Bulls finished the summer league stronger than they started, winning their last three after losing their first two games. Good news is that Johnson started playing a lot better. Bad news is that Gibson sat out the last three games with an injury.
As expected, Deng bailed on the UK Olympic hoops squad because of his perpetual injury. It cracks me up to see him billed in the British papers as "NBA superstar Luol Deng"!! I wonder what the real NBA superstars think when they see that in the papers. They probably think about how many points they are going to score on Deng the next time they play against him. Gordon also opted out, so he can concentrate on scoring as many points as possible against the Bulls next year.
Portland is lucky enough to sign Andre Miller and then their idiotic coach comes out and says that Steve Blake is the starter going into camp! Unless Miller is really feeling his age all of a sudden, he's far better than Blake. Why insult your potential floor leader before he even plays a game for you?
Boozer has pretty much burned his Utah bridges. He clearly wants to play for Miami, but he'd be happy enough to play for the Bulls or just about anyone else. Utah is a stubborn team though that doesn't like to deal away players for less than they are worth. I wish the Bulls could emulate that attitude a bit more, but in this case Utah is going to have to take the best deal available to them and it isn't going to be very advantageous.
Tim Thomas gets picked up by the Mavs, but they don't give him much, not even using an exception on him. He isn't worth it, but may be worth a roster spot.
Aside from the Boozer rumors, there are David Lee trade rumors afloat. I'll take just about anyone if it gets Tyrus out of town.
And the president, in congratulating Bill Lambeer for coaching the winning WNBA team, announced that it was difficult for him to do this as a Chicago Bulls fan, because of the fierce rivalry between Lambeer's Pistons and the Bulls. Can't the president issue some kind of executive order that gifts Deng to England permanently? Or maybe he can use his Emergency Powers privilege to declare the Bulls to be in a state of disaster? FEMA could cart Tyrus away. He could declare war on LA, Boston and Cleveland. Got to be some way he could help the Bulls.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Summer League and more Free Agents.
First off, I had incorrect info on the Summer roster. The two rookies are the only Bulls playing, which is right and normal. Unfortunately, they are playing like crap. Johnson is turning the ball over left and right and Gibson has 9 and 10 fouls respectively in the two games they have played. That's a lot even for Summer League. Hopefully, they are learning something.
Bulls buy out Tim Thomas again!! This is a good demonstration of why I named the title of my blog what it is. They have one stint with Tim Thomas, discover he is lazy and doesn't play defense, so they buy him out. He leaves acrimoniously. Fast forward a few years and they trade for him again, saying that Vinnie knows him and can handle the issues they had previously. Then, surprise, they discover that he's still lazy and doesn't play defense, so they buy him out again. What's great about this story is that the Knicks picked him up off waivers last time and appear likely to do it again. Maybe they hope to trade him back to the Bulls in a year.
On the FA front, it's looking like Utah will match Portland's offer for Millsap and retain him. I think the factor for them in doing this is that Miami appears interested in Boozer, so now they have a few teams that seem to want him, and I'm sure the Bulls are still in the mix. They are gambling that they can get a reasonable deal done before the season and tax time starts.
As a sure sign of the bad economy, the NBA lowered the salary cap this coming year. Less than half the teams made a profit last year. Bulls of course are one of the healthier franchises, but they will be under pressure along with everyone else to keep salaries down. This probably was a big factor in losing Ben.
Bulls buy out Tim Thomas again!! This is a good demonstration of why I named the title of my blog what it is. They have one stint with Tim Thomas, discover he is lazy and doesn't play defense, so they buy him out. He leaves acrimoniously. Fast forward a few years and they trade for him again, saying that Vinnie knows him and can handle the issues they had previously. Then, surprise, they discover that he's still lazy and doesn't play defense, so they buy him out again. What's great about this story is that the Knicks picked him up off waivers last time and appear likely to do it again. Maybe they hope to trade him back to the Bulls in a year.
On the FA front, it's looking like Utah will match Portland's offer for Millsap and retain him. I think the factor for them in doing this is that Miami appears interested in Boozer, so now they have a few teams that seem to want him, and I'm sure the Bulls are still in the mix. They are gambling that they can get a reasonable deal done before the season and tax time starts.
As a sure sign of the bad economy, the NBA lowered the salary cap this coming year. Less than half the teams made a profit last year. Bulls of course are one of the healthier franchises, but they will be under pressure along with everyone else to keep salaries down. This probably was a big factor in losing Ben.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Rumors and Pargo
A false rumor swirled around that had Tyrus going to Utah, Boozer to the Bulls, and Hinrich to the Blazers. Tyrus was convinced enough to Twitter about how happy he was to be playing with Deron Williams.
Silly to comment on a false rumor, but I will anyway. Boozer isn't an ideal player. He's injury prone and not a great defender. However, he does score and rebound well, and I would be so over-joyed to get rid of Tyrus that I'd take that deal, even with losing Kirk, who we now need since Ben is gone.
As a footnote, the Bulls did bring back Pargo from overseas for guard insurance. I like him for spot stretches
Silly to comment on a false rumor, but I will anyway. Boozer isn't an ideal player. He's injury prone and not a great defender. However, he does score and rebound well, and I would be so over-joyed to get rid of Tyrus that I'd take that deal, even with losing Kirk, who we now need since Ben is gone.
As a footnote, the Bulls did bring back Pargo from overseas for guard insurance. I like him for spot stretches
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Free Agency and Summer Leagues
Bulls only move during a busy free agent signing period was failing to re-sign their top scorer. They gambled that no one else would overpay him and Detroit made them lose that bet. To lose Ben for nothing hurts a lot, but not as much as overpaying guys like Deng and getting stuck with them.
I was surprised to see Derrick and Tyrus on the summer league team. Derrick, because he is supposed to be working out with the USA National team in Las Vegas, but obviously that was a big factor in having the Bulls join the Vegas summer league this year, instead of Orlando, so Derrick could do both. And Tyrus? Well, what's the point. Are the Bulls going to try to dominate the summer leagues, where his lack of defense is less of a factor? You can't foul out in summer league, so it's perfect for Tyrus. He should stay there permanently. I was also surprised that the rookies were not on the roster, but they may be put on at the last minute.
Good that Noah is on the summer league team. Bad that he's in Vegas though!
Some misc NBA thoughts:
Shame on Rubio for entering the draft and then blowing off the team that picked him. What's the point of having a draft if the unpopular cities can't get the guys they pick?
Very tough break for Yao and Houston. He could very well never regain form.
Cleveland made a bigger move by resigning Varejao than by picking up Shaq, but they will be the favorites in the East next year.
Turkoglu leaving Portland at the altar to elope with Toronto shows two things. First, it's never a done deal until after they sign. And two, you must woo the wife!
And very clever of the Mavs to get Marion out of that Hedo four team shuffle. They need more than that though.
Lakers with Artest is going to be very interesting. They lose Ariza, but I think they still look good enough to be favorites in the West.
I was surprised to see Derrick and Tyrus on the summer league team. Derrick, because he is supposed to be working out with the USA National team in Las Vegas, but obviously that was a big factor in having the Bulls join the Vegas summer league this year, instead of Orlando, so Derrick could do both. And Tyrus? Well, what's the point. Are the Bulls going to try to dominate the summer leagues, where his lack of defense is less of a factor? You can't foul out in summer league, so it's perfect for Tyrus. He should stay there permanently. I was also surprised that the rookies were not on the roster, but they may be put on at the last minute.
Good that Noah is on the summer league team. Bad that he's in Vegas though!
Some misc NBA thoughts:
Shame on Rubio for entering the draft and then blowing off the team that picked him. What's the point of having a draft if the unpopular cities can't get the guys they pick?
Very tough break for Yao and Houston. He could very well never regain form.
Cleveland made a bigger move by resigning Varejao than by picking up Shaq, but they will be the favorites in the East next year.
Turkoglu leaving Portland at the altar to elope with Toronto shows two things. First, it's never a done deal until after they sign. And two, you must woo the wife!
And very clever of the Mavs to get Marion out of that Hedo four team shuffle. They need more than that though.
Lakers with Artest is going to be very interesting. They lose Ariza, but I think they still look good enough to be favorites in the West.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Post draft notes
I think the Bulls really wanted to pick Hansbrough and Casspi, respectively at 16 and 26, but neither one was available. Mullins and Blair obviously didn't scout well in workouts, as both dropped far. So, the Bulls went with what they thought was the best available: Johnson and Gibson.
Neither one of those guys are going to make a big impact in the NBA, but when you compare them to what was available, they aren't bad choices. I had Johnson on my radar so that was a pretty safe pick at 16. Gibson at 26 is definitely higher than I thought he'd go. It's even more strange because Blair was still on the board at 26! Teams must know something about him though for him to drop like that. He may have had a bad MRI on his knee or something like that. But then the Spurs eventually took him and they are one of the smartest teams at drafting.
Johnson can give them some of the toughness that they wanted to get in Casspi. He did score badly in body fat during the combine, (second fattest there) so he needs a better diet. Gibson reminds me of a smaller version of Noah. He's clumsy and can't make his foul shots. He does have freaky long arms though!
If either one pans out and we can finally bail on Deng, I'll consider this draft a huge success!
Here's a link to the combine numbers, you can look up past years as well:
http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-pre-draft-measurements/measurements.php?page=&year=2009&sort2=DESC&draft=0&pos=0&sort=2
Neither one of those guys are going to make a big impact in the NBA, but when you compare them to what was available, they aren't bad choices. I had Johnson on my radar so that was a pretty safe pick at 16. Gibson at 26 is definitely higher than I thought he'd go. It's even more strange because Blair was still on the board at 26! Teams must know something about him though for him to drop like that. He may have had a bad MRI on his knee or something like that. But then the Spurs eventually took him and they are one of the smartest teams at drafting.
Johnson can give them some of the toughness that they wanted to get in Casspi. He did score badly in body fat during the combine, (second fattest there) so he needs a better diet. Gibson reminds me of a smaller version of Noah. He's clumsy and can't make his foul shots. He does have freaky long arms though!
If either one pans out and we can finally bail on Deng, I'll consider this draft a huge success!
Here's a link to the combine numbers, you can look up past years as well:
http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-pre-draft-measurements/measurements.php?page=&year=2009&sort2=DESC&draft=0&pos=0&sort=2
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Bulls Draft
NBA draft is only two days off, so I'll revisit it. Of course there is much, much less attention in Chicago then last year since we have two late first round picks instead of the number one overall. As I've said before, we're not going to get a starter with either of those, at least not right away.
I still relatively like Hansbrough, which shows how weak this draft is. DeJuan Blair, the Pittsburgh swingman, is another possibility. He's only 6-7, but he rebounds well. Mullins, the true center from Ohio State is someone they need to scout very, very hard. He'll either be a steal at 16 or a complete bust.
Earl Clark, the Louisville PF, will likely be gone, but is another possibility. Ditto for James Johnson, the Wake Forest.
Here's my preference: if Mullins scouts well, then he's worth the gamble. If he doesn't (more likely) then I'd go with Hansbrough, then Blair, then Johnson.
At 26, the rumors are that the Bulls are going to go with the Israeli forward Omri Casspi. I know very little about him, except that he's 6'8" and 21 years old. Gani Lawal is a possibility if Casspi is taken by then. I like the idea of picking a young overseas player and not bringing him over until he's ready.
It's a much weaker draft than last year. If the Bulls can package these picks in with a trade then that would be their best option.
I still relatively like Hansbrough, which shows how weak this draft is. DeJuan Blair, the Pittsburgh swingman, is another possibility. He's only 6-7, but he rebounds well. Mullins, the true center from Ohio State is someone they need to scout very, very hard. He'll either be a steal at 16 or a complete bust.
Earl Clark, the Louisville PF, will likely be gone, but is another possibility. Ditto for James Johnson, the Wake Forest.
Here's my preference: if Mullins scouts well, then he's worth the gamble. If he doesn't (more likely) then I'd go with Hansbrough, then Blair, then Johnson.
At 26, the rumors are that the Bulls are going to go with the Israeli forward Omri Casspi. I know very little about him, except that he's 6'8" and 21 years old. Gani Lawal is a possibility if Casspi is taken by then. I like the idea of picking a young overseas player and not bringing him over until he's ready.
