Draft Comments

The draft is over but the new financial year (and trades) being July 1 and while teams and free agents can talk, signings must wait until July 12.

Contrast two teams: Chicago added two defensive forwards and a tall, defensive guard. Golden State added two young 7'0"+ Centers.

GSW will have to move one or more front court players given they have far too many to use but I don't see Chicago in the same situation. The Bulls can opt to not resign a few players - Harrington (PF) is a veteran but is aging and optional. Eddie Basden (G) and Livingston (F) are gone. These are three players the Bulls can cut to absorb their three new players. GSW will need to move some of their stockpiled talent at PF/C. They have too much invested in their players (or long term $$ contracts) to cut anyone without getting value for the player. GSW will be active in trade talks.

Free agent candidates for the Bulls are Darius Songalia (PF) (He elected to be a free agent but will be a re-sign priority) and Nazr M. or Joel P. (C) are priorities *if* they are not over-valued by other suitors. Paxson will not panic and over-bid for a player. GSW GM, Chirs Mullin already did panic last year -- he overbid to get Derek Fisher (PG) and overpaid to resign Foyle (C).

Draft: My Secret Admirer

Secret Admirer: Is Paxson hiding his interest in Bargnani? Say Toronto is thinking of trading down to pick him at #4 or #5 -- maybe Paxson is psyching out Colangelo. All this attention to Thomas and Aldridge maybe a smoke screen.
From the http://www.dailyherald.com:

No Berto for Bargnani: The Bulls will not be hosting Italy’s Andrea Bargnani at the Berto Center before the draft, even though his season ended Tuesday with Benetton Treviso winning the Italian league championship.

“My understanding is he’s going to New York to get a physical this weekend and if teams would like to see him, they can go and talk to him,” John Paxson said.

Paxson went on to say he doesn’t think he needs any more time with the 7-foot Bargnani, who averaged 11.6 points for Benetton during the Italian league regular season.

“I went over in January and saw him practice a couple times, saw him play a couple times,” Paxson said. “Just recently, (European scout) Ivica Dukan and (assistant coach) Ron Adams were over there for the Treviso big man camp and they spent some time with him. We feel very comfortable in knowing what we need to know about him.”

I have a hard time believing the Bulls will pick a project with the #16 but they do have cap space and Paxson has to think long term, and not only re-tool for the season. Here’s a project that isn’t capably of playing yet but could probably swat some NBA shots right away.

Bulls eye tall project: One player who has received some attention in the prelude to the NBA draft is Saer Sene, a 7-foot center from Senegal. His wingspan was measured at 7-8¨ at the Orlando predraft camp, with a standing reach of 9-5.
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“We had him in and he’s a really intriguing kid,” John Paxson said. “I have confidence in our staff that we have the setup and the ability to help players become better.

“Those type of deals are a bit of a roll of the dice. But I know this for a fact: In the three years I’ve been here, there hasn’t been a kid walk through these doors that has the length that that kid has. So you have to look at it.”

Again, any team interested in Saer is going to leapfrog the Bulls at #16 *if* Paxson telegraphs his interest. Paxson is not telegraphing his preferences to anyone.

This upside-down draft and the following trades this summer will be very interesting.

NBA Draft 2006

NBA Draft 2006

Chicago Bulls will use both their #2 and #16 picks. Guessing who they pick is a crapshoot.

Their ideal #2 would be PF/C Aldridge over PF/SF Thomas but there’s an outside chance of Paxson picking SG Roy, or SF/PF Bargnani. Paxson has to keep his priorities secret or someone could trade up to #1 and get the player he’s targeting.

At #16 there’s no telling who will be available. Someone is going to fall and someone they need will be available. I say Paxson picks the best player available – the best asset. He can trade assets at a later date and if no favorable trade happens before the season, well Coach Skiles does use players with a deep rotation. All things being somewhat predicable, the Bulls will select the best two front court players available. Why? It's easier to trade a "big" for a "small". A promising, decent front court player is a better asset. John Paxson manages assets.

Paxson would avoid selecting a "project" player at #16 unless he demonstrated one NBA level skill, has a huge upside and drew a lot of interest.