Chicago Bulls Thread

[air gordon]

I'd hate to see him go but trading him should signal the end of at least Forman.

[Andrew]

That'd be...well, not a silver lining...aluminium, maybe?

[air gordon]

Haha
So what's your idea of turning this thing around? Don't think I've heard your opinion on this yet

[Andrew]

I have more confidence in building around Butler than GarPax apparently do, so I wouldn't be inclined to trade him. Wade's going to have his moments for the next couple of years, so keep him around for veteran leadership and to contribute what he can, when he can.

Cut Rondo loose, one way or the other; just don't take a bad contract for him. Buy him out, if need be. That experiment has clearly failed. Depending on how the rest of the season goes, I think MCW is a player to consider keeping. Even if he's not going to be a star or bona fide starter, he could be a Shaun Livingston type of backup/occasional starter.

While I wouldn't say he's untouchable, Gibson is solid and dependable, so he's someone I think they should keep unless there's a really big move on the table (think the Cavs acquiring Kevin Love). As I said, I'd keep Butler and Wade, probably MCW at this point (a tier below Gibson in the "tradeable" hierarchy), and everyone else...fair game.

They need to get some three-point shooting, and some athleticism. That might not happen until the offseason or the Draft, and they're probably going to be stuck in the middle again, so it's going to have to be a very shrewd pick. In the short term, maybe there's a long range gunner they can pluck from the D-League. Does Ben Gordon still want back in the league? Hell, give him a 10 day contract, see what he can still do. He can't be a worse move than Rondo at this point.

I think the biggest turnaround is going to have to happen in the offseason, and the long-term. This season is going to be hovering around .500, producing a couple of entertaining games here and there, maybe feature a token postseason appearance, and that's it. That's kind of what I expected coming into the season, though I'll admit I got my hopes up a bit after that 3-0 start.

[air gordon]

Keeping Gibson, MCW, adding 3pt shooting, mid 1st round pick... Does that move the needle significantly?? Short and long term? Wade is 35, GIbson 32. Garpax draft history the last 3yrs have been bad.

Who should be the Bulls free agents targets??

[Andrew]

It probably doesn't, unless they really make a big move in free agency. I doubt there's a quick fix or turnaround. If we're throwing out names that are at least semi-realistic though, perhaps Gordon Hayward, Serge Ibaka, Greg Monroe, and George Hill could be on the shortlist.

[air gordon]

I haven't looked at the free agent list. I'm always skeptical of the bulls landing a marquee free agent... especially one who is relatively in their prime

Hayward would be great

I'm on the fence on what to do. Either ride this season out or complete blowup. Maybe a big losing streak could sway me towards the latter

One thing to consider is Butler can/will opt out in 2 yrs. I don't think he wants to spend his prime years with a rebuilding/lottery roster

[Andrew]

Another question is Hoiberg. How much more of a chance does he get?

[air gordon]

I think his fate is tied to forman. A lot of years left On his contact and I don't think he will get immediately by another team.

How do you rate Hoiberg's performance?

[Andrew]

Unimpressive, still. I know there's issues with the roster he's got at his disposal, but he was being sold as an offensive wizard/guru, and that just doesn't seem to be the case, at least at the NBA level.

[air gordon]

I don't think he moves the needle either way so to speak hehe

i think he's been given a roster not conducive to the system he ran at Iowa state. He's got to be happy Rondo is done

Is there another coach that would make this teams offense any better??

Deserves credit for having a middle of the road defense.

[Andrew]

Yeah, that's fair. No other names spring to mind. Are there any former players looking to join the coaching ranks next year? I know that'd make at least one former Forum member happy.

[Andrew]

Rajon Rondo celebrated his bobblehead night with another DNP-CD

Unfortunately, the Bulls set their promotional giveaways for this season back when Rondo was supposed to occupy a big role. That means fans attending Monday night’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the United Center received the wonderful collector’s item of a Rajon Rondo bobblehead:

Awkward.

[Valor]

In even more bizarre fashion, they told him it was to "save him from himself", which he responded by calling it 'bullshit'

...and the drama continues.

[Andrew]

Sounds like they're trying to find a nice way to tell him his attitude sucks, and that was the best they could come up with.

[Valor]

Sounds like they're trying to find a nice way to tell him his attitude sucks, and that was the best they could come up with.

It might actually be plausible though, I mean if he burns out of Chicago again his NBA career might just be over. If he's seen as not fitting due to basketball reasons (and we know he doesn't fit Hoiberg's system) he might get another chance.

Though....can't really save a guy from himself when he spews it all out in the media immediately with an expletive. Rondo's done in the league, good riddance.

[Andrew]

Oh, definitely...though LeBron does supposedly want him in Cleveland. I think it's safe to say he hasn't caught on to, or has chosen to ignore, the subtle message here.

I remember reading an article about Rondo that noted that the guy is very smart (academically and in general), but he also tends to think of himself as the smartest person in the room, which leads him to be big-headed and disdainful of other people, alienating them in the process.

[Valor]

Oh, definitely...though LeBron does supposedly want him in Cleveland. I think it's safe to say he hasn't caught on to, or has chosen to ignore, the subtle message here.

I remember reading an article about Rondo that noted that the guy is very smart (academically and in general), but he also tends to think of himself as the smartest person in the room, which leads him to be big-headed and disdainful of other people, alienating them in the process.

Can't imagine why LeBron would want a non-elite-shooting ball hogger on his team, he's already got one in himself

Yeah like I said in earlier conversations, Rondo starting his career with the big 3 in Boston probably didn't help curb his ego cause everything was laid out for him to succeed there.

[air gordon]

this is great comedy.

Probably Rondo's anger has been festering since his benching. the bulls (management) were so desperate to win a game they let him play yesterday?! awesome

Poor Fred Hoiberg. he wants Rondo gone but he's still there... and playing. management sure has a knack for kicking Hoiberg in the sack.

[Andrew]

They wanted a coach they could control and push around, and they got one.

I doubt it ever happens, because it would require both entities of GarPax to be fired, but I wonder if things could turn around if they got a new head coach who also had front office power, similar to what Thibs has in Minnesota, Stan Van Gundy has in Detroit, or Gregg Popovich had in San Antonio before handing off the title and some of the duties to R.C. Buford. I don't have a name in mind or anything, but given all the internal conflict we've seen over the years, perhaps eliminating that power struggle and giving the coach a bit more control over the roster would help. If nothing else, there might be a bit more focus and a clear direction when assembling the roster.

Like I said though, probably not going to happen. I could see Hoiberg being fired, maybe Forman gets let go or reassigned, but Paxson will probably still be calling the shots.

[Valor]

I doubt it ever happens, because it would require both entities of GarPax to be fired, but I wonder if things could turn around if they got a new head coach who also had front office power, similar to what Thibs has in Minnesota, Stan Van Gundy has in Detroit, or Gregg Popovich had in San Antonio before handing off the title and some of the duties to R.C. Buford. I don't have a name in mind or anything, but given all the internal conflict we've seen over the years, perhaps eliminating that power struggle and giving the coach a bit more control over the roster would help. If nothing else, there might be a bit more focus and a clear direction when assembling the roster.

Like I said though, probably not going to happen. I could see Hoiberg being fired, maybe Forman gets let go or reassigned, but Paxson will probably still be calling the shots.

I'd give Thibs an open cheque to come back and be GM-Coach.

[air gordon]

When you wish upon a falling star...

So say the dream scenario happens and pax,gar, fred get fired. Who would you bring in as GM and coach?

Just to add some realism- the candidates can't be on a current NBA team... Or at least not rumored to be leaving/ not on the hot seat

[Andrew]

George Karl, obviously. Or perhaps not. Like I said, no names spring to mind, but I'll have to think. I'm open to suggestions.

(But probably not George Karl.)

[Dee4Three]

I was always partial to Jim O'Brien (He led the Celtics to the Eastern Conf finals in 2001). He's an assistant coach at the moment. I always wondered why he didn't take on another head coaching job recently. He connected with his players, and made defense a priority.

Otherwise, do you think Kevin McHale would be a good target? I mean, I don't think what happened to him in Houston was fair to him at all, and I think he deserves another shot.

Another assistant coach who has been on the brink of getting a few head coaching jobs, is Patrick Ewing. But obviously, teams see a weakness in his style that hasn't enabled him to take on his first head coaching gig. I'd like to see a team give him a shot.

[air gordon]

For me it would have to be someone with already some kind of coaching pedigree-

Jeff Van gundy or messina from the spurs