Chicago Bulls Thread

[Matt]

But when you pay a guy 14mill+ a season you really expect something out of it. Detroit couldn't afford it, not with the contracts they have with Prince, Hamilton & Rasheed as well as Billups future free agency.

Bulls can take the chance....but, they aren't going to win a championship just be signing Wallace alone.

[dada]

Detroit was offering 48 million I believe which isnt much of a difference to say they couldnt afford it.

[scrub]

Wallace won't immediately put them into title contention so I don't think its that great a move. It will definitely improve them but not save them.

[The X]

turns out it was 4 years at $60 mill, not at $52 mill....that's why Wallace took the deal....I think it's a good move for Wallace....he moves to & up-and-coming team....I don't feel sorry for Pistons as they gave away Darko....Pistons will be fine though & still at top 4 team out East, along with the Heat, Bulls & Cavs....

[Andrew]

I'm happy. I thought we'll be given the 60 million contract.

More moves will be made.

Edit: The contract is worth 60 million.

I'm not too keen on it being $60 mil, but let's see what else Paxson has in mind. I'm sure in time I'll be used to the idea, it's obvious what he brings to the table could really help them. If Chandler isn't moved, I'd be intrigued to see what kind of tandem he could form with Wallace as I'm sure they'd see at least some time side by side in Skiles' Wacky Carnival of Rotations.

[The X]

I think Chandler has to be moved....he has no place anymore....I always doubted the Elton Brand trade many years ago & I'm glad I was proven right....the trade to Hornets would be a great deal, especially considering Brown is in the last year of his deal....I'm really liking the makeup of this Bulls' team....they're becoming a favourite of mine....heck, how can you not like a team with starters like Hinrich & Nocioni

[John WB]

I guess I'm one of the only ones that'd keep Chandler then. I was impressed with how he played vs. the Heat in the Playoffs this past season. Yeah he didn't score or do much statistically, but he had a big impact on the game and did an excellent job on Shaq.

[Its_asdf]

^But is he worth all the money he's being paid? Chandler's a good rebounding and defensive big man, but I'm shelling out big bucks to someone, I think that they'll have to score a bit as well.

[TheBigEasy]

^But is he worth all the money he's being paid? Chandler's a good rebounding and defensive big man, but I'm shelling out big bucks to someone, I think that they'll have to score a bit as well.

Hm ... well than you most certainly got your moneys worth with Big Ben

[havasufalls]

The Daily Southtown reported last week that the Bulls were among several teams that inquired about Garnett prior to the NBA draft. Timberwolves operations chief Kevin McHale made it known that Garnett was not available.

The Bulls believe they can revive the talks if they sweeten their offer of center Tyson Chandler and forward Luol Deng with recent first-round draft pick Tyrus Thomas, whom the Timberwolves are known to covet.

A nucleus of Garnett, Wallace and Andres Nocioni on the front line coupled with Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich in the backcourt would immediately turn the Bulls into a legitimate championship contender.

In the meantime, the Timberwolves would be able to build around a young front line of Chandler, Deng and Thomas, who was the second overall pick in the draft a week ago.

Otherwise, the Bulls would be left with a pair of non-scorers in Chandler and Wallace in the middle.

Another possibility is a trade with the Denver Nuggets, who re-signed center-forward Nene to a six-year, $60 million deal recently. The contract was similar to the extension that Chandler received last summer.

If this happens instead of the trade with pj brown and jr smith this will put the bulls in championship contention.

Wallace
Garnett
Nocioni
Gordon
Hinrich

Im alittle nervous about my heat repeating

[kinokong]

shit but who would back up the bench? sweetney?, shafowhatever the fuck his name is?

[Amphatoast]

pick up sprewell, he is still there

[Jackal]

Jesus, if that happens I'd officially be scared.

[Andrew]

The Daily Southtown reported last week that the Bulls were among several teams that inquired about Garnett prior to the NBA draft. Timberwolves operations chief Kevin McHale made it known that Garnett was not available.

The Bulls believe they can revive the talks if they sweeten their offer of center Tyson Chandler and forward Luol Deng with recent first-round draft pick Tyrus Thomas, whom the Timberwolves are known to covet.

A nucleus of Garnett, Wallace and Andres Nocioni on the front line coupled with Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich in the backcourt would immediately turn the Bulls into a legitimate championship contender.

In the meantime, the Timberwolves would be able to build around a young front line of Chandler, Deng and Thomas, who was the second overall pick in the draft a week ago.

Otherwise, the Bulls would be left with a pair of non-scorers in Chandler and Wallace in the middle.

Another possibility is a trade with the Denver Nuggets, who re-signed center-forward Nene to a six-year, $60 million deal recently. The contract was similar to the extension that Chandler received last summer.

I'm inclined to disbelieve any rumours involving KG because every offseason he's supposed to be going everywhere for all kinds of deals, but if there's any truth to that rumour it's very interesting. I like Deng and I think he has a bright future, but I don't think you could pass up KG and I'd easily give up Chandler and Thomas for him. But that really does sound too good to be true, as it does for most teams involved in KG rumours (with the exception of the Timberwolves themselves).

[Nel]

If i were the wolves i'd do this deal. They will get a young frontcourt and start rebuilding. KG deserves to win a ring and the bulls with that line-up would certainly give him that.

[scrub]

Yea it would also give them a better chance to pickup Greg Oden next year

[John WB]

shit but who would back up the bench? sweetney?, shafowhatever the fuck his name is?

