Trades

CNNSI graded the February trades, including the Bulls trades with Charlotte and Milwaukee.  It's not surprising the Bulls were labeled LOSERS.

I like the trades but the failing grade is to be expected,  the Bulls franchise has been heavily, and often unreasonably criticized.  It started when the GM didn't over pay for top scoring Ben Gorden, and the owner allegly scaring away coach DiAntoni, with his focus on defense.  Signing unexperienced Vinny Del Negro as a coach seemed to be the final blow to fans and the media.  

With the trade, Chicago cleared enough cap space to sign a max free agent, their GM's goal, and they kept their starting line up, something a coach has got to love.  In trading away Thomas and Salmons, the Bulls received comprable players, Warrick and Murray. Thomas also netted Charlotte's first round pick while dumping Salmons salary cost two 2nd round picks.

Chicago is strong enough to make a playoff run but they traded with eastern "rivals" also fighting for a playoff spot.  Every team got better. Salmons can start for Milwaukee which needed a SG, and Thomas is more than athletic enough to team with SG Jackson and SF/PF Wallace.  Charlotte can be very good and *if* Thomas improves his game.

Milwaukee, Chicago, Charlotte and Miami are four teams within 2.5 games of each other and competing for the three lower playoff spots.  Add Toronto, only 2 games ahead of the Bulls, and that's 4.5 game separating 5 teams competing for 4 slots.   Clearly Chicago took a step back letting Salmons and Thomas go but if Murray and Warrick can fill in, they'll make that step up.

Last night, in the win over Minnesota, VDN played Warrick and Murray.  Welcome to the team and the playoff hunt.

The Next 4; LAC, PHI, ATL and MIA

Bulls face the LAC and @PHI back to back.
Then there is a day off followed by another back-to-back @ATL and MIA at home.

A sweep would be outstanding.  More likely the ATL game is the one they'll lose.  The MIA Heat at home might be difficult but the home crowd should get the Bulls excited.

LAC are beatable and since the Bulls lost to these guys recently, I expect it's a game Chicago will not look past.  No let down or surprise, Bulls are going for a blow out.  That would help with PHI the next day.

PHI is team that's having problems and would like to beat Chicago to make a statement.  Since it's a 2nd game in as many days and a road game. PHI is going to a test of the Bulls focus.  If Chicago can blow out the LAC, then the team rests their starters for the PHI game.

The rest day would be welcome.  Then to Atlanta for a tough game against a team looking to make a statement, they're #4 seed and the Bulls a likely 5th seed.  This would be a game to set the table for the playoffs.  ATL wants to tell the Bulls to forgetaboutit.

MIA at home is one of those games where we want to get some distance between them for the 5th seed. For Wade, it's a chance to see what a real home court advantage would look like.

Mid-point 2009-2010 predictions.

At the mid-point, here are the eastern standings.
Eastern Conference Team
  1. Cleveland -
  2. Orlando 5.5
  3. Atlanta 6.5
  4. Boston 7.0
  5. Toronto 11.5
  6. Charlotte 12.5
  7. Chicago 13.0
  8. Miami 13.0

  9. Milwaukee 16.0
 10. New York 18.5
 11. Washington 20.5
 12. Philadelphia 21.0
 13. Indiana 21.5
 14. Detroit 21.5
 15. New Jersey 32.5

The four lower tier playoff teams will consist of ...

• The Larry Brown coached Charlotte with StackJack.  They're improved since the trade and Brown's a demanding coach who will keep the team together.
• Miami, with Beasley, O'Neal and Wade.  They have enough talent and star power to close out strong.  If Wade gets hurt, it's all over.
• Toronto,  with Bosh this team has done well enough to stay near the top of the lower half most of the season.  
• Chicago, Rose is a recognized all-star, Noah will become one with a solid playoff run this spring.  Taj is enough of an addition in the post to get this team over .500 and make up for pouting Tyrus Thomas.

Of course there will be trades and all bets are off if any key player is moved.

Hack Job

Why is this a hack job?

The invective ...

Del Negro, who stumbled upon a winning formula as the 8th seed in last year's playoffs (go small and run, run, run!), spent most of his first season rolling out head-scratching lineups and poorly-drawn plays that made Don Nelson look like he wasn't daydreaming about scotch. Most coaches progress year after year, but Del Negro has mirrored his team (or perhaps the team has mirrored their soon-to-be-fired coach) in taking a clumsy step backward. 

As a sidenote, VDN's hair certainly isn't helping the situation either. 

