Glad to be back at it in between everything else. Thanks for checking in!
Well, I've decided to make some changes to the roster, for a few reasons. First, even though it's 2006 and some of those players aren't developed as they have since in real life, it's getting a bit distracting having all those "names" on the roster. Second, there are some ex-Bulls I feel a bit more comfortable in trading. Third, some players just aren't panning out and fourth, there's an in-game/story reason that I'll get to in a second.
November 29th, 2006
Bulls complete trade for BoozerCHICAGO, IL -- The Chicago Bulls announced today that they have completed a trade that will send Chris Wilcox, Andres Nocioni and Danny Granger to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Carlos Boozer. Boozer will not be in uniform for tonight's game against the Washington Wizards.
Nocioni, a member of the 2006 championship team, started five games for the Bulls this season and has posted averages of 9.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg and 2.0 apg. He has struggled at times to find his shot and was rumoured to have been on the trading block. Granger, acquired from Indiana earlier this season, has not shot the ball well and has seen his court time diminish in recent games. Wilcox, an offseason acquisition, had started eight games for the Bulls while posting averages of 12.7 ppg and 8.7 rpg.
Boozer has averaged 20.6 ppg, 11.9 rpg and 3.6 apg in 14 games for the Jazz this season.
November 29th, 2006
Chris Duhon traded to TorontoCHICAGO, IL -- Bulls' backup point guard Chris Duhon has been traded to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for journeyman Mike James, the team announced today. James will not be in uniform for tonight's game against the Washington Wizards.
Drafted by the Bulls in 2004, Duhon was a member of last season's championship team. He has posted averages of 5.7 ppg and 3.4 apg in 14 games this season, including one start. Erratic shooting had seen his playing time decrease this season by nine minutes per game and rumours have persisted since the season's opening week that the Bulls were quietly shopping him.
James, who has played for the Heat, Celtics, Pistons, Bucks, Rockets and Raptors, has since little court time in twelve appearances with the Raptors this season. He is expected to help anchor the Bulls' bench offseason and bolster their perimeter shooting.
November 29th, 2006
Bulls swap Ariza for KorverCHICAGO, IL -- The Chicago Bulls announced a third trade today, having sent Trevor Ariza to Philadelphia in exchange for Kyle Korver. Korver will not be available for tonight's game against the Wizards but is expected to join the team in Charlotte for their matchup with the Bobcats on December 1st.
Ariza, in his third season and first with the Bulls after spending his first two years with the Knicks, had struggled to find significant minutes in Chicago's rotation. He posted averages of 2.1 ppg and 1.5 rpg, while appearing sparingly in all thirteen games for the Bulls this season. Kyle Korver has also struggled to crack the Sixers' rotation this season but is expected to see more time in Chicago as their main perimeter threat off the bench.
November 29th, 2006
The inside scoop on the Bulls' latest tradesThe latest trades by the Chicago Bulls may leave more than a few fans scratching their heads, but it appears there is a method to their madness. Although the defending champion Bulls sit atop the Eastern Conference with a 9-4 record, word has it that there was some dissatisfaction with the performance of the players who now find themselves moving on and the team is confident that they can repeat with the members of the core rotation whose performance has been more consistent, along with the additions of Carlos Boozer, Mike James and Kyle Korver.
Korver's addition certainly makes sense. The Bulls have struggled shooting the three of late and Trevor Ariza's minutes were sporadic and his production inconsistent. Chris Duhon has not shot the ball well and seen fewer minutes as a result; no doubt the team is hoping that James will provide more of a spark off the bench in the backup point guard role. Boozer is clearly the major prize however as he immediately provides the Bulls with a legitimate 20-point, 10-rebound player, something they have lacked since trading Elton Brand for Tyson Chandler in 2001. The team arguably overpaid for him however, sending away Chris Wilcox, Andres Nocioni and Danny Granger; their starting power forward and two of the key forwards in their rotation.
Their willingness to overpay for Boozer speaks volumes about the confidence they have in their new acquisition but also the diminished value of Wilcox, Nocioni and Granger. Granger had not panned out as expected in a sixth man role, often shooting the ball poorly and struggling to fit into the offense. Nocioni and Wilcox were more consistent but were also erratic at times and deemed expendable when Boozer became available.
Chicago has also positioned themselves to have around $17 million in cap space this offseason and may seek to create more cap space with a trade closer to the deadline. Sources indicate that the team expects to once again contend for the championship with their revamped roster then lure a major free agent next year, with the possibility of back-to-back titles being a major selling point. The team will likely try and re-sign Kirk Hinrich this offseason which certainly suggests a further cap clearing trade may be made to maximise their chances of landing a high profile free agent. The team would then likely look to re-sign Ben Gordon and Luol Deng to extensions in the offseason of 2008, which would likely place the team over the luxury tax threshold.
It's an unusual gamble for a defending champion in position to contend for a second straight championship to make, but one they could certainly profit from. If it all pans out, the Bulls will likely have positioned themselves to win or at least contend for championships for years to come.
For the record: LeBron, Wade and Bosh are all free agents in the upcoming offseason.