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@Al_Iannazone: Phil said he has not heard from Melo yet. He expects to today.

Chris Herring ‏@HerringWSJ now Phil says he's texted Carmelo since their meeting, but hasn't gotten responses back from him.

QUOTE (MexSoxFan#1 @ Jul 10, 2014 -> 12:54 PM) Since it was me, and Quinavry to a certain extent, that were arguing with Steve and TRU, I just want to be clear in what I believe. Of course if you put LeBron on the current Cavs team, and if you include Love, that means they most likely won't have Wiggins because I read that the TWolves would ask for Wigs, they would be contenders right away, but I don't believe they would be unbeatable. They would be a very young team with no playoff experience and a coach with zero NBA experience. When LeBron went to Miami, he had a FMVP in Wade and another All Star player in Bosh, and they were surrounded by vets. The whole thing was supervised by Riley, the situation in Cleveland is a whole lot different. They don't have that kind of championship experience. That's the reason I said it would take the Cavs a year or two before they become unbeatable if their younger guys mature and turn out to be the players they're projected to be. I wouldn't trade Wiggins for Love to be honest, it could be just a rental and I really do think Wiggins is going to be a star in this league. It takes a team to win, the Cavs will flourish with today's greatest player but I'm not buying the notion that they can't be beaten in their first year or two together, especially considering the franchise, coach and youth of their team. Somehow that get's translated as having a venemous hate towards LeBron though when I never even questioned his status of today's greatest player, it's his team and coach I'm questioning. After all, it does take a team effort to win. I agree with everything you said.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jul 10, 2014 -> 10:57 AM) SAS: "Melo's family is talking to him and pushing towards Chicago." Oh the Melodrama. Seems interesting that this would be the case. Would bode well. Wonder if these leaks are targeted leaks from Melo's camp to try and further push a S&T and put more pressure on Phil.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 10, 2014 -> 10:36 AM) They told him he would be a starter. This would be a really good team. DRose is going to be fine physically. The only question in my mind is will he be able to stay healthy or is he Ken Griffey Jr., and something new pops up freakishly every season? McBuckets is a lottery pick, every expert you read says Mirotic would have been a lottery pick. Substitute Gasol for Boozer, and just right there they are Conference Finals-worthy. Plus they probably add another piece or small pieces. They may not win a title, and will probably be considered bridesmaids to whichever team LeBron winds up with, but they certainly will be the most entertaining Bulls team, if they stay healthy, since MJ was around. I think that team could win a title. It is a legit contender. All out favorite, no, but I'd put them as top 5 contenders. To win, It does rely on Rose playing at a near MVP level though (amongst other things), however, I think that is something he is capable of. We just don't know so obviously huge questionmark.

