That's honestly uber-confusing, and requires a bit of 3D chess -- right up AK's skill-alley!
Given what you laid out, I think the path is Caruso at 'point' with the starting group and whoever is left over on second unit, including a single or split MLE signing. I don't see any real point guard options and the first team needs Caruso's defense more than a non-point guard shooter.
Of course making a big-two trade plus potential s&ts with Coby or Ayo would be a bigger, necessary shakeup, but.....
The above 9 guys under contract likely make up the worst shooting rotation in the league. It's bonkers they're contemplating having a single additional poor shooter in the rotation.
Like if you're going to improve shooting you have to play new, different players in the same 240 minutes you played per game last year. The NBA isn't going to give you more minutes, so you have to change something in the minutes you have. Someone who played last season has to play less or preferably not at all. You have to start putting together the players that you need and giving them the playing time.
I feel like I'm kicking a puppy dog here but re-signing Ayo is a huge problem in that regard. He wasn't a good player who we wish could shoot better from 3. That's DeRozan. He was a bad point guard who couldn't shoot. The idea that you're going to have him do the same but for more money is hilarious. If you want another defender that can't shoot, the NBA values that very poorly and they're not hard to find for the minimum. Fucking Shaq Harrison is still hanging on.
Maybe he learns to shoot but there's no indication he can learn to do so here.
Jake Fischer's latest also mentions Bulls as a Harden destination, but simply because they have high-priced players, not due to any reported interest between the Bulls or Harden
a DeMar-for-Harden move would be the rare DDR idea I'd endorse, but Harden after trade kicker makes $12M more and also Philly probably needs more assets. I think Philly would do Harden for DeRozan+Caruso, but man the Bulls defense and vibes would go in the toilet. I suppose that doesn't matter when DDR's veteran leadership and Caruso's all-defense selection got you all the way to 10th place
LaVine-for-Harden would align Bulls for big reset in 2024 (except Vuc lol) while remaining competitive, but iffy on-court fit. Trading both DDR+LaVine for Harden would be treating LaVine as negative salary, which I don't think the Bulls agree with
Whatever happens today, don't forget to celebrate that you live in a country where you will no longer have to look at Jalen Rose's plastic head, recoil at Max Kellerman's simpy face or have the greatest game in the world poisoned by Jeff Van Gundy's shouty voice.
Jevon Carter checks out: house in the area and agent is Mark Bartelstein. Between this and the Coby deal, the Bulls are done for free agency. See everyone next year!
The BlogABull 2023 Free Agency preview: aw, nuts
NEW POST:
https://www.blogabull.com/p/the-bulls-made-their-free-agency?sd=pf
That's honestly uber-confusing, and requires a bit of 3D chess -- right up AK's skill-alley!
Given what you laid out, I think the path is Caruso at 'point' with the starting group and whoever is left over on second unit, including a single or split MLE signing. I don't see any real point guard options and the first team needs Caruso's defense more than a non-point guard shooter.
Of course making a big-two trade plus potential s&ts with Coby or Ayo would be a bigger, necessary shakeup, but.....
The above 9 guys under contract likely make up the worst shooting rotation in the league. It's bonkers they're contemplating having a single additional poor shooter in the rotation.
Like if you're going to improve shooting you have to play new, different players in the same 240 minutes you played per game last year. The NBA isn't going to give you more minutes, so you have to change something in the minutes you have. Someone who played last season has to play less or preferably not at all. You have to start putting together the players that you need and giving them the playing time.
I feel like I'm kicking a puppy dog here but re-signing Ayo is a huge problem in that regard. He wasn't a good player who we wish could shoot better from 3. That's DeRozan. He was a bad point guard who couldn't shoot. The idea that you're going to have him do the same but for more money is hilarious. If you want another defender that can't shoot, the NBA values that very poorly and they're not hard to find for the minimum. Fucking Shaq Harrison is still hanging on.
Maybe he learns to shoot but there's no indication he can learn to do so here.
How do you get Coby White to a $13 mil cap figure when no one else wants him and he has a $7.78 qualifying offer?
Jake Fischer's latest also mentions Bulls as a Harden destination, but simply because they have high-priced players, not due to any reported interest between the Bulls or Harden
a DeMar-for-Harden move would be the rare DDR idea I'd endorse, but Harden after trade kicker makes $12M more and also Philly probably needs more assets. I think Philly would do Harden for DeRozan+Caruso, but man the Bulls defense and vibes would go in the toilet. I suppose that doesn't matter when DDR's veteran leadership and Caruso's all-defense selection got you all the way to 10th place
LaVine-for-Harden would align Bulls for big reset in 2024 (except Vuc lol) while remaining competitive, but iffy on-court fit. Trading both DDR+LaVine for Harden would be treating LaVine as negative salary, which I don't think the Bulls agree with
It really is frustrating that Zachs camp has a beef with NYK, cause that seems to be the team that would be willing to take him.
Whatever happens today, don't forget to celebrate that you live in a country where you will no longer have to look at Jalen Rose's plastic head, recoil at Max Kellerman's simpy face or have the greatest game in the world poisoned by Jeff Van Gundy's shouty voice.
I don't think AK is, like, horse-trading with player agents. But he IS lazy.
So here are some clients repped by Vuc's (very good) agent Bill Duffy, a list that also includes Goran Dragic and Patrick Beverley hmmm
Aaron Holiday
Grant Williams
Josh Richardson
Jalen McDaniels
Jaxson Hayes
Are we 100% sure AKME knows the Bulls need a point guard not already in the building?
I could see this team going into the tax getting the 8th seed and then using that as a reason to not go into the tax again for the next 20 years
Could we trade DeRozan for S&T Kuzma? 4/80 and then they include Wright for salary match.
OK, CHAT IS UP
https://open.substack.com/chat/posts/4fe4690c-720b-4e48-a088-49e36cfc21ca
I’m a huge Jevon Carter fan. I think could be a solid starting PG for the Bulls.
Jevon Carter checks out: house in the area and agent is Mark Bartelstein. Between this and the Coby deal, the Bulls are done for free agency. See everyone next year!
wow um rockets
Excited to see our death lineup of Vuc/Carter/White/Zach/Debo. That’s a lot of 3pt shooting to give Demar space to operate.