Chisoxfn

One PG gone...Bulls decline qualifying offer on MCW.

I still think when push comes to shove...Dodgers will be in running for any big time pitcher who hits the market.

Congrats Russ. Very exciting!!!

QUOTE (scs787 @ Jun 23, 2017 -> 03:34 PM) I'm sure its been brought so I apologize, but what is the Bulls cap situation the next few years? They can't free up max money for a Hayward or Gallinari right? Just for pure entertainment reasons, do the Bulls have cap for Gallinari or Gordon. Gallinari in particular would make this a pretty exciting team. I believe they are $26M under the cap if they denounce the rights to Niko. So yes, they would have enough to offer Hayward. Next year they'll be in an even better spot, albeit...they will have to extend Levine.

I certainly get the impression that this all came together pretty last minute and I am curious how much homework we even did on who we selected, etc. I wonder how much we even looked at Dunn based upon what happened this past season (vs. our pre-draft assessment from a year ago). That said, very clear that now that they have a direction...strategy will be set. Also interesting that the trading of the 2nd round pick was an "ownership" thing. Seems odd to state that.

On a sidenote...didn't he legitimately hate James Baldwin or am I confusing him with someone else?

Fantastic. Easily one of my all time favorite players and his number getting retired is so well deserve. I was grinning from ear to ear reading through those stories (and having it reflash back all the great memories I have of watching Buerhle with the Sox).

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jun 23, 2017 -> 09:54 AM) Markkanen just did a (painful) interview on Spiegel and Parkins and said Wade is one of his favorite players. So, there is that Out west, a lot of people were raving about Markkanen this morning (people who follow the Pac 12). Mychael Thompson mentioned that he thought Markkanen had a lot of upside and actually thought that his defensive abilities were "underrated" relative to the general perception on him.

QUOTE (2005thxfrthmmrs @ Jun 23, 2017 -> 09:34 AM) Except players have time and time again said they want to play for the Lakers, Paul George being the latest and will likely head there after this season. When was the last time someone came out and said they want to play for the Bulls? Actually the past few years, the Lakers have lost out on every single priority free agent they wanted (hence Mozgov / Deng signings of a year ago). I expect that story to change and the Lakers have a leg up on us (from a pure marketing ploy in a sales pitch...imo). For the Bulls to hit on their strategy, they will need to win free agency. They have actually hit on free agency in the past....it didn't work out the way they wanted and I have no idea what the Wade news does / sends around the league. But people are crazy if they think we can get good without hitting in free agency (it has to be an integral part of any plan given the current climate of the NBA). Do we actually hit...heck if I know...put us against the Lakers and we will likely lose to them...put us against a lot of other teams and I'd argue Chicago is in a strong spot. There are better locations though but a lot of that is circumstance based.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jun 23, 2017 -> 08:56 AM) Yeah, still not crazy about his point guards but Dunn has a decent coach for it. Decent 3p shooting. Not excited to see what Wade looks like on this team. I really do hope that Wade takes on the veteran coach role and the Bulls kind of give him the hush hush we'll send you to a contender later on if you play nice (that way he kind of knows their is a light at the end). Wade can bring a lot of value to a young team that is "learning". To be honest, so can Rondo (albeit...Rondo may not be happy taking a back seat to Dunn and Dunn needs minutes). That said...if Wade isn't happy or Rondo isn't...it can also add a lot of toxicity that you don't want around a young team.

I don't view the Bulls rebuild that differently from the Lakers. Both teams keys to success will be a combination of the draft and FA. If Bulls are going to succeed, at some point they have to hope they can sign in two stars. The downfall is we will be contending with the power of LA and we have Gar (vs. them having Magic). I actually don't think Paxson is a negative to FA's (he's not Magic Johnson)...but Gar and the stuff on him is just bad news. It will be nice if we get some transcending player (or two or three) via the draft as well. But I wouldn't be shocked if next year Bulls are going all in on 2018/2019 to sign two guys. Would have been nice if Lavine wasn't a RFA at the end of the year (would be great to have an extra year having him on a good contract...as that would have given Bulls a lot more time to lay low on cap space while accumulating assets).

While my grade of the physical Butler trade is probably a C...I will say that this is actually the team that Hoiberg should have been hired on to coach in the first place. Will be interesting to see how things emerge with the new roster and if he can save his NBA coaching profile.