They'd still have Duhon and Pargo.

The Daily Southtown reported last week that the Bulls were among several teams that inquired about Garnett prior to the NBA draft. Timberwolves operations chief Kevin McHale made it known that Garnett was not available.

The Bulls believe they can revive the talks if they sweeten their offer of center Tyson Chandler and forward Luol Deng with recent first-round draft pick Tyrus Thomas, whom the Timberwolves are known to covet.

A nucleus of Garnett, Wallace and Andres Nocioni on the front line coupled with Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich in the backcourt would immediately turn the Bulls into a legitimate championship contender.

In the meantime, the Timberwolves would be able to build around a young front line of Chandler, Deng and Thomas, who was the second overall pick in the draft a week ago.

Otherwise, the Bulls would be left with a pair of non-scorers in Chandler and Wallace in the middle.

Another possibility is a trade with the Denver Nuggets, who re-signed center-forward Nene to a six-year, $60 million deal recently. The contract was similar to the extension that Chandler received last summer.

If this happens instead of the trade with pj brown and jr smith this will put the bulls in championship contention.

Wallace
Garnett
Nocioni
Gordon
Hinrich

Im alittle nervous about my heat repeating

I think that'd be a great deal for both teams! Minny does KG right and sends him to a contender and they set themselves up for the future with 3 prime young talents.

If i were the wolves i'd do this deal. They will get a young frontcourt and start rebuilding. KG deserves to win a ring and the bulls with that line-up would certainly give him that.

Yeah, I agree. I think it'd be a great move for Minny. They obviously aren't going anywhere with the nucleus they have now.

Yea it would also give them a better chance to pickup Greg Oden next year

Heh maybe, but even if they keep KG, that's a possibility.

[elwudl]

As far as I know Jannero Pargo is a FA.

[John WB]

Any idea if they have plans to resign him?

[elwudl]

The only thing I know is that the Spurs are considered signing him because Van Exel perhaps retires and maybe Udrih is traded to the Sixers. Have heard nothing that the Bulls will resign him. They have Duhon as PG backup.

[maes]

Well the Bulls just dealt Chandler to the Hornets, as rumors predicted...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2510218

So i guess the KG rumor has no substance...unless it's a deal not involving Chandler in some way.

[air gordon]

At first I was skeptical about Wallace coming to my town. I thouhgt why spend money on an aging, limited veteran? But the fact is, you gotta spend it on who is available, and Wallace was the best FA out there. No doubt the Bulls will be a much better team.

However, unlike someone said, Chicago WILL NOT be a top-5 team. No way in hell! The Bulls have a lot of work to do.

Yes, they are loaded with young talent, but there is no chance that they'll be able to keep even half of them when contract extension time. If I'm John Paxson, I'm out there looking to bring in a big scorer (as well-rounded and deep as the Bulls are, they lack a star player who can put up 25 points a game, which I believe they need to get to the top). The Kevin Garnett trade scenario sounds like a dream to me. Also, Iverson seems to be on the table, and the Bulls could afford to give up 2 of their 7 or so rising stars for him.

Bottom line is Bulls need to acquire a cornerstone to their franchise if they wanna win big.

good post. i agree. though i do think they will be a top 5 team in their conference

the team needs that superstar but i think Paxson has done the best with what he's had to work with. Krause left him with no all star players and a lot of bad contracts so they never were in a position to get that "sure fire superstar". but in just a few years he's turned over the roster completely and the franchise is once again on the rise

i read in an article, with these recent moves Paxson more or less turned Eddy Curry and Jamal Crawford into Ben Wallace, Tyrus Thomas and a possible high lottery pick. LOL

anyway, there's a good chance the 'young' guys will all stay on board. so far these guys haven't showed they are superstars so they won't get superstar contracts. And historically Reinsdorf has showed he will spend the big $$ for a winner


on a side note i don't know if it's just dumb luck or coincidence... but the year the Bulls have all this cap space, the FA pool is pretty weak.. they have 2 first round picks in a draft that is perceived to have no franchise type player... the year james, wade, etc come out, the Bulls have the 7th pick

good times...

[Andrew]

It does seem like a cruel trick sometimes, but as you said Paxson has done a fine job with what he had to work with. Besides, it could be much worse; pick any season in the post-championship Krause era.

I highly doubt Paxson is done for the offseason but with the way the roster is shaping up at the moment, what are your expectations for next year? Wallace obviously isn't a saviour but he is the reigning DPOY and his presence will make the Bulls a much tougher team up front. If he can chip in around 7 or 8 points as he has been doing for the Pistons, even better. That's more than Chandler's seemingly capable of contributing. PJ Brown should be an upgrade as well, albeit a short term one.

I don't think 45-50 wins and the second round would be too much of a stretch. I reckon anything less than that would be a bit of a letdown.

EDIT: Pros and cons of the Wallace signing

[Matt]

those pro's & cons seem a bit off to me.

Pro: Giving Wallace a huge contract is a low-risk move, because he’s a winner and a hard worker. Even in the final year of the deal, Wallace will be 35 and should have plenty to offer.

i say it was a high risk move because Wallace's game is based on athleticism & energy. The drop off by the time he's 35 could be drastic.

[elwudl]

C Wallace
PF Brown
SF Nocioni
SG Gordon
PG Hinrich

Not bad of a starting lineup, although quite small. I think 50 wins in the East and if being lucky the conference finals are in the mix.