Let's Talk Combine

Before I do though, I'll just say that the Celtics are a good team to emulate and if Thibodeau can get the Bulls to play like them then next year will be good, LeBron or not.

The annual Chicago combine is where the new recruits are measured, tested and examined, but most importantly, where many of the deals concerning the upcoming draft are made.

Comparing combine performance is always fun though. Let's look at point guards, past and present:

Name	Height no shoes	Height w/shoes	Weight	Wingspan	Reach	Body Fat	No Step Vert	No Step Vert Reach	Max Vert	Max Vert Reach	Bench	Agility	Sprint	Drafted	Year
John Wall	6'2.75"	6'4"	196	6'9.25"	8'5.5"	5.6	30	10'11.5"	39	11'8.5"	na	10.84	3.14	1	2010
Tyreke Evans	6'4"	6'5.25"	221	6'11.25"	8'8"	7.1	28.5	11'0.5"	34	11'6"	7	11.81	3.17	4	2009
Derrick Rose	6'1.5"	6'2.5"	196	6'8"	8'2.5"	4.6	34.5	11.1"	40	11'6.5"	10	11.69	3.05	1	2008
Chris Paul	5'11.75"	6'1"	178	6'4.25"	7'9"	na	32	10'5"	38	10'11"	10	11.09	3.22	4	2005
Deron Williams	6'1.75"	6'2.75"	202	6'6.25"	8'2"	na	30	10'8"	35	11'1"	15	10.83	3.25	3	2005

I fully expect Wall will continue to be compared with the other guards in that list over his career. His combine numbers look good too, especially for the wingspan (bigger than Evan Turner's!) and agility tests. However, I see he skipped the bench press and suspect he would have scored lower in that then the other guys. That's not going to frighten any GM's though. Kevin Durant infamously couldn't get any reps on the 185 bench press test and got a lot of mocking press for it. He was still drafted number 2 and is an all-star now.

Biggest max vertical this year was Terrico White at 40". Strongest was Luke Harangody with 23 bench press reps. Wall was best in the agility test. Dexter Pitman is the fattest at 20.8 body fat.

For guys on the Bulls' radar, James Anderson (OSU SG) scored well in the sprint (3.19) and had a very respectable 14 bench reps. Larry Sanders (VCU, PF) had a 3.27 sprint (tying Evan Turner) but a pretty low (28) max vertical. Lance Stephenson (Cinn, SG) had a slow 3.38 sprint, extremely good wingspan (6'10.5") for his size, and pretty average everything else. Luke Babbit (Nev, SF) had some very good scores across the board. He's clearly more athletic than he looks. Paul George (Fres St, SF) had a wimpy 4 bench presses and didn't do most of the other tests. He's clearly got hops though so athleticism isn't his question mark.

Of course the problem the Bulls will have is that they have to draft before they know who they can get in free agency. They would do best to take the best available player and it would not surprise me to see them draft at any position. I think Anderson is a good choice, but suspect he may be gone by 17. I think the Bulls need to bring in a 3 point shooter, either via draft or free agency. And they need a big guy to take up Miller's minutes.

The LeBron Frenzy

Prior to the Cav's surprising second round exit from the playoffs, the Las Vegas odds on LeBron James leaving Cleveland were around 44-1. Yesterday they were 5-1, and today they are 1-1. Of course this is all pure speculation, but there can certainly be little doubt that LeBron would resign with the Cavs with a Finals appearance. Now, he's got plenty of people talking.

Bulls fans are now wondering why LeBron didn't display his Celtic series turnover-prone detachment during the series with the Bulls. They are also dreaming about how good he would look in Bulls uniform next year, as are the Knicks and the soon to be Brooklyn Nets.

But before I continue with LeBron, let's consider the other three top free agents who are now done for the season. Wade got bounced early, but still seems set on Miami. He's trying hard to recruit the next two tier free agents: Bosh and Joe Johnson. Bosh could go almost anywhere, but I'm fairly sure he'll leave Toronto. The latest rumors have Joe Johnson, either joining Wade in Miami (where I'm guessing he would have to move over to the 3) or heading for the Nets. Johnson played badly during the playoffs and we'll have to see if that hurts him with suitors. I'm sure he's looking for max money and some owners will now be reluctant to give it to him after seeing him tank in some big games.

The same is definitely not true of LeBron. Yes, he was both off and strangely distracted in game five vs Boston. And yes, he had too many turnovers in game six (but also a triple-double!). Even so, every owner in the league would gladly sacrifice half his team to give him a max contract. LeBron set himself up a bit for criticism with his cocky attitude, but he's right to laugh at people who talk about the Boston series being his legacy. As LeBron himself replied, he's only 25 years old! He's got two MVPs in a row and he's very likely to win many more, as well as a few championships.

Now, let's indulge in some dreaming for the Bulls. What if Wade shouts out for help in Miami and the only one who answers the call is Carlos Boozer? In that case, his hometown might look pretty good to him. There's no doubt Miami wanted Rose instead of Beasley in the draft and this would solve that problem for Wade. It would give the Bulls the best backcourt in the NBA and that's not a bad start.

The New York papers already have LeBron signing with the Knicks, but I think he'll have reservations unless they also get Bosh and maybe even someone else as well. The Knicks are just that bad. Of course, Boston was pretty bad before they did their free agent snagging, but at least they had Paul Pierce. New York has little to offer other than being New York.

The Nets could be a wild card with their new Brooklyn arena and Russian billionaire owner ready to spend out all that cap room. Their problem is that they are even worse than the Knicks. However, if they wind up winning the lottery, and getting John Wall, who I expect to wind up as good as Rose in the NBA, then they might pull in some big names.

I think there's still a very good chance LeBron stays in Cleveland. Mike Brown will be fired, despite being last year's coach of the year and having the Cavs finish with the best record in the NBA this year. The best coaches will want to be where LeBron is, so if he says Cleveland, then to Cleveland they shall go, once they get the King's thumbs up. And they will get decent mid-level free agents at bargain prices if he is there, just for the chance at a championship.

However, the Cavs don't have cap room for a top free agent. And the team they have doesn't seem likely to improve next year. If LeBron decides he wants to win next year, then the Bulls might be the easiest place to do it. There's no question he would be given preference of picking from the new coaching candidates.

Bottom line is that having all these guys lose early in the playoffs is great news for the Bulls. Yes, Amare is still playing, but I'm not all that fond of him. Of course I wouldn't refuse him if he wanted to come join Wade or LeBron. If the Bulls are lucky enough to get either one of those two, then lower level free agents will arrive hat in hand.