2nd_city_saint787

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jul 14, 2014 -> 07:08 PM) It's just that I don't think Bulls fans realize or are simply naive to how daunting a task it will be for Rose to get back to his past level in one year. The guy has missed roughly 3 years. It'd be an accomplishment if he were to even play at Kyle Lowry's 2014 level, let alone 2011 mvp, this upcoming season. This is why whiffin' on Melo sucks so much ass. With Melo, Rose doesn't have to dominate. I guess that's fair to think....I do think it'll take him a few months but I don't think it's that naive to think come playoff time he'll be god enough for the Bulls to be serious contenders. He was already showing signs last year in just 10 games.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jul 14, 2014 -> 06:54 PM) So sick of "if Rose is healthy" this team is whatever. Rose has to be more than just healthy. He has to be healthy and dominate. We all saw how bad he looked at the start of last year. Now add another year of rehab/rust/etc to that. I'm pretty sure that's what everyone means when they say "if Rose is healthy". Takes too long to "and is dominate" He'll be rusty but he's got 5 months to knock ff said rust. Even a rusty Rose for a few months will get the Bulls in the playoffs. It's when they get there when he has to be back to the All Star level for the Bulls to have a chance at a title.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jul 14, 2014 -> 06:36 PM) I know what you mean, but Butler has 0 length. He has T-Rex arms. He and Noah (who also has shorter arms) are just crafty, tenacious defenders. Just looked it up, you are correct. Guess I just assumed a 6'7" sg who is as good as he is defensively would have great length. I stand corrected. But ya defensively he and Snell out there together should still be a tough group to score on.

Finally got around to watching the Snell and DMD highlights from yesterday....I know its summer league but you still gotta be impressed with the range they displayed. I'm pulling for Tony to impress enough to be the starter along side Butler. Those guys length out there together is gonna make it really tough on opposing wings. I like this team. Somewhat surprisingly so do most of the talking heads on ESPN. SAS and Skip Bayless both think the Bulls are the team to beat in the East (yes I'm aware who those 2 are). There's been quite a few other guys that have said the same. If Rose is healthy it wouldn't shock me one bit if this team comes out of the East.....Even if Kirk gets hurt and they are forced to play Mike James 15 min per game.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jul 12, 2014 -> 07:04 PM) Happy bday bud. #bestintheworld id like to think I am....thanks aaron

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jul 12, 2014 -> 07:03 PM) You must not drink a lot. nope....#overrated

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Jul 12, 2014 -> 06:59 PM) Happy birthday SCS. Drinking one for ya right now. Why thank you snoop.....I've had my share already.....trying to rest getting too outta control on here vefore round 2

its my birthday birches!

im glad its my birthday and im alrray drubk and dont feel like reading all thesesr hareful messages aviut my precious bulls........Doug McDermoot FTW! oh and ;ancve steveson is a stroke! Vince Carter FTW!

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 12, 2014 -> 02:50 PM) I am sure they covered every base, but they couldn't close the sale. There were several other teams that failed as well, but this is a pattern. So you either have to really re-think putting much hope of signing this type of player, or hire someone who can get it done. If Phil was running the Bulls and Gar/Pax the Knicks, do you think Melo makes the same choice? It is possible, maybe even probable, but i think he would have been a Bull. I know it is easy for me to say that now, and Gar/Pax were probably set up to fail, but fail they did. You don't get paid for effort. You get paid for results. Absolutely. To me Melo staying in NY HAS to be about the $$....That too is easy for me to say though as well. All we can do is specualate at this point. People can have their opinions, IMO in 2010 Lebron/Bosh/Wade had already had it planned to play together and cap wise the Bulls couldn't make that happen. This year I think Melo is all about his $$ like we've heard from day 1. That's just my opinion, and opinions are all we have, there are no facts out there.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 12, 2014 -> 02:20 PM) Free agency is like college basketball recruiting. You either get it done or you don't. Bruce Weber loses a 5 star to Kansas, you understand, say he did what he can do. If it happens every time, and he always winds up with a 3 star guy, you eventually have to either accept that is how it is going to be or make a change. We will see how this plays out. No excuses. If they bow it in the first couple rounds of the playoffs, IMO Gar/Pax needs to move along. If the Bulls had space for a max contract next summer and Durant was going to be a free agent, is there anyone here that really thinks Gar/Pax gets it done? I just don't see what a different GM could have done differently. I'm sure they covered every base in their 12 hour meeting or however long it was..Guess I'm just missing something, or maybe I'm too "close minded".