And Del Negro knows it. He's been feisty with the media who have suggested that his leash is pretty much at the last link right now. After stories haphazardly leaked on ESPN that Del Negro had been fired, he was quoted as saying the reports were "just funny." He's also lashed out in his own defense at the media in weeks prior, showing both his immaturity with the media and the complete lack of leadership at the club right now. That cuts to the core of the problem: Confidence

Re-read this and then ask yourself, exactly who lacks confidence?

The guy's eventual point?  Bulls should trade Loul Deng for Stoudemire, then,if it doesn't work out Stoudemire can walk away leaving salary cap space.

Stoudemire's contract expires at the end of the season as well, so if the experiment works, he's already in a big free agent market, on a rising team, in an easier conference, dramatically increasing the likelihood of him re-signing. 

Stoudemire's been available for two years on a struggling team, yeah he's worth Deng.

Nice Surprises

It's far enough in the 2009-2010 season to evaluate the current NBA rookie class.   According to an NBA scout, the Bulls got lucky.

Taj Gibson, Bulls."A large percentage of his points is off putbacks, which makes him a good blend guy. He's not a particularly good jump shooter and he's not going to be a household name, but he's a guy who's going to give you spirited minutes."

So maybe Taj works on his jump shot this summer.

Bulls 2010

Posting real soon now.

Jackson calls out Pierce

It's not just Phil.

Jackson questions Pierce's injury -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

BOSTONCHICAGO - Paul Pierce's dramatic return was compelling theater, one of those defining, Willis Reed-type moments.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who had front-row seats at both events, wasn't so impressed.

"If I'm not mistaken," a cynic and sarcastic Jackson said Friday, "I think Willis Reed missed a whole half and three quarters almost of a game and literally had to have a shot, a horse shot, three or four of them in his thigh to come back out and play. Paul got carried off and was back on his feet in a minute."

Nate Thurmond and Sidney Moncrief were on TV and made the same observation. Both thought Pierce's injury was high drama. You get hurt, you go to the bench. When you go to the locker room, you'd better be out.

Bulls *still* looking for New Coach.

This search is getting old.

Casey could push Collins aside for Bulls job

With a strong second interview this week, former Minnesota coach Dwane Casey may have jumped ahead of Doug Collins for consideration to become next head coach of the Bulls.

Tales of Two Cities

Ben Wallace is a Bull (real soon now) and whether this intra-division move is good or bad depends on how you measure value.

Detroit offered 48 M and the Bulls something like 60 M. Chicago won. Detroit did not budge on their offer.

Detroit says the Bulls overpaid for an aging and waning player. They'll retool knowing the NBA rules favor perimeter shooters, athletic slashers and pogo stick post players.

Chicago now has the tough center they needed to establish a post game and anchor their defense. They'll make a run at the title now, no more rebuilding or waiting.

Who is right?

We'll find out -- but remember this: Chicago blew up the aging Bulls championship team and retooled and drafted and retooled and drafted. It was a disaster. Why? They lost players who defined the team's tough character and it took three coaches and new GM to bring back the work ethic by assembling the right kind of players.

Chicago has that new NBA style team with slashing players, outside shooting and ball movement yet this modern style NBA team sought out old-school Ben Wallace.

Do not pAnIc!!!!

I think teams get close to being good or great and they identify a free agent who will make or break them. The guy is good and fills a need but multiple teams want him. A bidding war begins and the winner overpays; loaded with a large, long term contract. The team gets better but never best. After a few frustrating playoff losses, they blow up the team and start over.

It all beings with some needed piece and the GM panics.

John Paxson, Don't panic!

If the Bulls are eager to sign Joel Przybilla, they need to move quickly.
[...]
Przybilla ranks high on the Bulls' wish list. The Blazers want to
re-sign Przybilla but can offer him only the midlevel exception of
about $5 million because they are above the salary cap.

Show your respect

Free agency has begun. The Bulls will contact each available free agent in sequence, not according to priorities, but following the status of each professional player and his agent. Ben Wallace is the best big man available and then Harrington. Their Agents are under pressure to deliver so Paxson's call means he recognizes talent is available and the Agent has gotten the Bulls to show interest. Detroit's Ben Wallace may never sign elsewhere but there was interest in signing him from some top teams with available money. Someday his Agent will do Chicago a favor in return.

Source: Bulls targeting Wallace as top priority

A source close to the Bulls said the team has targeted Detroit big man Ben Wallace, 32, as its top priority. Wallace, an unrestricted free agent, was expected to be a lock to remain with the Pistons until he and coach Flip Saunders had a late-season falling out.

If the Bulls are unable to land Wallace, Atlanta forward Al Harrington (unrestricted) and Seattle power forward Chris Wilcox (restricted), 23, are next on the Bulls' list of front-court free agents.

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.
….
“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.

