Central projection (Aug 2005)

Last year

Central
Det.	42	23	.646	---
Clev.	34	30	.531	7 .5
BULLS	33	31	.516	8 .5
Indiana	33	32	.508	9
Mil.	27	38	.415	15

This year's forecast

1. Detroit
2. Bulls
3. Indiana
4. Cleveland
5. Milwaukee

Why? Let's work our way bottom to top.
Milwaukee has a new coach and rookie big-men always struggle.
Cleveland has shoot first Hughes and their resigned Center will have foot problems - yes I'm guessing.
Indiana is going to underperform - Artest is nuts and will blow up - again.
Bulls will fine tune last years team and their two big men will be playing for contracts/incentives.
Detroit - gotta respect them util you beat 'em!

Why Avery Johnson Signed Diop

Well, Avery Johnson, GM for Dallas, had a reason for signing Diop for three years , he thinks he did see something from Diop this summer.

Star-Telegram | 08/19/2005 | Mavs reboot with Christie, Diop signings: "However, Diop showed significant improvement in the summer league in Las Vegas, progress that got the attention of the Mavs.

'There were a lot of NBA players there, including [Indiana's] Jermaine O'Neal,' Diop said. 'We did a lot of drills, and a lot of one-on-one stuff, and I did pretty good.

'After that, Dallas started talking to me.'

As the price to sign Dale Davis increased, and as Philadelphia signed Steven Hunter, the Mavs' pursuit of Diop intensified.

'He had a real strong summer,' Johnson said. 'A couple of years ago, I probably wouldn't have done this deal.

'But he came in, I worked him out personally, I evaluated him personally, and he looks to be ready to make a move in his career right now.'
"

A Mav Player to Watch

A classmate's of Curry - selected 8th and did nothing for four years. From what I can tell - he's been lazy and lacked pride. He's one reason Jim Paxson was let go from Cleveland. Not getting any miutes nor making free throws is a sign of immaturity.

Well The Mavs wanted a Center and took a chance on the guy. I think it's a mistake - unlike K.Brown who signed with LA, this player never showed anything in the Pros - ever. If he can do something then he'll be a deal as useful NBA Centers average 8 million.

Keep an eye on the guy - Dallas saw something. Right?

Mavs get Diop for 3 years: "Center DeSagana Diop, who never came close to matching the expectations that caused former Cavaliers General Manager Jim Paxson to make him the eighth pick in the 2001 NBA Draft, will sign a three-year, $6.4 million free-agent contract with the Dallas Mavericks today.
...
Diop, 7-0 and 270 pounds, was bothered by injuries throughout his career. He averaged just 1.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and .8 blocked shots a game in 193 games over the past four seasons. ... Conditioning was a problem at the beginning of his career, but getting in better shape and learning more about the game did not translate into more minutes later in his career."

Kendall Gill is a mad man.

The Bulls signed Eddie Basden to fill their need for a tall SG but they could have resigned Kendall Gill. He's a fitness nut - the anti-Curry.

After Vargas wins, entourage rumbles: "'He's had no firm offers. But, hopefully, we'll get one. If [an NBA team is] willing to put their money on a determined, elitely conditioned, highly motivated athlete, they can.

'I'll tell you what, I have a list of two-guards up on my mirror that I look at every day,'' said Gill, who starred at Illinois before playing 14 seasons in the NBA. 'I'm going to look at them like they're my [boxing] opponent. I see all those guys with $90 million contracts and everything and I'm hungry. Just like I've gone out and [fought], I'm going to go out and get this.''"

UK sez "Deng's gonna be like Mike"

I forget that Deng is from the UK and he's known there and increasingly admired.

Scotsman.com Sport - Top Stories - Deng's gonna be like Mike: "Deng's inaugural campaign brought him sufficient plaudits to earn a spot on the NBA's All-Rookie First Team, an honour which provided some consolation for the wrist injury which brought his participation to a premature close and saw him miss the Bulls' first play-off run since the departure of Michael Jordan. 'I never had an injury like that before where I had to sit out for a while. My rehab is going well. I'm back to playing now, since about three weeks ago. It was a tough spell, the longest I've ever been away from the game.'

