Official Chicago Bulls Thread

[TNBT]

I'm a passionate Bulls fan, and have been since birth (in 1984). I honestly believe that we have the best team in the NBA, despite what happened in the Conference Finals last season. The Heat have a lot of talent, but I'm not really scared by anyone on their roster outside of James, Wade and Bosh. I think we have the better overall depth and chemistry, not to mention that it took a handful of BS calls from the refs for the Heat to get past us last year.

I'm curious to get peoples opinions on what the Bulls have to do to take that step up next season (whenever that may be) and reclaim their place as the best team in the NBA. We have the best player in the league in Derrick Rose, and a lot of really good role players.

I think the thing that really shot us in the foot in the Playoffs last year though was that no one really stepped up and became a reliable scorer to support Rose. Some people are calling Boozer a bust, but I'd like to give him a little more time to show us what he is capable of. Assuming that we don't gut the team in a trade for Dwight Howard, I think Rose and Boozer can become a really good inside/outside combo on the offensive end, especially with Boozer's ability to play the pick-and-roll game, and also Rose improved range and consistency on his jumper.

 

[Byron_Clanger]

Dwyane Wade was the perfect fit for the Bulls last year, need that shooting guard, scorer to take some of the load for Rose, ah well, have to keep looking

 

[Look2Me4Guidance]

They need to cryogenically freeze D Rose and let him out when the lockout ends.

 

[blidda]

I think weve got the right pieces to definately challenge in the next couple of years (if it all goes ahead). We had the best record in the A and Boozer and Noah missed a lot of games.

Its fairly obvious we need an upgrade to the 2 spot, but also someone whose not gonna need the ball in his hands too much, to take it away from Rose. The problem is what we'd have to give away to get a player like OJ Mayo. Id hate to part ways with Taj/Asik.

Also Boozer definately needs to step up this year, he was very dissappointing last year.

 

[HD Sports]

Also needs to be cheap. As Noah comes off his rookie scale next year and DRose due for his extension after next season. Depending on the CBA, who knows .

Possibilities i see is Michael Redd. Rip Hamilton if he agrees to a buy out. Veterans that will take the league minimum. Can we wait a season for Ray Allen???? He still has a few productive seasons left.

Trade options of value would only be Asik.
I can't see any team taking Ronny's/Korver's multi year contracts.
Taj Gibson is off limits i say. He is still on his rookie scale and players who can contribute on that are so valuable plus i see him being elite defensively going forward.

 

[stewie griffen]

Rip Hamilton..... i'd rather Bogans.... and thats saying something

be an interesting off season anyway... if and when it ever starts

 

[Upgrayedd]

We should totally Trade Derrick Rose for Ronny Turiaf from the Knicks!

 

[peternorth]

big signing of the off season.

ronnie brewer to play the robin to roses batman

 

[Upgrayedd]

big signing of the off season.

ronnie brewer to play the robin to roses batman

How are they going to manage that with the current salary cap at absolute breaking point?

I think they need to develop within, Rose was stale against Wade/Lebron, Boozer put up shocking numbers, Noah needs to contribute more, Deng needs to keep it up and they'll be alright

 

[peternorth]

How are they going to manage that with the current salary cap at absolute breaking point?

I think they need to develop within, Rose was stale against Wade/Lebron, Boozer put up shocking numbers, Noah needs to contribute more, Deng needs to keep it up and they'll be alright

doesnt matter. when a player of brewer signs, money is no object.

here's a pic at the announcement

 

[silverscope]

One ear sticks out more than the other... Does that mean he can hear better out of the right...... discuss

 

[Mouthbreather]

as much as i love musing on the possibles, its all just conjecture until this bloody lockout is over ( which looks like being a while ) the new CBA may just entirely change the landscape.

that said , as much i would love an upgrade at the 2 i would not be upset to go into the season with the same roster. what ever happens DO NOT trade Asik or Taj, and please re-sign Kurt ( i will kill a man ) Thomas !

 

[hayes]

All we need is a competent SG and we'll be right up there. And Boozer to not suck.

 

[Dez!]

Step 1: Sign JR Smith
Step 2: ???
Step3: Profit

 

[peternorth]

Step 1: Sign JR Smith
Step 2: ???
Step3: Profit

laron.

 

[Damon_3388]

All we need is a competent SG and we'll be right up there. And Boozer to not suck.

