Per Julia Poe: "Despite reports of interest in Josh Giddey, the point guard remains a relatively low-value trade asset, especially with his contract expiring at the end of this season."
Why is his expiring contract being used a reason the Bulls shouldn't trade him? That should be all the more reason TO trade him. Unless this front office genuinely believes he's a building block... Oh god.
I don't think AK has ever recognized a mistake and corrected quickly. All of this stuff in talent evaluation, running a team is tough and highly highly speculative. It's impossible not to make mistakes! That's why you always want more darts and that's why you want to recognize your mistake before everyone else does and act accordingly. With GarPax stuff I could attribute this to pride or ego or lunacy, but I really think with AK it's pure stupidity and laziness.
What offer will Giddey get when the Bulls tell him to go shop? I don't even know if he's worth the QO
I'm far too much a Lonzophile to negotiate this contract, but I don't think this a is problem. Like a 2-3 yr deal for mle-ish money? Worst case scenario, Lonzo breaks again, this time forever, but that's pretty much a worst for everyone scenario. If he survives, his skill set - tangible and intangible - is going to be valuable for the foreseeable future to both the Bulls and others at that price
Edit; and this is against the opportunity cost of not trading him for a 2nd, possibly two 2nds
the reason to have bird rights is to sign him above MLE ($14M) that another team couldn't
if they think he'd take a discount to sign out of loyalty or whatever, then sign him in the offseason and take the picks now
and thinking it's not a problem to have potentially-dead >$14M on the books is how they are in such cap hell at the moment. The upside is maybe you get a protected first in a year. I suppose you also get productivity on the court, but to what end?
Are the Bulls in cap hell? They are in asset hell, but not necessarily cap hell.
Admittedly, I have no idea what the league would pay him on the open market. I think retaining Lonzo on like a 2/26M, 3/36M deal would be totally fine. Even a one year prove-it deal would be fine. If he fails, he fails, the Bulls aren't going anywhere. If he continues to get better maybe you get that protected first while the Bulls are still not going anywhere. I'd rather risk it than take the 2nd / 2nds
and edit: aren't bird rights simply about being able to go over the cap to resign?
Nobody cares about being able to offer the qualifying offer, nobody wants to get into a bidding war. It seems like the tea leaves indicate that the Bulls don't want him, but maybe that's more hopeful than serious tea leaf reading.
I don’t think anybody thought it could get worse than GarPax, but alas here we are. AKME has constantly found a way to show they’re absolutely incapable of doing anything remotely useful. It’s sad to see what this organization has become. It’s just a hodge podge of “meh”. Not a single star player at this point. Vuc is old. Lonzo is a shell. Pat is WHACK. Giddey is too. Coby and Ayo are hopeful, but probably won’t reach their potential with this organization. The coach doesn’t try to develop the young guys, and the vets aren’t very good. Purgatory sucks 🫠 Fuck Jerry 🖕🏾
only way things will change is if, somehow, the gate numbers tank (unlikely) or “the bulls are embarrassing” press reaches a fever pitch (even less likely).
it’s the perfect storm of AK being inept and insulated. i genuinely think “act of god” is the only way it will change here. my list of suggestions for god: jerry dies; jerry gets ambassadorship in europe and dies; expansion team in chicago; “Donald Sterling”; michael reinsdorf reads The Secret; players union becomes so powerful under next CBA that jerry retires/sells/dies
like most evil billionaire ghouls filled with bile, jerry will of course live to be 500 years old.
Well, there was that Sam Amick video yesterday where he was pointing out that other execs around the league were outspoken about how terrible AKME are.
You can seem Amick, just like other guys when it comes up, doing the thing where they don't want to outright publicly trash guys, but it's consistent that in every report, the Bulls are considered inept and poorly run.
right but that probably won’t have critical mass, like every other “the bulls are rubes” report from the last decade—local media will continue to be nonexistent, national media will chuckle and shrug and continue to be apathetic
I don't know what the Cavs want, really. I expect Ball is an upgrade over LaVert, LaVert is better at shot creation but nothing else, and the Cavs are already top offense in basketball with ability to stagger Mitchell and Garland as lead guard
Both are expiring. Cavs could throw in a rookie scale guy ("with experience" - AK voice) and unlike many contenders have a lot of 2nd rounders available
The bulls made their obligatory 1 move for the season. Patted themselves on the back and went back into hibernation. Meanwhile Lakers see a ringing phone, pick it up, and are gifted Luka fucking Doncic for pennies on the dollar. I hate everything about this timeline
This Bucks thing for Kuzma is - I guess - about getting under the second apron so they can combine 'assets' to get stuff. I'd love to see the list of teams that are clamoring to grab Connaughton and Portis, but hey we grabbed Huerter and Collins for neutral / negative draft capital so everything's possible!
