I get so excited whenever I get a notification for a new BaB article, and then so depressed as Matt correctly points out how bad everything about this team is...
Overall, the guys in this article aren't terrible, even Pat. But are any of them foundational pieces on a rebuilding team? Hard to say they are. Ayo and Coby are clearly the best young players on this team but both have clear limitations. They're also both on great contracts and a smart front office would sell them to the highest bidder.
THT is having a solid year based on the standards that were set for him, but that doesn't make him good. Maybe the Bulls try to involve him in a trade at the deadline? I suppose you probably keep Smith around since he's solid as a backup center.
Pat's a tough one. It's so hard not to look at him through the lens of being the fourth pick. But in reality, he's an okay player. He shoots threes well and defends, which means he'll always have a place in the league. Assuming his injury doesn't continue to linger, I think his contract will look fine in a couple years as the cap keeps going up. There's really no reason to be shopping him currently since his stock is probably at an all-time low. Just hold onto him for the time being and move him to the bench. For whatever reason he's far more comfortable coming off the bench.
The next article is going to be far more fun. And by fun, I mean depressing.
"But are any of them foundational pieces on a rebuilding team?"
Probably not, I think every bad team has pretty much these same guys just with different moms. Usually they have a lot more of them, though. The number of these guys that Utah or Brooklyn have vs. Chicago is depressing.
Yep. The Bulls have two young guys that are already quite good (Coby and Ayo). They have a couple that are okay, but disappointing for their draft position (Pat, Jalen). They have a bunch that are young enough that there's potential although it seems highly likely they'll always be pretty bad (Giddey, THT, Dalen, Julian). Then they have one young guy with tons of potential who seems like he might actually reach it (Matas). That's not exactly confidence inspiring, especially since their two good players are five years older than their one player with tons of potential.
For me, Ayo, Coby and THT are low-ceiling, replaceable guards that I think the Bulls should be looking to move if they can get anything decent for them. None of them profile as a starter on a championship level team imo.
PWill has been around for 5 years now and (off the top of my head) made no discernable improvements since entering the league. imo should've been shown the door this year. I know he shoots threes at a good % and is supposedly a good defender (I think a bit overrated), but man the eye test is horrific. Everything feels noticeably smoother when he's off the floor.
Smith is just a run-of-the-mill backup 4/5. Meh.
Giddey doesn't really move the needle for me. Maybe one of Terry/Phillips becomes a solid rotation guy with more minutes. Buzelis looks like a potential future all star and is really the only reason I'm watching this team at the moment lol
First they gave Zach Lavine an albatross of a contract and now they can't move him. Then they followed that up with giving Patrick Williams an albatross of a contract. Clear display of not learning from their mistakes. I would say that they should be fired, but Jerry doesn't care at this point. The Bulls rank 4th in average attendance this year, so clearly they're not bad enough to warrant the good people of Chicago deciding NOT to invest their time in watching this shit show. I can't imagine paying money to go watch this team right now, unless I'm rooting for the opponent. It's sad. The fall from grace has been so hard.
After reading all of these gripes and moans about the Bulls should be in tanking mode, for all of you managers/team owners/coaches should take in stock a few things: the tank-off is not the shot of instant success that seems to be prevalent in your mind 1) two examples are of note: the washington Wizzards (7 yrs and counting) and the Detroit Pistons (15 yrs and counting)!!! Need less to say be careful what you wish/hope for because history is stacked against any fast jump into the upper echelons of the NBA. In short any type of tank will lead you back to where you are now (can't get to top without moving and spending time in the middle.
Ayo - if he could be a consistent 36% 3 point shooter, he could be a Derrick White type player. Ayo could start on a contender as long as there were a couple legit All-stars. He's best served as a 3rd guard. He is a winning type player in my eyes, i think a lot of teams would be interested in getting him if available.
Coby has kinda plateaued this year but again he would be an useful 3rd guard for a playoff squad. He can hit 3s at an above average clip with relatively high volume. Teams that could use scoring punch off the bench could use him
Both of them should be traded and could get decent compensation bc both have favorable contracts
Pat is what he is.....as a 4th pick, he is a bust. Nothing's changed with him, he is a decent rotational forward...had he been picked, say 18th, no one would be complaining but he was a reach that hasnt come close to panning out
Dalen Terry is barely even a 12th man....what does he do even decently? he sucks.
Julian Phillips was a weird pick.....at best he becomes DJJ which i guess has some use but meh. He still can't shoot and doesnt really use his plus athleticism for much. Wasn't worth two 2nds.
Giddey is and will be always be fool's gold. People always get conned by tall PGs and they almost always kinda blow(MCW, Exum etc) but ppl fall in love with taller guards that can handle. His shot at beginning of the year has already fallen off a cliff. He might be one of the 10 worst defenders in the league. His plus passing is nullified by his atrocious shot and terrible defense. Of course they're going to resign the bum
Jalen Smith got overpaid....he's a whatever backup big. There was no reason for him to get that contract...he's not Felicio but there's plenty of ppl who could do what he does for much cheaper
I don't mind the sarcasm because some solid observations and statistics are sprinkled in. Many of the in-stadium and at-home viewers aren't yet jaded; let them have their fun. Ayo is better than you realize as another pointed out. Matas and Julian are around the same age, too early to pigeon-hole either one. Coby, Ayo and THT shouldn't be in the same sentence, ironically, but I do like THT. You can't buy finished product players at WW Grainger. The Bulls have two or three times their fair share of NBA Championships over the last 60 years.
I get so excited whenever I get a notification for a new BaB article, and then so depressed as Matt correctly points out how bad everything about this team is...
Overall, the guys in this article aren't terrible, even Pat. But are any of them foundational pieces on a rebuilding team? Hard to say they are. Ayo and Coby are clearly the best young players on this team but both have clear limitations. They're also both on great contracts and a smart front office would sell them to the highest bidder.
THT is having a solid year based on the standards that were set for him, but that doesn't make him good. Maybe the Bulls try to involve him in a trade at the deadline? I suppose you probably keep Smith around since he's solid as a backup center.
Pat's a tough one. It's so hard not to look at him through the lens of being the fourth pick. But in reality, he's an okay player. He shoots threes well and defends, which means he'll always have a place in the league. Assuming his injury doesn't continue to linger, I think his contract will look fine in a couple years as the cap keeps going up. There's really no reason to be shopping him currently since his stock is probably at an all-time low. Just hold onto him for the time being and move him to the bench. For whatever reason he's far more comfortable coming off the bench.
The next article is going to be far more fun. And by fun, I mean depressing.
"But are any of them foundational pieces on a rebuilding team?"
Probably not, I think every bad team has pretty much these same guys just with different moms. Usually they have a lot more of them, though. The number of these guys that Utah or Brooklyn have vs. Chicago is depressing.
Yep. The Bulls have two young guys that are already quite good (Coby and Ayo). They have a couple that are okay, but disappointing for their draft position (Pat, Jalen). They have a bunch that are young enough that there's potential although it seems highly likely they'll always be pretty bad (Giddey, THT, Dalen, Julian). Then they have one young guy with tons of potential who seems like he might actually reach it (Matas). That's not exactly confidence inspiring, especially since their two good players are five years older than their one player with tons of potential.
Pat is terrible. Can folks please stop trying to make excuses for him!!
He's fine. Dalen Terry is terrible, he has no actual NBA usefulness.
As wildly disappointing as Pat is, he is a plus 3 pt shooter for a forward and a solid defender...
He is a decent rotational forward nothing more nothing less.
Agree 100% on these evaluations. I'm really interested in the next set, which I think will be more contentious.
For me, Ayo, Coby and THT are low-ceiling, replaceable guards that I think the Bulls should be looking to move if they can get anything decent for them. None of them profile as a starter on a championship level team imo.
