This would be my game plan for the next year and a couple months..

1.  Rest of FA -- We've lost BG, didn't want to spend that type of money on a 6th man.  Cool.  Let's throw a 3 year deal worth about 6-7 mil to Von Wafer.  He doesn't want to go back to Houston.  He's the space opener we lost with BG, plus he's actually SG size at 6'5 210. I'd make him my 1st priority, then if we lose out on him look at Rodney Carney or Rashad McCants, but no one would be making over 2.5 mil a year.

2.  Summer League Team -- If we can churn out some the bottom of the roster with some rookies or lower priced vets, it can only help our cap space situation.  Let's look for some guys to replace the likes of Anthony Roberson, Linton Johnson,  and Aaron Gray.  Don't forget that Lindsay Hunter will be a player-coach, so we'll need to replace him too.  So let's see if a guy like Taurean Green, can become our 3rd PG.  If he's developed a shot, he could be the perfect PG to groom as a back up, so we can move Kirk. Or if Julius Hodge, has recovered from his gunshot injuries and is ready to get back on track.  Before being shot he was starting "to get it" with the Nuggets.  He would bring some needed versatility to the bench.  Can sharpshooter A.D. Vasallo show enough in other departments to get a shot with the big boys?  He's definitely one of those space openers we've been talkin bout recently.  And wouldn't it be nice if James Augustine showed enough that he makes Aaron Gray an afterthought.  I'm hoping all 4 make the squad.

3.  Stand Pat til December or January -- No need to make a move right now.  Let's see what we have first.  A couple of months in, and we'll know if Salmons is a reliable replacement for BG at SG.  We'll know if Deng is back to normal and healthy.  And most importantly, we'll know if Amare's eye is healthy and he'll be finally working himself into "real" game condition.  (Remember right now, he's coming off no physical exertion for about 3 months).

Hopefully, we look good, I'm not expecting #4 or #5 in the conference, but we should be very comfortably in the mix, somewhere in the 6-9 range. Deng is looking like his old self and Salmons has shown that he is more than capable of replacing BG's 20 a night.  Phoenix, on the other hand, is already out in double digit range, which might not be too far fetched.  Amare is disgusted, and Kerr has the owner down his back about salaries and cutting costs, this is where we jump in to the rescue. Offering Tyrus Thomas, Luol Deng, Tim Thomas, and Jerome James, for Amare and Barbosa.  Immediately, extend Amare at about $15-17 mil/year, he's talking that 20 mil crap, but he'll be glad we put him in the spotlight and saved him from Phoenix.

This leaves us with a 2009-2010 lineup of:

PG D Rose / Hinrich / Green

SG Salmons / Barbosa / Wafer

SF Johnson / Vasallo / Hodge

PF Amare / Gibson / Augustine

C Noah / Miller

Good enough to finish the season in the 4-6 range and possibly make it to a 2nd round matchup against Shaq and Lebron, or a revuvenated Big 3 plus Sheed.  But not good enough.

4. Free Agency 2010 --  I know everybody wants us to bring Wade home, but Joe Johnson makes more sense.  He'll be the cheaper option, he's only a year older, has had less injury problems, and is a better shooter, which complements D. Rose better.  We'll even give them a sign and trade option, if the Hawks are looking for it.  Sending Hinrich and Barbosa in exchange.  Salmons won't opt out, unless he puts up unbelieveable numbers, so we slide him to the 3.  Try to resign Miller, at a lower price if he's up to it. 

This should be our opening day lineup for 2010:

PG D Rose / Green

SG Johnson / Wafer / Hodge

SF Salmons / Johnson / Vasallo

PF Amare / Gibson / Augustine

C Noah / Miller / Asik

This team is a legit championship contender and it isn't a scenario that all that hard to believe can happen.  We would be placing ourselves in a GREAT position, because we'll still be able to sign D. Rose and Noah to their extensions, without too much luxary tax, and by then it should be more than worth it.  I'm just hoping that the Front Office is thinking in some like minded fashion.

** FYI **

A 3 TEAM TRADE INVOLVING THE BULLS, HAWKS, AND SUNS INVOLVING THE SAME PLAYERS MENTIONED ABOVE WORKS FOR THIS YEAR, BUT I FIGURED THAT WAS A BIT MUCH TO THINK COULD REALISTICALLY  HAPPEN.. But if Atlanta falls out of contention early it wouldn't be impossible:

Chicago Gets:                              Phoenix Gets:                                   Atlanta Gets:

Amare Stoudemire                      Luol Deng                                         Kirk Hinrich

Joe Johnson                                 Tyrus Thomas                                 Leandro Barbosa

                                                         Jerome James

                                                         Tim Thomas

I, for one, couldn't be happier Ben Gordon signed with the Pistons. And not just because a spot has opened up on the Bulls roster, giving me a chance to live out my NBA dreams - I think a 5'9" Jew with a solid 8-foot jumper is just what Pax and Gar are looking for - but because Gordon, and his giant contract, took more away from the Bulls than he added.