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jul 12, 2014 -> 02:02 PM) Says the guy who doesn't watch college basketball. I'm done giving GarPax a pass. Nobody knows what went on behind the scenes but I do know this isn't a championship team and their entire body of work deserves to get scrutinized. I've watched enough "film" on him to think he'll at least be better than Dunleavy....Obviously calling him a "boss" is a joke, but I see no reason why he can't have a nice long NBA career. If you dont wanna give Melo a pass that's fine, we all are entitled to an opinion. IMO the Bulls did all they could. 12 hour meeting, got Rose/Noah/Taj/Thibs to recruit, supposedly lined up deals to clear money for Melo, put that mans picture all over the UC, took that man out to dinner.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 12, 2014 -> 01:46 PM) It isn't, and it is. If Phil or Riley were running the Bulls,, under the same circumstances, I bet they get Melo. It is pretty rare a guy like Melo changes teams in the NBA through free agency, but if the Bulls are going to throw personalities like Krause, and Gar/Pax at these guys, they probably shouldn't even bother. Work on trades and the draft. Unless you have a bigger name inspiring guys when they visit, you wind up with the consolation prize. That said, assuming they stay healthy, this is going to be probably the Best Bulls team since Michael left. If they add another shooter, I see no reason they can't compete for the comference championship. The guy who just lost Lebron? Agreed with the 2nd part of the post though. If everyone stays healthy, which is always a key, this is still a team that could make a lot of noise.

Doug McDermott is gonna be a boss anyway....

QUOTE (thxfrthmmrs @ Jul 12, 2014 -> 12:59 PM) If those reports were true and Bulls can offer Melo close to the max through a S&T, then shame on Phil for not making the better basketball decision by doing the S&T to clear up cap space and rebuild. Signing Melo for $25 mil a year when you have no young talent and draft picks build around is not going build you a winner. Phil supposedly "Has a plan", and I'm sure that "plan" included Melo. If he really thinks he can put together a championship team in a year or 2 then there's no reason for him to entertain a sign and trade. It blows...but s*** happens.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jul 12, 2014 -> 12:55 PM) Their best isn't good enough. When they be held accountable? Their best isn't good enough because of the rules that the Knicks could offer significantly more $$$....

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Jul 12, 2014 -> 12:44 PM) How is it their fault this time? It seems like they did everything they could.. Melo is just greedy and likes losing I guess It's not, people just love to be haters....It's EXACTLY like the Robin hate. All done in hindsight. People LOVED hearing about all they did in trying to recruit Melo, there wasn't anything more they can do. You can't force this s*** to happen.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 12, 2014 -> 12:41 PM) I love that the bulls early on decided to go after melo over love, took on salary and used both firsts, cleared zero salary before meeting with melo, then upon it being clear melo wasn't convinced a 10 mill per year salary was enough, decided 34 yr old Gasol was plan B. Your bulls management ladies and gentleman. Queue gar pax apologists "it's not their fault! They are only GMs, what power do they have?" Ya...Bulls clearly should have moved all their salary BEFORE they even knew they were getting him....Brilliant. They did all they can do, there were reports that they had trades lined up to get Melo his money, it just didn't happen....This isn't xbox man, this is real life.

QUOTE (Brian @ Jul 12, 2014 -> 12:12 PM) I'd offer Wade $10 mil a year if we can, just to see if he'd take it. I just don't want Hinrich back. Get a diff guard. Need a backup PG somewhere....Gimme DJ I reckon. DJ, Niko, Wade/Ariza/Pierce/Carter, and I guess maybe Pau Rose/DJ Wade/Butler DMD/MJD Taj/Niko Noah/Pau

QUOTE (kev211 @ Jul 12, 2014 -> 12:03 PM) Woj reporting it's done. Melo to remain a knick.

QUOTE (thxfrthmmrs @ Jul 12, 2014 -> 09:56 AM) Regardless, Gasol is an upgrade over Taj and Mirotic offensively. I think he would be a bargain if they sign him for less than $10 mil per. Boozer and Noah used to be injury prone, the Bulls training staff has kept them relatively healthy the past couple of years. Signing Gasol means we will need to give up Taj in any S&T with Knicks. I wonder who we will bring in as a backup defensive big to fill Taj's shoes, because running both Gasol and Mirotic out there will be atrocious defensively. I think Greg Smith and his 900k salary probably sticks around as a backup big with Pau/Niko/Noah. From reports I'm reading he's been solid defensively in the NBA after not really playing D in college.

Alright Melo, I'm awake, so anytime now.... I'm down with trading Taj if it means Pau/Melo in sign and trades. That'd be huge.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Jul 11, 2014 -> 08:17 PM) So much for 8 My sources say all parties involved are aware of my birthday tomorrow and will wait until then to announce the deal.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jul 11, 2014 -> 06:43 PM) If it breaks at 8 pm he deserves credit I reckon..... I want it to happen tomorrow.....Why? Because it's my birthday!

De Aza is a boss.