I don't even think Vuc helps them on an objective level. Yes if it was just replacing Looney, but if they have to send out Payton too then it's less additive (and that's before going into assets and 2026 money)
It's insane to me that the Bulls would not jump on someone willing to trade for Lonzo lol. I'll admit that he has surprisingly not shattered into a million pieces yet but who knows how long that will last.
NEW POST! https://www.blogabull.com/p/the-bulls-do-have-a-bad-stupid-plan
Here is my Dennis Schroeder theory.
He is an all-star level player for every other team that he plays for and a locker-room cancer fuck up at the other teams that he plays for.
The Pistons are now the sourest team in the league.
Bodies laughing
Per Julia Poe: "Despite reports of interest in Josh Giddey, the point guard remains a relatively low-value trade asset, especially with his contract expiring at the end of this season."
Why is his expiring contract being used a reason the Bulls shouldn't trade him? That should be all the more reason TO trade him. Unless this front office genuinely believes he's a building block... Oh god.
This, so much this.
I don't think AK has ever recognized a mistake and corrected quickly. All of this stuff in talent evaluation, running a team is tough and highly highly speculative. It's impossible not to make mistakes! That's why you always want more darts and that's why you want to recognize your mistake before everyone else does and act accordingly. With GarPax stuff I could attribute this to pride or ego or lunacy, but I really think with AK it's pure stupidity and laziness.
What offer will Giddey get when the Bulls tell him to go shop? I don't even know if he's worth the QO
this is also why we should take the 'actually we can re-sign Lonzo' talk seriously
Sigh
I'm far too much a Lonzophile to negotiate this contract, but I don't think this a is problem. Like a 2-3 yr deal for mle-ish money? Worst case scenario, Lonzo breaks again, this time forever, but that's pretty much a worst for everyone scenario. If he survives, his skill set - tangible and intangible - is going to be valuable for the foreseeable future to both the Bulls and others at that price
Edit; and this is against the opportunity cost of not trading him for a 2nd, possibly two 2nds
the reason to have bird rights is to sign him above MLE ($14M) that another team couldn't
if they think he'd take a discount to sign out of loyalty or whatever, then sign him in the offseason and take the picks now
and thinking it's not a problem to have potentially-dead >$14M on the books is how they are in such cap hell at the moment. The upside is maybe you get a protected first in a year. I suppose you also get productivity on the court, but to what end?
Are the Bulls in cap hell? They are in asset hell, but not necessarily cap hell.
Admittedly, I have no idea what the league would pay him on the open market. I think retaining Lonzo on like a 2/26M, 3/36M deal would be totally fine. Even a one year prove-it deal would be fine. If he fails, he fails, the Bulls aren't going anywhere. If he continues to get better maybe you get that protected first while the Bulls are still not going anywhere. I'd rather risk it than take the 2nd / 2nds
and edit: aren't bird rights simply about being able to go over the cap to resign?
they are in hell in that that they are so close to the tax they can't make asset plays where they take on money
the bird rights bit is about being able to go over the cap, but there are other exceptions every team has (like MLE) to sign free agents.
I'm already bracing myself for the inevitable 4/110 that Giddey is going to get.
Don't forget the player option!
"contract expiring at the end of this season."
Nobody cares about being able to offer the qualifying offer, nobody wants to get into a bidding war. It seems like the tea leaves indicate that the Bulls don't want him, but maybe that's more hopeful than serious tea leaf reading.
Pelicans traded Ingram, also on the last year of his deal, and got a first back!
*insert “You’re despicable” Daffy Duck gif*
I don’t think anybody thought it could get worse than GarPax, but alas here we are. AKME has constantly found a way to show they’re absolutely incapable of doing anything remotely useful. It’s sad to see what this organization has become. It’s just a hodge podge of “meh”. Not a single star player at this point. Vuc is old. Lonzo is a shell. Pat is WHACK. Giddey is too. Coby and Ayo are hopeful, but probably won’t reach their potential with this organization. The coach doesn’t try to develop the young guys, and the vets aren’t very good. Purgatory sucks 🫠 Fuck Jerry 🖕🏾
No Matas love? Even after he went 10 for 10 last night? He's this team's only hope at this point.