Two New Bigs

We have two new bigs - Allen is 6-10 and Songaila and Harrington are 6-8.

ChicagoSports.com - Curry's role may fade: "
The team's long-term concerns about Curry and, to a lesser extent, the aging body of the soon-to-be 37-year-old Antonio Davis, were tackled with the off-season signings of Malik Allen and Darius Songaila and the re-signing of Othella Harrington."
...
"Davis did a nice job of it, making the 15-footer," coach Scott Skiles said last week. "We'll have big guys who can spread the floor. Hopefully, our perimeter game will be much improved. People will have to honor those guys more."

Knicks want Curry - Let 'em go

Let him go.

I sincerely think he's ill and worse - lazy and immature. Will he change? Someday, but the Knicks have former Bull Jamal Crawford and he's still shooting poorly and is questionable as a PG. We'll see what Larry Brown does with him.

ChicagoSports.com - Knicks continue to pursue Curry: "Curry has until 11:59 p.m. Monday to accept the Bulls' offer of $5.14 million for the upcoming season, preparations for which open Tuesday with the start of training camp workouts. Originally, the cutoff date for qualifying offers was Saturday, but it was changed to coincide with a weekday. The Bulls can extend the deadline further at their discretion.

A source close to the negotiations said the Knicks still are offering to send Tim Thomas and Michael Sweetney, which is unsatisfactory to Bulls general manager John Paxson. Contracts for Thomas and Sweetney, valued this season at $13.5 million and $2.1 million, respectively, expire next spring. Paxson is said to be seeking a draft pick.

It seems unlikely that the parties will reach an agreement."

Golden State signed 7-foot-1-inch center Deji Akindele of Chicago State.

Never heard of him.

ChicagoSports.com - Pargo accepts Bulls deal: "- Golden State signed 7-foot-1-inch center Deji Akindele of Chicago State. Last season as a sophomore he averaged 12.0 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.5 blocks and was Mid-Continent Conference defensive player of the year."

Attorney: Curry won't take DNA test

It's war.
Curry is going to walk next year - so his lawyer sez.
Eddie should take the DNA test but his belief is the test is not reliable.
No test is.

Eddie isn't sure he has a heart condition.
He isn't sure he doesn't have one
Eddie wants a contract based on his potential, and assuming he is healthy.
He should accept the risk of illness himself and have a clause in his contract .
Eddie wants a full contract and if his heart is bad - he wants to keep all the money and effectively ruin a franchise for the duration of his contract.
Eddie needs to accept respoinsibility for his health.
Eddie should take the test or retire.

ChicagoSports.com - Attorney: Curry won't take DNA test: "

Paxson fell short of saying the Bulls will refuse to play Curry if he doesn't agree to be tested, but that's the direction the team appears ready to take, even though they have no intention of voiding his contract.

'We don't plan on failing him if he doesn't take it,' Paxson said. 'But I'm telling you that it's going to be very difficult for us to put him on the floor if he doesn't take it.'

If nothing else, Milstein offered clarity on Curry's future in the long term.

'The bottom line is that Eddy Curry will be playing for the Bulls this season and then for someone else,' he said."

Finally, Songaila signs with Bulls

What a favor!

Finally, Songaila signs with Bulls: Give an assist to the Sacramento Kings for helping the Bulls land forward Darius Songaila, who signed a two-year contract Thursday that will pay him $2.2 million this season.
...
"Closing the deal proved to be as complicated as agent Mark Bartelstein originally anticipated. Songaila was a restricted free agent, which gave the Kings -- who had their own salary-cap issues -- the right to match any offer sheet tendered to the 6-9, 248-pounder.

'We got Sacramento to rescind their qualifying offer, which made him unrestricted,'' Bartelstein said. 'It's kind of an unusual maneuver in this business. But [Kings operations chief] Geoff Petrie and I have a really good relationship, and Darius was really highly sought after. The first day of free agency, we probably had 15 teams that wanted to get him.''

Had Songaila been unrestricted from the start of free agency, Bartelstein suggested his client could have commanded a five-year deal worth up to $35 million."

Curry and the GS Warriors

I guess internal talks means talks within the GSW organization, around a table, with coffee and donuts but not making any follow-up phone calls or inquiries.

Finally, Songaila signs with Bulls: "NOTES: The Contra Costa Times reported that the Golden State Warriors have had 'internal'' talks concerning Bulls restricted free-agent center Eddy Curry, whose options have been limited by the heart troubles that sidelined him late last season.

Bulls GM John Paxson, however, said there was nothing new to report concerning Curry, who is expected to sign the Bulls' one-year, $5.14 million qualifying offer by the league's Oct. 1 deadline. Curry then would become an unrestricted free agent after the season."