Balta1701

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jun 27, 2013 -> 03:59 PM) I guess? Don't tell me you are softening. If you can dump Dunn, do it now. This is one place where I'm not going to stop agreeing with Greg. If there's anything you can do to clear a decent portion of Dunn's contract, you have to do it.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jun 27, 2013 -> 03:54 PM) I don't know why you guys want to trade pitching. It's like you want us to be out of the race in April the next several years. You know how long it's going to take to rebuild if all facets of our team suck? Because we have so much of it that we're putting guys in the bullpen who should be in the rotation getting innings and we have more on the way even beyond that.

QUOTE (ZoomSlowik @ Jun 27, 2013 -> 01:23 PM) So if Miami wins 60-something games it somehow supports your point that they're unbeatable, but when someone else does it "they're just not good enough." Got it. I've never said someone else besides the Heat was the favorite, but it won't be a cakewalk for them. Barring putting a hit out on Lebron, there's nothing the Bulls can do that will make them "the favorite". That's the real problem I see with J4L's point. If it's true that the current Bulls roster cannot beat the Heat as-is unless Lebron gets hurt (which may very well be true), then the next question is...what can the Bulls do to upgrade? If the answer to that is "Give up every asset they have for a guy like Aldrige who probably won't put them over the top", then the Bulls have 2 options. Be content with losing to Lebron until either that team falls apart or some other team helps the Bulls out Pau-Gasol style, or throw in the towel for the next few years, trade away everything, and maybe try to be competitive again when Rose is around 30.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jun 27, 2013 -> 11:57 AM) Can some mod close this thread so people stop posting in it and use the new one? Yay I get the last word in the thread. My last words are "ok".

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jun 27, 2013 -> 11:45 AM) Doesn't even matter. It's not happening. So are you just pouting or are you advocating dismantling the team?

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jun 27, 2013 -> 03:22 AM) Jimmy Butler is fast becoming the most overrated player in the NBA (far as Soxtalk goes). He's a piece. Not the difference. Stop it. The Bulls need another star. That's the only way in the 2007+ nba (and that might not even be enough). Is "Lamarcus Aldridge" that other star?

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 26, 2013 -> 09:27 PM) Hawk with a mini rant there about how bad the defense has been. Meanwhile, the same lineup is used every day. Gillaspies not in it! That's somethig! We can call that punishment!

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 26, 2013 -> 09:24 PM) More terrible defense by the usual suspects this inning. Alexei has to be among the worst defensive SS this season. Does it even need said any more? If a run scores on anything but a solo hr, its on the defense.

“@MDGonzales: Peavy threw for about seven minutes, about 75 feet. "It was good," peavy said.” “@MDGonzales: Peavy: "I want to pitch in Chicago and want the games to be meaningful." Still realizes he could be dealt.” “@scottmerkin: Peavy, who played catch today, thinks right around the All-Star break is realistic for his return”

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jun 26, 2013 -> 04:42 PM) The Windows 8.1 preview is officially available for download. Installing right now. Let me know if it's decent. At some point soon I need a new PC although the funds to actually buy one may have been sequestered.

QUOTE (lord chas @ Jun 26, 2013 -> 05:01 PM) I may be wrong, but thought I have heard that using the amnesty on Boozer this year would provide minimal cap room. It would put the Bulls under the luxury tax threshold but they wouldn't have anything really to spend. Right now they have the mini-mid-level-exemption for teams above the luxury tax line of $3.5 million to spend. If they amnesty Boozer, it would save JR Luxury tax dollars, but they'd only get upgraded to the normal-MLE of $5 million to spend.

QUOTE (2nd_city_saint787 @ Jun 26, 2013 -> 04:50 PM) Though rather complex wouldn't something like this work out? Portland gets #1,#20, and the bobcats pick Cleveland gets T Robinson and Deng Houston gets rid of the cap space like they are looking to do Bulls get Aldridge So the Bulls lose both their pick this year, the Bobcats pick, and Deng, and don't wind up with any improvement in their cap situation out of it?

A least someone's being disciplined for that horrible play yesterday. Gillaspie, take that!

