What star wouldnt want to play for VDN.

Opportunity of a life time.

by PricanStar on Jul 5, 2009 7:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

oh what

you act like a coach can’t be replaced with a snap of the finger.

by Bulls Mouthpiece on Jul 5, 2009 7:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

you act like management knows that

by sin on Jul 6, 2009 4:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He plays for Mike Brown now...

Swav or Die
For the lulz

by SRQman on Jul 5, 2009 8:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

what I wouldn't do for Mike Brown to be coach!

USE THE SOFTWARE. Actions-> Rec/Flag. Reply to comments with the reply button. Rec good fanposts/fanshots so the crud gets pushed down.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jul 6, 2009 1:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

At least Mike Brown

coaches defense.
But they do run the same offense – Give it to your best player and hope he makes the coach look good.

by kingj41 on Jul 6, 2009 1:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mike Brown just pretends.

by SoulEater7 on Jul 6, 2009 2:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is a reality

People need to get used to the idea that this is possible. Depending on how well Rose does next year, we have the most attractive situation for Lebron. The combination of big market, team history, some of the best fans in the game, huge arena, team with a huge upside, perfect sidekick for him(depends on what he does this year), bigger endorsement deals. The list goes on and on. Somehow everyone fails to see this.

I guess the one knock is that our front office has a bad reputation or something, but this shouldn’t result in us not even being considered in the running.

He has maybe four or five teams he seriously should be considering playing for. Those would be New York, Brooklyn, Cavs, Bulls and LA. You better believe we can get Lebron because if you consign to the fact that, “he won’t come here.” then we are selling our city/team extremely short!

by Bulls Mouthpiece on Jul 5, 2009 7:45 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

i dunno about team history

im not sure lebron would want to live in mj’s shadow here. hes alrdy living in mj’s shadow in the national spotlight now. it would bring a whole nother dimension if he became a bull

by sin on Jul 6, 2009 4:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

if he didn't want to, he shouldn't have chosen mj's number.

"They should. They better. I'm Vinny Del Negro!"

by Jaina on Jul 6, 2009 9:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It isn't

Money will have a lot more to do with this than people think, and Chi won’t be the highest bidder.

by huzzla duzzla on Jul 9, 2009 8:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, the Bulls can sign Lebron! But, to be more accurate, they almost assuredly won't

Moreover, for all the people that post lineups containing two of Lebron, Wade, and Bosh, explain how that can happen? Where does the money for 2 max deals come from? The Bulls will probably barely have money for 1 under the iron curtain of the tax.

by hitlesswonder on Jul 5, 2009 7:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Theoretically though...

it could be done. If we’re aiming for two of Bosh/Wade/LeBron then they’ll all have 7 years of NBA service. That means their max deals can be either $11M (first year) or 30% of the cap. If we assume the cap will be near $60M that works out to $18M per player. $36M for two and you might (big might) be able to convince them to take just a slightly bit ($2M or so) less so that the team can afford both of them together and just hint that you’ll point a little extra local endorsement work their way.

by CubFan81 on Jul 5, 2009 8:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And lets not forget...

Both players will finally get the chance to play with a young, dynamic point guard for once, aTRUE point guard, the LEBRON JAMES of point guards: Derrick Rose!!! A dynasty is all but guarenteed!!!
Both players are wealthy beyond their means. If they want to be NBA WINNERS many times over, they’ll join forces with Rose in Chicago!!!

"You never got me down, Ray. Ya hear me? Never got me down."
-Jake Lamotta

by The Red Menace on Jul 5, 2009 8:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry for all the exclamation points.

Cocaine’s a helluva drug.

"You never got me down, Ray. Ya hear me? Never got me down."
-Jake Lamotta

by The Red Menace on Jul 5, 2009 8:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

-1

by Jesse07 on Jul 5, 2009 9:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What does that mean?

"You never got me down, Ray. Ya hear me? Never got me down."
-Jake Lamotta

by The Red Menace on Jul 6, 2009 12:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Will the Bulls be even $32M under the cap?

To get to that they need to move Kirk or Deng for contracts that expire next season, don’t they?

by hitlesswonder on Jul 5, 2009 8:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm fine with that!!