Perversely though, it has had its plus points. 'When I got hurt, I had to start using my left hand so now it's stronger than it was before and I'm a better player as a result,' he reveals. 'It's something I've been telling the kids about - how unbelievable the things that you can do are, if you just stop doing only what you're already good at.'

As a role model, Deng fits the bill perfectly. While Nike has hinted at raising his profile still further, he is certain to be recruited as one of the faces of London 2012. Potentially, the UK could field a team in seven years time which could hold its own among the world's best. The Scottish pair of Kieron Achara and Robert Archibald will then be in their primes, while another Brixton prodigy, seven foot teenager Eric Boateng, will succeed Deng at Duke next month and is certain to join him in the NBA."

ESPN.com - NBA - Warriors outlook

ESPN.com - NBA - Kreidler: Circus atmosphere out West: "The Warriors don't stink: At least, that's the popular thinking. With Chris Mullin calling the shots and former Stanford coach Mike Montgomery doing the X-and-O thing, Golden State came dangerously close last season to getting back into the thick of things in the West -- no mean feat when you consider that Phoenix and Seattle also seemed to come out of nowhere to grab newsprint in the same campaign. Now Mullin's gambling that the Baron Davis experiment can work long term, the W's have decided that scoring is a lot more fun than not scoring, and Oakland once again is becoming a place where other NBA teams aren't sure they want to stop. For the right reasons."

Grant gone

I haven't any expectation the Bulls can sign an amnesty player now that Grant's gone to Phoenix. The Suns are loading up.

If there was a chance, it might be junk yard dog Williams from the Knicks but I don't see them offering him a multi-year contract and he's not a outside scoring PF.

Tom Gugliotta is reported to be favored by Skiles from a previous coach/player relationship.

The team will have a competitive training camp - I think Chicago has earned a reputation for keeping and playing productive players regardless of their pedigree. They should attract players who feel they can succeed if given a fair shot. A problem is there are fewer open slots on this year's roster.

Bulls eye Grant to beef up at power forward

Bulls eye Grant to beef up at power forward: "According to an NBA source, Paxson and Bulls coach Scott Skiles contacted Grant shortly after the power forward was waived by the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday.

Grant, 33, is coming off the worst season of his 11-year NBA career -- he averaged 3.8 points and 3.7 rebounds while missing 13 games because of tendinitis in both knees -- but is exactly the kind of veteran big man the Bulls are looking to add."

Will any amnesty free agents play for Chicago ? The team has only 2.2 million to offer if they sign Chris Duhon.
What would Grant gain by playing for Chicago? It's a top sports market; a team good enough for the playoffs but eliminated in round one; team with a controversial coach (albeit less so since he turned this team around); a player who's a good citizen and undoubted likes a structured, no nonsense environment.

BTW, Rumors said Finley would be released and play for Miami.

Bulls & Duhon

Bulls: "
Bulls general manager John Paxson's initial offer to Duhon was for three years in the $6 million range, but he said Monday he was 'highly likely' to match the Raptors' offer without divulging the terms.

Toronto GM Rob Babcock acknowledged the probability of Paxson matching the offer.

'If I had to guess, I'd guess they would probably match,' he told the Star. 'We understand there's a likelihood they'll match, but there's a little chance they might not. You have to be aggressive and see what happens.'
"

Hat's off to Babcock for trying. He's forcing Paxson to spend a significant portion of the mid-level exception salary on Duhon.

TheStar.com - Raps want Duhon

Toronto made a move for Bulls PG Chris Duhon. The Raptors are probably tapped out at 2.5 million so the Bulls will match their offer and keep Duhon. If Chris developed an outside shot this off-season, he'll be worth every penny.

TheStar.com - Raps want Duhon: "Rob Babcock has identified a free agent he wants but it appears he won't get him.

The Raptors general manager, according to several NBA sources, has made an offer to sign Chicago's restricted free agent point guard Chris Duhon, but the Bulls seem ready to match it.
...
There were no specifics available but given Toronto's obligations, it's likely to have been less than $2.5 million (all figures U.S.) to start. The Bulls had offered him about $2 million in their original negotiations, according to published reports.

