42 Comments
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kinbote's avatar

Appreciate the reminder. I'm now back to my corn flakes.

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Rich Karpinski's avatar

It's important to counter and not let this FO get away with the idea that this team doesn't have assets to trade and who would they trade for anyway? They have all their picks and swaps, which alone is all a good GM needs to operate. They ALSO have some interesting young players on reasonable contracts and/extensions to trade or add to. Two $20M contracts to be aggregated, one expiring. And Josh Giddey. More than enough for a front office to be a 'player'.

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Jeff's avatar

It conflicts with their 'tread water at the East Play-In tier of competitiveness' strategy, but the return for Bane has to have you gauging the market on your guys. White should be worth a bunch. Ayo should have real value.

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Gorditadogg's avatar

Yes, we have all our 1st rounders plus a Portland lottery-protected pick. And we have up to five expiring contracts we can trade.

We need to get a deal done.

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Chi-Fed's avatar

Since the current Bulls are so very uninteresting, I’m spending my basketball free time on other pursuits. Right now I’m looking at how the Bulls could have rebuilt after the dynasty ended after the ’98 season and the all rookie teams from 2000-2020 to see if if there were any players that didn’t make those teams who later became stars.

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your friendly BullsBlogger's avatar

@Doug_Thonus

FWIW, @KCJHoop said on the By the Horns podcast that AK's extension goes through 27/28 season. Also said, ownership believes that AK hit on his first roster build and that he is 1 for 1 on rebuilds so far. 😂😂😂

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Chi-Fed's avatar

Holy shit, Michael Reinsdorf might be the dumbest owner in the league.

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Roger's avatar

What about Art? Did they go to the same school?

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Captain Kirk's Tooth Gap's avatar

I wish he'd expound on that. What do they mean 1 for 1? AK's first rebuild was specifically billed as an attempt to compete for championships and got nowhere near that. What did he succeed at??

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CE's avatar

Made the playoffs! Was first before the Lonzo injury!

Man Chicago over indexes on short periods of success.

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Diabolo's avatar

Lonzo injury. No Bulls fault!

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WeekendAtJerrys's avatar

The Reinsdorfs' criteria for success:

Attendance: Above 20k.

Salary: Below the cap.

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your friendly BullsBlogger's avatar

I listened to it, it's even worse with context. KC starts by saying 'this is ownership don't shoot the messenger' but then agrees with it and does more cover for AK knowing him 'behind the scenes a bit'. The co-host compared AK to Michael Corleone in his stealthy deal making

It's my own fault, it's the organization paid for podcast I shouldn't expect anything else

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your friendly BullsBlogger's avatar

Holy crap *they took down the podcast*

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dan's avatar

why couldnt today be like what happened in the NBA yesterday. The longtime LA Lakers owners, Buss family, sell the team. How exciting would it be to read the headlines of "Reinsdorf family sells the Chicago Bulls franchise".

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Jeff's avatar

I'd also not show up for post-draft media appearances if I'd had 5 drafts and traded away 2 of my FRPs for Vooch and used the rest on Pat Williams, Dalen Terry, and Matas (though I'm sure there's an opportunity for premature self-congratulations on Matas).

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Dalibor Bagaric post up's avatar

Funny thing about that is that literally any casual fan in America could have made that pick, just based upon mock draft intel. Which is probably the entirety of the intel the Bulls had on a kid from the Chicago suburbs.

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B. G.'s avatar

Take a chill pill! Whether you are a fan (or not) it might help to wait to blow your top (or other orifice) until we see what happens with what direction the team is moving toward and what .moves will be made. Until then Chill out!!!

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Jeff's avatar

If 5 years into this regime's tenure the fans are still being asked to wait to see what direction management is moving towards, then fan patience is not the issue.

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kinbote's avatar

Ya gots to chill

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Roger's avatar

If they stink this season because of bad choices, I'm not watching them until they sell the team to an owner that wants a winning team a little more than just an investment.

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Roger's avatar

Art should not be the final say on who gets extended contracts if you are trying save money and make the right choices for a young team. I'm just a fan and know more about the team than he does. He gave away Demar De Rozen. Traded Alex Caruso for a guy that can't defend, can't shoot but he can pass the ball well. What would possess him to give Patrick Williams an unwarranted extended contract and why did he do the same with Lonzo Ball knowing that Ball is very fragile and has not shown any improvement in his game since he came back? Because of that move, we have to let go a solid game winning backup point guard who will probably go to an opposing team and will do well. Art is still holding on to Vuce who wants to be a wing and does not defend the rim. Doesn't Art watch any of the games? He is costing the Bulls organization more than Lavine did. I wonder if he is the one that gave Lavine such a massive contract? Maybe Art is related to the Reinsdorfs.

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Gorditadogg's avatar

Sure. He's young and should get better. He would fit well with Giddey and Buzelis. GS likes Vuc, so let's start there on a trade. The salary matching gets complicated because Kuminga's salary is going to jump and we'd have to deal with base compensation rules, but we should be able to work something out.

For example, if Kuminga signs for a starting salary of $28 million, I think he, Hield and Podz for Vuc, Coby and Carter would work. Not saying that would get it done. We may need to add a pick or switch out Podz for someone else. But those numbers would work.

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Gorditadogg's avatar

Sheesh. How about this. GS sends Kuminga, Hield, Podz and Jackson-Davis to us, for Vuc, Coby and a pick. Hopefully Granville can confirm this works.

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Jay Went's avatar

Is it still true that you can't aggregate players in a sign and trade?

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your friendly BullsBlogger's avatar

Yes actually. I think it could be a clusterfuck but I don't mind that as it gets AK fired quicker than seeing how the 2030 #13 pick develops

Especially if they can offload Vuc in that deal. I don't think Warriors (or any team) wants Vuc outside of expiring money

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Jay Went's avatar

Agreed. Kuminga would be an actually interesting reason to watch the bulls. Vucevic currently the biggest downside to watching the Bulls

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Shiu's avatar

I never thought I would stop caring about the Bulls. I guess a "thanks" to the ownership is in order. No more time wasted on a faux team in a faux sports league. Feels good!

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Punchandjudy's avatar

Durant traded, pretty big haul for phoenix.https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/1936826228108931393

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your friendly BullsBlogger's avatar

Blech. Better for the league* if Durant was sent East. And this seems like a bad trade for both teams, assuming PHX can't flip Green.

*Bulls aren't competing so doesn't matter as a Bulls fan

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Trigga T's avatar

how is it a bad trade for Houston? Green is just a younger, shittier Zach. Brooks is a good defender but they still have Eason, Thompson and Smith Jr. It's not like Brooks is some all world defender. Their main achilles was a dependable high scorer who can get his own shot whenever, Durant is still a high level scorer even in his advanced age. And they gave up a mid lotto pick in a pretty so-so draft. KD isnt enough to get them by OKC or Minny probably but they are definitely better and didn't give up any real draft capital or better young players.

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your friendly BullsBlogger's avatar

I suppose more 'meh' than bad. I just don't think Durant elevates them much more than the loss of Brooks deflates their defense and 'identity'.

But also it's pretty low risk in sending Green out so it's a 1-2 year run with Durant and they can pivot after pretty easily not having given up a bunch in this trade

Suns did pretty well actually, but more so if they can flip Green. They don't want to trade Booker and Green doesn't really fit (not to mention the $50M sixth man Bradley Beal)

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Captain Kirk's Tooth Gap's avatar

I actually feel like this was solid for Houston. Green was a negative asset on a long term deal. Getting rid of him was solid in itself.

Losing Brooks would have been a bigger deal if they didn't have a million great defenders waiting for playing time.

Now they get a couple years to chase championships with an elite scorer (something they needed) and can pivot once it's time to move on from KD.

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Gorditadogg's avatar

Yeah, Suns got more than I figured they would. I was surprised they got Brooks in the deal too.

Still, Rockets should be better, at least this year. And KD has one more chance to lead a team to a championship. Maybe that will motivate him.

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Chi-Fed's avatar

Haliburton just tore his Achilles tendon. The Bulls are a lock for the play-in game!

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Gorditadogg's avatar

That just tucked. It could have been such a good game 7. What a shame.

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your friendly BullsBlogger's avatar

Call me naive, but I wish the yearly champ wasn't decided by attrition plus geographic location

Solve both problems: eliminate the eastern conference. Halves the schedule and playoffs!

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CE's avatar

East is wide open, Bulls have continuity, it's a contract year for 70% of the team, things are actually aligning for a winning season.

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your friendly BullsBlogger's avatar

NEW POST! on the Bulls yanking down their own podcast lol

https://www.blogabull.com/p/bulls-state-media-publishes-then

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your friendly BullsBlogger's avatar

News 7/27 - Billy Donovan has officially signed a 'multi-year' contract extension, even confirmed (but not announced, lol) by the team. What I wrote when this was merely strongly-assumed-to-be-happening still applies.

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