Plan moving forward if RIP injury ends up being serious

[biggestbullsfan]

You're all crazy if you think the FO is going to make any significant move. Our team is not changing. If Rip can't play, Brewer is our starting SG for the rest of the season. It's out of character for our FO to make REAL changes DURING the season.

True maybe we'll catch a nice steal from a buyout or make a minor move to help the bench w/ scoring

Yea Buyout or FA is probably our best bet for SG, and I have a feeling that ppl will like the idea more of coming here that we can get a buyout for one year.

But I dont see us making a trade without giving this team one more year. Not unless a huge trade, ala D12, comes along. But that aint happening.

[Rerisen]

Without Rip, I see the Bulls hoping on pairing CJ Watson with Rose a lot more. Hoping he can nail those open threes, and relieve pressure when Rose gets trapped.

Miami will try to overrun that backcourt with size no doubt.

There is really no one we can get that is better than the options we have if we don't want to expend legit assets.

[AAU Teammate]

Asik is important for the playoffs. I wouldn't want to face a Howard-led team without him.

[blumeany]

You're all crazy if you think the FO is going to make any significant move. Our team is not changing. If Rip can't play, Brewer is our starting SG for the rest of the season. It's out of character for our FO to make REAL changes DURING the season.

I don't consider swapping bench players for a current bench SG to use as a starter, or swapping defensive players for offensive ones as 'significant', really.

My gut says they won't make a move though - even if Rip is out for the season. I think the FO wants to see if this team, as is, can make any more hay before making any wholesale changes. If you go two years and still lose in the ECF (or before then), then I think the case is made to make some changes.

My mind says that the Bulls need to make a move THIS season. Why waste any more time or risk the chance of your 'assets' degrading any further?

[BuffaloBull]

Without Rip, I see the Bulls hoping on pairing CJ Watson with Rose a lot more. Hoping he can nail those open threes, and relieve pressure when Rose gets trapped.

Miami will try to overrun that backcourt with size no doubt.

There is really no one we can get that is better than the options we have if we don't want to expend legit assets.

And honestly that might be the best option at this point.

Removing rotation players to get another is going to cause harm, kind of like setting a bone after a break. I just don't think there would be time for it to heal.

Even without Rip, I still feel like this team has a chance against the Heat, though I wouldn't expect them to win. Noah and Rose both played down that series. If these guys are healthy and can raise their games, we can beat anybody.

But anyway, here's hoping Rip can get back on the court soon.

[aaqubed]

Without Rip, I see the Bulls hoping on pairing CJ Watson with Rose a lot more. Hoping he can nail those open threes, and relieve pressure when Rose gets trapped.

Miami will try to overrun that backcourt with size no doubt.

There is really no one we can get that is better than the options we have if we don't want to expend legit assets.

Yup. And also, I don't think we have "legit assets" to use anyway -- I guess Mirotic and the Charlotte pick, but I'm not sure we get a starter for them this year. Unless GMs think Mirotic is coming over next year.

CJ has played well for us. Well enough that he might be enough anyway. Maybe we take a page out of Dallas' book and throw in some zone against Miami when we go small, so that we give Rose a rest on D.

[biggestbullsfan]

Without Rip, I see the Bulls hoping on pairing CJ Watson with Rose a lot more. Hoping he can nail those open threes, and relieve pressure when Rose gets trapped.

Miami will try to overrun that backcourt with size no doubt.

There is really no one we can get that is better than the options we have if we don't want to expend legit assets.

Yup. And also, I don't think we have "legit assets" to use anyway -- I guess Mirotic and the Charlotte pick, but I'm not sure we get a starter for them this year. Unless GMs think Mirotic is coming over next year.

CJ has played well for us. Well enough that he might be enough anyway. Maybe we take a page out of Dallas' book and throw in some zone against Miami when we go small, so that we give Rose a rest on D.

Well Mirotic only entered the draft and stayed in cuz he knew we were taking him. You cant trade the rights to a player you dont think will come over. HE could be a Fran Vazquez if he was ever traded.

[basghetti80]

A name I have not heard mentioned is Mike Dunleavy Jr. Any chance we could pry him out of Milwaukee with say Korver and our 2012 1st rd pick? Brewer, Deng and Mike D would be a really good trio at SG/SF.

[dafunky1]

As biggestbullsfan said,Mirotic is worthless to anyone but the Bulls.Nicky wants the Bulls and no one else.

[Tommy Udo 6]

Well Mirotic only entered the draft and stayed in cuz he knew we were taking him. You cant trade the rights to a player you dont think will come over. HE could be a Fran Vazquez if he was ever traded.

Players want start or at least get major minutes when they come over. Mirotic knows his time will be in a couple years. He knows the Bulls are not moving Boozer.

The problem with Vazquez was who drafted him - Orlando. He's not coming over to play back-up to Dwight Howard. If Howard goes & they dont get a top Center in return, you can expect Vazquez in Orlando next season

[JasonFTW]

Without Rip, I see the Bulls hoping on pairing CJ Watson with Rose a lot more. Hoping he can nail those open threes, and relieve pressure when Rose gets trapped.

Miami will try to overrun that backcourt with size no doubt.