Duhon is coming off a solid rookie season in which he started 73 of 82 regular-season games and five of six playoff games. The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder averaged 5.9 points and 4.9 assists as a rookie with Chicago."

Toronto GM Babcock has criticized for over paying marginal talent. I'm not as skeptial as others about the roster Toronto GM Babcock has assembled. His 1st round pick last year - a Center - was a bust. It is not clear that the lumbering player will get that much better - ever. This year's pick however is athletic but seemingly redundant with PF Chris Bosh and many thought he reached down into the draft. The player will play a mix of Center and PF and it's reckless to trade down to get the player he felt he needed. Get what you want and not try to second guess other GMs in the increasingly unpredictable draft.

Forum: GS 'can' win Pacific, 2nd place up for grabs.

Forum: "
A[nswer].
Can the Warriors win the Pacific? Of course. But they'll have to win on the road. I still think Phoenix is the best team in the Division, but second is up for grabs. For the first time in a long time, the Warriors are in the mix.

Marcus Thompson 8/05/05"

So much rests on Baron Davis and the improvement of 2nd year coach Mike Montgomery. The Warriors don't have a proven coach like the Bulls' Scott Skiles. Monty is a college coach who, in his first year, has made mistakes with his line-ups and misused his bench.

The Warriors finished 18-8 with Davis, a promising ending to a long season.

Inside Bay Area - Mullin and his "mistake" Fisher

It's been called one of the ten worse free agent signings in the NBA - ever. It ranks at #10 and it is Warrior's GM Chris Mullin signing PG Derek Fisher and Center Adonel Foyle to large, long term contracts. Well look at this, Fisher is wanted by a lot of teams and they are hoping the Warriors will release him under the amnesty rule because the conventional wisdom was/is that Fisher is overpaid.

Maybe the contracted Mullin offered was not that bad.

The argument against Fisher's contract is the length and amount. He'll cost the team salary in the later years of this long contract (Foyle too) but not be as productive. One factor for Mullin's decision is that both guys were courted by other teams and both guys are outstanding, and coachable characters.

Maybe in the later part of the contract, paying an older Derek Fisher seven plus million to play backup point guard and spot-up shooter is too much. It is becoming clear that the Warriors have a gem today and Fisher is wanted by teams looking to win a title, not just make the playoffs.

If signing Fisher stopped the cancer in the locker room and helped turn this team into a hardworking unit, then the pissing and moaning about the future burden of Fisher's contract is short sighted thinking.

Inside Bay Area - Sports: "Releasing Fisher and the $31.9 million he's due over the next five seasons would allow the Warriors to sign a significant free agent this summer. So the question becomes: Is there one out there that warrants throwing away that kind of money? The answer is no.

First off, understand if the Warriors were to lose Fisher, they'd be sacrificing not only their best catch-and-shoot perimeter marksman but also their chief insurance policy should Baron Davis get hurt.

Without question, Mullin immediately would have to replace Fisher with ... well, another Fisher. Preferably an upgraded model.

The only player who's close to qualifying among the available free agents is Memphis guard Earl Watson, a very popular commodity on the market right now.

It would cost the Warriors about $29 million to get the former UCLA standout, which in essence would be $60 million when you factor in the amount owed Fisher.

Watson isn't worth that kind of money. Neither is Gary Payton, Latrell Sprewell or Nick Van Exel — other big-name free agents.

Shaquille O'Neal wants Fisher in Miami. Phil Jackson needs him back in Los Angeles.

Sorry, guys. This isn't the 'charity'"

Bulls Roster Changes

Hmmm.

Out of the running

It's no surprise former Illinois star Frank Williams will not return to the Bulls next season. Bulls staff members were dissatisfied with Williams' effort in his one season here. Ex-Iowa center Jared Reiner also will not return.

Frank Williams is not a surprise. He came to the preseason camp out of shape. SG Eddie Basden will take Williams' place.

I was curious about Jared Reiner. He was a dark horse last year - possibly he made the team given Chandler and Curry were such unknowns. The Bulls will entertain a different big man and may think their strong showing last season means Chicago can attract a better, veteran player for 2005-06.

