Genuinely bold predictions, as they have never seemed interested in 2nd round picks nor taking on bad salary (except if it was to get a superstar like Vuc).
I'm getting an uncomfortable level (read: any) of chatter that they'll re-sign Lonzo
They definitely are bold. My thinking with taking on bad salary isn't so much that AK would be smart enough to do that (and require picks for doing so) but that teams think he's dumb enough that they can basically dump their bad contracts on him while giving up barely anything else, and I think those teams are correct in thinking that way.
While I think AK is dumb, I also think he's very proud and doesn't like when people think he's dumb. Due to that, I think he's probably embarrassed by the fact that he got destroyed in the national media for trading Caruso and not getting any picks back for him. So I do think he's going to try and get picks for any trades that happen at the deadline. It'll likely just be less picks than he should get.
I wonder if their past idiocy has created a new problem for them. Specifically, that other teams expect to fleece the Bulls in any trade and any offer that is actually fair is going to therefore hold less appeal than it should. These are the same dodos who turned Alex Caruso and his A+ contract into nothing after holding on to him over multiple trade cycles. If you're a GM you will want a similar win engaging with the Bulls or you feel like you lost.
I think they're also aware there are a billion complications when dealing with the Bulls so they mostly just avoid dealing with them unless they have to or have nothing to lose by dicking around.
Remember in Moneyball when Billy constantly has the Oakland owner on the other line to ask permission for every little financial quirk and eventually has to make weird promises about "selling" players later for more money and pocketing the difference? I imagine it's like that, and that Reinsdorf makes an unfunny joke at the start of every call that "Hey Art, I bet you're calling to tell me you're saving me some money, huh? Ha Ha Ha Ha," like his dumb joke when he re-signed Jordan and still managed to piss him off.
yeah maybe. Especially if the pick is like crazy protected and he can still smirk and say 'I got pick'
Also what we consider 'bad salary', and what the other team would consider a negative asset, may not be the way with AK. Like he would say 'Gabe Vincent is a single-single machine'
The Bulls have been in 9th or 10th place all season. This losing streak did not change that, so why would there be greater urgency after the losing streak? Going back to last season when AK misstated the Bulls' position in the standings, is it possible that AK doesn't even look at the standings?
I know this is true. Like many things that are true about this world, I am not sure if I can stand exposing myself to it, voluntarily, over and over. Seriously, this team's mendacious purpose is wearing me out. Sports is about trying.
I am almost willing to bet that the Bulls are going to stay in 10th place literally the rest of the season and they will have spent like 3/4 of the season in 10th ...and then I hope they throw the play-in game (though that might not require any actual effort)
There was some weird trend where a team in some sport had the lowest amount of variance from .500 ever recorded. I am pretty sure that the Bulls have to have the lowest 10th place variance ever recorded. No team worse than them cares to catch them. No team better than them can divine to suck as hard. This is the treadmill of mediocrity.
Sixers are dogshit but STILL only 2.5 games back and 40 to go. I suppose they could tank for mere chance of keeping pick, they can't do enough to guarantee keeping it
would it surprise you at all if Embiid doesn't play again this season? guy got a fluke foot injury and then tried to come back and hurt his knee again. he might just be cooked. PG might be toast too in terms of legit major impact guy, and the rest of that roster besides Maxey is ass. If Embiid isn't there this team is going go to go full tank mode and the Bulls will not catch them.
> Going back to last season when AK misstated the Bulls' position in the standings
lol I forgot about this
The GM of a team stood in front of microphones making weird faces with his lips and justified making no transactions by incorrectly citing how many games his team trailed the last real playoff spot.
He does say 'because of the size of the contracts' but also then says he doesn't expect anyone but Vuc (maybe) to be traded yet this is an 'open for business' front office
This is sorta OT but KC has cut his own throat by walking this line with the team. He's not a great writer, he doesn't have great access leaguewide, players aren't close to him and he doesn't seem to even know any agents based upon his stories.
His main appeal was that he is, or was, a journalist with a neutral perspective.
