Chicago Bulls Thread

[The X]

I can't see Radmanovic being played much by Coach Thibs. Will be a good practice player though....

[Andrew]

Perhaps he gets Scalabrine's role but with all the departing players, he probably stands a decent chance of ending up in the rotation.

[The X]

Given he's a forward, he's behind Boozer, Gibson, Deng & Butler (who'll swing between SF & SG). But yes, given likely injuries throughout the season, chances are he could end up in the rotation.

[RedPhazon8]

I think it's about time for the White Mamba to enter the rotation.

[Andrew]

phpBB [video]

And the latest from Sam Smith's mailbag, where he gives his perspective on why they're making somewhat pedestrian moves.

[air gordon]

Perhaps I'm underestimating Asik but statistically speaking, there's not a whole lot of difference. If they get him, I believe it's only for a season, so no major damage if nothing else.

Meanwhile, they've picked up Vladimir Radmanovic. Can't get too excited about that but he does still shoot threes at a fairly decent clip, which is about all he does these days. I guess he's Korver's replacement for 10-15 minutes a game.

What stats? Darko must have a terrible agent. Asik is getting a $25 mil contract while Darko, who apparently is better, is getting offered the veteran’s minimum

The Bulls 2nd acquisition this offseason is Vlad Rad? hhaha. Thibbs must be cursing the b-ball gods

[_Steve_]

Seems like Bulls are second to the Rockets in winning the "you-sucked-at-offseason-trades"-trophy...

[Andrew]

Happy 75,000th post to me. Only appropriate that it comes in the Bulls thread.

What stats?

I was looking at Per 36:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... nute::none
http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... nute::none

Asik is actually considerably better on the boards, though. Darko probably still has a bit more polish offensively.

Leon Powe is another name that I've seen thrown out there. Interesting possibility, he's a decent scorer and rebounder, but he hasn't played a whole lot of games since his knee injury back in 2009.

[Andrew]

It would now appear that Darko is out of the picture anyway, as they're set to sign Nazr Mohammed.

Peter Vecsey tweeted late Saturday night that Nazr Mohammed has chosen to sign with the Bulls, rather than the Nets. The 34 year old center who played with the Thunder last season had visited with the Nets this weekend. The Bulls have an opening for a back-up center if they don't match Houston's offer sheet for Omer Asik.

He rebounds, he defends, he can score a few points on garbage baskets here and there. Since they're doing things on the cheap this offseason, good enough for now I guess; he'll do filling in for 10 minutes or so behind Noah for a season. As with the rest of their moves this offseason, it's unexciting but too low risk and low key to spark any outrage.

Since they are bringing in veterans on cheap deals, maybe they could give Tracy McGrady another look? He's probably willing to take a bench role this time around and has been decent for the Pistons and Hawks the past couple of years, not shooting too badly and doing a bit of everything in limited minutes, as well as being pretty durable by his standards.

If they're interested in keeping a third centre on the roster, I wouldn't mind them taking a chance on Greg Oden for one year at the minimum, if he were interested. He's looking to play this season and if he can stay healthy, he might be capable of being a solid backup. With Noah starting and a veteran like Mohammed on the roster, he wouldn't be much of a risk on a deal like that.

[air gordon]

So is nazr better then Darko? Chicago bulls. The destination for washed up nba vets.

[_Steve_]

By accident, I saw what should be considered T-Mac's best performance last season (Apr 18 vs. DET; he managed 17/4/4 in just 17 mins). He isn't the T-Mac of old, but as Andrew said, he is still capable of doing all sorts of things. His body seems to take the limited minutes gladly for the last 3 seasons. If he'd sign for the veteran's minimum I'd surely give him a try.
Also not a bad signing with Nazr Mohammed. Solid big guy, who comes cheap.

[air gordon]

Happy 75,000th post to me. Only appropriate that it comes in the Bulls thread.

What stats?

I was looking at Per 36:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... nute::none
http://www.basketball-referencecom/play ... nute::none

Asik is actually considerably better on the boards, though. Darko probably still has a bit more polish offensively.

Leon Powe is another name that I've seen thrown out there. Interesting possibility, he's a decent scorer and rebounder, but he hasn't played a whole lot of games since his knee injury back in 2009.