"You never got me down, Ray. Ya hear me? Never got me down."
-Jake Lamotta

by The Red Menace on Jul 5, 2009 8:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

So am I, but that doesn't mean it's likely or even possible in Deng's case

by hitlesswonder on Jul 5, 2009 9:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well,

At this point according to hoopshype they have $26M committed for 2010 in Deng, Hinrich and Salmons. I’m pretty sure Salmons has an ETO and will probably exercise it. So it really is just $20M to Deng and Hinrich. Rose adds another $5.5M and Tyrus and Noah add $9M so that puts them at $34.5. Figure another $5M or so for the new guys Gibson and Johnson and that puts them at $40M. If the cap is at $60M or so all it would take is to move Hinrich and they’d be close. Hinrich and Deng (without taking too much beyond 2010 back from Portland) and now you’re just at Rose/Noah/Tyrus and $45M.

by CubFan81 on Jul 6, 2009 8:09 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The bottom line is that the Bulls can only afford 2 max contracts if

1) Deng is moved and Salmons opts out

2) Both Deng and Kirk are moved

Losing Salmons and Kirk leaves them short of 2 and I think it’s unlikely that anyone takes a $2M cut just for the privilege of playing for the Bulls, so I’m assuming the Bulls would need $36M in cap space.

In any case, the upshot is that it will take extraordinary measure to have space for 2 max FAs and I just don’t see that as likely. Plus, I think Deng’s deal is not movable for expiring money. Kirk probably is tradeable, especially if he plays well to start the season.

by hitlesswonder on Jul 6, 2009 10:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

sounds great

but the only thing is…well, lebron’s from cleveland..he comes here, its like he sells his soul

so..SELL THAT SOUL! =D

I was watching the 1995 Playoffs VS the Magic's and remembered how much I hated Horace Grant. Horace Grant - i hope you burn in bball hell

by Belize on Jul 5, 2009 8:38 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

In the wise words of Illini15

lolwut

by NittanyCub on Jul 6, 2009 1:14 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

the thing is

no team has ever had 3 superstars in their prime. for it to happen for us we’d need to trade Hinrich now and possibly use Deng in a sign and trade in 2010 if he has a good season this year. I’m not counting on it.

I think the best chance of 3 superstars is Miami. they don’t need to make any big deals to have room for Bosh in 2010, they’re a known hot free agent destination, they can just resign Wade, sign Bosh and if Beasley becomes a superstar they’ve got it. Then again having Wade and Bosh to play with might stunt Beasley’s potential growth especially since him and Bosh both have similar offensive games.

Maybe New Jersey will win the lottery and get John Wall who’s got a chance.

Still, if the way the rules are set up now stay, at some point the stars will align with a superstar on a rookie contract and two max contracts and that 72-10 mark will look very precarious.

by JSlakov on Jul 6, 2009 1:22 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

we'd realistically only be paying two for now

rose would still be on his rookie contract wuold he not?

by sin on Jul 6, 2009 4:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

yes

thats how a team could have 3 superstars (or 4 I guess, if they drafted two superstars in the same draft or back to back drafts). However, the Bulls don’t have cap space for two max contracts because of Deng and Hinrichs big deals.

by JSlakov on Jul 6, 2009 5:07 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

One of them has got to go!!!

"You never got me down, Ray. Ya hear me? Never got me down."
-Jake Lamotta

by The Red Menace on Jul 6, 2009 9:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Deng?

He makes more and does less. He also plays small forward. If they want a King they have to remove the jokers! hahahahahahahaha ehhhhh…

by SoulEater7 on Jul 6, 2009 2:20 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Deng it is!!!

Ready the catapult!!!!

"You never got me down, Ray. Ya hear me? Never got me down."
-Jake Lamotta

by The Red Menace on Jul 6, 2009 2:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If by been LeBron's dark horse...

you mean he is gonna mount the Bulls’ defense again, hell yeah

by JustAnotherFan on Jul 6, 2009 9:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Also...

there’s an article on ESPN right now that mentions something interesting. According to a friend of Trevor Ariza (isn’t it usually) LeBron told him (Ariza) that he was going to stay in Cleveland past 2010. Essentially LeBron was trying to get Ariza to pull a Hedo and Ariza asked if LeBron would be there past this season (a valid point to consider if you’re a FA, at least Baron Davis was stuck in LA).

Take it for what you want since a lot can change in 1 year.

by CubFan81 on Jul 7, 2009 12:45 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

and...

like clockwork, LeBron denies the story.

by CubFan81 on Jul 7, 2009 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

if fans on this site are any indication of bulls fans

lebron would never want to come here these asses worry about spelling and grammar English snobs

take it easy

by angryandy on Jul 7, 2009 1:04 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

angryandy, ladys and gentlman [sic]

by torch on Jul 7, 2009 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't you mean...

If fans on this site are any indication of Bulls fans, LeBron would never want to come here. These asses worry about spelling and grammar, English snobs.

by CubFan81 on Jul 7, 2009 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs