Chicago Bulls Thread

[Moz]

The thing with Love is that he's not a shot creator... I've watched some Wolves games the past years and from what I see he himself relies on his teammates who's getting double teamed on the post (Pekovic/Jefferson) or through with an abundance of pick and roll with slasher-type players (Ridnour/Brewer/Rubio/Martin/Barea) who themselves are capable to invite defenses away from him and I reckon the Bulls doesn't have that...

Rose?

And if he's covered/not available who else is there? It'll be more likeable for me if Deng is still around but with what they have now? I'll pass...

I'm not sure anyone that the Bulls have in the frontcourt at the moment is capable of putting up Love's 26 and 12. I'm not disputing his abilities as a shot creator, but I imagine he'd still be able to give them a boost offensively.

Again, the players they have now are capable to put up the same production collectively... Anyways, as you said and I also believe that the Bulls are done with the offseason and this will not likely get through...

[shadowgrin]

Dump the ball to Gasol who can create shots in the low post.

[Stress Fracture]

I don't know about this.

The Chicago Bulls have offered a package of Taj Gibson and rookies Doug McDermott and Nikola Mirotic to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Kevin Love, a league source told SheridanHoops.com on Wednesday.

Read more at http://www.sheridanhoops.com/2014/07/23 ... HkyXzXt.99

[_Steve_]

I don't know about this.

The Chicago Bulls have offered a package of Taj Gibson and rookies Doug McDermott and Nikola Mirotic to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Kevin Love, a league source told SheridanHoops.com on Wednesday.

Read more at http://www.sheridanhoops.com/2014/07/23 ... HkyXzXt.99

Don't like this. This is too much. 2 of 3 would be ok, but I wouldn't send McDermott and Mirotic away.

[Andrew]

Not many outlets picking up on that rumour. Also consider the trade restrictions under the current CBA, notably this one:

In addition, teams cannot trade players under the following circumstances:

• For 30 days after signing as a draft pick. This applies even for later-signed first round picks, who are signed using cap room at least three seasons after they are drafted

McDermott signed his rookie contract on July 22nd, so assuming the Bulls were going to include him in a trade for Love, the deal couldn't be completed for almost another month. It seems strange that a team making a push for a player would offer a deal that couldn't be completed quickly, giving the other team plenty of time to mull over the offer and consider potentially better ones. I wouldn't be surprised if this one was bogus.

[air gordon]

In addition, teams cannot trade players under the following circumstances:

• For 30 days after signing as a draft pick. This applies even for later-signed first round picks, who are signed using cap room at least three seasons after they are drafted

McDermott signed his rookie contract on July 22nd, so assuming the Bulls were going to include him in a trade for Love, the deal couldn't be completed for almost another month. It seems strange that a team making a push for a player would offer a deal that couldn't be completed quickly, giving the other team plenty of time to mull over the offer and consider potentially better ones. I wouldn't be surprised if this one was bogus.

the rumor around town is Chicago has given a deadline for Flip to decide on the offer.

I would trade Gibson, McD, Mirotic to get Love. in fact while they are swinging for the fences, may as well get minny's salary dump in the form of Kevin Martin. throw in MDJ and whatever garbage to make the salaries within 5mil of each other. all contingent on Love resigning of course
Noah
Love
Butler
Martin
Rose
bench: Gasol, Snell, Hinrich, Brooks, Bairstow, Marion

one can only dream.

deals like this never happen for the bulls.

[Moz]

in fact while they are swinging for the fences, may as well get minny's salary dump in the form of Kevin Martin.

I'll change my stance on this if he's included in the package... only reasonable option to lose those players... man if only they just signed a wing like Jodie Meeks earlier they don't have to put up all of this...

[_Steve_]

I would trade Gibson, McD, Mirotic to get Love. in fact while they are swinging for the fences, may as well get minny's salary dump in the form of Kevin Martin. throw in MDJ and whatever garbage to make the salaries within 5mil of each other. all contingent on Love resigning of course
Noah
Love
Butler
Martin
Rose
bench: Gasol, Snell, Hinrich, Brooks, Bairstow, Marion

one can only dream.

deals like this never happen for the bulls.

Your team would really stink on defense compared to last year.
Love sucks as a defensive team player and can't guard pick and rolls. Rose and Martin are average defenders at best. Thibs would need to change his (defensive) game plan most likely.

[air gordon]

Don't hate on my hypotheticals

Trade off some defense for a lot of offense.

Let thibs scheme work it's magic. We've already seen the bulls as a top tier defense with boozer and mdj in the lineup

Obviously Gibson's versatility to cover the pick and roll and "ice" would be missed

[Moz]

Though I know Thibs system with both Noah and Butler covering the post and perimeter defense will be alright, I'm worried about their substitutes... Bairstow is slow and kinda an undersize C/PF... Gasol, although he's long enough to be a decent rim defender, is (like Love) defensively unreliable on pick n roll/switches... Snell is also long but his defensive IQ is fluctuating... and yeah I hope this is all about just to crack Cleveland to finally drop their panties for Minnesota....

[_Steve_]

Don't hate on my hypotheticals

Trade off some defense for a lot of offense.

Let thibs scheme work it's magic. We've already seen the bulls as a top tier defense with boozer and mdj in the lineup

Obviously Gibson's versatility to cover the pick and roll and "ice" would be missed

Don't get me wrong, I think Love would be a great addition to an already good team.
It's just that I can't think of Thibs as an offensive mastermind.
But as you've mentioned, it's just hypothetical...

[air gordon]

I'm surprised the issue of depth is the argument vs acquiring love. We already saw the how the 2010 team fared then. Not good enough. Even with defensive stalwarts gibson and asik rotating off the bench

So goes the saying you can't make chicken salad from chicken shit. Thibs offensive schemes will look better with talent. I doubt any other coach could have done any better with last year's roster.

[NovU]

Love is the key for the balanced Eastern Conference. He puts nearly any decent team over the top in East. There is no clear best team at the moment but Love can mean the world difference between the teams like Bulls and Cavs (throw in Pacers and Heat to the list if they hypothetically obtain Love w/o giving up the core like Hibbert, PG, Wade, and Bosh)

It's almost evidently clear whichever team gets him will separate themselves from the pack.

[Kevin]

But you should all know that Love (and his team) has a curse, they can't get past the first round of the playoffs.

[NovU]

But you should all know that Love (and his team) has a curse, they can't get past the first round of the playoffs.

This curse would make more sense if Love played in the playoffs, ever.

[Andrew]

But you should all know that Love (and his team) has a curse, they can't get past the first round of the playoffs.

They'd have to get there, first. The fact that they haven't goes beyond anything that Love has (or hasn't) done. Also, the Timberwolves have been out of the first round before, albeit only once.

Meanwhile, Andrew Wiggins has just signed his rookie contract with the Cavaliers, so he can't be traded for 30 days. So yeah, if the Bulls and Cavs are indeed the frontrunners, we definitely won't be seeing a deal until late August.

[Moz]

I'm surprised the issue of depth is the argument vs acquiring love.

It's just that acquiring Love, unlike Carmelo, seems redundant... you need depth on an injury prone team which what the Bulls are for the last few years...

[air gordon]

I think it's more a case of Rose being injured

No team can build a roster deep enough to withstand their top player out for the year and 2nd leading scorer (2013).

Finding a star in this league is a difficult thing. Unless you draft him, you are probably going to overpay to sign or trade for him.

This is a great opportunity as love is entering his prime and is basically forcing his way out. The bulls have a good offer that doesn't gut the roster either. How often are the stars going to align like this lol?

But as you say, this all may be an exercise in getting Cleveland to ass rape themselves.

[Sauru]

But as you say, this all may be an exercise in getting Cleveland to ass rape themselves.

i am positive that minnesota wants wiggins above all others and they are going to use others teams to try and get the cavs to over pay for love. it might work too. question is will love really sign long term seeing as lebron only has a 2(1) year deal?

[Andrew]

There's probably a decent chance. LeBron's short term is reportedly less about having an early escape route, and more about being able to get an even bigger deal when the league's new TV deal (and quite possibly a new CBA) comes into effect.

[air gordon]

Wouldn't love want to do the same thing also?

Assuming no more trades, what do you think should be the starting lineup? Thibs 4th quarter lineup?

[Andrew]

USA Basketball off to a rosy beginning

There was much anticipation and a festive atmosphere Monday on the UNLV campus for the opening of USA Basketball training camp for the 2014 Basketball World Cup. It was Derrick Rose’s latest return from multiple knee surgeries, and the reviews were spectacular.

“Better than four years ago,” raved coach Mike Krzyzewski.

“Looked real explosive, I thought he was one of the best players here,” said Bulls rookie Doug McDermott, a member of the USA Select Team scrimmaging against the USA National Team hopefuls and with his own foot injury basically past.

“The same (speed and explosiveness). The strength in his leg is great. His explosion is back. That’s all there,” enthused Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, a USA assistant to Krzyzewski.

“If today was any indication he is going to be just fine. I think it’s a glowing report for a great player. I’m excited for him. You are talking about a former MVP in the league. I did not see any loss of explosiveness. I saw him turn, go to the hoop with reckless abandon a little bit, hit some outside shots, excellent defense,” agreed USA chairman Jerry Colangelo.

All promising stuff, coming off another major injury.

[Kevin]

That's what they also said. "All promising stuff, coming off another major injury." Then WHAM. Rose goes down once again.

[Andrew]

That he did. Sure was bad luck.

[Moz]

Assuming no more trades, what do you think should be the starting lineup? Thibs 4th quarter lineup?

I expect that only a couple of players will be just the difference for his starting and 4th quarter/finisher line-up... Noah, Gibson, Dunleavy, Butler, Rose as the starters then you'll shift Butler to SF and Hinrich will be their SG as finishers (assuming based on Thibs' formula last season)...

That's what they also said. "All promising stuff, coming off another major injury." Then WHAM. Rose goes down once again.

What do you expect will they say then? No matter what the truth of his condition is, they should say this "optimistic" praises to sell tickets, and for Rose case, and their products....