Chisoxfn

QUOTE (shipps @ Feb 23, 2017 -> 12:13 PM) Joe OstrowskiVerified account‏@JoeO670 3s4 seconds ago More Woj says Bulls and Celtics weren’t close. Bulls wanted to get pieces of C’s core and not draft picks. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA the Bulls show me by the minute that they are dumber than I thought. I don't believe Woj's report but if it were true, yes, it would be totally laughable.

QUOTE (Tony @ Feb 23, 2017 -> 12:10 PM) Not sure how anyone defends this organization anymore. I agree. White Sox seem to be headed in the right direction (with Hahn having a clear line of authority or clearer then the past). Bulls are a mess. Awful coaching staff and lack of vision (or at least we don't know what the vision is as fans). But these moves showed very little clarity. Basically all we get is Payne for Doug/Taj and a 2nd round pick. Brilliant.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Feb 23, 2017 -> 12:08 PM) Morrow is complete trash, much worse player than McDermott. Lauvergne is a restricted free agent so he will have to be resigned. I agree Morrow is trash. Doug is relative trash too (although I think that is largely because Bulls have ruined him). I didn't realize Lauvergne is a RFA. No way I'd pay him. Even worse deal. I'd rather get to watch Taj for another couple months.

We do lead the league in point guards who can't shoot and who currently suck.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Feb 23, 2017 -> 12:01 PM) This trade is beyond terrible. Why'd they give up the pick? It's not like any of the players we're getting back are better than Taj. No...but at least you have them under control in future years (vs. Taj walking). I really don't mind Payne and Lauverigne can be a rotational guy, right? Morrow is just an older Doug. The pick I don't get...but I do think we needed to move Taj. I think we could have done better though.

Thank you Taj for all that you brought to the Bulls during your career. I will always root for you and remember your time in Chicago fondly!!! Class act. TAJ!!!!

QUOTE (shipps @ Feb 23, 2017 -> 11:57 AM) K.C. JohnsonVerified account‏@KCJHoop 3s4 seconds ago More Confirming others: Bulls trade McDermott, Gibson and possible '18 2nd round pick to Thunder for Lauvergne, Payne and Morrow. Play the kids. This is it, right? Or is Okafor coming in a last minute deal centered around Portis, Denzel, Niko?

QUOTE (bmags @ Feb 23, 2017 -> 11:56 AM) LOL. Can't wait for Portis to show off how expendable he is. If that happens...at least you know. I have zero faith in the coaching staff to develop anyone (unless they are just a transcendent star).

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Feb 23, 2017 -> 11:55 AM) So Payne will come in, be the first guy off the bench for a couple of games, then not play for a week, then someone will get hurt and he will,start....and we wonder why all the bench guys suck. Yes. Just like Denzel and others. The coaching staff has done no favors from a player development perspective. KC is reporting that Bobby Portis will take on the starting role (if Taj is dealt). Somewhere you need to actually evaluate these recent young players and give them consistent minutes to do so (Denzel should be part of this conversation). I still can't fathom why Grant plays so much (he is clearly bad).

Windhosrst reporting that Morrow is not a part of the trade.

Now what happens with Niko? Presume they are standing pat?

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Feb 23, 2017 -> 11:49 AM) It's Cam Payne, Morrow, and Joffrey for Taj, McDermott and 2nd rounder. Giving up the 2nd round pick is just dumb. This brings back some visions of when the Sox gave up Tatis Jr. for James freaking Shields. It is just unnecessary. Not comparing a 2nd round pick to Tatis Jr, but still, totally unnecessary. Good god...we have given up massive amounts of picks in relation to Doug. Freaking awful.

Mike McGraw: Payne+Lauvergne+Morrow for Taj/Doug/2nd round pick. I see no reason why the hell we would give up a pick. Utterly stupid. Could always use it on a euro guy you want to stash for a few years. Doug was a disasterous move (revisionist history but man...giving up all those picks for him and getting very little back in return). I'd have asked for the 2022 1st round pick OKC could have offered. At least it looks like Payne is coming cause there is some small chance he could break out and become a useful player. Lauvergine is better then Doug...not great, but solid bench guy. We undersold on Taj / Doug though.

These reports can't be 100% accurate.

