McGraw: Bulls SG issues

[step]

So let's not try and find out?

For who? Stephen Jackson or Rip Hamilton?
Are those the pieces we're truly missing that will magically vault us into contention? I don't think so.
Why not wait and actually obtain someone actually worthwhile.

Would Mark Cuban hesitate in giving his team the best possible chance to go as far as they were able to go with his resources and what might be available to give his team such a chance?

And has his gracious spending got him a championship yet? Has Dolan's?

I would love for us to do so, but we know it won't happen until we are a true contender or the move will make us one. We've paid it in the past, but we're not a team who'll rush into it just to improve by a few wins.

Would Cuban let Taj stand in the way?

Taj is helping us compete now, well in theory, silly concussion. Trade him now and we get to play Thomas, Scalabrine and a scrub 48 minutes. That's really going to win us heaps of games there during Noahs downtime.

[Bulltalk]

Well considering that the Bulls led the league in payroll during the dynasty days, I would say you are completely off base. Cuban just hands out contacts like the Mavericks are his toy. JR treats it like a business since he has a board to answer to.

Let's back it up here. How many years did the Bulls lead in payroll in the 1990's? I just checked two championship years where they weren't the leaders in payroll.

And how much profit did the Bulls make in relation to the other teams in spite of their higher relative payrolls? And how much did their franchise increase in value during such years relative to the other teams?

[bullsnewdynasty]

For who? Stephen Jackson or Rip Hamilton?
Are those the pieces we're truly missing that will magically vault us into contention? I don't think so.
Why not wait and actually obtain someone actually worthwhile.

I would really like to know guys that are better shooting guards and available other than those two and O.J. Mayo. Names, please.

[step]

I would really like to know guys that are better shooting guards and available other than those two and O.J. Mayo. Names, please.

None at this moment, but who's to say there won't be later?
Because they're the only ones available now, we should jump on it straight away?

[Bulltalk]

For who? Stephen Jackson or Rip Hamilton?
Are those the pieces we're truly missing that will magically vault us into contention? I don't think so.
Why not wait and actually obtain someone actually worthwhile.

I would really like to know guys that are better shooting guards and available other than those two and O.J. Mayo. Names, please.

Don't you know that they're sitting at the bottom of the candy coated popcorn and peanuts?

[step]

Don't you know that they're sitting at the bottom of the candy coated popcorn and peanuts?

Why are we in such a rush to go out and get players well beyond their better days?

The main guys being talked about are 32-33 year olds earning $9-12.5M or so and are still on lengthy deals. We don't have any sizable contracts to part with and would need to send many players back just to match.

More players become available closer to the deadline, who knows who'll they'll be, and these guys will still be available too.

[Bulltalk]

Don't you know that they're sitting at the bottom of the candy coated popcorn and peanuts?

Why are we in such a rush to go out and get players well beyond their better days?

The main guys being talked about are 32-33 year olds earning $9-12.5M or so and are still on lengthy deals. We don't have any sizable contracts to part with and would need to send many players back just to match.

More players become available closer to the deadline, who knows who'll they'll be, and these guys will still be available too.

I know, you like the two in the bush more. It's just your nature.

[step]

I know, you like the two in the bush more. It's just your nature.

If only I knew what that meant.

I would love an upgrade at SG, but I just don't see these guys as an upgrade over what we have currently and what we have to part with to get them.

[Bulltalk]

I know, you like the two in the bush more. It's just your nature.

If only I knew what that meant.

I would love an upgrade at SG, but I just don't see these guys as an upgrade over what we have currently and what we have to part with to get them.

Hello? A bird in the hand...

[bullsnewdynasty]

The minute we signed Boozer we technically went into win now mode. He is in his prime. Why wait? The longer you wait to cash in assets, the more of Boozer's prime you waste. Thibs has made no hesitation to play his starters big minutes and Boozer and Noah WILL play 40+ minutes guaranteed in the playoffs, save for foul trouble. Taj is nice to have, but not "someone you only trade for an all-star or near all-star." You say you need Taj for injury insurance? Sorry to say, but if Boozer ain't healthy, we're not winning anyway.

Say you do trade for Stephen Jackson. He's effective for a few years (who knows how the team does), then he's a big expiring. Same exact thing with Deng. Brewer, Korver, and Watson will all be attractive players next year because they will be pseudo-expirings. You can retool on the fly that way.

And still waiting on that list of SG's.

[Bulltalk]

The minute we signed Boozer we technically went into win now mode. He is in his prime. Why wait? The longer you wait to cash in assets, the more of Boozer's prime you waste....You say you need Taj for injury insurance? Sorry to say, but if Boozer ain't healthy, we're not winning anyway.

Basically speaking, yes.

[zenvibes]

The minute we signed Boozer we technically went into win now mode. He is in his prime. Why wait? The longer you wait to cash in assets, the more of Boozer's prime you waste....You say you need Taj for injury insurance? Sorry to say, but if Boozer ain't healthy, we're not winning anyway.

Basically speaking, yes.

well said...the both of you!

[Clocian]

yeah i dunno why people are acting like there are plenty of quality SGs out there to get. If you can get sjax you try to get him, he's not another bogans, hes a very quality SG even at his age. The sooner the better to build up chemistry, probably wont be any better available sgs near the tradeline anyway unless its mayo and thats mainly because of his age tbh.

[jax98]

Here's the key quote. Not "fiscally responsible". Whatever happened to the notion that ownership would pay up for a contending team?

Eh. I wouldn't too much stock in that. Obviously, paying that kind of money for players in that age group would be wasting a lot of money. This team needs a player who is at least in his 20's (preferably 25 or younger) who can grow with Rose, Noah and Deng. Boozer is a below-the-rim post player and thus has a longer life span when it comes to on-court production if we ignore his injury pattern. He'll remain productive til the end of his deal.

Besides, according to McGraw, Bulls are ready to pay up for Mayo using the Charlotte pick. Fully knowing that Mayo needs an extension the same time as Rose. So this is not about the Bulls not wanting to spend.

[JayT44]

The minute we signed Boozer we technically went into win now mode. He is in his prime. Why wait? The longer you wait to cash in assets, the more of Boozer's prime you waste. Thibs has made no hesitation to play his starters big minutes and Boozer and Noah WILL play 40+ minutes guaranteed in the playoffs, save for foul trouble. Taj is nice to have, but not "someone you only trade for an all-star or near all-star." You say you need Taj for injury insurance? Sorry to say, but if Boozer ain't healthy, we're not winning anyway.

Say you do trade for Stephen Jackson. He's effective for a few years (who knows how the team does), then he's a big expiring. Same exact thing with Deng. Brewer, Korver, and Watson will all be attractive players next year because they will be pseudo-expirings. You can retool on the fly that way.

And still waiting on that list of SG's.

This may be the best post I've yet to read on this board. Makes perfect sense. All of it.

Let's go get Captain Jack now.

[BuffaloBull]

All I'll add is that "fiscally responsible," in this scenario, isn't just about ensuring profitability and keeping costs down. With the uncertainty regarding the new CBA, it makes a lot of sense to be as prudent as we can, so that if things end up changing a lot, the Bulls still have the wherewithal to sign Rose to his extension. As much as adding a Stephen Jackson could potentially benefit the team now, the fact that he will still be on the books when Rose needs an extension rightly is making he front office very careful about who they are adding and when.

[dice]

Well considering that the Bulls led the league in payroll during the dynasty days, I would say you are completely off base. Cuban just hands out contacts like the Mavericks are his toy. JR treats it like a business since he has a board to answer to.

Let's back it up here. How many years did the Bulls lead in payroll in the 1990's? I just checked two championship years where they weren't the leaders in payroll.

for the first 3-peat MJ and scottie were under cheap contracts. obviously we were a top 4 team (which is reinsdorf's criteria) after MJ's return, so JR shelled out the dough necessary to keep it that way

any of the prospective SGs we're talking about likely do not make us a top 4 team

[coldfish]

Good job as usual Mike. This is why McGraw is consistently the best Bulls beat writer. He combines inside information with intelligent analysis.

[transplant]

Good article. It pretty much lays out the dilemma...with the possible exception of Mayo whose availability is purely speculative, there aren't any moves out there that make sense.

Of course you can go ahead and jam that square peg into the round hole if you like.

[sleepyhead]

Good job as usual Mike. This is why McGraw is consistently the best Bulls beat writer. He combines inside information with intelligent analysis.

Seriously? How can you be "the best Bulls beat writer" if you don't even know how the Bobcat's pick works?

That pick is lottery-protected this year, but the restrictions ease gradually until it's completely unprotected in 2016.

We can not get this pick until 2012, how about you get your facts straight before writing for a newspaper. Absolutely pathetic, I understand if some random NBA analyst like Wojnarowski wrote this, but the "best Bulls beat writer" doesn't even know simple things like this about his beloved Bulls? Lack of professionalism, or as my fellow Brits would say "poor form mate."

I worked as a sell-side stock analyst and if I made a mistake like this in my research report, I would have gotten sacked on the spot and the bank could've gotten sued for many millions of dollars.

If the Bobcats miss the playoffs this year and keep getting worse — not at all far-fetched — that pick could become a top-five selection someday.

Yes it could be a top five selection, but only in 2016. If I buy a lottery ticket sometime this week - not at all far-fetched - I could become a millionaire someday. Bad journalism again, because McGraw either:
1. Believes that we have a relatively good chance of landing a top 5 pick; or
2. He is purposely misleading us to believe that the chance of that happening is a lot better than it really is (probably less than 1%).

Other than that he wrote a good article, but he needs to get his facts straight.