PWill has been around for 5 years now and (off the top of my head) made no discernable improvements since entering the league. imo should've been shown the door this year. I know he shoots threes at a good % and is supposedly a good defender (I think a bit overrated), but man the eye test is horrific. Everything feels noticeably smoother when he's off the floor.
Smith is just a run-of-the-mill backup 4/5. Meh.
Giddey doesn't really move the needle for me. Maybe one of Terry/Phillips becomes a solid rotation guy with more minutes. Buzelis looks like a potential future all star and is really the only reason I'm watching this team at the moment lol
I’ll save you some time on the part 2 eval:
Giddey: Dogshit.
Terry: See comment above.
Phillips: Unlike P Swill, he can dunk. That’s enough reason to give me hope 👍🏻
Boozecruise: This 👆🏻
Part Two -> https://www.blogabull.com/p/the-bulls-youth-movement-per-se-season
First they gave Zach Lavine an albatross of a contract and now they can't move him. Then they followed that up with giving Patrick Williams an albatross of a contract. Clear display of not learning from their mistakes. I would say that they should be fired, but Jerry doesn't care at this point. The Bulls rank 4th in average attendance this year, so clearly they're not bad enough to warrant the good people of Chicago deciding NOT to invest their time in watching this shit show. I can't imagine paying money to go watch this team right now, unless I'm rooting for the opponent. It's sad. The fall from grace has been so hard.
After reading all of these gripes and moans about the Bulls should be in tanking mode, for all of you managers/team owners/coaches should take in stock a few things: the tank-off is not the shot of instant success that seems to be prevalent in your mind 1) two examples are of note: the washington Wizzards (7 yrs and counting) and the Detroit Pistons (15 yrs and counting)!!! Need less to say be careful what you wish/hope for because history is stacked against any fast jump into the upper echelons of the NBA. In short any type of tank will lead you back to where you are now (can't get to top without moving and spending time in the middle.
Ayo - if he could be a consistent 36% 3 point shooter, he could be a Derrick White type player. Ayo could start on a contender as long as there were a couple legit All-stars. He's best served as a 3rd guard. He is a winning type player in my eyes, i think a lot of teams would be interested in getting him if available.
Coby has kinda plateaued this year but again he would be an useful 3rd guard for a playoff squad. He can hit 3s at an above average clip with relatively high volume. Teams that could use scoring punch off the bench could use him
Both of them should be traded and could get decent compensation bc both have favorable contracts
Pat is what he is.....as a 4th pick, he is a bust. Nothing's changed with him, he is a decent rotational forward...had he been picked, say 18th, no one would be complaining but he was a reach that hasnt come close to panning out
Dalen Terry is barely even a 12th man....what does he do even decently? he sucks.
Julian Phillips was a weird pick.....at best he becomes DJJ which i guess has some use but meh. He still can't shoot and doesnt really use his plus athleticism for much. Wasn't worth two 2nds.
Giddey is and will be always be fool's gold. People always get conned by tall PGs and they almost always kinda blow(MCW, Exum etc) but ppl fall in love with taller guards that can handle. His shot at beginning of the year has already fallen off a cliff. He might be one of the 10 worst defenders in the league. His plus passing is nullified by his atrocious shot and terrible defense. Of course they're going to resign the bum
Jalen Smith got overpaid....he's a whatever backup big. There was no reason for him to get that contract...he's not Felicio but there's plenty of ppl who could do what he does for much cheaper
I don't mind the sarcasm because some solid observations and statistics are sprinkled in. Many of the in-stadium and at-home viewers aren't yet jaded; let them have their fun. Ayo is better than you realize as another pointed out. Matas and Julian are around the same age, too early to pigeon-hole either one. Coby, Ayo and THT shouldn't be in the same sentence, ironically, but I do like THT. You can't buy finished product players at WW Grainger. The Bulls have two or three times their fair share of NBA Championships over the last 60 years.