Soxbadger

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Jul 14, 2014 -> 11:02 AM) But no one has ever said they're a title contender with no Rose or with a crappy version of Rose. All of that talk is contingent on him being back and at 85-90% minimum. Right, everything on this board is "Rose" colored glasses. When I discuss sports, I like to talk about the good and the bad. So when Im talking about the Bulls, sure its fun to think Rose is going to be MVP, that McDermott can play SF and that there will be 0 injuries or problems. But what is the point? Why not discuss the real issues that will face the Bulls next year, and that is going to be both guard positions. So I think its an entirely valid line of discussion to ask, why did the Bulls not add any guards, when they added Gasol, McDermott and Mirotic. It just seems that perhaps the Bulls would have been better off if some of their off-season was spent on obtaining a guard, perhaps a combo who could have played PG/SG.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jul 14, 2014 -> 10:44 AM) so - rose sits out, and kirk has one of his 11 injuries a season - who plays guard? Who cares, DOUG MCDERMOTT

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Jul 14, 2014 -> 10:40 AM) At the start of every season since 2010, you don't think this has been true? In the crappy conference they play in? The day Rose tore his ACL they stopped being contenders until Rose proves he can play at close to MVP levels. I know that isnt well received on this board, but since that day they have made it out of the 1st round 1 time.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jul 14, 2014 -> 10:22 AM) Butler and Snell can play both positions so with McDermott, it is fine if he just plays the 3. There is just very little on the ball creativity at that position, Snell is a jump shooter, he isnt going to go iso and take people. Like I said, McDermott is fine, the Bulls just needed to add a slasher type to the mix. QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Jul 14, 2014 -> 10:26 AM) Huh? McDermott to the Bulls was no secret. It was well known they wanted to trade up to grab either him or Stauskas. And who cares if he's not ideal. He shoots the ball incredibly well. That's what's important for a team that was awful last year at shooting. Oh Im just pointing out that I had nothing bad to say about McDermott as a player, just that I did not believe (and still dont) that McDermott was an ideal fit for the Bulls, let alone to trade 2 pieces for him. but once he was drafted by the bulls he might as well be Larry Bird with MJ athleticism on this board. Just hard to have a realistic discussion because the Bulls are always "Championship" contenders.

You keep harping on McDermott. Its kind of funny because I was one of the few who talked about him BEFORE the draft. Hes a nice player, the problem is, he isnt an ideal SF and cant play SG. So you add Gasol, Mirotic and McDermott, but you still didnt add anyone who can play SF/SG and create with the ball. Its not about the player, its the fit. As I before the Bulls drafted, said that McDermott would be good on the right team. He still can be good, the Bulls just needed something else and given the additions of Gasol/Mirotic its even more clear that a SG/SG and a PG were more important.

McDermott is going to get a huge opportunity this year.

QUOTE (Jake @ Jul 11, 2014 -> 05:14 PM) The big problem there is acting like Cleveland was obviously the better basketball decision. There is substantial basketball risk there. You're depending on a complete s***head in Kyrie Irving and a big, unrefined question mark in Wiggins. Also, Dion Waiters, Anthony Bennett, and 30-45 games of Anderson Varejao. To me, he couldn't have been bulls***ting in a big way because it didn't make sense to go to Cleveland except if it meant a lot of him to succeed in Cleveland. If he wanted to win more or win with a young team, there were better options. Houston and Chicago could have accommodated him and created unbelievable juggernauts. Phoenix has a very tantalizing young core. Cleveland was only in the discussion because that's where he's from. That he even went there means there was more than desiring a public BJ from sportswriters. I also like the sleight of hand where he pretends LBJ gets more money by going to Cleveland Haters going to hate. And I think that is ultimately why Lebron is going back to Cleveland. He learned that no matter what the media/etc is never going to be placated. That they will harp on him if he wins or loses. So he might as well go to the 1 place where (at least before the decision) he was beloved. Cleveland always had his back, Miami not so much. So when the hate comes, he knows that hell always have his hometown support. Miami could never offer that.

The question for Melo is how much money is enough. At this point its generational wealth, he already has made enough money that hed have to go out of his way to spend it all.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 11, 2014 -> 03:30 PM) There was an si article that broke this down and included this, chicago still way cheaper. I think its a difference of approximately 4%. So 4% of 10mil = 400k per year, over 5 years is $2mil. Not really way cheaper. (Im just rounding here, 10mil is approx 50% of his salary which is the portion of his income that would be subject to state of NY taxes.) That being said, the NY cost of living is a lot higher than Chicago. So $20mil in Chicago, goes further than $20mil in NY.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jul 11, 2014 -> 03:23 PM) Pretty much same when adjusting for taxes. If Bulls got to 4 94 (which is the max for a non New York team) during the 1st 4 years, after taxes, he makes more money in Chicago then NY. You know more about taxes than me, but my understanding of how income tax works for pro athletes is that they pay each state based on the games played there. So its 41 games taxed at NY rates v IL rate.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 11, 2014 -> 02:49 PM) Top 10 protected until 2018. Where did you read this? Here is what I can find, although it seems pretty convoluted: http://www.prosportstransactions.com/baske...e/Cavaliers.htm Traded LeBron James, Cavaliers option to swap 2012 first round picks (not exercised) to Heat for second round pick (protected top 40 in 2011-12, unprotected in 2013) (2011 #54-Milan Macvan), Cavaliers option to swap 2012 first round picks (not exercised), 2012 second round pick (#34-Jae Crowder), first round pick (protected top 10 in 2013-14, unprotected in 2015) (2013 #30-Nemanja Nedovic), first round pick (2 years following the year in which Heat satisfies its obligation to convey a future first round draft pick to Cavaliers, protected top 10 in 2015-16, unprotected in 2017) (?-?), $14.5M trade exception on 2010-07-09 So it appears possible next year is unprotected.