Much has been said about Gordon being a defensive liability, but the point bears repeating. In that historic playoff series loss to the Celtics, Ray Allen averaged 23.4 points per game under Gordon's watchful eye.. By contrast J.J. Reddick held Allen to under 10 points less than that, which was a big difference maker in the Magic's 7-game series victory on their march to the NBA finals (and Reddick only makes $2.8 million a year).

But even with Gordon's failings on the defensive end, the Bulls lost a player today that gives you 20 points a day with no health issues. Even with this gone, I think this benefits the Bulls in the long run for 5 reasons:

1. Derrick Rose

With Gordon out of the picture, Rose becomes Vinny's number one boy. If Rose is the guy you're building your franchise around, you don't want him sharing the spotlight with a ball hog like Ben Gordon. Gordon's hero complex took the ball out of Rose's hands in pressure situations. Sure this payed off for a few games in the playoffs, but remind me again how that series wound up for the Bulls? A lot has been made about wondering where those 20 points a game will come from now that Gordon's gone and the obvious answer is Derrick Rose. Now you give him the ball in crunch time and give him the experience he needs to develop. Still Rose is still young but that's why you benefit from my #2 reason.

2. Kirk Hinrich

It was common knowledge that if Big Ben were to stay with the Baby Bulls, Hinrich would have to go to make room for Gordon's behemoth of a contract. With Ben gone the Bulls are in a position where they have to keep Hinrich around. What you have in Hinrich is a solid defender and team leader backing up Derrick Rose who's biggest deficiencies are as a defender and a leader. With Hinrich gone you force Derrick Rose to develop with out a solid back up. Hinrich is a 40% 3-point shooter who averaged 10 points coming off the bench last season and who probably deserved more minutes than he got, albeit in an injury year. Look for Hinrich to step back into the leadership role that he lost last year and help Rose develop into the great player we all know he is.

3. John Salmons playing with Luol Deng

From 2006 to 2008 Luol Deng was the Bulls' top performer, averaging almost 20 points a game for the two seasons prior to this past injury plagued under-performing season. Deng missed nearly a third of the season and all of the playoffs with an injury to his right tibia. All was not lost, however, when John Salmons descended from heaven and shot an average of 18.1 ppg. These two never really got a chance to play together, but if Deng can stay healthy and put up numbers like he did before his injuries these two can be a potent duo. With Deng back in the starting rotation and Gordon gone, Salmons can move to the 2-guard and provide the height and defense lacking in that position during the Ben Gordon era.

4. 2011

Let's face facts, with or with out Ben Gordon in a Bulls uniform Chicago have no chance of beating Dwight Howard and the Magic, Kevin Garnett and the Celtics, or the brand new Shaq attack out of Cleveland with the current front court. Don't get me wrong, the Bulls are still a guaranteed playoff contender even with Joaquim Noah clanking low-post shots and Tyrus Thomas drifting off into la la land, especially in the East. But until the Bulls have some real effective big men to their roster, we won't see a seventh banner hanging in the United Center rafters for some time. But Gordon was let go because once the 2010-2011 seasons rolls around those 55 million bucks are better spent on one of the marquee big men that become available that season. Chris Bosh is the big name thrown around, but Pau Gasol and Denver's Nene are also available.

5. Kobe Bryant trade rumors

Okay this last one is BS, but I couldn't conjure up a fifth and you need 5 reasons on a list for aesthetics. Honestly do you need more? I think I've proven my point. Enjoy the Motor City Ben, I'd wish you all the best but honestly I'm rooting for you to lead the Pistons in the same direction as another Detroit franchise: General Motors.

Jake Boyle
Jakefboyle@gmail.com

We'll I think I've had some time to digest the lost of Ben Gordon and while I'm sure it won't really hit me until I see him in the blue jersey with Detroit across I've gotta believe this ''set back'' will carry into the season and as a result... lottery balls.

Clearly the Bulls have shown everyone next season is of no real importance. Last season was pretty much the same thing, to develop Derrick Rose but it just so happens they got hot before/after the trade and had a historic series with the Celtics. So some of us got fooled. Like me who thought that maybe the Bulls thought they had something here with Gordon and Rose and could be in the top tier of the East for years to come. 