SAS on his NY station saying that sources tell him "Chicago is a monkey-wrench" in the equation right now. I wonder if we are getting more aggressive or if Melo continues to push a preference one way / trying to see if somehow S&T can happen. Problem is, if Melo feels this way, he'd have leaked strong leans to Chicago, LA, leaving Knicks to really put pressure. Fact that he hasn't done that, makes you wonder (if you wanted the pessimist view). Optimist view says that might be the case he's just being extremely tight lipped right now.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 10, 2014 -> 10:32 AM) There is something wrong with that IMO if it is chasing a piece that is a more marginal improvement rather than an athletic wing/2nd ballhandler. The question is can you get Lance. If you can't, that 10M in cap space is kind of limiting because it nets you 1 or two guys. There are scenarios where what we can do with cap space is not as beneficial as what we can just do with MLE (given what we could get by staying over the cap). I've said all along, my plan B is Lance.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 10, 2014 -> 10:29 AM) We, at this point, traded Deng for no reason (I assumed it would be to allow us to go into luxury this offseason). I don't particularly care about Jimmy anymore, I think his season last year was a major setback and would trade him for an asset like *snap*, but I'd gladly go into luxury tax if this team showed something next year. I think we'll see Jimmy take more steps forward this year. Last year he had a lot of issues making the progress we expected because of his injuries, however, he will make those strides this year. Elite defender with a solid and improving offensive game. Plus I really don't care what the money goes to. He's young and a good piece for us. We aren't going to have a lot of cap space anyway given what we have, so might as well keep these guys around and hope front office pays the tax. Or at the very least, those salaries and solid players allow you to package guys for another big contract potential star. It isn't like we are talking about the Bulls making NY Nets type luxury tax payments.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 10, 2014 -> 10:27 AM) The cynical side of me thinks the only reason we are pursuing Pau is to avoid amnestying Boozer. Nothing wrong with that though. I think that is likely the case. I think there are at least a few scenarios where it makes sense to keep Boozer and just use your exceptions. Then just look at moving Boozer closer to the deadline. Someone will be shedding cap for something and we should be able to buy some picks / assets with the deal.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 10, 2014 -> 10:23 AM) I would like to go on record as being the one breaking the Mirotic to the US story this year. You were all over it. Mirotic is a great fit on this squad no matter what. I think the idea of having Pau here would be as a mentor / great back-up at the C position. I still question why we'd give Pau so much money and amnesty Boozer which is why I think the only way we get Pau is through a S&T which nets us a TPE. The key is the Bulls be willing to pay luxury tax / utilize that TPE. This team makes a lot of money and shouldn't be afraid of a We also are going to have a situation coming up with Butler soon. He's going to get 8-9M a year (if not more) and Bulls can obviously match but it will again push us closer to luxury tax. He will only be a true asset (due to contract) for so much longer. Note: I am also very high on McBuckets so I think Mirotic and McBuckets are two very nice young assets for our franchise who we won't have to count on early on but can have step-up along the way and ideally help push us over the top in time. I think Dougie Fresh is going to be a pretty good small forward in this league. He just really has a knack for scoring and a lethal shot with a long body a variety of moves that allow him to get off the shot.

The 2nd wild card has really quieted / pushed the rumors back till extremely close to the deadline. Can not remember a time where things were this quiet on trade front by this time in July.

.@CSNBullsInsider says a deal with Mirotic is "almost done." http://www.csnchicago.com/bulls/bulls-nba-...s-start-falling … If something happens with Mirotic it could put some writing on the wall as it really pushes the, this has to be a S&T for this to happen. However, I'm not surprised Bulls negotiating as most scenarios would have him coming here this year (or being used as an asset to play elsewhere). The true indicator (outside of an official word from any camp) is if Bulls start making offers to guys like Lance.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Jul 10, 2014 -> 10:17 AM) You know what would suck? If after all this, Melo signs with the Bulls, and then Rose gets hurt again. Talk about a punch to the nuts. The team would still be good enough to contend. I expect us to sign a PG to the BAE (either Augustin or Sessions) and then still bring Kirk back at the vet min. I can live with that in a worse case scenario with Rose hurt and in a best case scenario, that is a great PG coming off the bench and occasionally allowing Rose to play off the ball. I believe in Rose though. Modern medicine is good and the kid has a heck of an ethic. This injury is not near as crippling as his last and we already saw similar explosiveness. His problem was rust and that will be solved.

One other aside, I don't think Love would sign an extension in Cleveland so it would be a 1 year deal as well. They'd be better off keeping and trying to develop Wiggins. I really see zero scenario where Kevin Love extends to play in Cleveland. This is a guy trying to get out of Minnesota and yes he wants to play on a contender but he also wants to be in a market. This is a California kid. I figure its back to the west coast or a major city like Boston / LA / Chicago. If Bulls can't get Lance, they need to ensure they keep all the assets possible and have the ability to get Love (or Marc Gasol). I still think signing Lance makes a lot of sense as his deal should actually pan out pretty well and continue to enable the Bulls to have lots of young assets, either to extend our window and go Spurs style or provide us with the flexibilty / assets needed to acquire other assets. Going forward, if we miss out on Melo, our plan has to shift to being more like the Spurs with one exception, focus on using those assets to be more aggresive in the trade space vs. focusing on FA. Constantly be working to get assets and scout heavily and get talent on this team. Our front office has great scouts and FA is becoming too much of a crap shoot under the terms of the new CBA and with the way players work. It also seems like once someone comes to Chicago, they love it here, so we at least know if we can trade for a guy, we can get them to re-up, etc, and keep him here (so it isn't like we have a Bucks problem ala when Jabari comes to Chicago in a few years).

