nitetrain8601

QUOTE (Flash Tizzle @ Jul 12, 2009 -> 04:35 PM) Yeah, before my family moved to Palos I lived off 62nd and Lawndale -- which is fairly close to this. St. Nick's? I used to go to grade school.

QUOTE (dbaho @ Jul 11, 2009 -> 09:25 AM) At least the Magic will be a better rebounding team next season even if they lose Turk's pick and roll and passing ability. I think Ryan Anderson is going to surprise a lot of people next season also (perfect system for him). We're after Matt Barnes now supposedly, and there's a chance that the Magic could match the Gortat offer still and then trade him to a team like Houston (but I doubt it). Honestly, Barnes makes a ton of sense for the Magic off the bench. He could play the 2, 3, or even 4.

Build and they will come. Come and they will build it. It's the ultimate Catch-22 and I don't blame the fans, but I also don't get the outrage of what Kenny said. He's being truthful.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jul 10, 2009 -> 06:33 PM) f***, I thought Iowa was going to snag him. Would have been a better fit given how Iowa uses its TE's. Apparently Zook is going to focus even more on the running game and getting the TE's involved. I don't know how smart that is considering the Illini by far have the best receiving core in the Big Ten, but Schultz, I think who is their new offensive coordinator doesn't want Juice throwing 25 times a game. Honestly though, when you have an Aurelius Benn, you use him. Then they also have Jarred Fayson who transferred from FLA and is eligible who should be an awesome #2, they have Cumberland and now this TE. They could go 4 wide, have completely legit options, but yet they still want to run the ball even more.

From all indications Bass will be the starter along Dwight. They like his strong ability to finish and want to push Shard back to SF. I think that's smart as he still has a sweet shooting stroke, but also has more strength now to back down most SF's.

The cap going down and potentially going down again makes Deng's contract that much worse. Like even if he plays decent again, it's still a terrible deal.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Jul 7, 2009 -> 06:52 PM) Ugh, I hate the conception that Darko is a "bust" because of who he was drafted in front of. From the day he was drafted, he's been in position for failure. The only time he got consistent minutes and real playing time was in Orlando, and he proved to be a pretty damn good player who was productive, especially defensively. Even as a starter in Memphis, he was taken out of games early. I hope to God the Knicks let him play. It's a shame because he plays damn well for Serbia in international competition. He JUST turned 24. I agree completely, but with that said, it may be too late for him to show improvement. I hope he does good though. He was definitely unfairly treated in Detroit.

QUOTE (MHizzle85 @ Jul 7, 2009 -> 06:32 PM) It was a mistake, but who knows if Carmelo would of gotten PT his rookie year under Larry Brown. Well they needed a PF moreso than a SF anyway. So I don't fault them for Darko. He turned into a bust, but not many people had a problem of Detroit drafting him over Carmelo because a ton of people said, if he were in any other draft than that year, he would've been the consensus #1.

QUOTE (Palehosefan @ Jul 7, 2009 -> 06:12 PM) Agree, and it started for me when he dealt Chauncy Billups for Allen Iverson. Detroit is sinking fast. That was purely for cap room. Dumars was planning on breaking it up after this season. Also, I found this funny: Kuester is the one calling the play.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jul 7, 2009 -> 01:22 PM) wasnt the Flock pulling the same stuff that DX was, almost show for show? Eh, I didn't really pay attention like that. It's possible. I always remember the Flock being about misfits and weirdos. They were pretty awesome.

My favorite WCW faction besides the original NWO is The Flock led by Raven. He at one point became my favorite wrestler along with Billy Kidman and the 7 year itch.