Malik Allen, Michael Finley, Tom Gugliotta and Toni Kukoc all have piqued Paxson's interest, according to a source. While Finley, once a star at Proviso East, is probably the most attractive, he also may be the hardest to get because several teams are expected to pursue him.

Finley will be available assuming Dallas releases him under a new stipulation in the collective bargaining agreement that does not include the player's salary in the team's luxury tax.

Finley is a loooooong shot - Dallas will probably not release him fearing he will play for the rival Suns. If released, he probably will want to play for a sure thing, not a rebuilding team like Chicago.

Kukoc is the most popular of the remaining names but he might be as useful an aged Scottie Pippen - not that useful at all. He is a smart player, a good passer but often injured.

IMHO Gugliotta is too old and hampered by past inhuries. I don't know if he can shoot well but he played for GSW and didn't impress me (yet who does while at GS?).

Allen is probably the more likely candidate Paxson is looking at since he's the least known of the former and is thus is not mentioned to show respect to a veteran player or for making points with an player's agent. Public flattery can help make an agent look good and in turn he'll help the team when he can.

IMHO, Finley would do well as an "NBA personality" playing for Da Bulls. He'd be a fan favorite and credited with putting Chicago over the top if they did well in the playoffs. Given Chicago is a deep team, he'd also get reduced minutes but play at critical times. Dallas wouldn't have to face him in the playoffs unless both teams made the finals.

Is Finley necessary?

Yes!

Playing Gordon (SG) and Finley (SF) would make a small back court but with Hinrich at PG it would place three high scoring perimeter players on the floor and open up the paint for Chandler and Davis (or Curry). Starting Hinrich and Finley as guards, Loul Deng would be at SF and Curry at Center.

So what about the PF position?

The PF position is still open. Chandler is best used off the bench and so is high energy Nocioni. Da Bulls currrent PFs are short 6-9 Harrington, bean-pole Chandler, Agressive-but-undersized Nocioni and possibly slow-but-steady A.Davis. Possible additions for the Bulls are 6-9 Mario Austin, free agent Allen (see above) or a TBD veteran.

The PF position is still the most interesting aspect for this team.

Da Bulls roster dynamics in mid-July

A good summary of the Free Agents from the Bulls 2005 roster.

Backup point guards C.Duhon is starting his 2nd year out of Duke.  J.Pargo is a Chicagoian and a few years out of school who played in the NBDL and stuck with Chicago when Skiles was hire late in the 2004 season and shuffled the roster to add hungry NBDL players who would hustle in pratice. Pargo is a scorer, Duhon plays good team defense in Skiles' system. 

One of Chris Duhon's representatives insists the two sides are close to agreement on a deal worth about $6 million for three years. But first, Duhon's camp wants to make sure no other team is willing to offer more. The first-year point guard was expecting to visit Orlando this week.

Jannero Pargo is the Bulls' fourth restricted free agent and he's getting feelers from the Lakers, among other teams.

Griffin is a SF and a mid-career veteran who works hard and plays smart.  He has heart than talent and he's stuck in the NBA by working 100%.  Harrington is an older, undersized PF from the Knicks who played well for Skiles and has an outside shot. He and Griffin want to come back. Skiles plays his bench and keeps them in the game if they are producing.

The two unrestricted free agents the Bulls plan to bring back are Othella Harrington and Adrian Griffin. The two veterans will most likely have to wait until Curry, Chandler and Duhon's deals are settled.

Basden is a 6-5 SG senior who plays defense, passes well and scored 15 ppg in the summer league. I never heard much about Pasalic.  Basden is probably going to be a good defensive player who will let Hinrich play and defend the PG position.

The only free agents the Bulls are seriously pursuing are undrafted rookies. Guard Eddie Basden should sign later this week and the Bulls were also impressed with 6-11 Drago Pasalic, a 21-year-old Croatian, during the Las Vegas summer league.

Chandler and Curry will be courted by the Hawks.  If they want too much and Atlanta offers it then I say let them go and play for a loser team in a city that could care less about BB. 

Monta

GSW rookie and 42nd draft pick Monta is getting complemented by other coaches/GMs. He is playing hard and getting noticed. He's defending, scoring and one GM said 'is playing with heart' and is unselfish.