This thread might be the best place to stay up to date on all of the Bulls related drama on the web. PS: I wasn't around last night but I agree w/Tru & Steve, if the Bulls don't get Melo, and LBJ goes to Cleveland, the Cavs would be the favorites in the East. I do disagree that they would be automatic, however, that would be dependent on what else the Bulls did and what the Pacers could do to get their mental edge back. I think Wizards / Raports get too much love and aren't yet on same level as Bulls / Pacers. I do not think that team, even with Love, would be an automatic NBA champion, as after acquiring Love they would have some depth issues (and we can't play ignorant to Kyrie's health situation), however, that would make them pretty heavy favorites in East. Anyone who thinks otherwise doesn't realize just how truly great Lebron is and is also underselling the ability of Kyrie.

@KBergCBS: The Knicks have still not been informed of a decision by Carmelo Anthony, league source says.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 10, 2014 -> 10:01 AM) Yes. He fell in love with a stripper with more tats than Li'l Wayne. I supposed she still could have bought his daughter a gift, but it seems made up. The gift isn't speculation. Rose's baby mama posted it on her instagram feed and thanked lala. Not sure where the "daughter" came into the equation though. It was a gift from LaLa to Rose's baby mama.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 10, 2014 -> 09:57 AM) No, Rose in LA on the 8th. The rumor was he made a stop there prior to being in Vegas, specifically for Melo.

QUOTE (MurcieOne @ Jul 10, 2014 -> 09:06 AM) It's working. It brought me out of the woodwork. I really want Melo now. Me too; I think I've posted more in one week then I had in the past year.

LaLa got Rose's girl a gift yesterday. Also some reports from an "insider" on real GM indicating the Bulls met with Melo in LA again on the 8th, with Rose specifically being involved in the pitch. No earthly idea if true or not.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 10, 2014 -> 08:58 AM) Almost to the point I can retire haha.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 10, 2014 -> 08:49 AM) Honestly, if phil plays hardball, bulls should have made very clear they'll trade taj. Haha...see my next post (which I was writing when you made this post). I wonder if that is exactly what they are doing with Pau (kind of an alternative). Or at least start putting some reports out there that you have came up with options to get the Knicks worried.

Another option is Bulls have said, remember Melo, if no S&T, we can work this other avenue and land Pau in a deal with Lakers for Boozer and then move Taj to clear up enough money to offer you a full max deal here (without a S&T). We really like Taj and believe in him but Pau would be a good replacement.

SAS: He got a call at 5pm yesterday saying hold on. Don't believe what you hear, Carmelo is having second thoughts. His family and him and thinking about Chicago. Also talks about how Phil is playing hard ball on S&T which might be why Melo has been leaning hard to Knicks. Clearly he isn't taking 50M less to play in Chicago. One less year and slightly less sure, but 50M, hahahaa.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 10, 2014 -> 08:37 AM) I can't decide whether I love your or hate you Gage. This is mean or really nice. I've been thinking with logic for a while. But some heart has gotten in the way. It just seems like most everything is BS and I heard SAS this morning on my drive in and you could tell he was frustrated by the amount of misinformation that is out there and that it seems more and more like no one knows what is real. I guess the Bulls did reach out to Lance Stephenson today. This would be the first time they've really done anything which could work against certain things. I've long felt the Bulls inaction was another very good indicator of the fact that they still thought they had a good chance.