Martian was actually pretty good. I was never excited to watch it cause I thought seeing someone stuck in Mars for the whole movie would be boring. Turns out it was actually very well done and entertaining (not that this should be a surprised since most everyone said the same positive things I'm finally saying a couple years late).

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jun 23, 2017 -> 03:30 AM) So why did they draft him? Just to get some cash? For all the hate GarPax get, I wonder if the boss upstairs deserves more blame. Not that we haven't discussed that topic plenty in PHT already. I would have taken that Euro guy a couple slots later and stashed him overseas. Of course I haven't watched any of those guys play, so what do I know. Evidently the Bell guy is the perfect fit for Golden State. He sucks offensively, but despite being undersized is really good defensively and with the spacing that Golden State has, even he can score and he should be effective for them off the bench. That player probably actually isn't that great of a fit for the Bulls yet...but there are enough other guys to take a flyer on. I agree to some extent with Pax's point...you can't have too many people at the same position because it actually could have a negative impact on overall development...but at least get some future picks. In the grand scheme of things...it may amount to nothing...the bigger deal was us including the #16 pick in the Butler trade (I really wish we could have found a way to hold both 1st rounders) or at the very least gotten a future 1st rounder back.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jun 22, 2017 -> 08:50 PM) Ainge likes to think he has the League by the balls..."I have ALL the PICKS!" I hope it blows up in his face. Me too. I really wish we beat them cause they really aren't that good. I don't get Ainge's moves at all.

KC Johnson had this blurb in his article (which I haven't seen anyone talk about). I'm looking at Zoom for my answer (if he hasn't had too many fancy beers). What is the unique structure in Rondo's contract? I presume Rondo's option somehow counts (and a team can walk away from it)...so technically Bulls can leverage the cap exeption and Rondo to help facilitate moves when FA opens (and ideally accumulate some picks)? Or am I being way too optimistic?

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jun 22, 2017 -> 08:48 PM) Which was? Built around Jaylen Brown. Not sure what else..but neither #3 or Brooklyn pick were offered (supposedly). Who knows.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 22, 2017 -> 08:42 PM) I find it absolutely fascinating that you are more angry about the 2nd round pick than giving up the 16th. I didn't like giving up #16...but that was part of an actual trade. This is just for cash...not extra money in the cap or to help you ensure you have "max" space...just cash. 2nd rounder will likely not emerge..but we are clearly rebuilding so keep the pick. I didn't want to give up #16...but at least then it was part of an actual deal. We all know my preference was to build around Jimmy because I think everyone on the tank bandwagon is delusional and unrealistic on how to build a contender, especially given the type of offers out there for Jimmy. That said, the Wolves offer (even giving up the 16th pick)...was far better then the supposed Boston offer.

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Jun 22, 2017 -> 08:35 PM) Gar just traded for his golden parachute. I was about to say...if the $3.5M helps buyout Gar, then this might be the best trade in franchise history...haha.

QUOTE (almagest @ Jun 22, 2017 -> 08:34 PM) At this point I wouldn't be surprised. Chris Paul...come on down....be our 17th point guard and then the rest of the bananaboat crew can get max deals next year (except LBJ will bail at the last minute...but don't worry...we can still max out Wade / Paul / Melo then). Might even be better then Drose's Knicks "superteam".

QUOTE (Sox-35th @ Jun 22, 2017 -> 08:32 PM) Warriors bought the pick for $3.5 million That is a lot of money...but still...what do I care. None of that helps the rebuild. Unless of course we are going to buy 3 2nd round picks with that 3.5M...in which case I'm okay.

Seriously...you are rebuilding...at the minimum, if you didn't want a player on the roster this year (cause you wanted to play the 18 pg's we have)...at least just take a flyer on a Euro player. Not doing anything and getting cash (for a very rich organization) is a complete and utter embarassment. Are GAR/PAX going to max someone this year and then try for 2 more max guys next year or something?

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 22, 2017 -> 08:29 PM) Watch Gar get fired tomorrow I actually wouldn't be shocked.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jun 22, 2017 -> 08:27 PM) f***ing kidding me? Are you f***ing serious? What the hell.

QUOTE (Tony @ Jun 22, 2017 -> 08:26 PM) What was your favorite moment in the Jordan Bell era? Bulls traded it for cash... Wow....traded for Steph Curry...wow what a front office we have