All the signs were there with VDN being hired to be the eventual fall guy. Even if they manage to make the playoffs. Because next season's goal for the players will be to ''make the second round,''  but front office doesn't believe that.  VDN was hired to be fired. Not only will 2010 be about landing big names it's also going to be about finding the guy to coach those big names. It won't be VDN. The message has been sent that they wanna become a defensive minded team. I don't see VDN fitting into those plays because after all he's an offensive minded coach. 

Paxson's shadow GM act. The Johnny Red Kerr night really sent the message home to Paxson that 2010 is still kinda far away so lets just hide. I'll assume he knew of BG's fate and that the ride is about to get REALLY rocky. So bringing in Gar gives them more time and relieves him of some the criticism to a degree. Gar has become the finger in the hole to stop the leak. 

So now the team and the fans have the message. NEXT SEASON IS A THROW AWAY. It was their blue print all along. Trading Sefolosha (defensive player) to acquire a cheaper asset for future deals. He could have helped on Rondo don't you think? Oh but they had too many guards(Hunter was getting time) and Sefo wouldn't get time.

Besides Derrick Rose and maybe Noah, or a Gar duped Tyrus Thomas, who's going to play hard for a lame coach and a team that's only goal is to blow it's wad on 2010 free agent class? 

The East has clearly gotten stronger at least in the middle with Washington and Toronto.  

If the future is foggy for so many players on this team and the Bulls are looking to deal. Before they made the trade the Bulls were well on their way to the lottery and many here debated over making the playoffs or landing a lottery ball. Most I believe wanted a playoff run for Derrick Rose including me. But that was under the impression the Bulls were going to ''try'' to retain BG. Looking back at last season the Playoffs were the best fate but thats not true for next season. THE BEST PLACE FOR THE BULLS NEXT SEASON IS THE LOTTERY. They need assets to interest trading partners. Or maybe they find a talented player that can help add depth. 

To me all the signs are there that next season is a death march and the Bulls are now rebuilding around Rose and the 2010 free agent class. Don't be shocked next summer to see Paxson emerge from his Berto Center office to hold up the Bulls jerseys of whatever free agents they land to say this was the plan all along. 

PS It's been a boring 4th so I typed this and I have no idea what Im talking about. Anyways have a Happy 4th!

When you think of the Chicago Bulls, the first thing that normally comes to mind is Michael Jordan. Maybe, it’s because of the way he led the Bulls to six NBA championships in eight years during the ‘90s. Or, the way he hit clutch shot after clutch shot that left opponents devastated and Bulls’ fans wanting to be like Mike. Even though he influenced an entire generation to be like him, the public still gives some credit to Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and Steve Kerr. Ask some people and they would tell you that Jordan couldn’t do it without Horace Grant. But, what the Bulls did that’s sometimes over-shadowed by their overall domination is the defense they played. The championship Bulls’ teams played fierce defense, which led to Jordan and Pippen’s multiple NBA All-Defensive honors.

We have all heard the ole cliché "defense wins championships" and it’s true. The Lakers were a great scoring team, but they had to buckle down on defense to win the NBA Finals. The Celtics won the title the year before with defense and, so did the Spurs for their four titles, the Pistons in ’04 and the Lakers for their three-peat. For the Bulls to return to prominence, they have to get back to playing hard-nosed defense.

During the post-Jordan era, the Bulls have only had two great years out of the eleven seasons that has passed since Jordan laced them up for the Bulls. The 2004-05 and 2006-07 seasons are the only years that the Bulls posted a winning record, both seasons pushing 50 wins. The Bulls went (47-35) in 2004-05 and (49-33) in 2006-07 and this was no accident.

In those two seasons the Bulls ranked at least 7th in points against and allowed less than 94 points per game. The Bulls was ranked 7th in the NBA and 4th in the East during ’04-’05 giving up just 93.4 points per game and ranked 6th in the NBA and 3rd in the East during ’06-’07 averaging only 93.8 points against per game.

Clearly, Chicago needs to get back to playing defense if they want to win and they have an opportunity to turn things around now. Fans have been bittersweet about the departure of Ben Gordon, but this can actually be a good thing for Chicago. Gordon was beloved for his great scoring that spark the team, but was a defensive liability. He failed to fight through screens and if he was having a tough shooting night, then he didn’t bother to play defense.

