Gasol post-mortem (a.k.a. Open Game Thread #46: Bulls at Sacramento Kings)
This resigned feeling I get over the Gasol non-acquisition is settling in like it did in the days after the Scola non-acquisition: the Bulls just didn't have what the other team wanted, or at least not at the right time.
The Bulls might have been able to match the offer by using retired forward P.J. Brown as part of a trade, along with expiring contracts like Chris Duhon and Viktor Khryapa.
Simply put, the Bulls aren't in position to take on Gasol because they already have an inflated payroll. Next season, they are committed to paying Ben Wallace $14.5 million, Kirk Hinrich $10 million and Nocioni around $7.5 million. Assuming they re-sign restricted free agents Deng and Ben Gordon to deals starting at $10 million, that makes $52 million committed to five players.
Add Gasol's $15.1 million salary, and the Bulls would be moving well beyond the current luxury-tax threshold of $67.9 million, unless they were able to unload some payroll somehow.
So, on the one hand you can see what Paxson's up against, and this non-deal can be explained away like it has been in not getting Bryant, or Scola, or anyone.
But it's also pretty damning that he can assemble a team this terrible, and simultaneously have a cap situation so inflexible.
But that's what happens when you talk about a luxury tax edict, yet sign Nocioni to a 5 year contract, and Joe Smith to a 2 year contract.
Or when you're reluctant to trade away young frontcourt talent like Thomas and Noah, yet can't find a way to get them on the court.
So right now we have a team that's supposedly gunning for the playoffs, yet can't get an upgrade.
And sure, tough to rag on Pax for a non-move, as we don't know the information. But we do know this team he has sucks, and has had 2 coaches now say they've quit. So as much as staying the course may be the best move, it's also tough seeing what he's so committed to.
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Well, the hope
so, 2 seasons down the drain
blech.
I wouldn't be surprised if Pax resigns before then anyway. He just doesn't seem to enjoy or be actively involved in GM-ing.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Feb 2, 2008 6:25 PM CST up reply actions
Playin the Youngins
What you do have to do to win with youngins is be willing to give them playing time, like Portland or Atlanta did when they were bad in the last couple years, so that they can learn the game. Otherwise they'll always be rookies.
A lineup of Noah, Deng, Thomas, Hinrich, and Gordon might still be able to be effective next year, although it'd be nice to change one or two of those parts perhaps. But that lineup isn't going to be effective next year if Noah and Thomas play 10 minutes a game this year.
yup, and like you says
I can't believe we have to look to Portland and Atlanta as examples. They were using the Bulls as examples. ugh.
But I'm still setting the bar higher than 'non-losing' season next year. Eastern Conference finals this year. And next. Or Pax is out. I don't see the need in giving him a grace period to undo his own mistakes.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Feb 2, 2008 7:51 PM CST up reply actions
Except it's not that easy...
I don't fault Pax too much for this season because it was impossible to predict that November. I'm glad he's not making a move just because of that horrible start. I will end up faulting him in another month, though, when Tyrus still isn't getting 15 mpg.
I guess I can just be patient for another year or two because a) Garnett's still damn good and b) the Bulls have three very young, very high-potential guys and c) the Bulls have been winning the past 3 seasons. Sorry, the future doesn't lie with the core of Hinrich, Gordon, Deng and Nocioni but with Deng, Thomas and Noah.
On the mistakes thing...
Kiki
And I'm not buying this story that the Bulls didn't have what the grizzlies want. Kryhapa, Duhon and Brown could easy have made up for Kwame's salary. You can easily replace Critteron with Selfolosha. We have a pick this year, better than what the lakers will have.
All that leaves is a 2010 lottery pick? Well, we have one of those too! Wow, that took 5 minutes. And the Grizz got better picks and a better prospect from the Bulls. Don't be fooled
Paxson chose not to make this deal. It takes two to negotiate, who knows if the Grizz didn't propose something similar. The Bulls aren't committed to winning. And they haven't been in 10 years. Ridiculous.
by danger mouse on Feb 2, 2008 6:49 PM CST reply actions
sure, Pax could have gotten Gasol
dangermouse didn't say either of those
Works for me.
