Seriously, screw this draft

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Mar 19, 2007 5:56 PM CDT in News Comment 28 comments

Unless the Bulls win the lottery, of course.

But assume they don't. The Knicks are playing well enough to where even if that pick is in the lottery it'll provide something like a 1% chance of a top-3 pick. If the season ended today they'd be picking at 13 and likely will finish around there.

So now that the NCAA Tournament is underway along with it's accompanying full-on hype-fest onslaught, the names start flying out for guys the Bulls could pick: Hansbrough, Hibbert, Yi, and basically anyone else who's over 6'8".

Do you really want any of these guys on the Bulls? Or does everyone just like playing mock draft too much to help themselves?

I think the draft is fun too, but to me it's something that fans of bad teams should have more fun with. The Bulls don't need more players (especially young ones), they need better ones. Ideally, only one, really good one. There's nobody in this drafting range that would even be an upgrade over Thomas or Nocioni in the rotation, so what's the point?

If anything it's about value. This pick may not have much value to the Bulls, but to a rebuilding team, first round draft picks, no matter where (especially if they don't have one), mean they can get someone young and cheap, but beyond that they also provide hope. That way when their team sucks yet again they can always point to their young draft pick's development.

But the Bulls are beyond that, they are ready to win. And I think Bulls fans should be beyond it too. So instead of drafting whoever has a good week in the tourney, they can use the pick, perhaps package it with a player on the roster (Nocioni, as a restricted FA, would likely make the most sense), and make an actual upgrade in the rotation. It may make things less fun on draft night, but I remember spending draft nights waiting for the days when the Bulls didn't have to care about the draft.

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Do I want Hibbert on the Bulls?

Hell yes.

Hansbrough? Maybe.

Yi? Depends on who else is available.

I still think the best thing to do is trade Hinrich for Gasol and then draft a PG.

Sue369 is in her 60's

by Colossus on Mar 19, 2007 7:00 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

ok, we're aware that's your preference

But do you think Hibbert or any of them would be in front of Tyrus or Noc? Why not deal that pick for someone who will? I don't think the Bulls should draft someone just to replace Sweetney or Allen if they can get an impact addition instead.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Mar 19, 2007 7:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed,

and lets throw Garnett/Gasol trade talk out, and concentrate on Marion deals.

by Paxson Jackson on Mar 19, 2007 7:44 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

that is intriguing

let's run hinrich out of town on a rail. But Hibbert would be excellent. watched too much of him against my marquette golden eagles. so, quandry.

I vaguely remember a 'jordan' something...

by boyonthedock on Mar 19, 2007 7:48 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

where's the beef?

who are the Bulls going to get for Noc and a pick? How many guys are an upgrade over a rotation of Noc/Tyrus and whoever the Bulls get with the pick? And more importantly, will that team trade him to the Bulls?

This circle of questions is starting to feel like a noose...

by bullshooter on Mar 19, 2007 8:30 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yi, or that Argentine

Duh.

by Paxson Jackson on Mar 19, 2007 8:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

remember, it's not just 'a pick'

it's a pick in the greatest draft in goddamned history! ;-)

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Mar 19, 2007 11:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And what about

that franchise savior, Mario Austin?

I'm seriously done.

by Paxson Jackson on Mar 19, 2007 11:50 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Playoffs just around the corner

I think that as Bulls fans, we have (sadly) become conditioned to looking at the draft as the big event. We went a long stretch in the 90s where the draft was a waste of time that did not need our attention. But that all changed over the last eight seasons. Visions of Marcus Fizer scoring 25 points per game danced through our heads. I agree with Matt in general. With the playoffs looming and the damn Knicks actually winning games, it is time to focus on the here and now.

However, I think we only trade the pick if we can get someone we really need - not just a piece. Pax has shown that he really knows what he's doing on draft day, and if we do get a pick in the 13-ish range - in a deeper draft than normal - I have confidence that he'll turn that pick into a quality player. But for now, I am focused solely on the Clippers.

Deng 4 MVP, 2008!

by corey williams corey benjamin on Mar 20, 2007 8:09 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

This is ridiculous...

(this goes to Matt, too)

With the playoffs looming and the damn Knicks actually winning games, it is time to focus on the here and now.

I'm a fucking fan for Christ's sake. And I live out of Chicago. And I'm busy. So I only see about one game a month. I don't need to focus on shit.

What am I going to do? Write a post about how Ben Gordon needs to drive more. Or how Ben Wallace might be better because it's national TV. Or he might not because he didn't show up in last year's playoffs. Or how about how Nocioni isn't really that good, but the Bulls might get better (or worse) when he comes back. All valid topics, to be sure, but they don't interest me right now.

by tyger1147 on Mar 20, 2007 10:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

well if you watch more Greg Gumble than Ben Gordon

than that plain sucks for you.

