Bulls Sign Joe Smith [Reported 2 Years, 8 Million]

[---]

The Bulls agreed to a two-year contract with free-agent forward Joe Smith, the Sun-Times has learned.

Smith was thought to be the Bulls' No. 1 priority among the available free agents.

Smith, who was the No. 1 overall pick by the Golden State Warriors in the 1995 draft, averaged 9.2 points and 6.7 rebounds in 54 games last season with the Philadelphia 76ers. While the 76ers could have offered Smith more money, the Bulls likely sold him on the fact that they are a legitimate contender in the Eastern Conference.

The Bulls hosted Smith, a 6-10, 225-pounder, at the Berto Center on July 5.

Though terms of the deal were not known, the Bulls had the NBA's mid-level exception of $5.36 million as a maximum to offer Smith this season.

The Bulls had also considered free agents Mikki Moore of the New Jersey Nets and Chris Mihm of the Los Angeles Lakers, both of whom also visited the Berto Center the first week of July.

Smith's signing likely would mean forward P.J. Brown won't return.

SOURCE

I know most Bulls fans saw it coming, but today is a good day. Low post scoring isn't so weak now.

Joe averaged a solid 9.2PPG and has always been known as a good scorer down low. He also rebounds well and shoots a good clip from the free throw line. With the frontline of Tyrus Thomas, Joakim Noah, Aaron Gray and Ben Wallace, scoring wasn't looking to good at all. Now we got someone who is a legitimate threat on the low block. If Tyrus doesn't have a breakout year and play really big minutes, I wouldn't be suprised to see Joe put up around 12 a game for this team.

I really like the signing and it filled a pretty big gap, and didn't cost too much at all. Two years at 4 mil a season is a nice deal for a guy like him.

The only thing I don't like is that it gives less playing time and oppurtunity for guys like Tyrus and Joakim. It's a win now move, considering the problems a lack of post scoring has given the Bulls and the fact that the Pistons and Heat are aging, so the time is now.

[-Young Buck-]

thats a decent pickup. I remember when he played for milwaukee. But is he better then PJ brown?

[Its_asdf]

That's strange, from the way he talked about the Sixers he seemed very intent on re-signing with them. Oh well, can't believe everything you read.

[Anthony15]

thats a decent pickup. I remember when he played for milwaukee. But is he better then PJ brown?

There is talk that Mavs are pulling to get PJ Brown, so Joe is probably gonna be their starting forward at 4.

[Axel]

PJ is better.

This isn't really helpful for the Bulls.

[[Q]]

it's not like he's going to save the Bulls with his inside scoring. he's no Tim Duncan. Joe won't be able to make up for the offensive deficiencies of the other big men on the team: Ben Wallace, Tyrus Thomas, and Joakim Noah.

[filby]

According to some philidelphia sources smith got a two year- $10 mil deal. Happy with the signing nonetheless.

[-Young Buck-]

thats a decent pickup. I remember when he played for milwaukee. But is he better then PJ brown?

There is talk that Mavs are pulling to get PJ Brown, so Joe is probably gonna be their starting forward at 4.

that really wasnt my point, what i ment was is joe going to give them something that will make them a better team then last year or not? Im guessing not.

[shadowgrin]

PJ Brown is better. PJ could play PF or C if needed. Joe is stuck at 4. PJ is more of a banger compared to Joe.

[[Q]]

isn't PJ a free agent? i'd say chances of him resigning are slim now that Joe is there with the young big guys & Big Ben.

[Andrew]

It's not the answer to all of the Bulls' problems in the post but I don't think anyone in Chicago is expecting him to be. He is however a stable veteran who adds some more depth at power forward, a good insurance policy given the youth and inexperience at that position right now. Having said that, I'm still hoping Thomas will see at least 25 minutes per game and will be the starter by the season's end if not from the start.

PJ Brown is perhaps better in that he can play more effectively at centre as well as power forward but since he was supposedly set to either retire or sign elsewhere, re-signing him may not have been an option anyway. If he's willing to play for the veteran minimum then by all means the Bulls should make a bid for him so they've got some more depth in the frontcourt in the form of another solid veteran.

