Chisoxfn

This post times 100. The worst part about the Bulls is they ended up being a year away from being able to be ready for the 2019 plan. The reality was the team was just way too young this year (and combined with injuries) to really contend. Bmags could be on to something that maybe they would have looked different if they added more vets last off-season (vs. signing it all on Parker). Not sure it matters, I just think the reality is 2 years to turn a team around from scratch is tight (which is really all the Bulls had). If they started off strong and overachieved, I don't think they trade for Porter, heck, I think they are looking at AD and are probably pushing 2 max slots and would have been a talked about destination. Reality is that didn't happen and I give the FO credit for being realistic in its views vs. delusional. I also can't really fault them for not building a playoff team within 2 years of blowing things up (it really isn't much time). Youngest team in the league, etc. 2021 is much more realistic, unfortunately, that FA class isn't as deep. Bulls best case scenario is Kwahi signs a 1 yr deal with Toronto, Bulls ascend and he shows an interest in coming here in 2020.

That team isn't much different than what the Bulls are trying to do and I'd argue Bulls roster would have had more longer-term upside than the Nets roster (without Kryie & KD). This year will tell a lot more though so I could be delusional in my views of Lavine & Laurie, plus WCJ.

I agree in the Kyrie/KD situation as well as the AD situation, it was less about the front office and more about where they wanted to play or other affiliations, which drove those moves. That said, Nets front office is far more competent than Lakers. Lakers were the true team that made out like a bandit as I actually think LBJ is a Clipper if he was a FA this year (vs. Lakers), but at the time, he wanted to come to LA and Hollywood and Lakers lore was the thing that got him there (nothing that the front office did got him there) and because of him and him alone, AD is there and Kwahi will be there soon).

What would you call Kyrie being interested because of the whole JROC or whatever the group is called? I think they got to where they currently were by making solid moves, but I don't know that they did anything to demand getting KD & Kyrie. By the way, I'm going on record as saying I don't think they are as good as people give them credit for, at all (even with these moves). I don't necessarily think the teams with the best off-season in sports, necessarily have the best front offices, etc. In the Nets case though, I give them much more credit than say the Lakers.

This...young LBJ was better, but AD and Kwahi are much better than Wade & Bosh at that time. Plus that team didn't have anyone near as good as Kuzma to go with them, imo.

Everything I have read and heard from insiders is Bulls heavily plan on having 2 max spots available. Doesn't mean they go that full path, but if they committed right now on some of these mediocre guys who got big deals, they were basically saying their ceiling is this current roster and I think that is too early to tell. On the Clips...they had a heck of a season, but people overrate them and their current talent drastically. Kwahi is having hesitations because he understands that roster has major limitations when it comes to having an extended post-season run. They grinded it out like nobodies business in the regular season but they are completely devoid of high-upside talent. Nets were actually very similar to the Clippers in that regard and I give them credit for getting those max guys but they come with major risk. I don't believe the Nets will win a title with KD. The Bulls turned Jabari & Portis into Otto Porter Jr. and while that might be luck or whatever, I don't have an issue with that at all...in fact, it makes the Jabari signing look favorable in my camp. The reality is we'll know much more about this franchise during this upcoming season, Lauri will be in yr 3 and will need to show enough to say he is worthy of being a max type guy. Lavine will be coming off a very strong season where he showed a lot of growth, with a full off-season where he can hopefully continue his steps forward. WCJ is an incomplete and we don't know what we have in White. By the way...funny that people are now defending teams that didn't blow it up. Hasn't that been my MO forever...tanking is not the only path to success, etc. I think the Bulls have learned and you need to first get good before you become great (unless you have a superstar who literally wants to beg and plea to play with you (see Lebron to Hollywood and even than they could have paired up, etc.). And in terms of Mark and an extension, I think if Mark isn't looking as much as the guy or the Bulls have doubts, you might see them package Lauri elsehwere to extend the window. I think this team will be much more interesting to watch and outside of my swing big off-season where they landed KD or AD (or had the lottery ball magic work out), this was about exactly what I thought the squad needed. Vet PG at a reasonable deal who is a good presence plus a vet big. I expect we'll see them land one other vet big on the MLE. Note: I do not believe the Bulls won't pay the tax. If they have a good team, they'll pay the tax. They won't pay the tax for a mediocre team nor should they as that would mean they are in a bad situation (with bad contracts galore).

The Clippers are a Kwahi away from having a Knicks like off-season. Epicly bad. It goes to show you, no matter how good your front office, you might just not execute, despite the best laid plans. Counterpoint is the Lakers who couldn't be a bigger dumpster fire, but they had Lebron (who literally went there purely so he could be in hollywood) and he and his people were able to get AD (who literally forced a deal there) and now they are about to land the biggest big 3 in the history of basketball.

That is literally what the Bulls seem to be doing. Plus, let me know what other 22ish win team landed a bunch of superstars? Maybe they should have pretended like the Knicks and failed miserably but I think the Bulls were realistic. They will have 2 max spots and plenty of guys who can get moved if another player becomes unhappy in the next year or two. The reality is they need to get back to being a playoff team or at least get close to being one (so people view them more as an upstart with a chance)...than, better things will happen. I don't know whether this front office will be able to connect the dots this time on a championship team, but I do have a lot of faith in terms of them finding enough young assets, vets, etc to turn them into a playoff team with a bright future which will at least enable them to market/try. Signing any of the guys that got big money deals this off-season would have been no bueno. Basically it would have locked this team into the team they are. Since the trade deadline, they have added 3 two way players who are versatile in Porter, Thaddeus, and Santy.

