Love #5: P. 88, Bulls 'moving on' from Love

[WinCity]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/suntimes_hoops/status/494203347037982722[/tweet]

[BeatDaCavs420]

We was GASSED and injured coming towards end of the season even from the start of that series we was playing on fumes...Healthy Noah vs Healthy Nene yeah Nene aint having a series like that again...same with Jimmy and Beal

Are bench consisted of players the name of Admunson Mike James Jimmer and Brewer LOL

We always get to the playoffs with Noah gassed. The kid simply does not have the large center frame that can take the pounding at center over 82 games and then be expected to perform well in the playoffs. Noah's a workaholic, intimidator, defensive beast, motivator and cerebral offensive player and if he had the body of a center he would be unstoppable. But he just doesn't have the frame. He's a gigantic PF who we play at C because there's no legit C on our roster. The fact that the kid gets through the regular season with flying colors shows us how much heart he has. We definitely need to limit Noah's minutes as much as possible next season, especially since he's starting to get up there in age.

Wellll with ur back up being Nazr what do you expect he needs tons of minutes

[FecesOfDeath]

IMO, he should just stay. The Wolves last year were a very good team that couldn't finish games. Saunders is a very good offensive-minded coach who proved his worth in his first Minny stint and in Detroit and is likely a good fit for Love. If things fall apart, then they can try to trade him away, and if things are falling apart for the Wolves by the trade deadline, then his asking price might be lower.

[D_GoLow]

IMO, he should just stay. The Wolves last year were a very good team that couldn't finish games. Saunders is a very good offensive-minded coach who proved his worth in his first Minny stint and in Detroit and is likely a good fit for Love. If things fall apart, then they can try to trade him away, and if things are falling apart for the Wolves by the trade deadline, then his asking price might be lower.

This is exactly what I've been saying.

Flip is very reluctant to trade Love.

He wants a shot at the playoffs & knows keeping Love is his best opportunity.

[Ice Man]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/suntimes_hoops/status/494203347037982722[/tweet]

I think of Jo/Niko and Pau/Taj as the two best combos of the big men. Jo/Pau strikes me as too lumbering, Jo/Taj not good enough on offense, Niko/Pau defensively weak, and Niko/Taj undersized. We'll see what Thibs does.

[panthermark]

I hope we are going after Love.

And after looking at the numbers...it looks like either Snell or MDJ (depending on how the trade is set up) needs to go with McD, Taj, and Mirotic if Love and Martin are the targets.

Too bad...I would have loved to have kept both. The 150% rule does not apply to outgoing salary above $9.6M for non-taxpaying teams.

Mirotic for Martin works as one deal, but Taj and McD push the salary into the next class...which basically allows you to bring back $5M more than you send out. And that trade is about $500,000 short of Love. Maybe Bear-toes goes instead? (Can't see them wanting 3 PF's).

My work computer does not allow Java. Did McD really sign for $2,277,960? I'm hoping that is scale/pre 120%. Add 20% to that, and his new salary would be $2,733,552. Add that to Taj's $8M even...and you are at $10,733,552. Love makes $15,719,062...so that would work.

Edit...
I just took a look on my phone. That was indeed 120% of rookie scale. Damn....

[D_GoLow]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/suntimes_hoops/status/494203347037982722[/tweet]

I think of Jo/Niko and Pau/Taj as the two best combos of the big men. Jo/Pau strikes me as too lumbering, Jo/Taj not good enough on offense, Niko/Pau defensively weak, and Niko/Taj undersized. We'll see what Thibs does.

Please elaborate on "too lumbering."

To me Noah & Pau will make a great duo. One can play inside the other can play outside & even post up.

We truly won't know for sure until they play together but all in all the depth we have should be a huge asset.,

[TruthSerum]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/suntimes_hoops/status/494203347037982722[/tweet]

Gasol is "Boozer 2015" so he'll start w/Taj coming off the bench.

[DRoseCantStop]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/suntimes_hoops/status/494203347037982722[/tweet]

Kevin Love to CHI confirmed.

[EastBayFJ]

Real Plus Minus is a better statistic than the regular + -.

Marion was still a slightly over positive defender last year, but hurt the Mavericks on offense.

2013-2014:

ORPM: -1.72
DRPM: 0.68
WAR: 1.96

Should be a great fit for the Bulls then

[EastBayFJ]

I hope we are going after Love.

And after looking at the numbers...it looks like either Snell or MDJ (depending on how the trade is set up) needs to go with McD, Taj, and Mirotic if Love and Martin are the targets.

Too bad...I would have loved to have kept both. The 150% rule does not apply to outgoing salary above $9.6M for non-taxpaying teams.