If you're paying him directly and he'll say what you want him to say and do what you want him to do, you can just go and find someone more exciting and with more personality than KC. He's incredibly uncomfortable in front of the camera and his little "tidbits" are just chewed over PR lines and throwaway lines at press scrums.
"Matas Buzelis told me he's feeling more confident" is not an actual story or inside information.
Whether he's up for it or not, imagine what KC is doing these days, but it's Jason Goff. He's far more charismatic, players seem to like him when he interacts with them and he's way more comfortable in front of a camera.
Remember when The Athletic was hiring? They probably didn't have it written on their whiteboard to "hire the guys who get great scoops and then sit on them to protect the team."
Maybe you're right and he should just be lucky he has a check at all, until they decide to replace him with Small Market Stephen A.
Ok, thanks for sharing that. On second thought though, I don't think I can do this, you know, trying to get in their heads and imagine their thinking. Until I have reason to think otherwise, they're just a guy who deep down thinks he'll probably be fired soon enough, but for now is saying whatever he has to to barely make it through each week.
Trading Coby and/or Ayo is interesting though. Not that's it's some mind-blowing idea. Just more practical and logical than I'm used to hearing from this team.
I think we are almost at the point where these contracts will just have to age out, with maybe Zac having a better option mid next year or later. Given the cap and tax situation right now in the NBA, and the number of aging teams like the Suns, Warriors, Bucks, etc that need to rebuild - the Bulls don't have better assets or urgency than any of them.
It's amazing that a GM can build up a team, go nowhere, and basically be given several years to try again, but here we are.
It took him one season to build his team (by trading away the entire future), they peaked for about 3 months and it's been two and a half years of going nowhere, slowly.
Zach to Detroit makes more sense this year than it did last year since Detroit is actually good (by AK standards) this year and Ivey is out for the remainder of the year I believe.
Assuming you're referencing that Bleacher Report trade proposal, I'd say it's a fairly good deal for Detroit. LaVine is probably better, or at least more useful, than Hardaway Jr, Sasser, and Fontecchio combined. And a second round pick thrown in probably wouldn't bother them too much.
I'm too lazy to look into Detroit's cap situation, but I'd imagine they have room for Zach's contract for the next couple of seasons and then could decide after that if they want to extend him.
With all of that being said, Zach definitely doesn't make them a contender by any means, and his contract would probably limit their ability to add more pieces to push them closer to contention. But it's also Detroit, so I'm not sure if they're actually going for championships. Maybe they just want a "big" name (again, by AK standards) and a solid playoff push over the next few years.
Edit: Just threw that BR proposed trade into Spotrac's trade machine and it doesn't even work. Detroit would have to include at least $9 million more in salary. I don't see them trading any of their players making roughly that much and they can't throw in multiple guys making less because the Bulls are already taking back more players than they're sending out and would have to cut several players just to get this deal to work.
One thing I haven't figured out yet is whether Zach's trade kicker will be void. You're not allowed to exceed the maximum allowable salary with a trade kicker, and he is a max player, right? If that's the case, why does he even have one?
It's not insignificant. As far as I remember, you don't count option years in the kicker (his last year is a player option), so the amount would be whatever is prorated for this year + 15% of next year's salary. That will easily be > $7 million. It's nearly $7 million just for next season alone.
1. The Bulls are the team on the hook for it.
2. It's spread out over his remaining contract (but again I don't think you count the option year)
3. I'm not sure if the prorated 2024/25 part is also prorated to this year, or if they'd simply divide that $7 million+ over 2 seasons.
4. Question 3 is relevant because the acquiring team has to match this new salary.
He can waive it of course, but again I'm not sure it would even apply since you can't circumvent the max salary with a kicker or bonus. And again, I would wonder why he even has one if that's the case.
I'd say the latter. It's a good and pure motivation to want the surprisingly-not-terrible team to try and improve. But I don't think swapping out heretofore-useful role players for LaVine (again, known big-game playoff performer...) raises their ceiling much this year. And if not, then why not do it in the offseason, among other options.
What about Coby to Orlando? I don't think AK has any desire to trade Coby so it obviously won't happen. Still interesting to think about though.
He's basically a poor man's Zach in terms of scoring. He's also making way less and won't command as much on his next contract. He fits their timeline better too. Plus, Coby can at least be a decent point guard, which Orlando could use. Also not as injury prone.
Could the Bulls take on Anthony Black and Jett Howard (two young guys with potential - the AK special!) and get their 2025 first round pick from Denver and maybe their 2026 second round pick from Detroit? Or it could be a straight swap for Cole Anthony with picks attached.
I saw BleacherNation had this idea and it netted two firsts. I don't think Orlando would go that far but if so then yes Bulls should take that. They won't even start a bidding war for Coby or Ayo so I don't see the return getting high enough for them to pull the trigger
I knew I had seen a suggestion like that somewhere. That's definitely where it was now that you mention it. I think their proposal involved the Nets though, which didn't really make sense to me. I'm not sure why they'd want Cole Anthony.
only correction of the above is the Pacers, they committed 2026 pick elsewhere so they can't trade 2025 pick (until after draft night)
Maybe they should be aiming for 2026 draft picks anyway...because surely AKME has too much pride to field a team that'd keep a top-8 protected pick then
* I don't see anything we have that OKC would want.
* Golden State? I'm not sure what they need, besides health. I keep hearing that they'd want Vuc, which I kind of get because they just need size. Maybe they think Draymond and TJD will cover up enough of his mistakes. I don't think it helps their offense much though. In any case, I'd be shocked if they gave up that pick to get Vuc.
Maybe if we threw in Vuc + Coby, but they've got plenty of guys who can shoot better than Coby, but they have plenty of guys who can shoot pretty well.
If I were them, the guy I'd really like to have is Lonzo. Can't really figure out how they'd make the numbers on a trade for Vuc+Lonzo work without trading away guys they'd need though
* Houston maybe. I think the Rockets are unlikely to give up the pick. We might be able to get Sheppard or Green though.
Warriors aren't even in the west play-in now. Could make it even less likely they move their first rounder, whoops. I agree that neither Vuc or Lonzo (and can't have both) would be worth a first to them.
I don't get why they're holding on to Kumiga though (outside of presently because he's injured), he's a RFA after the season
>Sources said the Bulls have been receiving calls from teams on two key players: Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic. Rival executives have applauded a rejuvenated season from LaVine.
The Athletic (an amalgam of reporters not one person) had a non-rumor speculating the Bucks could look at getting in this Butler-to-Suns mess by acquiring Beal 'or LaVine'
While Bucks are over 2nd apron by like $5M, if at the end of the transaction they are under, they can do the rules for teams under (aggregate salaries)
Just a reminder that not paying the tax or taking on long term salary is a factor keeping the Bulls from trading LaVine, not just 'the market' or 'the rules our cheap owner wanted'
> Just a reminder that not paying the tax or taking on long term salary is a factor keeping the Bulls from trading LaVine, not just 'the market' or 'the rules our cheap owner wanted'
so this can work as the Bulls are under the tax around the same amount the Bucks are over the 2nd apron
Middleton+Portis+Connaughton+Beauchamp
for
LaVine+Carter+Craig
A couple pretty big sticking points:
1. would Bucks want to roll into the playoffs with a Lillard+LaVine backcourt?
2. Bucks have pretty much no picks to trade. I think maybe 2031 first. And they have no seconds until 2031 too. I don't think anything they're getting could realistically be sent to a 3rd team for picks either.
New reporting that LeBron and AD (#BeKlutch) is getting upset at the Lakers lack of activity, and the Lakers front office not wanting to (further) mortgage their future.
I think there's an easy compromise for both 'sides': trade for Zach LaVine, but instead of using those future first round picks, include Austin Reaves.
this is also a compromise that Arturas Karnisovas would take, because he loves "young players with experience" over draft picks anyway, and Reaves would fit in well on the Bulls in that he's not very good.
money-wise, this works with the Lakers as 1st Apron:
Flinging some other ideas at the wall...Dereck Lively is out 2-3 months so the Mavs might want to go center shopping...the problem is it's kinda hard for them to get to Vucevic's $20M given they're just under the first apron and the guys they'd want to trade don't make that much. they could cobble together a 4-for-1 with like Kleber(bad)/Powell(hurt and bad)/Exum(hurt)/OMax(young), but obviously that would require some more Bulls maneuvering for roster spots and the Mavs could probably make an easier trade for a cheaper option like Jonas V or Kelly O.
Saw Jovan Buha speculate the Lakers for a Lonzo reunion and thought about Vooch/Lonzo for Rui/Gabe/Vando/1st (Lakers might need a little more salary as well to make it work). I know AD would like another big next to him and they've been looking at the big market, Rui is kinda whatever at this point, Lonzo an obvious upgrade over Gabe and Vando, who's allegedly supposed to come back this weekend but certainly isn't that good and has his own injury risk. plus the California connection for both Vooch and Lonzo!
yeah they're in a bind here, because while it's easy to get a stopgap center, it's not easy to get one that's a rim-runner/shot-blocker like Lively and Gafford
As I wrote that....think Clint Capela makes a lot of sense (plus he's expiring). But not clear what's in it for Atlanta as I now learn that all those aforementioned useless Dallas players are signed through next season (save Exum)
It's a lot of players, but I could see Vooch/Lonzo/THT/Craig for Rui/Gabe/Vando/Hood-Schifino + pick(s). Three prodigal sons return to LA, and they get some Megan Thee Stallion sightings as a nice little bonus. That is a real pupu platter from the Lakers, but maybe you can flip Rui, and at 25 maybe Vando is a rehab project. You'd have to at least get an unprotected (or very lightly protected) first.
This obviously isn't Matas's fault, but I wonder how the rest of the team feels about him being the front office's favorite player? I'm sure it has nothing to do with him being Lithuanian or anything like that...
I love that Stacey gets so perplexed by random no-name players having career games against the Bulls. First, the Bulls suck, so no-name players are naturally going to get more run against them since the better players often take the night off when playing the Bulls. Second, the Bulls suck (specifically on defense), so no-name players are naturally going to get some of the easiest shots of their careers.
KC Johnson is a pimp for the Bulls and always has been. He and Stacey King have their noses so far up Reinsdorf's ass it is amazing that they are able to breathe. This franchise is doomed until Reinsdorf is gone
My predictions for the deadline:
1. Zach does not get traded because no one offers AK what he feels is a justifiable return.
2. Vooch gets traded for someone's bad contract and a second round pick or two (no firsts).
3. Lonzo gets traded for a bad contract and a second round pick or two.
4. A ton of teams call about Coby and/or Ayo and AK turns them all down because selling high is for girls (he strikes me as sexist, don't know why).
5. One of Torrey Craig or Jevon Carter is traded. Possibly as filler in one of the trades above.
Genuinely bold predictions, as they have never seemed interested in 2nd round picks nor taking on bad salary (except if it was to get a superstar like Vuc).
I'm getting an uncomfortable level (read: any) of chatter that they'll re-sign Lonzo
They definitely are bold. My thinking with taking on bad salary isn't so much that AK would be smart enough to do that (and require picks for doing so) but that teams think he's dumb enough that they can basically dump their bad contracts on him while giving up barely anything else, and I think those teams are correct in thinking that way.
While I think AK is dumb, I also think he's very proud and doesn't like when people think he's dumb. Due to that, I think he's probably embarrassed by the fact that he got destroyed in the national media for trading Caruso and not getting any picks back for him. So I do think he's going to try and get picks for any trades that happen at the deadline. It'll likely just be less picks than he should get.
I wonder if their past idiocy has created a new problem for them. Specifically, that other teams expect to fleece the Bulls in any trade and any offer that is actually fair is going to therefore hold less appeal than it should. These are the same dodos who turned Alex Caruso and his A+ contract into nothing after holding on to him over multiple trade cycles. If you're a GM you will want a similar win engaging with the Bulls or you feel like you lost.
Yep, I've thought the exact same thing.
I think they're also aware there are a billion complications when dealing with the Bulls so they mostly just avoid dealing with them unless they have to or have nothing to lose by dicking around.
Remember in Moneyball when Billy constantly has the Oakland owner on the other line to ask permission for every little financial quirk and eventually has to make weird promises about "selling" players later for more money and pocketing the difference? I imagine it's like that, and that Reinsdorf makes an unfunny joke at the start of every call that "Hey Art, I bet you're calling to tell me you're saving me some money, huh? Ha Ha Ha Ha," like his dumb joke when he re-signed Jordan and still managed to piss him off.
yeah maybe. Especially if the pick is like crazy protected and he can still smirk and say 'I got pick'
Also what we consider 'bad salary', and what the other team would consider a negative asset, may not be the way with AK. Like he would say 'Gabe Vincent is a single-single machine'
Haha very valid points
also, kind of bad luck that Torrey Craig can only play a single 20+ minute game 'showcase' before getting hurt
Carter is signed through next year at ~$7M so he's not exactly easy filler
The Bulls have been in 9th or 10th place all season. This losing streak did not change that, so why would there be greater urgency after the losing streak? Going back to last season when AK misstated the Bulls' position in the standings, is it possible that AK doesn't even look at the standings?
I know this is true. Like many things that are true about this world, I am not sure if I can stand exposing myself to it, voluntarily, over and over. Seriously, this team's mendacious purpose is wearing me out. Sports is about trying.
What's even worse (maybe) is that this IS them trying. They think Josh Giddey is a future all star.
Near (and empty) triple doubles alternating with near DNP-CD
I am almost willing to bet that the Bulls are going to stay in 10th place literally the rest of the season and they will have spent like 3/4 of the season in 10th ...and then I hope they throw the play-in game (though that might not require any actual effort)
There was some weird trend where a team in some sport had the lowest amount of variance from .500 ever recorded. I am pretty sure that the Bulls have to have the lowest 10th place variance ever recorded. No team worse than them cares to catch them. No team better than them can divine to suck as hard. This is the treadmill of mediocrity.
and it basically happened last season too. the Bulls and Hawks were 9/10 for a really big chunk of the end of the season.
Not just 10th place.
"Remember, Remember! You'll pick 7th forever!"
Sixers are dogshit but STILL only 2.5 games back and 40 to go. I suppose they could tank for mere chance of keeping pick, they can't do enough to guarantee keeping it
Welp make that 3 games out 😒
would it surprise you at all if Embiid doesn't play again this season? guy got a fluke foot injury and then tried to come back and hurt his knee again. he might just be cooked. PG might be toast too in terms of legit major impact guy, and the rest of that roster besides Maxey is ass. If Embiid isn't there this team is going go to go full tank mode and the Bulls will not catch them.
> Going back to last season when AK misstated the Bulls' position in the standings
lol I forgot about this
The GM of a team stood in front of microphones making weird faces with his lips and justified making no transactions by incorrectly citing how many games his team trailed the last real playoff spot.
On a scale of 1-10, how much do you believe that "trying to do what the Nets did" line? "I have no fucking clue" is also a legit answer.
Is "they have no clue what that means" a legit answer? If so, I'd like to vote 0.
Here's the link to now multimedia star KC https://youtu.be/zAZ_D1vW1oI?t=365&si=rjgm6LWUwoUVwXML
He does say 'because of the size of the contracts' but also then says he doesn't expect anyone but Vuc (maybe) to be traded yet this is an 'open for business' front office
This is sorta OT but KC has cut his own throat by walking this line with the team. He's not a great writer, he doesn't have great access leaguewide, players aren't close to him and he doesn't seem to even know any agents based upon his stories.
His main appeal was that he is, or was, a journalist with a neutral perspective.
If you're paying him directly and he'll say what you want him to say and do what you want him to do, you can just go and find someone more exciting and with more personality than KC. He's incredibly uncomfortable in front of the camera and his little "tidbits" are just chewed over PR lines and throwaway lines at press scrums.
"Matas Buzelis told me he's feeling more confident" is not an actual story or inside information.
Whether he's up for it or not, imagine what KC is doing these days, but it's Jason Goff. He's far more charismatic, players seem to like him when he interacts with them and he's way more comfortable in front of a camera.
cut his own throat or got himself a life preserver? who is hiring writers?
like I'm sure he is disappointed but also it's a job. I could tell him first hand that a newsletter wouldn't be one.
Remember when The Athletic was hiring? They probably didn't have it written on their whiteboard to "hire the guys who get great scoops and then sit on them to protect the team."
Maybe you're right and he should just be lucky he has a check at all, until they decide to replace him with Small Market Stephen A.
I fully expect then for KC to take over Sam smith's job
I thought he already had it.
Ok, thanks for sharing that. On second thought though, I don't think I can do this, you know, trying to get in their heads and imagine their thinking. Until I have reason to think otherwise, they're just a guy who deep down thinks he'll probably be fired soon enough, but for now is saying whatever he has to to barely make it through each week.
Trading Coby and/or Ayo is interesting though. Not that's it's some mind-blowing idea. Just more practical and logical than I'm used to hearing from this team.
The Bulls or KC? 😁
I think we are almost at the point where these contracts will just have to age out, with maybe Zac having a better option mid next year or later. Given the cap and tax situation right now in the NBA, and the number of aging teams like the Suns, Warriors, Bucks, etc that need to rebuild - the Bulls don't have better assets or urgency than any of them.
It's amazing that a GM can build up a team, go nowhere, and basically be given several years to try again, but here we are.
It took him one season to build his team (by trading away the entire future), they peaked for about 3 months and it's been two and a half years of going nowhere, slowly.
but home field advantage tho
Been seeing rumors about Zach to Detroit. Think there's real potential or is this just the media trying to wish this into existence.
Zach to Detroit makes more sense this year than it did last year since Detroit is actually good (by AK standards) this year and Ivey is out for the remainder of the year I believe.
Assuming you're referencing that Bleacher Report trade proposal, I'd say it's a fairly good deal for Detroit. LaVine is probably better, or at least more useful, than Hardaway Jr, Sasser, and Fontecchio combined. And a second round pick thrown in probably wouldn't bother them too much.
I'm too lazy to look into Detroit's cap situation, but I'd imagine they have room for Zach's contract for the next couple of seasons and then could decide after that if they want to extend him.
With all of that being said, Zach definitely doesn't make them a contender by any means, and his contract would probably limit their ability to add more pieces to push them closer to contention. But it's also Detroit, so I'm not sure if they're actually going for championships. Maybe they just want a "big" name (again, by AK standards) and a solid playoff push over the next few years.
Edit: Just threw that BR proposed trade into Spotrac's trade machine and it doesn't even work. Detroit would have to include at least $9 million more in salary. I don't see them trading any of their players making roughly that much and they can't throw in multiple guys making less because the Bulls are already taking back more players than they're sending out and would have to cut several players just to get this deal to work.
That's one I saw that went into detail.
It doesn't work in ESPN's trade machine, but does work in Fanspo. Not sure what the difference is.
And thanks. Food for thought.
One thing I haven't figured out yet is whether Zach's trade kicker will be void. You're not allowed to exceed the maximum allowable salary with a trade kicker, and he is a max player, right? If that's the case, why does he even have one?
It's not insignificant. As far as I remember, you don't count option years in the kicker (his last year is a player option), so the amount would be whatever is prorated for this year + 15% of next year's salary. That will easily be > $7 million. It's nearly $7 million just for next season alone.
1. The Bulls are the team on the hook for it.
2. It's spread out over his remaining contract (but again I don't think you count the option year)
3. I'm not sure if the prorated 2024/25 part is also prorated to this year, or if they'd simply divide that $7 million+ over 2 seasons.
4. Question 3 is relevant because the acquiring team has to match this new salary.
He can waive it of course, but again I'm not sure it would even apply since you can't circumvent the max salary with a kicker or bonus. And again, I would wonder why he even has one if that's the case.
