Chisoxfn

Foles is a real bad starter - but as a backup - he is 100 percent okay. In fact, I would say he is a top quartile backup qb. He can step in for your above avg qb (who got hurt) and win you a game or two and keep the team afloat while you wait for the guy to get healthy. As a starter - below average, but I think there are teams who may grade him slightly better than that who discount his time with Jags (injured) and Bears (putrid oline, no real offseason) because they think in right system with protection he becomes a serviceable starter. I would say those people are wrong but I also think there are a few teams that might get desperate and convince themselves if injuries happen.

So take this for what it is worth - but someone that apparently has some sort of insider connection implied Bulls might be trying to get Siakam to play the 4. I have no idea what for - presume it would be Coby and/or Williams plus whatever other contracts needed (or maybe it would be Lauri plus some of those). I assume not happening - but figured I'd post.

Cease was nasty - nice job blowing it open later on. Excellent win! Lets do it again tomorrow!!!

Wowza. And most people on this board say he is a 5th starter hahaha. The crazy part is - he has taken a huge step forward this year, but he is still nowhere near what his peak could look like if he harnessed all his talent. Fantastic start and hell of a 6th inning. That was just nasty.

That means he should be in the booth at some point tomorrow.

Dylan - That was a straight up nasty sequence to start the 6th. Filthy

It is an overpay - but the way I see it - in the NBA - when you give a 3 year deal - you really are giving a 2 year deal - because the final year is always valuable as an expiring that can be leveraged to facilitate deals. The money was definitely too much - but I don't see the Bulls doing anything other than operate as an over the cap team the next few years and their blue print is to leverage existing pieces and potential picks to go get stars (presuming this pans out and they are a good team). So given the term the money probably isn't a huge deal (and if anything maybe paying a bit more here is purposeful because they figure Derozan is one of the pieces they will move in 1-2 years along with other younger chips (or picks) to parlay into a S&T (and/or mid-season move for a better, ideally star player). In a year - even without cap space - if there is a star player who wants to come to join the Bulls - they will be able to operate, just like they did this year as an over the cap team, and orchestrate FA sign and trades for whatever star (if one is there) who wants to join the Bulls. I think the part people are downplaying is how Derozan the facilitator will help the bench unit out - because at this point you can run a variety of units and really shift the makeup of the team. I feel like Donovan will have a lot of options and defenses will have to really play defense against this offense (after years of basically Lavine and a bunch of chuckers).

Lavine, White and Lauri (for now) only remaining players currently on roster from the Gar/Pax era.

What an offseason - man. I know they got a few more things to do - but I used to have to squint and hope that White and Williams really panned out to be a playoff team or anything better than a 7 or 8 and now they are a 4/5 and if those two take legit steps forwards - you are talking about them being a potential contender. I take all the mean things I said a week ago about this front office back. They have shown me with absolute clarity they have a real strategy / plan and I'm sure we'll see a few more nice moves over next few days (but obviously nothing as dynamic as Ball/Demar).

They are finally playing chess while other front offices are playing checkers. So refreshing and I finally can appreciate why other teams (see the Heat, Lakers and Clippers in more recent years) have always found a way.

Nope - 2 FRP; They got this most recent one and now the 2023 one (unless it falls within the protections). I guess the bright side is - with the Bulls stinking this year they got one of the picks out of the way haha.

It is all about getting the team better and better - so when a star is ready to leave and jump ship - you are on the short list and can actually go out and get said player. It is really that simple (and obviously in meantime you hope PWilliams / other young players make steps forward and that you draft well etc).

The interesting thing is Thad and Vuc didn't play very well together. Thad needs to be in the paint so off the bench he's good and he's obviously a solid vet...but with Vuc getting as many minutes as he is - the two just aren't great fits. Reality is Lauri is a better fit because both can play in space and Lauri has a bit more size that can help defensively (one underrated trend from Lauri is he has significantly improved his D). That said - we know Lauri has his flaws too - most notably his ability to stay on the court.