I believe its the Lebron sign and trade that gave Cleveland this pick.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 11, 2014 -> 02:09 PM) #2015plan #2016plan #2017plan #2018plan #2019plan Sometimes not buying something is the best plan. I dont have a crystal ball so I cant predict the future, but none of the players outside of Melo really are exciting. I guess maybe see if you can get Peirce on a 1 year deal, but im not sure the chances of that happening. Getting Gasol and paying him for 3-4 years is a huge mistake, and I dont really think Stephenson would be good for the Bulls.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 11, 2014 -> 02:03 PM) Didn't Aldridge basically say he will be returning to Portland, the reason he didn't sign is because he was waiting for the max for 5 years next year? Love will be traded and probably given an extension by the team that gets him, and Thompson will be subjected to a match. Would the Bulls be able to offer a max next year? I find that unlikeley. If there were good options this year, sure. But there arent, so it would make 0 sense to commit money right now and then not wait and see what happens.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 11, 2014 -> 01:54 PM) The Bulls will have far fewer traceable assets then thanks to Boozer's contract being removed. No one is really lining up for Boozer right now. And next year the Bulls could likely make a max fa offer with guys like Aldridge, Love, as UFA and Klay Thompson as RFA. (Edit) Which is why if the Bulls dont get Melo they might as well just ride with what they have instead of getting a band-aid (presuming they cant trade for a Love or Aldridge).

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 11, 2014 -> 01:44 PM) My only fear is Melo decides to stay with the Knicks just after all the Bulls other options dry up. Actually wouldnt be the worst case scenario, give Rose a year to play and see how this team works, then take another swing before trade deadline or next year.

QUOTE (Jake @ Jul 11, 2014 -> 12:20 PM) You should read some of the stuff Dwyane was accused of by his ex-wife I know some people who went to Marquette with them. They say he really messed her up pretty bad. And even Marquette fans dislike him, lol.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Jul 11, 2014 -> 12:11 PM) If Melo stays in NY I'm really rooting for Wade now after reading some Wade hate posts here. Why? Wade helped to orchestrate the Bulls missing on Bosh/Lebron. Not to mention he is old and will be overpaid. If he wants to come here for cheap to redeem himself in Chicago, he can feel free.

QUOTE (Melissa1334 @ Jul 11, 2014 -> 11:37 AM) Lebron handled it great but does he deserve that much praise? He left Cleveland , then when the whole heat thing exploded ,he goes back? America loves a redeemed hero.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Jul 11, 2014 -> 10:06 AM) Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA 1m Dwyane Wade left cross-country flight with LeBron James to Miami still unsure of which way James is leaning, sources tell Yahoo Sports. I was about to say that Wade reminds me of a guy/girl who just found out their significant other is considering leaving.

Could this be the tail wagging the dog? Maybe Lebron gets caught up in "the return" hysteria and goes back to Cleveland even if he really wasnt planning that to start.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Jul 10, 2014 -> 03:47 PM) That's why I asked earlier why the Bulls haven't, in writing, promised to Melo that they'll offer him that 5th year at X price regardless of the deal he signs before this season. Then you're talking about 15 million over 5 years he's losing, not 30 or 60. But i'm not sure this is allowed. I dont believe you are allowed to make these deals. You can give them a "wink", but it likely breaks the CBA.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jul 10, 2014 -> 03:45 PM) I also think deciding to leave takes a lot longer then deciding to stay, so the delay is good news. However, that doesn't mean he doesn't end up choosing to stay, this just means he is at least thinking long and hard about things and we are clearly an option given the delay, imo. Either way it is a difficult decision. There isn't an easy answer. NY offers more money, NY is also Melo's home and where he historically has wanted to play. Unfortunately NY looks like the hardest place to win and the place most likely he would be stuck in mediocrity. Chicago less money, he may not be the #1 star, but likely an improved (yet no guarantee) chance of being a winner. If I had to guess Id say that if Melo knew hed win a championship, hed be a Bull and take less money. The big concern is that if he leaves NY for the Bulls and they dont win a Championship. Which is ultimately why its taking a lot of time. I previously said that the longer it took the more I would lean towards there being some sort of change (whether its Bulls or another team.)

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Jul 10, 2014 -> 03:37 PM) It's 60 million. There's nothing to think about. 99.99% of people would go back, and he should. If he ends up back in New York and Lebron goes to Cleveland, this was all for show. There's no good reason for the decision to take this long. Really? This is one of the last (if not the last) time Melo may have the ability to entirely dictate where he goes while he is still in the prime of his career. I get that fans are impatient and want the news yesterday, but this is his life. And he should take as much time as he wants, because the people like us on message boards are meaningless. But he needs to make a decision where he wont wake up a day, week, year from now and go "what if". Completely understandable why it would be hard to commit and why he may be vacillating on his decision.

Someone go TM Return of the King for apparel etc.