But there's that pesky luxury tax, and once again that MEGA Nocioni contract has screwed us again :)
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Feb 2, 2008 7:40 PM CST up reply actions
A part of McGraw's article
To me that says the Lakers are comitted to winning...and the Bulls aren't.
OK Mariotti :-)
Perhaps I'm just hoping this is true instead of believing it, but if this was a 'missing piece' type move, the Bulls would go over the tax.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Feb 2, 2008 8:42 PM CST up reply actions
If we don't get a smart coach ...
Basically, though, we're doomed to not have a shot until BW comes off the books, and I don't see how this changes that.
This is one of the few games I can watch. I hope they win, and TT gets a double-double. :P
Hope I
Hopefully
by Beef Wennington on Feb 2, 2008 7:24 PM CST reply actions
If they don't have room,
by Freethefro on Feb 2, 2008 7:30 PM CST up reply actions
Iur next coach
or coach K
(I'm kidding. No college coaches)
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Feb 2, 2008 7:38 PM CST up reply actions
No pass for Pax
1. Saying they didn't have the right piece at the right time is a lame excuse.
First, the Bulls had all kinds of options to maintain flexibility this summer. The bottom line was Pax looked at his guys and thought he didn't need to do much. If he did, then why on earth would have have signed up Smith and Noc and passed on moves like dealing PJ Brown expiring deal at last year's deadline for Kurt Thomas who expires this year (although, unlike PJ, he appears actually capable of still playing).
Second, don't tell me a deal couldn't have been worked to turn up an expiring contract. Joe Smith has some value to a team looking to upgrade. Noc theoretically does, at least. If the Bulls were looking to make it happen, I don't think they were looking hard enough or in the right places.
I agree
If Smith and/or Noc isn't traded by the deadline, we really need to tell Pax's family to quit using up the family plan minutes.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Feb 2, 2008 7:46 PM CST up reply actions
Heh
At the verge of reaching a true state of Armchair GM self-parody though, I think given the couple weeks Pax appears to have had, I could have found a deal :)
I'm pretty sure any set of expiring deals we could get for Smith, plus Duhon or Khyrapa, would get us where we need to be salary-wise. Not to mention if we ended up throwing in an player like Thabo or Thomas
- Joe Smith for Jamaal Magloire?
- Shannon Brown and Ira Newble?
- Eduardo Najera?
- Some combination of guys from Golden State (Barnes, Pietrus, O'Bryant)?
- Kirk Snyder and Steve Francis?
- Smith and change might have gotten us Kwame for that matter.
- Pat Garrity and one of that useless combination of useless guards Orlando has (Reddick, Dooling?)
- Back to the Sixers (who didn't want him to leave) for Kevin Ollie and Shavlik Randolph or Giricek?
- San Antonio might be willing to move Brent Barry for a guy like Smith
- Seattle's lease on Kurt Thomas is almost up. Maybe they'd want to get a year of Smith's "veteran leadership"
- Brian Colangelo likes guys who can shoot. Would he be interested in turning Rasho into Smith?
This is a big test for our 'coach'
Plus, he's noncommittal on Thabo holding HIS job when Duh gets back to half-speed.
Someone ask coach corpse what to do.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Feb 2, 2008 7:44 PM CST reply actions
if we ever trot out
by Freethefro on Feb 2, 2008 8:03 PM CST up reply actions
I just don't
Duhon and Smith
by TMD on Feb 2, 2008 9:36 PM CST up reply actions
So far the Kings feed leaves something to be
I'm glad that
He is playing well
by TMD on Feb 2, 2008 9:29 PM CST up reply actions
Hey! The game's on Antenna TV!
We already have
Not cool Gordon
That second personal foul on TT
Good stretch for Tyrus, though.
If this team could just get rid of Wallace.
Boy, do I wanto to see Tyrus
That being said, I am very encouraged by the playing time for Noah and TT, albeit in different lineups.