I think if you are a 4 or 5 seed - that is 100% okay - because the strategy isn't just to roll with this group for the next 5 years - it is to constantly look at upgrading it. But being a good team is going to make it a lot easier for someone to say - hey I want to go there and at this point - I've seen real creativity out of the front office that makes me think if Harden were on the block this year - they'd figure out a way with this roster to trade various pieces to get Harden. The Harden was more of an example - but just pick your disgruntled star. If the Bulls are on the short list - I think this front office will figure out a way to do it - and than turn this 4/5 seed type of team into a 1/2 seed type of team. And rinse and repeat and just keep doing it. Kind of has a Darryl Morey type of vibe to it.

Very true on your last point - but I also think from a depth perspective - say someone is hurt - this team has so much more depth and quality than previous Bulls teams.

IF this is a disaster - than if people didn't get hurt - you are dealing Lavine, Vuc and others to get draft capital back and starting a new rebuild or if they all get hurt - you are in a different spot - but than probably doing things like what OKC did which is just buy whatever draft capital you can by taking on bad contracts (knowing you will suck anyway). Right now - I think Bulls strategy is keep falling forward - leveraging the tight connections this new front office has - and just keep grinding better. This offseason feels very different than any I can remember in a long time.

I am hoping it is one of those never ever a shot at even a lottery pick and that if it doesn't work it eventually turns into a 2nd rounder...but that is to be seen. I am curious - wonder if we are going to see Lauri sign like a 3yr 45M type of deal or what will happen with Lauri.

AMinu was just what was needed to get salaries to work. So think of it as AMinu, Thad, and the picks for DD. Bulls are over the cap - so everything they are doing is operating in that stance - so you need to hit all regular trade rules as if you were an over the cap team. I presume they are not anywhere near luxury tax land - but they are probably a lot closer now than anyone would have projected entering this offseason.

Exactly - talk about a flexible lineup. It is long and athletic and is more fitting of the positionless NBA. I'm curious to see what happens with Lauri - but he's a pretty good fit in units with Derozan and Vuc cause Derozan can handle the ball and Lauri can be a real nice space creating in that dynamic. This is still a pretty athletic squad and still has a ton of youth on its side.

Think of it this way - White was one of the worst PG's in the NBA and the back court D was atrocious. They replaced that with Lonzo (who worse case is a mediocre starting PG -> best case we see more steps forward) and you have Caruso (elite defender - which was a huge hole and solid 3P shooter but on low volume). Maybe Caruso is compared to Valentine and Caruso clear upgrade. Derozan is significant upgrade compared to production they got from Williams/others on wing. So entire wing is massively upgraded -> bench stronger too (Thad gone - but replaced with White/Williams and you can assume Derozan will get some good run as a ball distributor on this side). This team is a heck of a lot better. Pretty clear team is stacking things up to be an attractive destination and next year I have a feeling this front office will just use any of these contracts and parts to S&T if the opportunity is there. This is no longer the - dont' sign anyone just in case - this is the - we are going to roll with as good of a team as we can maximizing all parts and we'll consistently churn things to get better. Front office didn't build a perfect team - but they leveraged a ton of assets to make themselves better while maintaining flexibility to move up (with the only piece being I don't think the 1st round pick was needed).

Could care less about the 2nd round picks - you can buy those all day long. The money - who cares. I presume we'll find a team option on the 3rd year..,.but he's not too old (31). Past his prime, yes, but this a guy who put up 22 and 7 dimes per game. This team is a lot better - and now they are in a spot where they should be an attractive destination for a star to force their way and you still have young chips like Williams, White, Lauri (who I presume now is going to stay).

3yr 85M

I like it. Thad and a future 1st. Don't love the future 1st but presume it has protections, etc .

Very true

Usually when KC tweets - things have already happened haha. I like KC - but breaking news was never his thing with the past regime haha. This is good though - I think this is a potential top 5 team in the east (and by that I mean 4 or 5...not better) with DeRozan and I didn't see many scenarios going into this offseason where I would have said this. And if a star becomes available - based upon how thus far this regime has acted this offseason, I figure they'll package some of these guys plus White and/or Williams and future picks.