QUOTE (ZoomSlowik @ Jun 26, 2013 -> 04:19 PM) Yeah, that's a bit of a stretch since they're at that point anyways unless they amnesty Boozer. Unless you think they'd really just let Deng walk with no significant replacements... If they Amnesty Boozer and Deng isn't immediately resigned next offseason, the Bulls will be at $47 million counting this year and next year's draft picks and assuming they don't sign anyone. That room to play with would be fairly useful

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jun 26, 2013 -> 04:17 PM) Being real here, you aren't going to "shut" Miami down offensively, and it's still going to be difficult to beat their defense. Aldridge gives you some ability to space while allowing you to better clog the lane. Isn't that exactly what happened when they played the Bulls in 2011? The 2 teams beat the living daylights out of each other, nobody could score, and the Heat closed better.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jun 26, 2013 -> 04:08 PM) Why is it "clearly" not a future pick? Because the Bulls cannot take Aldridge's salary on without giving up an equal amount of salary. Worse, since Deng's contract ends next year but Aldridge's doesn't, they could put themselves in a position where they can't find the money to bring over Mirotic either.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jun 26, 2013 -> 03:59 PM) Bird in hand worth 2 in bush. If Bulls can add Aldridge and just give up a future pick, you do it. Clearly it's not "Just a future pick" since something would have to match the salaries. That's Deng, Boozer, or Noah. Deng for Aldridge leaves the Bulls with a moderately screwed up roster. Boozer could be amnesthetized in that case, but that leaves the Bulls for want of a shooting guard again. Noah + the pick for Aldridge I think we can all hesitate about, I wouldn't come close to doing that unless Noah's health was going the way of Greg Oden. Boozer + the pick I don't know why the Blazers would do that; if they trade for Boozer they can't amnesty him.

QUOTE (ZoomSlowik @ Jun 26, 2013 -> 03:49 PM) I think we should stop thinking that the Charlotte pick is going to be a major piece. Remember, they have to be terrible for THREE more seasons before it's unprotected. If they hit any picks at all over the next 3 drafts (and they are owed two more potential lottery picks), it's going to be a late lottery pick. Then factor in that most rookies need 2 or 3 years to be really effective and it could be a totally different roster by the time it pays off at all. Noah will be in his mid-30's by then. I'm of the opposite opinion...I think the way the new CBA has shaped up, late lottery picks have even grown in value from the time the Bulls got that pick traded to them. A guy who contributes somewhat under a rookie contract has never been more valuable in the NBA, and that's what late lottery picks can do.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jun 26, 2013 -> 03:29 PM) Oh, guys. I hope I'm proven wrong, but believing any sort of hype around a possible trade involving the Bulls has proven futile. The only additions you'll see are possible last man off the bench trash and of course a well-scouted 1st rounder who should contribute in a year or two. You continue to be accurate with this post. Still fun to speculate. Any guesses on who they'll bring in with the min-MLE as their outside shooter?

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jun 26, 2013 -> 03:27 PM) I honestly think Castellanos is perfect value for Reed, though in a vacuum I would try to acquire another low level prospect as well. The problem is that I don't think the Tigers need a young, stud closer in Reed so badly that they feel the need to trade away their best prospect and arguably a top 20 prospect in the game to a rival. I mean, this seems like you are going to an extreme in petitioning and debating the merits of this deal when, really, there's probably a 1 in 1,000,000 chance this deal comes to fruition. This. The only thing I'd add is "if the White Sox can't get this kind of value, there's no reason to trade Reed".

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jun 26, 2013 -> 03:25 PM) How is Morel handling back issues w/out surgery? I respect him for giving it a last shot. I wonder what Crede is doing these days? He made a lot of money. Just retired? Joe Crede is retired and watching his kids grow up. Sounds like he still has some back problems. Morel's issues weren't that bad yet. He started off slowly but has picked it up and has been hitting about .300 with an OPS close to .850 since May 1 (sorta what you might expect if he's recovering from injury and a long time off). He's playing like he'll get a shot on a big league roster again at some point. Just might not be ours; he's not doing anything that would make you think "I need to bring him up right now".

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jun 26, 2013 -> 03:17 PM) Word is that the Bulls may trade #20 for Thomas Robinson. The Cavs have #19 and they may use that to trade for Robinson as well. The Bulls might have to sweeten the pot a bit. Also, the Bulls then plan to use Robinson as part of a bigger trade. I don't think the Bulls could trade for Robinson directly. They can't package the trade exemption with a draft pick IIRC, and they can't take on salary. They'd need something else there.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jun 26, 2013 -> 03:18 PM) All three are better than Reed right now, also. Reed has a better ERA than Cishek in a much more hitter-friendly park. Reed has a much lower WHIP, is striking out more batters, and walking fewer.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jun 26, 2013 -> 03:14 PM) And Conor Gillaspie's wife opens up the door for Morel. He could get an extra base hit in every at bat and I wouldn't call this "opening the door" for him. Good chance he doesn't play at all.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jun 26, 2013 -> 03:10 PM) Or so his reputation suggests. I remember him being pretty mediocre from what I saw :\ He was really bad but that was in part because his back went out.