Gamecast says Thabo only 2 minutes,
by Freethefro on Feb 2, 2008 9:59 PM CST reply actions
He isn't playing well.
Too many &*^%*&^! turnovers.
Come on Bulls, finish a quarter
Artest is a very tough
Guh.
Tyrus should be on Artest in the
He did a nice time shutting him down.
Artest was feasting on Noah and Noc.
We can and should win this game.
I have mixed feelings.
"They have to be consistent and work hard. They need to learn how to be pros. Doing well in practice doesn't mean you get more minutes in the game. (why the hell not?!?!) They probably never sat this much." (Tyrus friggin' redshirted)
Okay, well his specific player comments weren't so bad except the first one.
"What do you teach Aaron Gray?"
"You can't teach size. (um, yeah) Learn how to be more aggressive on defense w/o picking up fouls."
Noah
He's agressive. Teach him how to be a better offensive rebounder even though he's good at it already. Teach him moves since he's going to be quicker than most centers he plays.
Tyrus
Um, he was really good as a rookie so he's not getting as much playing time this year, obviously. So I need to teach him how to not be mad about that because it's really fucking stupid. Just pray for a sprained ankle and he finally might get into the starting lineup like he should be. (seriously, he said exactly that)
I feel all better now
Ohhhhh BOYYYYY!!
He said he's coaching them
True, That's what he said.
heh
Hopefully he meant "until the trade deadline"
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Feb 3, 2008 11:21 AM CST up reply actions
Pretty good
Don't everybody freak out
I am not sure
Bleh
by Freethefro on Feb 2, 2008 10:32 PM CST reply actions
woot!
by Freethefro on Feb 2, 2008 10:33 PM CST reply actions
Ha!
Noc gets the quick hook
Noc gets the quick hook
This is an important half of basketball, in my
The schedule this month is brutal. If they don't win tonight and tomorrow night, there is an appreciable chance we could go 4-9 in February.
what do you mean by respectable?
the
by ScottieCartwright on Feb 2, 2008 10:57 PM CST up reply actions
Boylan:
um, I didn't think so. The guy can board a bit, but my 'Veektor is a better 4' theory falls apart when he actually has to guard power guys, like Artest.
I'm not sure Thabo would've done much better. The answer, as always, is more Tyrus.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Feb 4, 2008 3:30 PM CST up reply actions
He "handed" the ball
The other guy was K-Mart
It's funny
I never got when
Martin never got his feet down
that looked like
No kidding!
Tonight I have learned,
I thought
I think they're a bit delusional
And Brad Miller certainly did not make a name for himself on the defensive end.
He did get two blocks on Noah.
But this blog has too much complaining re: the refs on it. And I'm as guilty as anyone.
Uhhh
by ScottieCartwright on Feb 2, 2008 10:54 PM CST reply actions
would
Oh look, they just missed Tyrus get hit on the neck/face and gave us a no-call and then a T on Tyrus. See any kind of patter here?
I would really have NEITHER
Viktor isn't doing anything on offense and Artest is going by him at will...yeah he got a couple of bad calls, but so has the whole team
by ScottieCartwright on Feb 2, 2008 11:01 PM CST up reply actions
Gordon's "isolation" plays
Gordon is doing his own thing
How thefuck does Hawes not get called
Total shit.
Not a good day for the youngbloods
by Freethefro on Feb 2, 2008 10:57 PM CST reply actions
How the F--- is that a travel on TT?!!
This sucks.
We can win this.
And then reality sets in
F-ING Duhon!
damn
by ScottieCartwright on Feb 2, 2008 11:03 PM CST reply actions
I think he's really
i agree
by ScottieCartwright on Feb 2, 2008 11:07 PM CST up reply actions
He was bitching
Tyrus
(I am not saying that anyone else is doing smart things out there right now either, but Tyrus gets yanked sooner than others so it would it is in his best interest not to be throwing up shots like that)
You're right
And
In that play
the hell?
by ScottieCartwright on Feb 2, 2008 11:05 PM CST reply actions
I am going to kill Red.