I'd honestly go Andrus & Romero over Porcello and Beckham as of now.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 3, 2009 -> 08:00 PM) He's a really inefficient scorer, and he's one of those guys who always needs the ball in his hands. He's basically Ben Gordon except not as good of a shooter. Better rebounder and defender, but he's just not going to fit well with the Bulls. This. I like Joe Johnson, but he's going to be overpaid and as stated before, he needs the ball in his hands at all times to be effective.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 3, 2009 -> 05:20 PM) Link Wow, I heard differently on Gordon's contract and the negotiations. Apparently Gordon's agents, the Raymond Bros asked the Bulls to make a blind offer after receiving an offer from the Pistons(never stated whether or not Ben knew about the blind offer or not), and the Bulls did decline to do so. The article was written by a Detroit newspaper and there was a huge thread talking about the blind offer on RealGM and a post by a Pistons fan with the article disclosing the 58 million Ben received. Either way, Bulls feel they can get Dwyane Wade or Joe Johnson along with a big in 2010. Honestly Wade would be great if there was no Rose, but since neither has great range outside the three point line, and since both need the ball to be effective, it would not be best to put them together if you want to maximize their talents IMHO. Joe Johnson, IMHO, is not that big of an upgrade over Ben for the type of contract he'll get versus the one Ben got. Either way, I think it's best if you put a dead-eye shooter with Rose along with a dominant offensive big man. I honestly still feel Deng has no place on this team in terms of the depth we have at SF along with his type of game and the type of offense we run. If it were up to me, we'd make a run next year at Bosh or Amare or Boozer(which Bulls won't do cas of the CLE fiasco), or a Dirk if he opts out, sign a TMac maybe for 2 years at SG, and save the rest of the capspace the following year(hopefully you're able to get rid of Deng by then) for Carmelo possibly. Bulls need shooters or guys who are quick enough to get to the basket. Deng unfortunately is neither and his contract is too big for his abilities and this system. Hinrich would be a great combo guard off the bench, but he makes too much and isn't happy as a bench player as been reported by ChicagoNow, I believe.