I never said you 'need' to focus on one thing or another. I'm just saying what I'm focusing on.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Mar 20, 2007 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

*"then that"

/<pre-emptive strike against the grammar police>

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Mar 20, 2007 10:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is exactly

what I said in fewer words a couple weeks back in another thread. There are no players that immediately improve the roster(Oden/Horford seem to be the best options, but won't be available), but they don't need more youth to wait on.
They are starting to play their roles a lot better recently now that they've let Tyrus actually 'use' his athletic ability as opposed to playing Skiles' scared to make a mistake basketball.
That being said, they need a post option so that their offensive sets aren't so easy to defend. Defenders just stick to the Bulls wing players no matter what. And considering the fact that's where 80% (sorry this is not exact) of the scoring comes from, when they struggle shooting the team sucks.
Trade the pick, even if it's for a larger salary to trade for a bigger name player... (And no, I don't need a salary cap implication/explanation here.)

by kingj41 on Mar 20, 2007 8:21 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Draft Pick Doesn't Matter

Any move we make will be based on how the playoff run goes and what players step up their games when it counts. But we are in a dream world, thinking that the pick plus Noce is going to give us a low post scorer who can take the heat off perimeter game. We will have to give up either Deng, Gordon or Hinrich to make that happen plus a few other assets. We can only hope one of other assets is the 2007 draft pick instead of our picks from last year.

by Goshdengit on Mar 20, 2007 9:02 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

What a bitter post

for no reason.

This draft, along with every other draft ever assembled is made for ALL teams to get better. Ok, so you're sick of the Bulls getting young players. Well, it's a chance for the organization to be well stocked at various positions for years to come.

Matt and everyone else here would like to trade the pick for a proven post player of some sort who can immediately contribute to the Bulls. But sometimes, the person you draft turns out to be quite the special player and that in itself makes the draft so worthwhile.

I'm so sick to death of the whole, "Bulls are ready to win now" saying. Yeah they are, and there's nothing wrong for them to be ready to win later too. The Bulls are in a position to be patient and watch their young core develop properly and not in a messy hurry.

Who cares if Ben Wallace is 32 now? By the time his contract is up, Tyrus will be ready to take over his position because of the draft last year when we didn't really need any more young players either.

AIM screen name : Option27

by Option27 on Mar 20, 2007 10:44 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

barring a trade

for an established player I could see pax trading down for a lower pick, say 24 or so, and picking Marc Gasol. A 7 footer with a pedigree is a pretty nice bet.

but I do think that Pax will trade the pick plus noc, and maybe Du for a post.

by brianmita on Mar 20, 2007 12:23 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

new debate

who will be better: Marc Gasol or an actual post? ;-p

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Mar 20, 2007 12:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Marc Gasol

will be better than most of the posts on this diary, at least the ones made lately... ;-)

by bullshooter on Mar 20, 2007 12:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

heh

I was referring to more like an aluminum post.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Mar 20, 2007 12:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Marc Gasol is not the answer

Do you guys remember the world championships? He was beyond useless. Bad conditioning, foul prone and he was more than ineffective on offense.

As far as I remember he only played very few minutes so I'm completely clueless where all this talk of him being able to contribute in the NBA comes from...
(Although I have to admit that I'm a draftnik)

by spider from split on Mar 21, 2007 8:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I believe the draft is important

to the Bulls. Arenas chosen in the second round, Du chosen in the second round - miracles do happen. Paxson has been superb in his draft choices. This is a deep draft and I'd rather add someone than trade someone good to get someone good who does not know our system. That said, I think Matt does raise an interesting angle. I also enjoy the draft and would be disappointed if we didn't have a first round pick. I guess I like seeing young players develop or not develop. I remember an announcer saying Deng was thought close his peak with little upside potential when he was drafted. Now you wonder how good he can still be. The player we get will probably not make an impact next year but could in 2 or 3 years when Deng/Gordon and Hinrich are still in their prime. This is still the best way to build and remain competetive.

chgobr

by chgobr on Mar 20, 2007 4:23 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

what?

Lumping Duhon in the same comparison with Arenas sounds funny to me.

Duhon a miracle? Really? Surely you could have found a better 2nd round pick as a miracle.

by Lt.Dan on Mar 20, 2007 5:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree - - I take back Duhon. Someone help

me with a better second round miracle.

chgobr

by chgobr on Mar 20, 2007 7:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

How about Rashard Lewis?

32nd overall in 98 draft.

by wjb1492 on Mar 20, 2007 7:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

MIchael Redd seems a good choice.

And Mehmet Okur. But you could probably find 200 out of the 300 drafted in the 2nd round over the last ten years, that never started a game in the NBA. Hell, just go over the No. 11-14 picks of the last five years. Drafts are about the first seven-ten players. After that it's a crapshoot.

http://www.nba.com/history/draft_top13.html

Scroll down and look at that list. Sure there are your Allen Houstons, Robert Horrys, Richard Jeffersons, Reggie Millers, but there's also your Vitaly Potapenkos, William Averys, and Marcus Haislips.

by tyger1147 on Mar 20, 2007 8:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If not in the draft....

where you gonna find a big guy then? If we go into next season as small as we are now, I think I'll kill myself.

by dcarioca on Mar 21, 2007 8:56 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Varejao

What's his status? He's not great, but I think he's better than P.J. Brown. Advanced stats from someone would be better telling.

You know what I just realized? It's meaningless, but that the Bulls just paid over $8 million for P.J. Brown. I understand the spin that can be put on it about the flexibility they get after this year, and the options it at least gave for a trade, but just in and of itself, that's a horrible spending:production ratio.

by tyger1147 on Mar 21, 2007 11:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs