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QUOTE (MexSoxFan#1 @ Jul 10, 2014 -> 02:54 PM) Since it was me, and Quinavry to a certain extent, that were arguing with Steve and TRU, I just want to be clear in what I believe. Of course if you put LeBron on the current Cavs team, and if you include Love, that means they most likely won't have Wiggins because I read that the TWolves would ask for Wigs, they would be contenders right away, but I don't believe they would be unbeatable. They would be a very young team with no playoff experience and a coach with zero NBA experience. When LeBron went to Miami, he had a FMVP in Wade and another All Star player in Bosh, and they were surrounded by vets. The whole thing was supervised by Riley, the situation in Cleveland is a whole lot different. They don't have that kind of championship experience. That's the reason I said it would take the Cavs a year or two before they become unbeatable if their younger guys mature and turn out to be the players they're projected to be. I wouldn't trade Wiggins for Love to be honest, it could be just a rental and I really do think Wiggins is going to be a star in this league. It takes a team to win, the Cavs will flourish with today's greatest player but I'm not buying the notion that they can't be beaten in their first year or two together, especially considering the franchise, coach and youth of their team. Somehow that get's translated as having a venemous hate towards LeBron though when I never even questioned his status of today's greatest player, it's his team and coach I'm questioning. After all, it does take a team effort to win. They wouldn't be a lock to win the Finals. A seasoned team like the Spurs and a coach with experience like Pop will destroy them in the Finals.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jul 10, 2014 -> 07:11 AM) http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/23420...rade-For-Boozer Sources indicate that the Chicago Bulls hope to pursue a sign-and-trade with the Los Angeles Lakers involving Pau Gasol and the expiring contract of Carlos Boozer. The window to use the amnesty provision on Boozer officially started on Wednesday night. By trading Boozer in a deal for Gasol, the Bulls would keep their exceptions to target players such as possibly Nikola Mirotic, Trevor Ariza, Shawn Marion, Kirk Hinrich and Ramon Sessions. It is unlikely that a deal with Gasol would be longer than three years. Gasol is reportedly considering the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs and Lakers in addition to the Bulls. Via K.C. Johnson/Chicago Tribune Not sure if Gasol and Ariza will be an upgrade over Boozer and Deng we had for the past 3 and 1/2 years. I'd rather target Born Ready and another backup defensive big rather than Gasol to give Mirotic more playing time

#9 is definitely real, it crosses my mind every time I see Sale pitch

Tyler Flowers deserves to stay for a couple more weeks after making this video. http://m.mlb.com/video/v34430919/top-10-th...140709_27538916

Sale has retired the last two batters prior to Pedroia, his PC as at 107 at that point, I don't think anyone would have complained if Robin left him in there for one more batter, even if he eventually gives up the run. Simply put, I would leave Sale in 10 times out of 10 in high leverage situations over this bullpen, if his pitch count is under 115

I don't think Melo cared about winning all along. It's either that, or the Bulls' pitch totally bombed. Even if he wants the max or close to the max, the Bulls should be able to accommodate for it, if Melo tells the Knicks he wants to go to the Bulls for the Max. Something like Boozer, Dunleavy, Snell, trio of garbage contracts, and Hinrich (S&T as well) and picks, for Melo, JR, and Prigioni will help the Knicks reload for next year. That would put Bulls at about $77 mil for 10 players. Not great, but we can make more trade to get more further under the tax line. The opportunity is there, if he wants both the max and to win. The roster we have here will be far superior than what the Knicks can build for Melo in the next 2 years. Why he, or anyone, wouldn't come to Chicago, we don't know.

Note to self: do not waste any time dreaming about any possibility of Bull signing or trading for another superstar, until it actually happens, less productive time would be wasted on the internet reading rumors from so-called experts.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 01:57 PM) Except Melo appears to love everything about New York except the Knicks. I think he'd bide his time for a year if James has a 2 year deal, 1 year opt out. The knicks people, have basically 1 contract on the books for 2015-2016. I've said before, it's pretty impressive tbh what PHil Jackson has done so far. It makes some sense on Melo's side, but if I am Lebron, why would I compromise my contract so I can play with Melo in New York in 2016? The potential core of Kyrie Love and Lebron along with pieces like Thompson, Varejao, Waiters and Ray Allen is far better than whatever New York can buy after giving max to Melo and Lebron, if that does happen. If Lebron wants to play with Melo with a fresh roster, he can easily make that happen this year down in Miami.

I dont buy that Melo is willing to stay in New York if Lebron takes a 2 year deal in Cleveland or Miami. Why would he waste two years of his playing career trapped in misery that is New York and hope that Lebron decides to take a deal in NY two years from now. If playing with Lebron is his end goal, he can easily tell NY to target Lebron in a S&T, ask Lebron he stay in Miami and sign with them outright, or force a S&T between NY and CLE to get him to Cleveland. Him waiting on Lebron for two more years so he can watch Bron win 2 more rings just doesn't make sense.

Can't wait for the dominoes to fall tomorrow. I think at this point Lebron to Cleveland is the most likely scenario. Cavs would do Wiggins for Love in a heart beat if they want to win this year, not two years from now. That would make Melo to Bulls in a S&T all the more likely (24 hours ago Bulls were out, but then 24 hours ago Lebron still might have end up back to the Heat) to shift the East super power from Pacer Heat to Bulls and Cavs. Since Bulls and Thunder were considered front runners for Gasol, and Gasol was listening the Thunder's pitch for the MLE, he might just choose the Bulls even if it's for our MLE, as Rose, Melo, Noah and Butler trumps Durant, Westbrook and Ibaka in a weaker conference. If we do end up with Gasol on a 3-4 year deal, that pretty much makes either Taj or Mirotic expendable, and Mirotic would have more value and the easier one to trade. I would like to see something like Mirotic and MDJ for Alec Burke or Klay Thompson. Noah-Gasol-Melo-Butler-Rose with Taj, McD's, and Klay/Burke off the bench should be able to compete with the team they are building over in Cleveland.

What are restrictions for AFL? He's young enough where we might want to send him there to work on a few things to make up for the missed time.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jul 2, 2014 -> 01:22 PM) Ah the hurricanes will blow you guys off the map eventually. And you hit on the winter, but the summers there are brutal Snow falls once probably every 10 years, otherwise it's mid 40's And the last hurricane was 6 years ago.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Jul 2, 2014 -> 12:07 PM) I don't think this has been mentioned.... NBA trade machine says we have a 2M trade exception from the Deng trade and another 1M from the Teague trade....If I'm correct on how those work, that's another 3M to add into a S&T for Melo. The combination of Boozer and Dunleavy contract should be enough to match Melo's contract even if it's max. But the trade exceptions along with the James, Brewer and Amundson should be able to new them another quality piece if they want to go that route.

QUOTE (Chi Town Sox @ Jul 2, 2014 -> 11:20 AM) If you hate Houston that much, chances you you are doing it wrong. The first time I visited Houston, I wasn't able to leave downtown which is a little Ehhh. During my next visit, I was able to explore and it is indeed a cool place with cool areas. I would suggest doing some research before a next visit, there are tons of great spots outside and in the city. Take it for what it is. And to be honest, the best meal of my life was in Houston, Uchi. Outstanding restaurant in a cool part of town. West Alabama Ice House - one of the finest dive bars in existence Tacos Tierra Caliente - Best taco truck ever Ninfa's on Navigation - amazing TexMex and creator of the fajita Uchi - Ridulous Japanese restaurant Underbelly - Great food, some of the best desserts I have had in recent memory Uchi was probably the best sushi I've ever had. Expensive, but worth it. Fishes flown in overnight from Japan was worth every single buck.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Jul 2, 2014 -> 10:54 AM) Really think Parsons would be a star on the Bulls. But ya, like BMags said, if Mirotic is indeed coming over there's just no place for Boozer. I wouldn't hate to see them hold off a year and try for Love though (If they can't trade for him this year) Ideally they'd like to get rid of Boozer to give Mirotic more burn, but I think Melo is the only guy they are willing to amnesty Boozer over. For other guys, it would have to be a S&T, as the value add is not as high. Detroit might be the only team that will do a S&T for Monroe because they aren't in a win now mode. I can see Boozer and a few firsts and Snell for Monroe. They can start Drummond and J Smith in the front court and bring Boozer off the bench as a scorer. That would be the best way for them to rebuild IMO. They can also ease Mirotic into more playing time, and trade Boozer at the trade deadline as his expiring contract would be more valuable at that point.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 2, 2014 -> 10:55 AM) Dwight Howard was from the south. He also didn't like LA who has better city life/weather than Houston. Point is, weather in Houston is not as bad as you think. There no reason to think Melo would turn down Houston because they are "100 degree heat with just a strip mall".

