Celtics passed on Butler ... For less?

538's assessment of the Celtics-Cavs trade.

He [Danny Ainge] spent the last year targeting All-NBA wings Jimmy Butler and Paul George but declined to include premium assets such as the exact draft pick he just sent to Cleveland. Seeing him now pull the trigger on Irving, a very good player who isn’t quite Butler or George, makes for good meme fodder, sure. Butler and George both went for cheap, but both also went for packages that catered specifically to the teams dealing them (the Bulls) really like Kris Dunn, and new Pacer Victor Oladipo played his college ball at Indiana)

If Ainge had a time machine would he revisit not trading for Jimmy Butler given what he gave for Irving or is Jimmy's age and mileage too high?  Irving is younger.
I am also very curious about Kris Dunn playing for Hoiberg. There's a lot riding on this kid's development.

Don't Learn How To Lose.

A rebuilding team doesn't make national TV but this season is very important.  The Bulls can't afford to waste this year.

Here are the goals:
NBA - By coming in last in Summer Forecast, the Chicago Bulls are right where they want to be

The Bulls could learn a tanking lesson from the other professional sports team that Jerry Reinsdorf owns in town, the Chicago White Sox. They've competed hard in games while continuing to rack up losses. They've spent the year dealing away proven assets for prospects with possibly huge futures. Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg knows he's in for a challenging season, but he can rehabilitate his own image within the league if he can get this unproven group to play hard on a nightly basis even in defeat. As tough as the losses might be to stomach for players, coaches and fans, strengthening your ability to land players like Porter or Bagley is much more important than trying to earn more wins in another lost season.   

1. Establish play within a system  
2. Develop players within that system (1)   
3. Compete hard and consistently according to (1) and (2)   
4. Lose without compromising goals (1-3)

Failure is possible.  The rebuilding 1999+ Chicago Bulls lost so badly under Tim Floyd that inexperienced Vinny Del Negro accepted the job when Floyd was fired.  Minnesota went 14 years without a playoff appearance, racked up top picks and proceeded to go 31-51 under a top coach, Thibs.  He quickly traded that young potential for Jimmy Butler and spent his $$ signing familiar veterans. 

Rebuilding the Bulls has happen quickly.  The ideal is one year to land a top 1-5 pick and spend 2018 money on a top free agent.

2018 Draft Class

Weeks before the 2017 Preseason and it is already time to look ahead to the 2018 NBA draft.

The Bulls want to rebuild which means playing their young roster, keeping long term salary cap clear and resting injured players. 

Their reward is a team that competes hard, plays their coach's philosophy of BB and develops players all while losing 50+ games.  "Success" means they further develop their players, protect $ to sign a top free agent and get lucky to land a 1-5 draft pick in 2018.


The Bernstein Brief: Bulls Catch A Potential Break « CBS Chicago

(CBS)
That Bulls plan got a boost from the decision by Marvin Bagley III to accelerate his graduation from high school to hasten his ascent to college and the pros, reclassifying into the 2017 class to play this year for Duke.

[the] 2018 draft ... already includes potential stars like Missouri forward Michael Porter Jr., Texas center Mohamed Bamba, Slovenian swingman Luka Doncic and Arizona center DeAndre Ayton.

The Bulls’ odds of being in that group are strong — that’s the whole point of the exercise right now...

Here's to a season for a high draft pick and cap space.

Lauri Markkanen (Doug McDermott V2.0)

With the #7 Pick in the NBA draft, the Chicago Bulls select Lauri Markkanen from the U of Arizona Wildcats.

As I see it, the Bulls once again traded up to get a tall, high percentage perimeter shooter.  They did this very thing in 2014 selecting 6' 8" Doug McDermott #11.  I also see a bit of this shooting skill in the 2015 drafting of Bobby Portis, a 6' 11" PF from Arkansas at #22.

Now McDermott is gone via trade, never fulfilling expectations and subsequently a bust to most Chicago fans. The Bulls gave up mid-level draft picks to move up to select McDermott.  Bobby Portis is TBD. He has avoided the bust label but expectations are this 3rd year player should contribute on a rebuilding Bulls team.

Markkanen is not explosively athletic and there are indicative stats like blocks and steals per game that underwhelm.  Some criticize his physical limitations; shortish arm length, thin build and lack of explosiveness and they see a weak NBA defender.  Most players don't become stars so these are safe criticisms to levy at a 19 year old PF/C.  Odds are against any #7 pick.

He is, however, 7' and coordinated and, as a freshman, carried the Wildcats into the NCAA tournament.  With  a sports and basketball pedigree and good work habits he stands out.  It's reported Lauri as a 10 year old practiced 4 hours a day and to this day he always talks about basketball.

Markkanen was born into a family of athletes, but his drive and dedication are the main reasons why he has excelled in his freshman season with the Wildcats. -SI

His father is a pessimist, not at all like Lonzo Ball's Dad.  Father worries about injury and didn't want to celebrate until Lauri got drafted and even then he worries.

“I don’t know, we’ll see how it goes. I’m just hoping they find a team for Lauri that he gets an opportunity to play, not be a player from 8 to 12. He has to be the best seven or eight players so he has time to show what he is capable of. - Dad

The Bulls are a good fit.  They need outside shooting and will dole out minutes for rookie development and better odds to land a top 4 pick in the 2018 draft.

Today I'd rank Markkanen as the 4th option at center behind Lopez, Felicio and Portis and he is the 3rd option at PF, behind Mirotic and Portis.  Markkanen might play at SF which would rank him 3rd behind Holiday and Zipser.  The Bulls could play him at SF along side their defensive guards, Nwada and Dunn.

Chicago has a philosophy that depends on floor spacing and seeks a high percentage shooter that can't easily be blocked.  They wanted this from McDermott, and Mirotic.  Neither satisfy with McDermott gone and Mirotic in a RFA contract hold out wanting more money.  Now the Bulls expect this from Lauri Markkanen.  It's a reasonable expectation. If he meets it, then the Bulls hit on their draft.