QUOTE (dbaho @ Jul 3, 2009 -> 10:29 AM) LMAO at this; The sad thing is, he was the first to break the news about Artest going to the Lakers, Houston negotiating with Ariza, and I think one of the first reporting Ben Gordon going to the Pistons.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Jul 2, 2009 -> 08:25 PM) Ya Michigan sucks. I know, I go to school there. And only if he was retarded would he buy a house within the city limits of Detroit. Sterling Heights, Bloomfield, etc. Which he may be. He's planning on buying a house in Detroit on July 8th when he officialy signs the deal from what he said on the radio. EDIT I also did make a mistake, it's for 5 years, 58 million he signed for. Someone on RealGM also did the math better than myself.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Jul 2, 2009 -> 07:42 PM) If he gets one million a year extra for each of the 5 years of his deal then it's not a lot of money. Not in NBA terms. That can go to taxes which is also less in Detroit. Plus he could probably by himself a mansion the size of Mike Tyson's in Detroit on his first year's salary alone now considering how bad of a state(no pun) that city is in.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 2, 2009 -> 05:28 PM) But think about this...Gordon played for what, $5 mil a year the last 2 years? The Bulls got him at a major discount there. He could have signed his contract after 06/07, played for $10 mil a season, then been ready to hit FA again at age 29. Instead he's played for $5 mil a season, now is getting an $11 mil a year deal, and will hit FA again at age 31. He cost himself a ton of money by not signing. Ben would not have received payment from his next contract until this past year when he signed the qualifying. So he made I think 5.7 or 6.7 million last year. He's making reportedly now, 5 years 60 million. With last year and new contract from Pistons: 65.7 million = roughly 13 million a year If he signed the 6/54 last year: that's roughly 9 million a year If he signed the year before5/50: he would make 10 million a year From not signing the deal last year or the year before which would've kicked in last year, he still makes more money taking the QO last year and signing the deal with the Pistons.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Jul 1, 2009 -> 07:23 PM) I realize this, but my point I guess is more that without BG you are guaranteed to be in the sweepstakes for one of the bigs, but with Gordon on the roster, you are banking on getting rid of Kirk's contract to be a player and that is no guarantee. I mean in the perfect world, I would love to have Rose, BG, Deng, Bosh, Noah as a starting lineup, but I think BG resigning complicates getting the big. Bulls would've been guaranteed to be in the sweepstakes for even just one big next year without getting rid of Gordon if they did let go of Hinrich. And the Bulls did have an offer in place from Minnesota, but chose to decline it at the deadline. Many thought they would build up his value further(which I think he did in the playoffs honestly) and then possibly trade him. Looks like they decided internally they valued him over BG according to KC Johnson. If you ask me, this had more to do with JR personally not being a fan of Ben Gordon, not so much Gar or Paxson who publicly stated they wanted to keep him. Apparently, Ben and the Raymond Bros let the Bulls know what the offer was, and the Bulls never offered him anything. Now Ben, according to sources, just wanted the Bulls to make an offer and he would settle for less to stay in Chicago. The Bulls didn't do that. QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jul 1, 2009 -> 07:38 PM) Bwahaha. The Pistons are going to suck. Eh, I don't think so. What I think they'll be though is stuck around that 4th or 5th seed though kind of like Washington a few years back. They'll be good, but not good enough and definitely not suck enough to get an elite player. If they trade RIP or Tayshaun for Boozer, they'll actually look really good. QUOTE (MHizzle85 @ Jul 1, 2009 -> 08:22 PM) Bulls offered the same money the last 2 years...whatever. If this team's serious about defense anyway then it's for the best. No they didn't. They offered 5 years 50 million after 06/07. Gordon declined it. Last year the offer was 6 years, 54-57 million. Each of which is less than what he got which they are now reporting could be up to 60 million over 5 years. QUOTE (ZoomSlowik @ Jul 1, 2009 -> 09:07 PM) LOL, of all of the ways to add payroll, the Grizzlies finally decide to do it to acquire Zach Randolph. I don't even care that they're essentially getting him for free, that's REALLY dumb. Not only is he making $17 mil each of the next two years, he's a malcontent that is arguably the worst defensive big man in the league. I personally thought that was a joke too. Especially hurts when the Jazz said they are going to try and move Boozer to keep Milsap.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Jul 1, 2009 -> 05:28 PM) I will probably always disagree with you on Gordon's defense. He's not slightly above average, he's not even average, but thats for another time. However, if you think Salmons' biggest strength is his defense, then you are REALLY cutting his offensive abilities short. He averaged 18.3 ppg last year, shot great field goal percentages, has the ability to shoot 3's and also great driving ability. He scored 2 points less a game than Gordon and plays far superior defense. If Gordon's offense is a strength, than how is Salmons' not a strength as well? What are the "negatives" to Salmons' game? I don't think there is anything he can't do very well. If anything, the negative is that he's 29 and not 26. And he's never had quite a year like last year whereas Gordon had just as good of a year if not better in '07, one can argue.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Jul 1, 2009 -> 04:59 PM) Way to ignore the rest of my post. Pretty sure I made it clear I'd much rather have Gordon, but that gap isn't as big as people make it seem, all things considered. Maybe I'm the only person who values defense and height. I value it as well as scoring. Salmons is a very good defender and I much prefer him to Deng as he's a better defender than Deng at SF and he's a much better scorer. The debate is Gordon vs Salmons as you said. Gordon is a better player though. His strength is offense and IMO, it far outweighs Salmons strength of defense. That's not to say Gordon sucks on defense because he doesn't. He hasn't sucked on defense since his 2nd year in the league. He's slaighty above average at it. People think he sucks because he's 6'3 playing SG, so there's no way he can possibly be good, but honestly the only players who torch him at elite SG's of the league like Kobe, Vince Carter, etc. His positives outweigh his negatives moreso than Salmons.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jul 1, 2009 -> 04:54 PM) You realize Salmons is 29, right? And he'll be 30 this coming year? He got hot for an ok stretch, and if you remember he was injured and woeful in the playoffs. The Bulls and their fans sure jumped on that bandwagon quickly, but Salmons ain't all that and a bag of chips, and as far as playing basketball goes, Ben Gordon is the better player and it's not very close. At all. Bingo. Plus keep in mind, paying Ben Gordon at the age of 26 is much smarter than extending Salmons a contract at the age of 30 in which you'll be regretting it after 2 years, or you'll end up not giving him a contract because he sucks and you have to keep the rest of the "core" in Rose, Noah, Deng. Salmons played very good last year. Career type ball. He's not that great though. He's a much better scorer than Deng though, that's a damn fact. If Bulls were smart, they would trade him now while he has maximum trade value.

BTW, Detroit isn't too high on Hamilton. They want to trade him for a big, but know Tayshaun has more value. Ideally they would trade RIP for Boozer, but god knows.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Jul 1, 2009 -> 03:37 PM) Ya, Gordon's .455 FG% is way better than Salmons' .472...oh, wait. And yet all you have to do is look at PER and you are able to see their careers in a nutshell. Gordon has a 16.0 PER, Salmons a wonderful, bousterous PER of 12.8.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jul 1, 2009 -> 03:29 PM) Let's see if he can guard or shoot on John Salmons. Salmons isn't close to a top 10 SG in the league. I'm pretty sure Ben would not worry about him. And guys, if you thought Ben's 15FGA a game were bad(I don't know how you would), wait until you see Salmons realize he is the best shooter on the floor.