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 2, 2014 -> 10:46 AM) So you'd want to pay Boozer to block minutes from Taj Gibson and Mirotic. Got it. They might give Taj more look at the C, or give Mirotic a few minutes at SF. They money doesn't mean anything to me, so I would amnesty the heck out of Boozer, but it does mean something to JR. I doubt any of those guys I mentioned are worth paying extra $15 mil over, in the event that we can't work out an S&T with their former team of course.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 2, 2014 -> 10:28 AM) No. sorry it sucks. it's a strip mall with 100 degree heat. QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Jul 2, 2014 -> 10:29 AM) Houston is like a small city that just happens to have a lot of people in it. Good way to put it too. Kind of like Phoenix, whose downtown looks like a suburban office park. Wow. Houston is definitely more than that. And given the basketball season (including training camp) is from Sept - May, the weather should be fair in those months, and basketball players don't always stay in their basketball city during off season. If I am a basketball player, I would probably pick Houston weather over Chicago weather, given how bad the winter can get during the season. And didn't Howard also choose to sign with Houston when weather and city life are also his priorities?

What is Bulls' plan B and C. All these talk on landing Melo, I'd probably give it a 25% chance given the heavy competition. If we strike out on Melo, who do we target next? Greg Monroe? 34 year old Gasol? Chandler Parson? I don't think any of those guys are worth JR paying Boozer amnestied contract for. Worst case (most likely) scenario would be sticking with Boozer and bringing in Mirotic along with the already drafted McDougie and call it an off season. I think that may cause some Bulls fan to riot and boycott the UC next season.

QUOTE (winninguglyin83 @ Jun 29, 2014 -> 06:30 PM) And a stolen base -- 28th -- from May. In May and June, he's hitting .317 with 38 runs scored, 15 doubles, 7 triples and 26 steals in 29 attempts. With an OPS of close to 1.000 for the month and 20/20 in SB attempts, keep it rolling Jacob!

QUOTE (scs787 @ Jun 27, 2014 -> 08:57 AM) I know it may be a little crazy to be craving UDFAs (I'm sure Rowand/Kyyle will bring up my love for the "independent worker") but there a few half way decent guys still out there. Patric Young was a guy I thought for sure would be drafted and he makes some sense. If not him then there's 2 other massive centers out there in Jordan Bachynski (7'2") and Sim Bhullar (7'5") that would be very interesting to see what Thibs can do with.. Also wouldn't mind seeing Deandre Kane picked up as the #3 PG behind Rose/?. Wouldn't mind bringing Young in as a project. Four years in Florida, I am sure Joakim has watched plenty of him and would push the FO to bring him him. I think he can excel as a defensive specialist off the bench under Thibs

Mehhh, wanted Napier and Daric. FWIW Doug is the 13th best prospect in ESPN ranking.

17 year old Ramon Beltre down in DSL is looking impressive so far with his speed and also excellent K/BB ratio for a 17 year old. Johan Cruz, 18 years old, who was one of the kids we signed for $400K a couple years back was on a pretty impressive run to get his OPS around .900, but has not played in the last few games. Hopefully he ends the year in one of the US teams.

Melo is nice, but I'd like to get greedy and get both Love and Affalo. Would like to see if we have enough trade chips to get both. If all Magic is looking for is a first rounder, we can package Dunleavy, combination of James, Amundson and Brewer and the 16th pick for Affalo. For Love, we will offer the rights to Mirotic, the carcass of Carlos Boozer, the 19th pick, first rounder next year, and the rights to the Kings pick for K Love. If we can somehow get Love without losing the defensive value of Taj and Jimmy, this team is going to be tremendous. Noah-Love-Butler-Affalo-Rose with Taj, Snell coming off the bench would be fun to watch.

QUOTE (Ozzie Ball @ Jun 15, 2014 -> 01:51 PM) Nathaniel Stoltz ‏@stoltz_baseball 31s Leyer continues to impress, working 92-95 t96 with command. He's only 21 years old as well, decent ERA and all. If he can finish the year strong in Kanny, he can be a real sleeper heading into next year.