QUOTE (shipps @ Feb 23, 2017 -> 11:46 AM) Shams CharaniaVerified account‏@ShamsCharania 1m1 minute ago More OKC sending Joffrey Lauvergne and Anthony Morrow, w/ CHI sending '18 second-round pick with McDermott and Gibson, sources tell @TheVertical. So no Payne? Morrow obviously gives shooting (to replace what is lost from Doug) and Lauvergne isn't bad (not good either)....but come on...Taj could have netted more (but maybe I'm just wrong). Has to be more to this.

Based upon a Vincent Goodwill tweet..OKC won't give up Sabonis and he thinks deal will be bigger then previously reported. I presume that means a 3rd team is involved...I'll just throw it out there...Okafor back to Bulls in a 3 team deal centered around Taj / Niko / Doug. By the way, I have to imagine if we are moving Taj and Doug...Niko has to be dealt at the deadline as well.

I'll always cheer for Taj. He's been a real quality player for this organization and a great great teammate.

Some guy named Adam Joseph is indicating the deal is done, but final details on who exactly is coming to Chicago is being sorted out. Taj / Doug going to OKC.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Feb 23, 2017 -> 11:25 AM) Well the twitter reporters have backed off including taj. Maybe just McDermott for Roberson/Payne? Whatever. But they still seem desperate to trade Taj and Stein said as much. Which is smart...you should move Taj and you should move Niko (given you will lose them for nothing...presuming they don't fit in your long term plans). I really don't hate Doug for Roberson / Payne. Certainly doesn't help our shooting, but if they believe Payne has upside and Roberson can help defensively..okay. Including Taj for nothing...awful.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Feb 23, 2017 -> 11:23 AM) If it's Sabonis, great. If not, it's a train wreck. Stein reporting Payne and Joffrey Lauvergne (not a done deal...just what he's heard). Not a fan. I would have thought we could have moved Taj for a 1st. Doug should get plenty of open 3's playing aside Russell. I think Doug is a valuable bench piece in this league...the Bulls just can't figure out how to use him properly and have killed his confidence. I really can't stand this coaching staff..epically awful. Front office right there with them too. I am not as down as others are on Cameron Payne though. He has shown nice athleticism, but he's had a ton of injury issues, which is a major concern.

Geeze...if we trade Taj and don't get Sabonis back I'll be dissapointed. That said, I'd have preferred a 1st round pick for Taj (and would think we could have gotten an unprotected 1st from a contender). We do need to make moves so I'll at least give the Bulls credit for making moves (if that counts for anything) and getting multiple pieces back. So is it Doug and Taj for Payne / Robertson + someone else (presumably Sabonis).

I don't know much about Robertson..but how does a guy who shoots below 25% from 3 point range take over 2.6 threes per game. That is atrocious. That said, it is Doug, and Payne at least has some athleticism. I can't really fault the deal, but I have zero faith in the Bulls player development team maximizing the value of these guys.

I presume if Doug goes to OKC it would be for Payne. If Bulls like Payne more, I'm fine with it. That said, it wouldn't say much for any thoughts the front office has around Valentine as we'd essentially be carrying like 5 mediocre to crappy PG's (Rondo / Grant / MCW / Valentine / Payne). I'm not even counting Canaan (who never plays anyway).

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Feb 23, 2017 -> 10:59 AM) I have no idea how the Wizards could afford Paul George, but apparently they're the front runners. GarPax is Zzzzzzzzzzzzz Depends on what you think of Otto Porter.

Personally, I don't think the Bulls are even talking Butler with the Celtics. I presume Bulls are focused on Niko / Taj / maybe Lopez while obviously looking at Okafor and other pieces. My gut says they aren't wasting their time on moving Butler as they are intending to keep him, but at some point as we get closer to the deadline, Ainge will give Gar/Pax a call and say this is my offer...take it or leave it. I presume this will be after Ainge has a Paul George deal lined up and if the Bulls say no, he will go execute on the George transaction. I expect Boston to land Paul George...maybe that last call to GarPax will drive the Bulls to move Buckets, but right now, I would be shocked if the Bulls are spending much of their deadline attention around Butler and presume their focus is on building around Jimmy (at least at this point in time). If they move Jimmy, it will be in the off-season.