I'd say the latter. It's a good and pure motivation to want the surprisingly-not-terrible team to try and improve. But I don't think swapping out heretofore-useful role players for LaVine (again, known big-game playoff performer...) raises their ceiling much this year. And if not, then why not do it in the offseason, among other options.
other team's desperation alert: Orlando is 3-7 in their last ten (even with Banchero back) and fallen behind Detroit for the 8th seed
I still think Zach is too rich for their blood, but maybe they will take the risk and consider it a 2027 problem to be solved then
What about Coby to Orlando? I don't think AK has any desire to trade Coby so it obviously won't happen. Still interesting to think about though.
He's basically a poor man's Zach in terms of scoring. He's also making way less and won't command as much on his next contract. He fits their timeline better too. Plus, Coby can at least be a decent point guard, which Orlando could use. Also not as injury prone.
Could the Bulls take on Anthony Black and Jett Howard (two young guys with potential - the AK special!) and get their 2025 first round pick from Denver and maybe their 2026 second round pick from Detroit? Or it could be a straight swap for Cole Anthony with picks attached.
I saw BleacherNation had this idea and it netted two firsts. I don't think Orlando would go that far but if so then yes Bulls should take that. They won't even start a bidding war for Coby or Ayo so I don't see the return getting high enough for them to pull the trigger
I knew I had seen a suggestion like that somewhere. That's definitely where it was now that you mention it. I think their proposal involved the Nets though, which didn't really make sense to me. I'm not sure why they'd want Cole Anthony.
I didn't get that either, why complicate things. The Bulls would take Cole Anthony, he's young with experience.
Why do you rob banks? That's where the money is.
For the Bulls, who do you trade with is a question of who has picks and the motive to win. Just look at Tankathon.
OKC has the Sixers pick (currently #8) and Bucks pick #22
Spurs have #10 and #17 (from ATL)
Golden State and Houston are tied for 12 and 13
Orlando has #15 and #24
Minnesota has #16
Atlanta has #18 and #21 (from Lakers)
Mavs #19
Pacers #20
Grizzlies have #26
Those are the ones that stick out to me.
only correction of the above is the Pacers, they committed 2026 pick elsewhere so they can't trade 2025 pick (until after draft night)
Maybe they should be aiming for 2026 draft picks anyway...because surely AKME has too much pride to field a team that'd keep a top-8 protected pick then
In thinking it through
* I don't see anything we have that OKC would want.
* Golden State? I'm not sure what they need, besides health. I keep hearing that they'd want Vuc, which I kind of get because they just need size. Maybe they think Draymond and TJD will cover up enough of his mistakes. I don't think it helps their offense much though. In any case, I'd be shocked if they gave up that pick to get Vuc.
Maybe if we threw in Vuc + Coby, but they've got plenty of guys who can shoot better than Coby, but they have plenty of guys who can shoot pretty well.
If I were them, the guy I'd really like to have is Lonzo. Can't really figure out how they'd make the numbers on a trade for Vuc+Lonzo work without trading away guys they'd need though
* Houston maybe. I think the Rockets are unlikely to give up the pick. We might be able to get Sheppard or Green though.
Warriors aren't even in the west play-in now. Could make it even less likely they move their first rounder, whoops. I agree that neither Vuc or Lonzo (and can't have both) would be worth a first to them.
I don't get why they're holding on to Kumiga though (outside of presently because he's injured), he's a RFA after the season
Wildly off topic, but whatever. Here's a quiz for today:
Per b-r.com, who has the highest USG% on the Indiana Pacers?
Guessing it's not Haliburton since it wouldn't be a very fun quiz if it was. Mathurin maybe?
Sensible reasoning. But incorrect. Though you are at the right university.
It can't be TJ McConnell, right?
We live in interesting times.
Ha, Shams today with...nothing:
>Sources said the Bulls have been receiving calls from teams on two key players: Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic. Rival executives have applauded a rejuvenated season from LaVine.