Congrats. darkos ts% is .481. Do you know how putrid that is for a center!??

[RedPhazon8]

They must be taking this season as a prep next season, free cap then go for big names next season after Rose has had time to recover fully. I guess it's the best idea available...

[benji]

They must be taking this season as a prep next season, free cap then go for big names next season after Rose has had time to recover fully. I guess it's the best idea available...

They'll have to trade Deng and Noah for nothing then.

[Andrew]

So is nazr better then Darko?

He's got a better attitude, I guess.

Chicago bulls. The destination for washed up nba vets.

Apparently so. Hopefully Sam Smith's take on the matter is accurate:

The Bulls are not playing for a championship with Rose out, and my view of those comments is they are playing for a championship when Rose is able to return at a complete level, which hardly seems like this season. So the point is don’t waste the chance to add someone in the future by enhancing yourself just to be fodder this season. At least that was my interpretation.

The Bulls are saying, in effect, that’s over because of the Rose setback. We’ve got to regroup to get Rose a better player to play with, especially because the contracts of just about all those players would be up after this season if the Bulls picked up their options. So why spend the money now when we don’t think we can win? Maybe that keeps us from spending it on a real star in the next season or two. It may not look as good now, but this is the way to win. We don’t know who is right, though events will show that.

Well, it didn’t look like much of a plan in 2010 when they air balled LeBron, Bosh and Wade. But it worked out until Derrick was hurt. They obviously are taking a step back with the notion they have a plan, though they have not shared it with me. Perhaps in retrospect it would have made sense to trade Asik for Lee when there was talk about that a year ago.

With that perspective, their approach this offseason makes a little more sense. It doesn't make it any prettier to watch unfold, of course, but it would at least seem they have a long term plan, whatever it may be.

[_Steve_]

I really hope that assumption of Sam Smith (and others) is correct.

[benji]

Don't forget how well it worked when they got Duncan, McGrady and Hill in 2000. And then Kobe in 2007!

[NovU]

Had to lol to benji's post.

The Bulls seem to have a problem in landing marquee players. I honestly don't understand why players like Dwight wouldn't even consider to play for the Bulls. Rose I think is a better player than Deron, and the Bulls as a franchise to me is more attractive place than most others out there.

[air gordon]

What other Marquee player is available like Dwight Howard that hasn't even considered the bulls?

[graybakflip]

this might be true or not, but hope hes ok

Eye on Basketball ‏@EyeOnBasketball
Report: Derrick Rose “out until likely March.” http://cbsprt.co/LIaNoO Time to at least start looking at the panic button for the Bulls.

[RedPhazon8]

this might be true or not, but hope hes ok

Eye on Basketball ‏@EyeOnBasketball
Report: Derrick Rose “out until likely March.” http://cbsprt.co/LIaNoO Time to at least start looking at the panic button for the Bulls.

I don't think it really matters how long he's out at this point, the Bulls clearly aren't looking to be competitive next season.

[deihatein]

phpBB [video]

[Andrew]

Here's another article discussing the Bulls' approach to this offseason.

this might be true or not, but hope hes ok

Eye on Basketball ‏@EyeOnBasketball
Report: Derrick Rose “out until likely March.” http://cbsprt.co/LIaNoO Time to at least start looking at the panic button for the Bulls.

Given that he was expected to be out for 8-12 months and was injured in April, that's within the projections.

Apparently, Belinelli is a done deal. That may be their best move so far, though it's obviously not saying much. Good athlete, pretty good shooter and scorer...not bad. If he performs well, he might be worth keeping beyond this season of "treading water".

[George7]

Bellineli is the only move this off season that has some promise for the future(meaning 2013 and beyond). A good all around player. I like it. On the other hand, I don't like the signing of Nazr Mohammed at all. I would prefer Darko 10 times more...

[Andrew]

Oh, I certainly wouldn't go that far. When it comes to the players that are/were available to replace Asik, none of them were going to be an amazing pick up, especially with the money they're spending. That said, I still wouldn't mind if they gave Oden a shot as the third centre on the roster. If he could stay healthy and is in any way still mobile, he could be a solid backup to Noah this season and beyond. You have to have him as the third centre on the roster at least for now though, as that's a very big if.