At 6-3 he's a well sized PG and is quick enough to get off his own shot. Monta is skinny and young but he's shown toughness on defense.

Watch for him in the spring as a backap to Davis and Fisher.

Monta

GSW rookie and 42nd draft pick Monta is getting complemented by other coaches/GMs. He is playing hard and getting noticed. He's defending, scoring and one GM said 'is playing with heart' and is unselfish.

At 6-3 he's a well sized PG and is quick enough to get off his own shot. Monta is skinny and young but he's shown toughness on defense.

Watch for him in the spring as a backap to Davis and Fisher.

Monta

GSW rookie and 42nd draft pick Monta is getting complemented by other coaches/GMs. He is playing hard and getting noticed. He's defending, scoring and one GM said 'is playing with heart' and is unselfish.

At 6-3 he's a well sized PG and is quick enough to get off his own shot. Monta is skinny and young but he's shown toughness on defense.

Watch for him in the spring as a backap to Davis and Fisher.

Hawks' interest in Curry seems genuine

Hawks' interest in Curry seems genuine: "Curry's agent, Leon Rose, is hoping to get a multiyear deal paying Curry between $8 million and $10 million a year.

What is uncertain is whether Knight at least put in an opening bid while Bulls operations chief John Paxson apparently is waiting to make sure Curry's heart is insured."

I've read that 8 million a year is about the average salary for a starting NBA center. If Curry's agent will take 8 million then I say pay it. Currys an asset given his playful personality and at times he can be unstoppable. You have to ignore the past when setting value with a kid like Eddie and look to the future. Eddie is going to be an efficient scoring center who can't rebound and doesn't finish games. He probably will get better than this bu thow much is unclear and he will have his downsides. That's an 8 million dollar man - no more. Pair him with a defesive powerforward and keep a serviceable backup center and you'll have a good front line up.

GSW Summary

Several articles in the Bay Area papers carry encouraging news for the GWS 2005-06 season. 

1. Young Vets: The restricted free agent signings of PF T.Murphy and SG J.Richardson were criticized in 2004 as costly but in 2005's market place they now look like bargains.  Reporters have acknowledge they were wrong!  As free agents both would command millions more than they got in last year's contracts. 
   
2. All Rookies: All three GSW rookies are playing well in the summer league.  Mullin says he has lectured each that they are responsible for their own success and emphasized hard work as key for them doing well.  So far he's pleased with what he has seen.  
   
3. 2nd rounders: Mullin noted that he vastly underestimate SG/PG Monta Ellis' skills.  This high schooler was selected 2nd by GSW (42nd pick overall) and is considered raw and a only shooter but so far he has played good team defense and shows mature PG skills.  Note that Mullin expected so much of Monta that he was selected over PF C.Taft who himself was a previous top 1st round PF who slid badly on draft day and was picked with the Warriors 3rd draft pick. C.Taft has played very well - he's strong and has a smooth shot. He looks and plays motivated. He also just hurt his lower back - oof.
   
4. Ike:  The 1st round rookie is playing well as expected. 
   
5. Euros: PF A.Biedrins and PF/SF Z.Cabarkapa are both 6-11 and skinny.  A.Biedrins was last year's #11 pick and is very young but shows some defense skills and aggression on the boards.  Z.Cabarakapa is a 2 year player who needs cut down on turnovers and can play PF but would rather fill in behind SF M.Dunleavy. Both guys are being squeezed by the vets ahead of them and the rookies behind them.  They fell it and it's good both are playing in the summer league.
   

ChicagoSports.com: Bulls' Curry, Hawks to talk

Sure, we need a big, scoring Center but part of me wants Eddie to move to Hot-lanta for money and continue to lose basketball games. He's got a great chance to be a poster boy for losing. Somehow, after losing a few seasons, Thomas would trade from him.

ChicagoSports.com: Bulls' Curry, Hawks to talk: "Eddy Curry has scheduled a visit to Atlanta for Monday-Tuesday, making his first official move in the free-agent market.

The Hawks, who are aggressively pursuing a big man, have close to $20 million of salary-cap room.

Contacted about the visit Saturday, Curry said his first preference remains to stay with the Bulls but that his interest in Atlanta is genuine."