I recognize this is probably not a thing but I'd sure like to know if the Bulls are MAKING calls, not just receiving them
The Athletic (an amalgam of reporters not one person) had a non-rumor speculating the Bucks could look at getting in this Butler-to-Suns mess by acquiring Beal 'or LaVine'
While Bucks are over 2nd apron by like $5M, if at the end of the transaction they are under, they can do the rules for teams under (aggregate salaries)
Just a reminder that not paying the tax or taking on long term salary is a factor keeping the Bulls from trading LaVine, not just 'the market' or 'the rules our cheap owner wanted'
> Just a reminder that not paying the tax or taking on long term salary is a factor keeping the Bulls from trading LaVine, not just 'the market' or 'the rules our cheap owner wanted'
Please make a sign so we can tap it.
so this can work as the Bulls are under the tax around the same amount the Bucks are over the 2nd apron
Middleton+Portis+Connaughton+Beauchamp
for
LaVine+Carter+Craig
A couple pretty big sticking points:
1. would Bucks want to roll into the playoffs with a Lillard+LaVine backcourt?
2. Bucks have pretty much no picks to trade. I think maybe 2031 first. And they have no seconds until 2031 too. I don't think anything they're getting could realistically be sent to a 3rd team for picks either.
New reporting that LeBron and AD (#BeKlutch) is getting upset at the Lakers lack of activity, and the Lakers front office not wanting to (further) mortgage their future.
I think there's an easy compromise for both 'sides': trade for Zach LaVine, but instead of using those future first round picks, include Austin Reaves.
this is also a compromise that Arturas Karnisovas would take, because he loves "young players with experience" over draft picks anyway, and Reaves would fit in well on the Bulls in that he's not very good.
money-wise, this works with the Lakers as 1st Apron:
LaVine+Craig+THT (waive somebody - Duarte)
for
Reaves+Rui+Vincent+Hood-Schifino
Flinging some other ideas at the wall...Dereck Lively is out 2-3 months so the Mavs might want to go center shopping...the problem is it's kinda hard for them to get to Vucevic's $20M given they're just under the first apron and the guys they'd want to trade don't make that much. they could cobble together a 4-for-1 with like Kleber(bad)/Powell(hurt and bad)/Exum(hurt)/OMax(young), but obviously that would require some more Bulls maneuvering for roster spots and the Mavs could probably make an easier trade for a cheaper option like Jonas V or Kelly O.
Saw Jovan Buha speculate the Lakers for a Lonzo reunion and thought about Vooch/Lonzo for Rui/Gabe/Vando/1st (Lakers might need a little more salary as well to make it work). I know AD would like another big next to him and they've been looking at the big market, Rui is kinda whatever at this point, Lonzo an obvious upgrade over Gabe and Vando, who's allegedly supposed to come back this weekend but certainly isn't that good and has his own injury risk. plus the California connection for both Vooch and Lonzo!
yeah they're in a bind here, because while it's easy to get a stopgap center, it's not easy to get one that's a rim-runner/shot-blocker like Lively and Gafford
As I wrote that....think Clint Capela makes a lot of sense (plus he's expiring). But not clear what's in it for Atlanta as I now learn that all those aforementioned useless Dallas players are signed through next season (save Exum)
It's a lot of players, but I could see Vooch/Lonzo/THT/Craig for Rui/Gabe/Vando/Hood-Schifino + pick(s). Three prodigal sons return to LA, and they get some Megan Thee Stallion sightings as a nice little bonus. That is a real pupu platter from the Lakers, but maybe you can flip Rui, and at 25 maybe Vando is a rehab project. You'd have to at least get an unprotected (or very lightly protected) first.
This obviously isn't Matas's fault, but I wonder how the rest of the team feels about him being the front office's favorite player? I'm sure it has nothing to do with him being Lithuanian or anything like that...
https://x.com/byjuliapoe/status/1882178722528424066
On another note, do we think AK traveled to California to try and close a deal with the Warriors?
Remember: Lithuania is Lithuanian for "Iowa State."
I love that Stacey gets so perplexed by random no-name players having career games against the Bulls. First, the Bulls suck, so no-name players are naturally going to get more run against them since the better players often take the night off when playing the Bulls. Second, the Bulls suck (specifically on defense), so no-name players are naturally going to get some of the easiest shots of their careers.
KC Johnson is a pimp for the Bulls and always has been. He and Stacey King have their noses so far up Reinsdorf's ass it is amazing that they are able to breathe. This franchise is doomed until Reinsdorf is gone