It's a much weaker draft than last year. If the Bulls can package these picks in with a trade then that would be their best option.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
First Draft Thoughts
Clearly the Bulls need a big man. However, they also are in love with the concept of having a big guard. This love affair drove them into misguided moves such as drafting Thabo and trading for Larry Hughes. If there's a promising big guard around, such as Evans from Memphis, or DeRozen from USC, then I don't mind that pick. However, those two will most likely be off the board by 16, and they will be tempted by guys like Henderson from Duke (Bulls love the Dukies, despite their horrible luck with them), or Chase Budinger from Arizona. Those guys aren't bad, but if there is any kind of decent big man available at 16, then I would prefer they go that direction.
That said, the Bulls may well be better off getting a big man through free agency. I like Varejao and Boozer as targets. However, let's look at some of the big men who may be around at 16 (and/or 26, since the Bulls have Denver's pick):
Tyler Hansbrough -- Bulls like a pedigree, and he has that in in excess. The knock is that he's small, unathletic, and will have little upside. All true, but look how far athleticism has gotten Tyrus Thomas. We need someone with a few brains who can play and he fits that bill. He's at the top of my list unless someone like DeJuan Blair freefalls.
B.J. Mullins -- He's big and very raw. Higher ceiling than Tyler but also a lower floor. He'd have to show some skills in a workout before I'd risk it, but a possibity. He was the second tallest player at the combine (behind Thabeet, who will be gone 2 or 3) and you can't coach size.
Austin Day -- Also, very, very raw, but certainly has potential. Might not be tough enough to bolster our wimpy frontcourt. I think I'd take the other two before him, but he's a consideration.
Gani Lawal -- A bit smaller than the others, but athletic. He could still be around at 26 and might be a good choice there.
James Johnson -- I think he'll be more of a 3 than a 4 in the NBA, but he has more offensive skills than the others. He won't be around at 26 and maybe not even at 16. If we are lucky enough to get rid of Deng and see this guy on the board, he might be the best choice. It's often joked that the Bulls only scout the ACC, so at least they've seen him play. ;-) Like Deng though, he takes the jumper too much instead of driving, so the question is, can he expand he game or does he emulate Deng by contracting it?
None of these guys are going to knock anyone's socks off. Still, there are often pleasant surprises at the bottom of the first round. "Big Baby" Davis springs to mind. And last year, Darrell Arthur turned out to be a good pick after he unexpectedly fell out of the lottery. Bulls goal should be to find someone who can give them 12 solid minutes a game in relief. Or package the trades in a deal (with Deng and Tyrus!!) for a starter.
That said, the Bulls may well be better off getting a big man through free agency. I like Varejao and Boozer as targets. However, let's look at some of the big men who may be around at 16 (and/or 26, since the Bulls have Denver's pick):
Tyler Hansbrough -- Bulls like a pedigree, and he has that in in excess. The knock is that he's small, unathletic, and will have little upside. All true, but look how far athleticism has gotten Tyrus Thomas. We need someone with a few brains who can play and he fits that bill. He's at the top of my list unless someone like DeJuan Blair freefalls.
B.J. Mullins -- He's big and very raw. Higher ceiling than Tyler but also a lower floor. He'd have to show some skills in a workout before I'd risk it, but a possibity. He was the second tallest player at the combine (behind Thabeet, who will be gone 2 or 3) and you can't coach size.
Austin Day -- Also, very, very raw, but certainly has potential. Might not be tough enough to bolster our wimpy frontcourt. I think I'd take the other two before him, but he's a consideration.
Gani Lawal -- A bit smaller than the others, but athletic. He could still be around at 26 and might be a good choice there.
James Johnson -- I think he'll be more of a 3 than a 4 in the NBA, but he has more offensive skills than the others. He won't be around at 26 and maybe not even at 16. If we are lucky enough to get rid of Deng and see this guy on the board, he might be the best choice. It's often joked that the Bulls only scout the ACC, so at least they've seen him play. ;-) Like Deng though, he takes the jumper too much instead of driving, so the question is, can he expand he game or does he emulate Deng by contracting it?
None of these guys are going to knock anyone's socks off. Still, there are often pleasant surprises at the bottom of the first round. "Big Baby" Davis springs to mind. And last year, Darrell Arthur turned out to be a good pick after he unexpectedly fell out of the lottery. Bulls goal should be to find someone who can give them 12 solid minutes a game in relief. Or package the trades in a deal (with Deng and Tyrus!!) for a starter.
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