Dick Allen

Woj is saying Dunleavy won't be in the sign and trade. One thing is for sure, the Bulls are going to lead the league in white guys.

With Tanaka hurt, Abreu is a lock for RoY.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Jul 12, 2014 -> 02:57 PM) 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. I just hope they end the BS of making moves or refusing to make moves so they have cap space the next time there is a decent free agent class. They have proven that doesn't work.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Jul 12, 2014 -> 02:33 PM) 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". 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.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Jul 12, 2014 -> 02:12 PM) 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. 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?

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jul 12, 2014 -> 02:07 PM) I can't believe my eyes right now. Let me get this straight. This is supposedly a great team (the best since Michael) even though Rose has played 10 games in the last three years, have a guy (they still haven't signed) in Mirotic that may or may not be the next Toni Kukoc, an Adam Morrison clone, and a 34-year old Gasol? Only in Chicago is this acceptable. We needed a SCORER. Why? Because WE CAN'T SCORE. 2+2=4. They failed again. #tryhard Again health was mentioned. Rose is a pretty good player when healthy. Fraschilla said if Mirotic was in this draft, he would have been top 4. McDermott was a lottery pick and a guy who the Bulls think was the best shooter in the draft. And Gasol got 17 and 10 last year. He isn't quite a stiff yet. They get another scorer, they who in the east is clearly better then them? Granted they didn't add Beasley or Oden. You know, real talent.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Jul 12, 2014 -> 01:57 PM) 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. Riley got LeBron as well. The fact is Melo went to a worse team with a worse future. I laugh at Knicks fans who actually think Phil will have this team ready to compete for a championship in a year. People use the excuse Chicago can't compete with NY or LA . Yet the guy who probably has made the most money playing basketball, and the woman who has made the most money in the entertainment industry the past 25 years or so, MJ and Oprah, did so based in Chicago.

QUOTE (kev211 @ Jul 12, 2014 -> 12:59 PM) This isn't on garpax. How much worse would this be if they gutted the team to offer him the max and he still said no? Melo took the money you can't blame him or the front office. Blame the CBA if you need a scape goat. 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.

QUOTE (jasonxctf @ Jul 11, 2014 -> 09:33 AM) And the special recognition appears to be a Hat and T-Shirt to wear around town that says Foul Weather Fan. I don't see why anyone would be offended at the promotion. If it helps entice people to go to foul weathered games fine. I don't however, find a t-shirt and appropriate giveaway here. Stick with the theme and upgrade.

I don't know if it has always been, but Melo's official website thisismelo.com has red and black borders right now.

If Melo left $50 + million on the table, I would totally respect him. I would think he's stupid, but I would respect him.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jul 11, 2014 -> 02:18 PM) 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. But this is different. Buying Boozer, as much as it didn't work out, didn't prevent them from spending in future years. It was money that wasn't going to be available in the future. With Butler due a raise, this team will be cap hostage fairly soon. They don't have 2 or 3 years to spend the money that is available now.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jul 11, 2014 -> 02:06 PM) 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. There are plenty of decent options, but they can't twist in the wind waiting for Melo to say no, and be left holding a bag of money they can't pay to the decent options. If Melo plays the Bulls, and Gasol et al. are off the board, when they get their answer, it's time for Gar/Pax to take a hike, and I have never been a Gar/Pax hater.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jul 11, 2014 -> 02:00 PM) 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. 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.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jul 11, 2014 -> 01:48 PM) 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. As long as Rose stays healthy, they should be really fun to watch, but getting one more piece could be really special. Whether that is available near the deadline or next year with contracts situations, I do not know. Like when they had to spend the Boozer money in 2010. If they didn't spend it then, they weren't going to be able to the next year, at least not that much. I'm not sure of next year's available money.

My only fear is Melo decides to stay with the Knicks just after all the Bulls other options dry up.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Jul 11, 2014 -> 01:35 PM) That's better than euthanized. Each term is appropriate for the Booz cruise.

Lin and Asik are going to be taking some very important physicals.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 11, 2014 -> 01:31 PM) I just want to laugh at this really quick: PG - Norris Cole SG - Wade SF - Granger PF - McBob C - Haslem But if they retain Beasley and Oden,............

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Jul 11, 2014 -> 01:19 PM) Taking Boozer in a deal you get the full value of his cap number when it expires. If you sign him after he is cut you only get the number he signed for with whatever team he chooses big difference. To me the only motivation picking up Boozer at full price is what comes back with him. You have to figure he is at least $10 million overpriced at this point, if not more.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jul 11, 2014 -> 01:18 PM) Stein said Bulls are trying to get Wade and Anthony! Oh, the guy who said the Bulls had no chance with Carmelo, and never did, and they knew it. These guys are pretty good. When they are right, they let everyone know, when they couldn't be more wrong, they just let it slide off their backs like it never happened.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 11, 2014 -> 01:08 PM) If Boozer is Amnesthetized, his contract does not count at all against the salary cap for this year. He could not be used in a sign and trade at all. The Bulls would pay him whatever on his contract is not picked up by another team and that would be the end of it. There is no way to do both an amnesty and a sign and trade. That's not my question. My question is why pick up Boozer in a sign and trade with pretty worthless draft picks and other crappy pieces , allowing the Bulls to give Melo more money and use an exception for a guy like Mirotic, when you can still get Boozer's expiring contract at the amnesty auction if that is some attraction, and you force Melo to accept less money and one of your rivals won't be able to make other moves? IMO, the only motivation Phil should have accepting Boozer is if you give him something really good to go along with it. Not something mediocre. And I think draft picks at the bottom of round 1 are mediocre.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Jul 11, 2014 -> 12:58 PM) Agree Wiggins has to be included. I think Cleveland has Miamis pick next year if they want from the lebron trade circa 2010. That'll be worth something now. Wow. I didn't know that. The double whammy. Not only does he leave and make you suck, but he gets your draft pick as well. Well played LeBron.

As far as using Boozer for a sign and trade. How does it work if Boozer is amnestied and another team picks him up at a reduced rate? If it still is counted as an expiring contract, Phil really doesn't have much motivation other than to do the Bulls and Melo a solid, which makes no competitive sense, if he can just pay Boozer a good sum at the amnesty auction, still have it expiring on his books but Melo would have to take less, and the Bulls would have fewer tools to work with. It's not like the Bulls adding Melo is going to make future draft picks very attractive. So unless they are including pieces like Mirotic or McBuckets, why do it? When is Butler's contract up? He's going to get paid. I don't know if Phil would really want that either.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Jul 11, 2014 -> 12:50 PM) FWIW he did say he'd sign long term if Lebron was there. Don't think I'd do that if I was the Wolves....They have to demand Wiggins. No way. The first round pick is weak sauce and the other 2 are a #1 overall bust and a guy they wanted to get rid of before LeBron became a real possibility. I agree. Wiggins gets it done if I am Minnesota. The Cavs can keep their crap.