If it was Gray taking those shots, he'd be fine with it.
except gray wouldn't be taking
lol
by ScottieCartwright on Feb 2, 2008 11:08 PM CST up reply actions
Lighten up
You might not like to hear it
No. He wasn't.
But the other shot was a bail out jumper along the baseline with time running out. Tyrus got the ball late in the clock and had to shoot it.
That's when Red made his ill-time and senilic comment about Tyrus.
he was saying
I agree with that.
i agree that
by ScottieCartwright on Feb 2, 2008 11:09 PM CST up reply actions
Moore gone
i'm SOOOO glad
by ScottieCartwright on Feb 2, 2008 11:10 PM CST reply actions
Good lord, this game is the Bulls for the taking.
Rookie mistake
Ugh.
I was wondering if Boylan would bring BW back
I have to give Noah credit.
Far better D than his initial stint.
BG looking good.
But we need to finish this game and actually win.
BG looking good
Them California-style cheer leaders...
Hokey Schmokie!
When Ben plays like this
he does just as much
by ScottieCartwright on Feb 2, 2008 11:17 PM CST up reply actions
BG giveth...and BG taketh away.
BG up to his same old stuff
argh
Kmart just embarrassed BG.
And Noah needs to throw that down.
Come on, guys.
keep him in
by ScottieCartwright on Feb 2, 2008 11:25 PM CST up reply actions
Why not move Noah over
Makes more sense
And don't forget
Put whoever you WANT on Artest...
God damn it Noc.
Nocioni is awful!!!
by Freethefro on Feb 2, 2008 11:25 PM CST reply actions
My husband
Why leave Noc in playing like this?
Fucking Hinrich and his breakaway
And what a stupid fucking foul by Noce!
come on!
by ScottieCartwright on Feb 2, 2008 11:27 PM CST reply actions
Why did Nocioni foul him there?
Brick,Brick,Foul
by Beef Wennington on Feb 2, 2008 11:28 PM CST reply actions
Brad Miller
by Freethefro on Feb 2, 2008 11:29 PM CST reply actions
Here we go again
And right now, they haven't scored in the last minute and a half...
Red Kerr
West Coast games are tough for Red
lol @ emotional wreck
by ScottieCartwright on Feb 2, 2008 11:31 PM CST up reply actions
ah ok
by ScottieCartwright on Feb 2, 2008 11:45 PM CST up reply actions
then it
I saw him after the atlanta game
It'd be nice
Now Noah with a moronic foul.
Game Too Fast For Penguins To Keep Up.
yeah but
by ScottieCartwright on Feb 2, 2008 11:32 PM CST up reply actions
Come on. One more stop.
BG with another brick from the free throw line.
Kings announcer
by Beef Wennington on Feb 2, 2008 11:36 PM CST reply actions
Yikes
I was actually planning on attending
At this point, I wouldn't even think about wasting my time, money or frustration.
Let alone parking...
How ugly can this season get, really?
Absolutely picture perfect
Ab-so-freakin-lut-ely beeee-uuu-teee-fulll...
wow
by ScottieCartwright on Feb 2, 2008 11:39 PM CST reply actions
They were trying to get it to BG
BG woulda just turned it over anyway
One thing doesn't seem to change.
I don't know how many games I have seen in the last two years where the Bulls are close in the final two minutes, but can't score key baskets.
thus, the ever-occurring
by ScottieCartwright on Feb 2, 2008 11:42 PM CST up reply actions
True
by Beef Wennington on Feb 2, 2008 11:42 PM CST up reply actions
they get whooped tonight
Bulls can lose to the worst team in NBA
What a dissapointment.
Sigh
Muahahah! Losing Is So Hilarious Now.
I suppose I should take solace in the fact that
But it isn't much comfort.
The scatalogical tour of the NBA's sewers continues, with the Bulls starring as the unidentifiable, bobbing mass.
maybe a full strength
by ScottieCartwright on Feb 2, 2008 11:47 PM CST up reply actions
I hold out hope that Luol's return
Looking at the box score...
