Lame choice for draft lottery rep

by your friendly BullsBlogger on May 13, 2007 11:59 PM CDT

Steve Schanwald, the team's executive vice president of business operations, will represent the Bulls at the May 22 draft lottery.

Nothing against Mr. Shanwald, for all I know this is a Reinsdorfian loyalty appreciation gift that is much deserved.

But I'd prefer some entertainment, even bringing back Jerry Krause and his lucky pennies. If the Celtics can drag out Tommy Heinson we can counter with a crazier homer in Norm Van Lier.

Really though there is only one true choice: Isiah Thomas.

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I was

actually wondering about that, whether, since we only have the OPTION to switch, the Knicks would send a rep.

That really could never be topped, if the Knicks lucked into a top 3 spot and they interviewed Isiah afterwards. His head might have exploded.

If there are problems in this world that jumping can solve, Tyrus Thomas will solve them. (Truehoop)

by Chalkwhite on May 14, 2007 12:28 AM CDT reply actions

Hmmm who was it last season?

Maybe Pax feels it out get past the 9 th spot?

God please win tonight.

by joejoeEnglish94bulls4ever on May 14, 2007 1:00 AM CDT reply actions

It was Pax

But he really didn't want to go, but felt he should be the rep. He hates the whole cameras in their faces trying to capture their expressions at the moment of lotto history.

by KT on May 14, 2007 9:31 AM CDT up reply actions

Norm would be a great choice,

but a guy who threatens to beat people up on tv after every Bulls game might be tough on the insurance policy.

by Paxson Jackson @ Blog a Bull on May 14, 2007 8:14 AM CDT reply actions

Isiah should have been the ideal choice

Man, that would have topped when Jerry West was sitting there in 2003. At the end of it, he knew he either had LeBron James or absolutely nothing. He got nothing (which later turned into Darko - cue rimshot).

Deng 4 MVP, 2008!

by corey williams corey benjamin on May 14, 2007 8:18 AM CDT reply actions

ill defend darko once again

hes going top be a good player; and the pistons won a chip with him.....better one in the hand than two in the bush

by milesgmsu on May 14, 2007 10:17 AM CDT up reply actions

D-Wade

also won a chip. Except he was, you know, a starter on that team.

If there are problems in this world that jumping can solve, Tyrus Thomas will solve them. (Truehoop)

by Chalkwhite on May 14, 2007 10:25 AM CDT up reply actions

Nopes

Darko is garbage. I saw all I'll ever need to know about the guy during the Pistons series this year. At the end of the half, Orlando turned the ball over in their own backcourt. Darko was right next to Chauncey Billups as he collected the ball behind the arc. He had a chance to reject the shot if he gave even the slightest modicum of effort. He just stood and watched as Billups canned a three-pointer. The guy is a loser and that's it. He'll never be anything beyond a decent player, even though he has the athleticism and size to be an all-star. He doesn't care about winning and won't put in the effort it takes to become good. If the Bulls somehow sign him this summer, I'll be furious.

Deng 4 MVP, 2008!

by corey williams corey benjamin on May 14, 2007 12:21 PM CDT up reply actions

or Krause and his lucky

penny. Just to fuck with people.

God please win tonight.

by joejoeEnglish94bulls4ever on May 14, 2007 10:13 AM CDT reply actions

Let's send Tyrus

Just so we can remind Knicks fans of what they could have had.

by Big D on May 14, 2007 10:31 AM CDT reply actions

Since we're talking a little draft

What the heck happens if the Bulls get the #2 pick? I know Durant is a no brainer, what do they do with 3 6'9" forwards?

It's a wonderful problem to have, I know. I'm just wondering what the general consensus is.

In Pax we Trust!

by Jobu on May 14, 2007 10:44 AM CDT reply actions

We all sing

we can work it out by the Beatles and win a title.

I choose to believe.

by preverbal on May 14, 2007 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions

Pretty much.

You put Kirk, Deng, Durant, Tyrus and Wallace out there and you don't really worry about position. We would get to see how good of a coach Skiles really is. Can he scheme something that works.

