Bulls Update

The Bulls off-season seems to winding down.  For an off-season so focused on attracting D-Wade or LeBron James and not getting either one, I think the Bulls had a pretty decent off-season and have constructed a roster that will compete for top honors in the Eastern Conference.  Returning from last season are Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, Taj Gibson, and D-League James Johnson.  Free agent additions so far include Carlos Boozer, Ronnie Brewer, Omer Asik, Kyle Korver, CJ Watson, and Kurt Thomas.  That leaves two open roster spots that they will have to fill to get to NBA minimum roster size of 13.  They're taking a close look at swingman Tracy McGrady and are expected to add another combo guard type of player before they're finished. 

It's amazing how far T-Mac has fallen, as he was once a max contract sort of player who now seems almost an afterthought.  He had microfracture surgery to fix an ailing knee that got him a reputation for being completely soft.  Who knows if he is or not, but he's visiting the Bulls on Monday.  They're looking at him as a bench kind of player, and as far as I'm concerned there's only really upside.  If he's healthy and doesn't have ridiculous money demands, then I think he's a good risk.  If he's 85% the player he was before he could really be a big deal for the Bulls. 

Bulls Free Agency Musings

It's midday July 3.  Third day of free agency in the NBA, and the day on which LeBron will meet with the Bulls delegation in Cleveland.  I'll be anxiously watching the news to see what rumor we can gleam from comments made by seemingly everybody.  The Bulls appear to have had some positive developments yesterday when they met for a second time with Dwyane Wade who's now reported to be on the fence about Chicago or Miami.  Another interesting tidbit is that Chris Bosh reportedly joined the Bulls and Wade for that second meeting.  D-Wade is a great player, and he wouldn't make the Bulls a worse team if he joined them by any means, but I think LeBron is still the prize and best fit.  Dwyane Wade is the ultimate combo guard, and  most experts seem to agree he doesn't need to play on a team with a great creative point guard.  I agree with those experts and think that Wade and Rose on the same team puts you in a position where you "waste" a portion of either player's maximum performance potential by having them on the floor at the same time. 

Incidentally, I know that LeBron also handles the ball at times and definitely likes to distribute, but he doesn't have to have the ball to play his game and is at least as good away from the ball.  As such, I kind of feel that if you put Rose and LeBron on the same roster you have a chance to multiply the talents of both with Rose handling the ball most often but LeBron giving you a hugely different look from time to time.  A D-Wade/D-Rose combo would be hard to defend, but a LeBron/D-Rose combo would be even harder to defend as far as I'm concerned.  That's all ignoring the defensive advantages that I believe LeBron offers over D-Wade.

The Bulls have also reportedly met with David Lee and Carlos Boozer.  Both a talented offensive power forwards who rebound well and have defensive problems.  Both would be decent fits in Chicago and probably command less than a maximum deal.  I believe Boozer (as much as I enjoy watching him at times) is a lesser player and injury prone to boot so I don't know that I want him regardless of what develops with Bosh.  Bosh, I think, is the obvious prize for low-post scoring but I think he wants to get paid so a sign-and-trade is probably required.  I do believe the Bulls are fairly well positioned to make a sign-and-trade but I think that if it doesn't work out David Lee would be an excellent fall-back option.  Rose-James-Lee is only a little less attractive than Rose-James-Bosh as long as Joakim Noah is still on the roster to do all the dirty work in the paint.

Anyway, it should be a lot of fun as it unfolds, and I'm still hoping for my "ultimate" outcome of Bosh and LeBron joining the Bulls along with another free agent to handle outside shooting duties (Mike Miller seems like an excellent potential fit)... Stay tuned, or whatever.

Bulls Make Aggressive Salary-Dump Trade

Just before the NBA Draft was set to commence on June 24, news that the Bulls had traded Kirk Hinrich and their 17th pick in the draft to the Washington Wizards for... apparently nothing... started coming out.  The move was heralded as an excellent salary move that puts Chicago in a position where they can sign two max-salary players.  Some of the talking heads think that taking such a risky move (trading a decent role player and a valuable pick) indicates great confidence on the Bulls' part.  I hope so, since that could indicate that LeBron is coming to Chicago... Maybe Chris Bosh (or I guess Joe Johnson) too.  That result should position the Bulls as NBA favorites for several years running.  I can hardly wait to see what's happening come this Thursday (July 1, the beginning of the NBA free agent period).

Bulls Select Head Coach and LeBron Rumors Keep on Chuggin'

The Bulls have apparently hired Boston Celtic assistant, Tom Thibodeau, to be their next head coach-- though none of that will become official until the NBA Finals have concluded.  Chicago Bulls blogger, Sam Smith, has a detailed and lengthy article here.  I personally think this sounds like a great hire.  Thibodeau is recognized around the league as a quality assistant with a certain genius for defense.  He's very experienced with, I think, 17 years in the league, and so he's not like a Vinny Del Negro sort of hire.  Additionally it seems he's well respected by players he's coached as well as ones he hasn't, so he gives the Bulls a nice bit of legitimacy in this pivotal free agency year. 

Which brings me to LeBron.  William "World Wide Wes" Wesley, major NBA insider, is now indicating that LeBron is leaning towards the Chicago Bulls now that Tom Thibodeau is in place.  This would instantly turn the Bulls into a championship contender, and I just can't wait to see how it plays out.