There was no link
Buches said The Spurs have inquired about TT.
I know they wouldn't give up Manu but maybe for the right package, they would?
Thabo
Come on Boylan...at least ACT like you know what you're doing...he disappoints me more each game
by ScottieCartwright on Feb 2, 2008 11:49 PM CST reply actions
Come on Boylan
Boylan is even more of an idiot and doesn't even have an EGO to help balance his BS...
From there, the math is rather basic.
Where to start..
not enough touches for BG at the end of the game..
listening to the sacramento feed made me want to puke when they were saying what miller must have been saying to noah and how he schooled him etc. and how they kept calling noah the rookie. ugh.
Did you have the TV or radio feed?
TV
and they actually agreed with that charge called on viktor. i may be a homer but i try to be objective with my calls. that wasn't the right one.
They lost
Sue
I, on the other hand now wants to see this team lose as much as possible just to show Pax what kind of team this really is and maybe get a high draft pick that entices a team to trade with us now that everyone has low opinions on our players
That's really sad
More likely
good effort tonight overall, but
As posted above, it could be a rough road trip, not to mention a rough month.
the Bulls got a nice payback from the refs after that last Sac game in Chicago when Wallace scored one point and it was the game-winning point, then Miller got fouled on the final shot but the Bulls got away with a no-call.
Tyrus rough 4th quarter big minutes was disappointing as well.
Seattle is a must-win, or else we could be looking at an 0-6 stretch until we play the hapless Heat in the last game before the All Star Break.
by Orlando Woolridge on Feb 3, 2008 12:28 AM CST reply actions
let's face it...
the league has figured out that wallace is over the hill, and that the bulls have no confidence in any of their young bigs, so its like playing 5 on 3. that's right, 5 on 3. it actually hurts me to see wallace out on the floor now. there's a physical pain in my gut when i see wallace srutting around the floor, knowing that he's just a shell of what he once was. it's time to play thomas and noah. if the bulls are going down in flames, at least let them learn in the process.
Was gonna
Memphis' perception of Bulls offer
We didn't feel like we had a trade that was going to give us quality for quality or someone that would change the direction of the team that much. We had conversations with Chicago which were non-satisfactory. They didn't want to take on the luxury-tax situation and Los Angeles was. In this league, if you're in a big-market area you can afford to do those things. We negotiated as hard as we could for quality players and (Chicago) refused to give up anybody in their core group. What they offered us were guys who play on the second and third team, so we turned them down.
More sad news from Heisley
That would have taken Brown's expiring contract off the table; the Grizzlies decided they had to act.
"Otherwise we'd be like Chicago is today," Heisley said, "and gotten nothing done."
Now we know
Sue - good point
what's really interesting
Bynum's injury hurt us and got the Lakers involved
Excuse my language
Mariotti's ears are burning
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Feb 3, 2008 11:20 AM CST up reply actions
Wow
"When Chicago broke up the Bulls, I was fuming for three days," he said. "I get it. I understand. And the Bulls still aren't back."
"They didn't want to take on the luxury-tax situation and Los Angeles was. In this league, if you're in a big-market area you can afford to do those things."
-I still think they could have jinned up an expiring contract or two for Noc or Smith, but this quote makes me wish Heisley owned the Bulls.
Sounds like sour grapes to me
Cheer up!
I can see the Bulls drafting around 9th again.
I'm so used to the Bulls losing this year that I've become apathetic and expecting a fourth/third quarter breakdown.
by RogersPark Kris on Feb 3, 2008 10:57 AM CST reply actions
Im not upset about
me three
Same here.
On the bright side
what the hell?
Now I find out we missed out on a chance to trade Wallace AND get Gasol?
Go UCLA. That's all I've got to say.
by Freethefro on Feb 3, 2008 3:45 PM CST reply actions
Luxury Tax
plenty gooooood
Reporting live from Bellevue, WA, Reggie.
by reggie00 on Feb 4, 2008 5:45 PM CST reply actions

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