There is really no one we can get that is better than the options we have if we don't want to expend legit assets.

Yup. And also, I don't think we have "legit assets" to use anyway -- I guess Mirotic and the Charlotte pick, but I'm not sure we get a starter for them this year. Unless GMs think Mirotic is coming over next year.

CJ has played well for us. Well enough that he might be enough anyway. Maybe we take a page out of Dallas' book and throw in some zone against Miami when we go small, so that we give Rose a rest on D.

I definitely want to see more of Rose and CJ in the playoffs, even if Rip is there to play.

[JordansBulls]

http://www.nba.com/bulls/news/ask-sam-s ... 30212.html

Are the Celtics really thinking about trading Ray Allen if they get the right offer? What do you think it would take to get the Celtics to bite and do you think the Bulls would do it? Would sure stretch the floor, but can the Bulls make a trade work salary wise and be able to absorb the rest of Allen's salary for this year?

Sam: I think what’s up now is the Bulls monitoring Hamilton the next few weeks to see if he holds up and begins to produce. If he goes out again, I can see them getting into the discussion. The problem is it’s too unlikely. Allen’s contract is expiring, so it probably would be a rental. Making $10 million would cost you two from among Watson, Korver and Brewer to match salaries. But the Celtics would only do it if you gave them something, which means a first, likely. I’m usually not much for low firsts, but the Bulls used one for Mirotic and guys like MarShon Brooks and Norris Cole were available. And with the changing economics these low paid draft picks are going to be more valuable. Can you afford to deplete your bench to that extent and give up picks for a short term rental. Allen probably would then want to return to Boston as he has a sick child and has gotten close with the Boston hospital system.

[QBF]

The trade is simple for both teams: Richard Hamilton, C.J. Watson, and Jimmy Butler to Detroit for Ben Gordon.

Chicago gets the second scorer it needs, and there is no doubt Thibodeau remembers what Gordon did in the 09 Bulls-Celtics playoffs series like it was yesterday. Chicago also gets to keep its bench basically intact, with Mike James available to take Watson's back-up PG minutes. Not including James' salary and a minimum-salaried 13th player for the rest of the season, Chicago's payroll would be $70,952,129, very close to the luxury tax threshold.

Detroit saves $27 million in the change from Gordon tp Hamilton's contract, and they can buy-out and retire Hamilton at the end of the season as a Piston, which is the way it should be. (If anything will convince Hamilton to retire, this year should do it.) Watson is an expiring contract or a solid back-up point guard, and Butler is a young SG prospect with some size, defense, and intangibles.

The problem for Chicago is that they aren't getting anybody really good and on-top-of-his-game (such as, say, Wesley Matthews) without giving up significant assets. This would destroy Chicago's bench and certainly rob them of one of their valuable back-up big men. Bringing Gibson and Asik off the bench is one of Chicago's only advantages over the Heat, and trading one of them for anyone other than Dwight Howard or Lamarcus Aldridge would end what little chance Chicago has against Miami in the playoffs.

With Gordon, Chicago only needs to provide significant cap relief to save Detroit its amnesty to use on Charlie Villanueva. Thanks to the more-than-adequate play of Mike James in spot duty this season, C.J. Watson is the least essential part of Chicago's bench and can be replaced with a long-term solution in the draft or free agency this summer.

For all of Gordon's flaws, he instantly becomes Chicago's second best scorer, and he easily fits in with Chicago's basketball culture. More importantly, he is a proven scorer in the playoffs, and he will be deadly to any team that ignores him the way teams ignored Keith Bogans last season.

Has Gordon seen better days? Obviously, but so had Hamilton, and that didn't stop Chicago from signing Hamilton from Detroit three months ago. Is Gordon expensive? Absolutely, but when you are desperate to beat Miami and win a championship, you do everything you can. Chicago only gave up Gordon (and Hinrich) because they wanted a shot at Wade, Lebron, and Bosh, and they struck out on all three. Chicago can be penny-wise and avoid Gordon's contract, but my guess is that Chicago's management is in a win-now mode, and are considering something they wouldn't have dreamed of 12 months ago.

[Spimothy Leary]

It's also worth mentioning that, in some ways, Utah Jazz management "owes" the Bulls..remember when the Jazz were about to lose Boozer for nothing, and the Bulls gave them a TPE? The Jazz subsequently used it to acquire Al Jefferson, who has been solid for them.

I think, if the Bulls made a phone call, they could have C.J. Miles if they wanted. Now that the Jazz have come crashing back to earth, they'll surely be receptive to trading him..after all, Alec Burks is their SG of the future..and he looks extremely promising..they would definitely want to free up some playing time for him, as he's 3rd in the depth chart right now behind Raja Bell and Miles.

I'd love CJ Miles on this team

any reason we gave up that TPE in the first place?
wouldn't that have given us a LOT more flexibility this year ?

[M J B]

even though our offense has been stellar with rip out there, i still think getting another SG is a must imo. I just hop this day to day thing doesn't turn out to be longer than expected, because if it is, i think our chances of beating the heat in the playoffs are really slim. we will essentially have the same team as last year minus bogans and big sexy.