They're all 6'9" forwards and thus have overlapping skills. But for the most part, they're fairly different players.

by tyger1147 on May 14, 2007 11:58 AM CDT up reply actions

hmm ballhandling

As long and atheletic as that lineup is, there is not enough ballhandling. I think we have commented this many times before, Deng is not a guard. There would be a trade to get a Ray Allen (assuming Gordon is gone as you don't have him in starting lineup) or a post scorer.

by NY Chicago Fan on May 14, 2007 12:03 PM CDT up reply actions

Durant or Oden

If Bulls got #2 its great either way, assuming #2 is Durant then Bulls may be in better position to trade as they do have many swing players and by all accounts Durant will be starter and star in league. Meaning you could then trade Deng and parts if you were getting impact C/PF back. I love Deng just as much as next Bulls fan but if you can get Durant and turn Deng / Noc or Duhon / future#1 into Garnett or Gasol you do that

Other option would depend on who gets #1. That team may actually not know who to take and be willing to swap picks if Bulls threw in player and future considerations.

by NY Chicago Fan on May 14, 2007 11:59 AM CDT up reply actions

You trade the #2

for another teams best player and their #1 next year and 2 years later. Assuming they don't get the 1 you can get Gasol from Memphis, or maybe KG from MN or O'Neal from Indiana. Durant isn't going to add a lot of wins to any of those teams either, in his first year.

by bullshooter on May 14, 2007 12:12 PM CDT up reply actions

call me crazy

but we know what deng gives you...oden hasn't played a pro game in his life; deng is a proven winner and a hard worker - we don't know squat abour durant. If you're trading someone, you trade the mystery bag guy (durant) and keep the solid all star caliber guy (deng)

by milesgmsu on May 14, 2007 12:53 PM CDT up reply actions

you're crazy

I hate hype, but I wouldn't be describing Oden and Durant as mysteries either. Didn't you just support Darko too?

by Paxson Jackson @ Blog a Bull on May 14, 2007 12:55 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm pretty sure...

...this is the person that supports Darko, but doesn't like Durant or Oden.

by tyger1147 on May 14, 2007 1:09 PM CDT up reply actions

Trade

You trade Nocioni.

by bu11s on May 14, 2007 5:05 PM CDT up reply actions

You mean the guy

behind all the stupid ideas at the bulls game to distract me from all of the T.V. timeouts?

the guy who had the idea of putting Ben Wallace in a headband on the ticket the game after the headband blowup?

the guy who turned the rocking Chicago Stadium into a corporate snoozefest?

(he may have made a lot of money for Reinsdorf, but speaking as a hard core fan, he really doesn't deserve much credit)

by GWKD on May 14, 2007 10:53 AM CDT reply actions

is that really the guy?

You're right, the arena experience is poor, especially during yesterday's game:

dancers, dancing old bag, dancing fat slobs, dancing kids

awesome.

Although I won't begrudge the team for replacing the Stadium with the UC. Screw atmosphere, I want a cushioned seat!

by your friendly BullsBlogger on May 14, 2007 11:30 AM CDT up reply actions

how sarcastic are you being?

i'm not sure matt

by milesgmsu on May 14, 2007 12:59 PM CDT up reply actions

Whoa, whoa, whoa...

I see what you are saying, but not all of that can be blamed on the Bulls' marketing department.

A few comments:

(1) Those season tickets with Ben Wallace in a headband were pre-printed before the season ever started. They didn't make the decision to use that picture after the headband controversy. While it probably wasn't wise to put that picture on the tickets given the Bulls' policy, it was likely difficult to find any recent picture of Ben Wallace playing without a headband. They could have used a non-game photo, though;

(2) The Bulls' marketing department didn't turn the UC into a "corporate snoozefest," market forces and the popularity of the team did. During the mid to late nineties, when the Bulls were making their second set of championship runs, ticket prices rose precipitously because of general cost increases (increasing player salaries, stadium construction debt, etc.) and fantastic demand to see Jordan. Floor tickets rose to something like $600 face per game ($750 now). 100 level tickets went up to about $100 dollars per game (higher now). There was about an $800 surcharge to have season tickets in the 200 section (higher now). The cheapest season tickets cost about $1500 (slightly higher now). As a result, typically only affluent individuals or corporations could afford season tickets in the lower levels. Even bringing a family for one game and sitting in the 100 sections would be expensive. That's what changed the character of the crowds at the Bulls games. Frankly, compared to other NBA venues I've attended, the UC is pretty lively IMO.;