They are the worst ran franchise in the NBA (well maybe not quite but close to it) and they are probably going to luck into one of the best teams in NBA history (on paper).

There was nothing out there that I would have done. I actually think, given where the team was, they had a fantastic day. Signing any of those middle to good guys to those kind of contracts would have been a bad idea that actually locker in mediocrity. A lot of those contracts are going to be hard to move in a couple of years. Now I am bummed they couldn’t have been creative and landed a superstar but that was obviously not in their cards. The team got better while maintaining flexibility.

I wouldn't mind getting dragic.

Thaddeus Young was a nice pick up. Fills the exact need of a quality vet big who is also a great clubhouse guy. We will look back and be in a great spot in two years vs some of these teams that gave guys like Middleton or Tobias stupid contracts. Watch Nets moves back fire wIth Durant and Kylie both having a history of health issues.

Clippers might have worse offseason than knicks if kwahi ends up with lakers or raptors.

Quin...I just think your idea of a dream off-season is a pretty low bar. Some reports from a bulls insider that they do expect at least one guy to verbally commit today.

Oh and today is day Bulls got a step closer to Giannis. Middleton deal will hamper bucks long term.

I can't believe Niko went to Europe. He would have been awesome in LA. Heck I'd take him back on Bulls as a bench guy at a fair rate.

Bulls supposedly meeting with Randle and Looney tomorrow plus potentially Beverly. Randle is an interesting one. Not a perfect fit but he has gotten better every year and is just 24. Beverly has a lot of suitors but maybe he takes two year deal at higher AAV to be in Chicago.

One other thought, but if the Bulls land a Randle or Brogdon, as long as the contracts aren't overblown, those can be guys leveraged in sign & trades or deals with other squads to push the Bulls to the next level. To me the Bulls only chance at being a top flight squad is to have a lot of quality pieces who can develop into a quality team, with a portion of those pieces that can than be flipped for bigger fish. I have confidence in front office doing the first part (I think Paxson knows how to build quality squads through the draft...the challenge is whether at that point, he can hit big on landing the star players necessary to make the team a true contender. I miss basketball so much...it has truly evolved into my favorite sport. Can't wait to watch some summer league. Might even see if I can take a road trip and bring the kids to watch some of the games. Presume prices are more reasonable than an NBA game.

This will be my optimistic post of the day. I've bashed Dunn a lot this past season (after he surprised me a season ago...dude was playing great ball before he whacked his head on that dunk) but he did miss 30+ games last year. With all of the injuries and the changes in style of play, he could be a guy that takes a big step forward with a good off-season. I wouldn't bet on it, but I could come up with good reasons why he had challenges last year.

I like Julius Randle but I don't necessarily love the fit. That said, WCJ is still very unproven and there are plenty of front-court minutes to go around. I'm presuming Randle will want more years than I'd like. If he would take a 3 yr deal which is really a 2+1 (where the team can do a buyout), I would be open to it. Don't love the idea of tying him up longer than that. Any reports on Bobby Portis? I know he wasn't happy when Bulls traded him but he's still made some recent references. I would think Bulls might have some appetite to bring him back as a bench guy too (maybe his contract demands have came down). Again, I'm not going longer than 2 years unless Bulls think they can get a big fish (and currently I don't see that happening, albeit, they now can from a cap perspective, now that they got the relief from Asik). Could go all the way to a max for a Durant type players as long as they stretch Felicio and move one of Dunn/Valentine. Not proposing or saying any of it will happen though. Paxson clearly wants to surround the Bulls young players with quality veterans and / or other good young players (who have a couple years in the league) in a push to get this team better so that they can be in a position where they can trade and or sign other free agents (once they've hit a point where they are at least back to being a playoff team). I think they recognize they can't do anything major until they hit that point and actually their overall roster design looks quite nice...but team as currently constructed is still way too young to be a playoff team, imo. If they don't land some pretty darn good veterans, I would still expect them to be a lottery team (which might not be a bad thing given the new lottery structure).

Caufield...either way, what does any of this have to do with Andrew Vaughn signing. This is non-nonsensical completely off-topic conversation that degrades the quality of the conversation that others are trying to have. In no way shape or form does it belong anywhere near PHT or this thread.

Congrats! Awesome news for you!

I don't think this is a bad idea for the Bulls. Get short-term vets in now while keeping all the flexibility down the road (whether acquiring individuals via trade and/or free agency). I am curious to see what they do with Brogdon. He seemed to be the only guy that they might look at who could take up long-term cap space, otherwise I expect any deal is 2 years or less (i.e., for Taj or Beverly (looking less likely given how much demand their will be for his services).

I've said it before but if I were the Sox, I'd target Q. He gives them innings and worse case is a back of the rotation guy and if the change of scenery back to the south side helps, even better.

That is my mo for managing my finance & accounting teams.