This is where the Bulls’ front office needs to take off their skirts and be aggressive. Gordon’s spot still need to be filled, but the team should go after veteran big-men like McDyess, if possible, or even Theo Ratliff who can still defend around the rim and rebound. They may not be long-term answers, but every young team need veterans that can set the tone and be leaders. We still have to see what rookies Taj Gibson and James Johnson can bring, but the Bulls should attack free agency like they did the draft, looking to get tougher.

I wouldn't mind the Bulls looking into picking up McNeal from Marquette as a undrafted FA.  Same size and skill set as Kirk so he could be a Kirk replacement.  Not as good of a shooter but more athletic, could spell both guard positions for 15 solid minutes.

We need more defenders on the team, this wouldn't be a bad start.  Dude can score a bit too, he was the all time leading scorer for Marquette...which probably isn't saying much though.  But still....

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I know it’s too early for the great summer of 2010. There’s a full season ahead of that. But I think we could start choosing who do we want most and what others players we should persue in the case of the first two - I hope the Bulls have enough money to sign two max free agents to play with Rose and Noah - end up elsewhere.

Now, here is a list of players who are going to be/might be free agents in 2010. From that list, I would clearly focus my attention in signing Wade and Bosh. I really don’t care much about LeBron. He can go to the Big Apple or wherever he wants, because the Bulls would be almost unbeatable with a core of Rose/Wade/Bosh.

But since there’s a chance we don’t get anyone of those Big Three (LeBron/Wade/Bosh), I think we would be ok with Manu/Johnson and Amare/Boozer/Nowitzki. They are older than the top three, but maybe they could also help Rose get ring.

What are your thoughts?

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=m24a5j

Portland is said to now have a verbal agreement with Hedo and Rudy is pissed.  I know that some other people have also mentioned this in some of the threads, but I think it deserves its own FanPost.  I think we can agree that we all are pissed and that something needs to happen before the beginning of the year to make this team more competitive.  And I am sick and tired of hearing about everyone else improving while we regress.  I don't want to just do something so we can say we did something, but we can't stay pat when everyone else around us is getting better and we were already only mediocre.  So, let's finally make a deal happen with Kirk and the Trailblazers.  Everyone knows they need a defensive PG and that they love Kirk.  We are now in desperate need of a SG.  So...

Portland Trailblazers get Kirk Hinrich

Chicago Bulls get Rudy Fernandez, Steve Blake, and Travis Outlaw

Blazers

Hinrich / Bayless

Roy / Webster

Turkoglu / Batum

Aldridge / Frye

Pryzbilla / Oden

That's a nice looking team.  A pretty good mix of vets and young guys across the board.  No one is too old though.  This is a 60 win team next year.

Bulls

Rose / Blake

Salmons / Fernandez

Deng / Outlaw

Thomas / James Johnson

Noah / Miller

Let me say that Hinrich is one of my favorite players on the Bulls.  But I care way more about the Bulls than any one player.  And I think we have a much better team with this trade.  And if Deng does have lingering problems with his leg, Rudy moves to the starting 2 and Salmons to the starting 3.  If only we had DeJuan Blair as our back up 4 I'd be happy.  That one's on you GAR!

A word to the Blazers fans that will inevitably be on this thread.  We need more for our Captain than two back up scrubs.  I know you'll say that they aren't scrubs, but they are just serviceable.  You are not getting anywhere in the playoffs with Blake as your starting PG and we're not giving up one of our best players for two mediocre backups.  Yes, Kirk is a backup now as well, but only because he is behind one of the most exciting young players in the NBA.  He was behind Chris Paul on Team USA, but he still played and played well.  You're not going to ever see Blake or Outlaw on that team.  No, I am not saying Kirk is just behind Paul, just that he is ahead of Blake and Outlaw, by a good deal, IMO.  And the point is, you get better.

Thank you ben gordon for

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According to Ken Berger at CBSSports, there is a Ben Gordon sign and trade situation that would send Gordon to Detroit and Iverson to the Bulls. Details to come but if we get Iverson I could only assume Kirk is gone. I doubt the Bulls are thinking win-now, Iverson might only get a one year contract so we could dump Kirk and still have a combo guard behind Salmons and Rose. This move might give us the flexibility to sign 2 decent players and get a top 10 pick next year. Addition by subtraction.

Who do you all think would get the best of this matchup during the regular season?  I put my money on hinrich stopping BG.  But thats just my respect for Hinrich's D, and knowing BG's tricks.

Won't that be ridiculously fun to watch 4 times a year for the next 3 years?  Hinrich harassing Gordon with his shirt pulling, and would be able to move step for step with BG.  Not to mention his superior size, and equal strength?

Who would you all take?