FYI Matas highlights in last night's game thread https://open.substack.com/chat/posts/3fd8e13a-82df-4882-aeea-3999e8f5781e?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=2bo
only way things will change is if, somehow, the gate numbers tank (unlikely) or “the bulls are embarrassing” press reaches a fever pitch (even less likely).
it’s the perfect storm of AK being inept and insulated. i genuinely think “act of god” is the only way it will change here. my list of suggestions for god: jerry dies; jerry gets ambassadorship in europe and dies; expansion team in chicago; “Donald Sterling”; michael reinsdorf reads The Secret; players union becomes so powerful under next CBA that jerry retires/sells/dies
like most evil billionaire ghouls filled with bile, jerry will of course live to be 500 years old.
Well, there was that Sam Amick video yesterday where he was pointing out that other execs around the league were outspoken about how terrible AKME are.
You can seem Amick, just like other guys when it comes up, doing the thing where they don't want to outright publicly trash guys, but it's consistent that in every report, the Bulls are considered inept and poorly run.
right but that probably won’t have critical mass, like every other “the bulls are rubes” report from the last decade—local media will continue to be nonexistent, national media will chuckle and shrug and continue to be apathetic
I love how Darnell also touted the value of the trade exception!
He also incorrectly inflated it. I think initially John Hollinger reported it was $24M but redid that to $17M
When is the last time they even used a trade exception to improve the trash?
I meant to type team but autocorrect changed it to trash and it seemed more appropriate.
Cavs rumored to be using LaVert for an upgrade. The target is DeAndre Hunter of the Hawks, Lonzo Ball is mentioned but only as a buyout option 😭
https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2025/02/cavaliers-hawks-have-discussed-hunter-levert.html#ref=home
I don't know what the Cavs want, really. I expect Ball is an upgrade over LaVert, LaVert is better at shot creation but nothing else, and the Cavs are already top offense in basketball with ability to stagger Mitchell and Garland as lead guard
Both are expiring. Cavs could throw in a rookie scale guy ("with experience" - AK voice) and unlike many contenders have a lot of 2nd rounders available
Sixers used 2 second rounders to totally duck the tax. But Bulls continue to think they're useless.
Bucks also drastically reduced their tax bill today
Filed under "Bulls could've done this"
https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2025/02/celtics-trading-jaden-springer-second-round-pick-to-rockets.html#ref=home
Another one, Pelicans dumping Daniel Theis and sending picks to....The fucking Thunder
The bulls made their obligatory 1 move for the season. Patted themselves on the back and went back into hibernation. Meanwhile Lakers see a ringing phone, pick it up, and are gifted Luka fucking Doncic for pennies on the dollar. I hate everything about this timeline
This Bucks thing for Kuzma is - I guess - about getting under the second apron so they can combine 'assets' to get stuff. I'd love to see the list of teams that are clamoring to grab Connaughton and Portis, but hey we grabbed Huerter and Collins for neutral / negative draft capital so everything's possible!
They also gained a 2025 2nd rounder
Bulls could get it and swap Connaughton for Bucks legend Jevon Carter (same contract length)
I think they like having Carter around, but Connaughton fits the 'blue collar look' they seem to be going for this year 😉
Pale Voltron is going to be amazing
Shams keeping hope alive, listing Vuc as the fallback option for the Warriors if they miss out on Durant.
what a consolation prize, lmao
I don't even think Vuc helps them on an objective level. Yes if it was just replacing Looney, but if they have to send out Payton too then it's less additive (and that's before going into assets and 2026 money)
Unfortunately also reporting that the Bulls asking price for Vuc is still too high.
Jonas Valenciunas to Kings. Seen as Vuc fallback option (though at half the money), now off the board.
By the way, Wizards now own 19 second round picks
On their way to a killer G-League team
Kangz gonna Kangz. WTF do they want with him?
Wizards running circles around AK, just packaged 4 2nd rounders for a 2026 first
It's insane to me that the Bulls would not jump on someone willing to trade for Lonzo lol. I'll admit that he has surprisingly not shattered into a million pieces yet but who knows how long that will last.