Brewer is competent. He proved that as a starter in Utah. For some reason, Chicago doesn't seem to want to give him a starting role or more than 20 minutes a game though.

 

[Mouthbreather]

agreed that brewer is a more than handy player for us. IMO he is best suited to coming off the bench and disrupting on D . i love that side of his game , but man that jumpshot !! how that thing ever finds the bottom of the net defies all logic

i still like the idea of a 2 guard that can create his own shot or even better would be a combo guard that would allow rose to play off the ball a little. its just that all available candidates are in some way flawed. i really cant think of anyone who would slot in without at least some drawbacks ?? it may be better to stand pat , let the current roster develop and wait for a better fit.

 

[Mouthbreather]

Also - i was lucky enough to attend a playoff game this year , and man do the locals hate boozer !! the abuse directed at him was no-stop and quite personal !

 

[Damon_3388]

agreed that brewer is a more than handy player for us. IMO he is best suited to coming off the bench and disrupting on D . i love that side of his game , but man that jumpshot !! how that thing ever finds the bottom of the net defies all logic

i still like the idea of a 2 guard that can create his own shot or even better would be a combo guard that would allow rose to play off the ball a little. its just that all available candidates are in some way flawed. i really cant think of anyone who would slot in without at least some drawbacks ?? it may be better to stand pat , let the current roster develop and wait for a better fit.

I think as someone who can defend, doesn't demand many shot attempts, and can handle the ball and distribute a bit (played significant minutes at the point in college), Brewer is a fine fit alongside Rose in the Chicago backcourt. If this season does happen, it'd be good if the Bulls would actually give Brewer 30+ minutes per game, just to see how he performs in an expanded role alongside Rose.

If Brewer had even so much as a passable outside jumpshot shot (.233% from downtown in his NBA career, from 1.09 attempts per 48 minutes), I'd imagine he'd already be a starter in Chicago, as he's superior to Keith Bogans in every other area IMO. The strange thing is, Brewer was a willing (4.94 3 point attempts per 48 minutes) and reasonably capable (1.68 3 pointers made per 48 minutes, at a .340% clip, including shooting .396% in his sophmore year on 3 attempts per game) outside shooter in college. I know the NBA three is farther out than the college one, but you'd think that he'd have worked a bit more to improve/adapt that part of his game for the pros, considering one in every four shots he took in college was a three point attempt.

 

[hayes]

Brewer is good at his current role which is to come off the bench, play really good defense and get steals. Rose needs someone next to him that can first of all shoot, but also be a capable ball-handler that can at least make teams think about doubling him. Miami double and triple teamed Rose and there was nobody that could dribble let alone make the defense pay for it.

 

[Mouthbreather]

So it would seem that we are in various degrees of agreement ?? we all like ronnie but i doubt any of us would argue if we could make a significant upgrade.

So who is available ( or rumoured to be ) that would actually benefit us ? preferably now and long term.

from memory the pick of the free agents are : J-Rich, Vince Carter, Redd , Nick Young.

and trade rumours are : Monta Ellis, Anthony Parker..

im sure i am forgetting some... but who is out there that wont cost too much and fit in ???

 

[hayes]

Hard to say who'll be available because we don't even know if the MLE will be there to use. Orlando are meant to be letting JRich walk and he's said a ring is more important to him than money these days so he could be had. His age concerns me though because after a year or two we could have the same problem. There really isn't much to go with because of this damn lockout.

 

[silverscope]

So it would seem that we are in various degrees of agreement ?? we all like ronnie but i doubt any of us would argue if we could make a significant upgrade.

So who is available ( or rumoured to be ) that would actually benefit us ? preferably now and long term.

from memory the pick of the free agents are : J-Rich, Vince Carter, Redd , Nick Young.

and trade rumours are : Monta Ellis, Anthony Parker..

im sure i am forgetting some... but who is out there that wont cost too much and fit in ???

J.R. Smith

 

[Mouthbreather]

not sure if JR Smith is the answer. can put the ball in the hole but is a bit of a headcase and takes some horrible shots. dont really know if he his a Thibs kind of player.
we already had him once and ditched him so quick he didnt even have time to get his neck tattooed at the local chi-town ink spot !

 

[hayes]

JR isn't the same player we let go for nothing. I'd be more than happy with the ball in his hands if Rose gets doubled. I fear that the Bulls will go the conservative route and go with a cheap vet option like Parker or Hill which would make me sick.