Honestly, I'd rather the Bulls make a move like this in the short term rather than break up the core so soon, especially since most of the deals that would land them a star in the frontcourt would gut the team to the point of setting them back anyway. Sure, they could try and trade half the core for KG but that basically leaves them in no better position than the Timberwolves currently find themselves in. Even in the East, KG and a depleted team are not going to get the job done. Eventually they're going to run into Detroit or Cleveland and even if they get past them, match up against one of the powerhouses from the West.

Snaring a star big man is easier said than done. For the moment, this is a solid move. To expect Smith to be the final piece of the puzzle would be expecting too much I like the signing all the same.

[The X]

The move doesn't really help them in the low post, as Joe Smith has never been a back to the basket PF, but as Andrew alluded to in his message, a veteran big man isn't such a bad thing, provided of course that it doesn't cut into the development of Tyrus Thomas & Joakim Noah....

[Andrew]

That's true, it's not the ideal solution to that problem but he is a capable scorer all the same. Since a blockbuster isn't likely to happen, it's probably one of the best low-risk moves available to them at the moment.

[air gordon]

it's a decent signing- Smith is a little more offensive minded/talented then PJ Brown. geez Smith used to kill us on the block back in the day...

now Skiles has that veteran to throw in there while Thomas goes through his growing pains/noah rehabs his shoulder. like it or not he's probably going to have play some center.

I really like the signing and it filled a pretty big gap, and didn't cost too much at all. Two years at 4 mil a season is a nice deal for a guy like him.

The only thing I don't like is that it gives less playing time and oppurtunity for guys like Tyrus and Joakim. It's a win now move, considering the problems a lack of post scoring has given the Bulls and the fact that the Pistons and Heat are aging, so the time is now.

he shouldn't be taking away time from Thomas. honestly i don't think Thomas is ready for a starting role to begin with. he's shown some nice things in sL but he still remains "raw".

my guess is that Skiles will limit Wallace's minutes a bit to save him for the playoffs. i think the player that will be battling Thomas for minutes is Nocioni. incidentally when Noce was out with injury- thomas started producing. who knows? maybe Skiles will put Thomas @center depending on the matchups

Noah will be a cheerleader next season since Skiles doesn't like rooks/he wont be ready for the season start... so who cares about bozo hehe

Pax should sucker Cuban and do a sign and trade with PJ Brown. maybe he could get a 2nd round pick hehe

[CERVANTES]

Maybe some people don't notice but Deng usually scores inside too. Any way, with Joe's scoring ability, Ben's defense and Noah's brilliant basquetball IQ, they can do good things in the east this year.

[benji]

Well, here are your Chicago Bulls. This will be the team for the next three years at least. Acquiring P.J. Brown was all for nothing now.

Darko, the East is terrible... (Thinking out loud about all the top teams...)

[maes]

Joe Smith averaged 9 points playing starter minutes in Philly due to the team rebuild, with absolutely no competition from other bigs...i expect very little of him on the Bulls other than rebounding. He can't even block shots. Not a good defender, either.

If he's only getting a few million it's not bad as a reserve but i don't think he's even an MLE player.

Puzzling why Pax would sign this guy...i think he's 1 cut below Tim Thomas (11-5-2, 38% 3 point shooter) who we thought was so garbage we just waived him without even giving him a locker. (And money is the same, Thomas is also working for the MLE).

[Andrew]

9.2 ppg in 25.1 mpg isn't too shabby. With Brown likely retiring or playing a final season or two elsewhere he's a decent replacement. He's a solid insurance policy in terms of a veteran forward who can provide some scoring which is all they need him to be. I'm certainly not expecting much more than that.

[---]

I don't really care how much he puts up or wether he starts or not, it's just that having someone down that that is a threat to score is a big help. Takes pressure off the guards and opens things up. When he's on the court, other teams will have to think about that and guard him. Without Smith, teams would lay off Tyrus, Joakim, Ben, etc. At least theres now one guy down there who's a scoring threat.

[Andrew]

"Threat" might be being a bit generous but as a player who can score a bit inside and has decent range by his position's standards he should be able to help out on offense at times. He won't open things up on the perimeter the way a star big would but he's good enough that he can't be ignored. He also shoots a good percentage from the line, a little better than PJ Brown and light years better than Ben Wallace. On paper at least, it's a solid signing.