Chicago Bulls Thread

And there goes the Bulls season if there's one:

Late in the regular season, Brian Scalabrine told the Tribune he might play in Europe next season as his professional career enters its final few seasons. Now that the NBA will lockout its players beginning at 11:01 p.m. Chicago time Thursday night, Scalabrine's plans will be set in motion quickly. "For me personally, if in the next 15 days it's still kind of like it is now, I'm just going to Europe and play," Scalabrine said in a phone interview. "The thing about that is you have to commit for the whole year and you have no out clauses whatsoever. I support the players and the union and want to see the (NBA) game stay great. But at the end of the day, with two years or so left of playing basketball, I'm not interested in watching billionaires fight. I just like the game too much. I like the camaraderie. I like to play. So why not do it in a great city in Europe and educate my family?"

Bravo to Mr Scalabrine, bravo

Bring him to Olympiakos and I'm going to buy a season ticket!!!

For Rose, there’s still room to grow

Good read. It's great to hear that after a bit of a mourning period he's not wasting any time getting back in the gym and preparing for the new season as though it's going to start on time, so he's not going to get caught out whenever the lockout is finally sorted and the season begins. It sounds like he's got a good idea of what he has to work on. He does still have room for improvement but it sounds like he's working hard to make that happen. Awesome.

Also, Noah will be playing for France in the European Championships; hopefully, he can stay healthy.

If Noah gets hurt while playing for France, will that give Bulls a right to void his contract?

Nope. I wouldn't want them to, at any rate.

I guess playing for a nation is legit while playing for money wouldn't be.

What contract? Did you miss that there's a lockout?

I mean say lockout gets resolved and then Noah is hurt from the injury playing for France or for other EU team. Are the Bulls still responsible for his contract despite whatever he did during the lockout? Like Jay Williams's motorcycle accident. If it happened during the lockout, would it be a legit accident that has no affects to the contract with the team?

How can he be bound to a currently voided contract?

For Rose, there’s still room to grow

“Being that close [to the NBA Finals], and not getting it, hurt,” Rose told Yahoo! Sports. “I just stayed inside the whole time. I didn’t go anywhere else. I wore pajamas, watched a lot of movies, drank Powerade and got delivery food. My body was just sore and wore out. Mentally, too.

Well played Mr. Rose. His marketing skills are already improving.

While it was clear Rose lacked much offensive help in the East finals, he refused to blame his struggles on teammates. He says he needs to improve his shooting, lower his turnovers, finish stronger at the rim and draw more fouls.

Not a knock on Rose but I miss the days when superstars called out their teammates. Whether that be calling them a bunch of ladies or punching them during practice.

In his first workout since the season ended, he joined Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook and trainer Rob McClanaghan on Monday for an hour of intense shooting drills.

Nooo! I don't want him picking up Westbrook's chucking habit.

Not a knock on Rose but I miss the days when superstars called out their teammates. Whether that be calling them a bunch of ladies or punching them during practice.

I agree that there's a time and place for tough love, but there's no need to snipe at teammates through the media either. I like that he's accepting responsibility and wants to better himself while not making any excuses, I think that's the right attitude for him. I think you've got to be a bit more outspoken to fulfill the role of getting in teammates' faces and holding them accountable, someone like Noah is probably more suited to doing that.

How can he be bound to a currently voided contract?

'Currently Voided' I guess is the keyword. Loud n clear sir.

Assorted features on the Bulls alumni that are Hall of Fame bound this year:
http://www.nba.com/bulls/history/hof_2011.html

Michael Jordan. Gambling. While playing golf. With hecklers!
Still more clutch than LeBron.

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He just took the money like a boss

Phil Jackson: Derrick Rose needs help

"I think they overachieved last year as far as record and how they got to the spots they got to in the playoffs," Jackson said Thursday on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000. "They still have to have some steady shooters from the outside to complement the penetration they have, and then (Carlos Boozer) has to have that post-up game that he was brought there to give them.

"He shows himself to be unstoppable, and that's a real tremendous year he had last year," said Jackson, who retired this year after winning five titles with the Los Angeles Lakers. "And the way [coach Tom Thibodeau] used him magnified that and made him such a difficult player to contest and contend with.

"But they still have to have some pieces around them."

I'd say Jax is spot on. Some might bristle at the "overachieving" remark but I think that word has somehow taken on too many negative connotations, probably because it's believed to go hand in hand with "overrated". To me it's a compliment, basically saying they played better than the sum of their parts. To say a team underachieved, now that would be a knock on their performance.

As for the rest...well, it's difficult to make too many suggestions with the lockout going on but fingers crossed Boozer's injuries are what limited his effectiveness and consistency in the postseason. Perhaps Noah develops a couple more reliable moves down low, Deng continues to flourish as the third option and Rose continues to work on his jumper. In Bogans and Korver they have some good three point shooters but consistency is a concern. If Butler comes back and gets more of an opportunity to crack the rotation this year, being there from day one, maybe he'll help shore up the perimeter attack a bit.

I'd say Jax is spot on. Some might bristle at the "overachieving" remark but I think that word has somehow taken on too many negative connotations, probably because it's believed to go hand in hand with "overrated". To me it's a compliment, basically saying they played better than the sum of their parts.

Ditto.
They finished with the best record in the league and reached the ECF despite having Keith Bogans as a starter.

Exactly...though as the Playoffs wore on, he probably made more of a contribution than Korver, though sadly that's not saying much. Korver's disappearance in the ECF aside, I do like him as a sharpshooter off the bench.

Apparently the Bulls are interested in Caron Butler and he's open to the possibility as well. His knee raises some concerns but aside from that, it'd be a solid move.

He'd be a pretty good addition, rangey and better defensively than some of the other players who have been dangled.

Also, heard a slightly far-fetched rumour about Nick Young, who would be outstanding. But he's restricted and the Bulls would likely have to lose somebody important in a sign-and-trade. Arron Afflalo is in the same boat.

T-Mac is also interested.

Young would probably top my Snowflake in Hell list.

Nick "I'll never wear Air Jordans again" Young? Pass.

In all seriousness though, he probably wouldn't be a bad option. Decent perimeter shooter and scorer, 6'6", athletic...that could work. I agree it seems like a longshot given his RFA status, unless they're willing to take on someone like Bogans I don't think he's a feasible option. As you said, same situation with Afflalo, who I'd probably prefer.

As for T-Mac...well, if they have a roster spot to fill and he'll take a bench role at the veteran's minimum, maybe. He wasn't too bad for the Pistons last year and actually managed to play 72 games, the most he's appeared in since 2007. He wouldn't top my list though.

Caron Butler wouldn't be a bad option since he'll provide more scoring options. I can't see Bulls getting either of the RFA's, so that leaves Jason Richardson as one of the most attractive options IMHO.

J-Rich going to the Bulls would also mean J-Rich giving up his jersey number.

I should think so.

Looking at badreligionau's Live '10 dynasty, I was inclined to believe that J-Rich would be allowed to wear #23 in Chicago