(3) Yesterday sucked, but in large part that was due to the fact that the Bulls were down 3-0;

(4) Believe it or not, the Bulls' marketing department is generally considered one of the best in professional sports. (There was an article about this a few years ago in a local newspaper, but I can't find a link.) They were one of the first to use laser lights, fireworks, and music during player intros. Now everyone does it. They were one of the first to use interactive games during TO's. Now everyone does it. Hell, they were even one of the first to have a team of fat guys who dance (the Matadors). Now many other teams in the league have that as well! The Bulls marketing department is generally lauded for maintaining high attendence (even during the lean post-Jordan years).

(5) How do you not enjoy the betting sub-culture that has arisen around the Bagel/Coffee/Donut races? Damn donut never wins! :)

Just my opinion, anyway.

by 1958ChiTown on May 14, 2007 12:27 PM CDT up reply actions

arena

First off, screw the donut, the only thing worth winning is the coffee.

I'm fine with all the extracurricular stuff the marketing department does, just not in a playoff game. During the season (especially during the lean years) they need all that stuff to keep people interested. Now when the crowd wants to get into the game they're immediately overpowered by whatever the jumbotron tells us to do.

But yeah, I'd say the UC crowd is above average just because there's people there. (If you have NBA League pass one of the first things you notice is how many empty arenas are out there.) But it's too sterile now to be MSG or the new darlings in Oakland, and that's fine. I don't want to sit next to poor people anyway, gross! :-)

by your friendly BullsBlogger on May 14, 2007 12:36 PM CDT up reply actions

I agree that they could streamline the

presentation during the playoffs.

And I would be fine if I never, ever, ever again saw one of those videos on the jumbotron where they take a 1970's/1980's song and replace the lyrics with some ode to a Bulls' player (like the one they did for Luol yesterday). It was so bad the crowd was stunned into silence.

LOL at the last line.

by 1958ChiTown on May 14, 2007 12:42 PM CDT up reply actions

that song was bad

and 'I love Luol Deng', which means I should've been the target audience.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on May 14, 2007 12:44 PM CDT up reply actions

donuts are awesome

matt i thought youd be a donut guy

but the primary point is the UC is by far one of the best crowds in the game (behind oakland and prolly neck and neck with det).

Where else would Poz sucks be heard and Detroti Sucks start when we're down 3-0 in the 2nd quarter. I've found this is by far the easiest arena to start a bull-shit chant (except oakland), and the crowd, at least in the 300 level, is diehard

as for the marketing promotions, in today's nba you ahve to do that. While many may go for the aesthetic pleasure of watching the bulls, keep in mind how many kids and families there are there. is it unreasonable to pay $50 for a chance to win a donut and a big mac? of course. But the marketing allows for families to attend the games, and it builds loyality amongst young fans. If you win a donut at a game you're much more likley to be a bulls fan for life - and yes thats blind speculation buy sophmore level pyschology would back it up

Yet, the marketing dpt isn't without critcism. Tommy edwards is an embarassment after years of setting the standard of PA announcers. He needs to go.

And this is one of the most interesting comment threads ive ever seen at BAB

by milesgmsu on May 14, 2007 12:59 PM CDT up reply actions

lay off Tommy

I hope he stays just so it'll keep the team from joining the trend of hiring a braying jackass to do PA, like in Detroit, Cleveland or Miami.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on May 14, 2007 1:37 PM CDT up reply actions

none of what you are saying

is against my point, it is just expanding it. And the ticket thing is so obvious, I didn't think it required elaboration. The point is, the marketing operation's goals can be at cross purposes with the basketball operation's goals. The ticket thing (it is better to market Ben with a head band v. no head band is a sign of team unity, or whatever) is just a symbol of that. And as to your comment "was likely difficult to find any recent picture of Ben Wallace playing without a headband"----I beg to differ, as there are several just on this first page of a google search.

by GWKD on May 14, 2007 12:39 PM CDT up reply actions

What about this scenario?

Our lottery pick plus someone on the bench (Duhon, I'm looking at you) for Lamarcus Aldridge? I know he had that heart problem, but they diagnosed it and it is treatable. I also know that he was a 2, and we have the likely 9 pick, but it's probably as good as a 4 from last year.