Mirotic for Martin works as one deal, but Taj and McD push the salary into the next class...which basically allows you to bring back $5M more than you send out. And that trade is about $500,000 short of Love. Maybe Bear-toes goes instead? (Can't see them wanting 3 PF's).

My work computer does not allow Java. Did McD really sign for $2,277,960? I'm hoping that is scale/pre 120%. Add 20% to that, and his new salary would be $2,733,552. Add that to Taj's $8M even...and you are at $10,733,552. Love makes $15,719,062...so that would work.

Edit...
I just took a look on my phone. That was indeed 120% of rookie scale. Damn....

Love and Martin are at $23.5m ( rounded )

We need to send out $17.85m of salary ( rounded )

[EastBayFJ]

I actually had Bairstow and Snell going with McLips, Mirotic, Dunleavy and Gibson for Love, Martin and Dieng ...with a couple of our assets then bing attached to Pekovic who goes to Memphis ( with assets ) for Marc Gasol

Marc Gasol gets to pair with Rubio and Mirotic and then with Gibson, McLips and LaVine in the mix that's a pretty decent core

[EastBayFJ]

And we'd have

Noah
Love
Butler
Martin
Rose

Dieng
Gasol
Marion ( vet minimum )
Hinrich
Brooks

Mohamed ( vet minimum )
DeAndre Kane ( minimum signing )

I'd roll with that and back our chance at the big one

[bad knees]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/suntimes_hoops/status/494203347037982722[/tweet]

I think of Jo/Niko and Pau/Taj as the two best combos of the big men. Jo/Pau strikes me as too lumbering, Jo/Taj not good enough on offense, Niko/Pau defensively weak, and Niko/Taj undersized. We'll see what Thibs does.

I agree. Niko should start at PF.

Rose
Butler
Mc3
Niko
Jo

strong

[panthermark]

I agree. Niko should start at PF.

Rose
Butler
Mc3
Niko
Jo

strong

When was the last time a contending team started two rookies?

No way Gasol and Taj ride pine for Mirotic. Not unless Noah and Rose are both done for the year or something.

Or...include both of those guys in a trade for Love and Martin.

[bad knees]

I agree. Niko should start at PF.

Rose
Butler
Mc3
Niko
Jo

strong

When was the last time a contending team started two rookies?

No way Gasol and Taj ride pine for Mirotic. Not unless Noah and Rose are both done for the year or something.

Or...include both of those guys in a trade for Love and Martin.

I am much less excited about Pau than most. I hope that he gets the substantial majority of his time as a backup to Noah. Pau can't guard PFs anymore, and I want Noah protecting the rim, rather than chasing stretch 4s around the basket.

Starting Niko would also get him some guaranteed minutes each game with the better players.

If Doug or Niko is not playing serviceable defense on any night, they can be pulled quickly. If it becomes a regular problem, then they would lose their spot.

From the way our roster is constructed, it makes sense to pair Noah with Niko. It also makes sense to start Mc3. If that means that the Bulls violate some unwritten rule, then so be it.

I imagine Thibs won't do it, but I would like to see him give it a try.

[Rerisen]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/suntimes_hoops/status/494203347037982722[/tweet]

[aaqubed]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/suntimes_hoops/status/494203347037982722[/tweet]

I think of Jo/Niko and Pau/Taj as the two best combos of the big men. Jo/Pau strikes me as too lumbering, Jo/Taj not good enough on offense, Niko/Pau defensively weak, and Niko/Taj undersized. We'll see what Thibs does.

Noah and Taj has been a great pairing for a few years now. The team has actually performed decently well offensively, particularly last year when Noah and Taj both took steps forward on the offensive end.

I hope we are going after Love.

And after looking at the numbers...it looks like either Snell or MDJ (depending on how the trade is set up) needs to go with McD, Taj, and Mirotic if Love and Martin are the targets.

Too bad...I would have loved to have kept both. The 150% rule does not apply to outgoing salary above $9.6M for non-taxpaying teams.

Mirotic for Martin works as one deal, but Taj and McD push the salary into the next class...which basically allows you to bring back $5M more than you send out. And that trade is about $500,000 short of Love. Maybe Bear-toes goes instead? (Can't see them wanting 3 PF's).

My work computer does not allow Java. Did McD really sign for $2,277,960? I'm hoping that is scale/pre 120%. Add 20% to that, and his new salary would be $2,733,552. Add that to Taj's $8M even...and you are at $10,733,552. Love makes $15,719,062...so that would work.

Edit...
I just took a look on my phone. That was indeed 120% of rookie scale. Damn....

Love and Martin are at $23.5m ( rounded )

We need to send out $17.85m of salary ( rounded )

If we break it into two trades for the purposes of matching, we can trade Mirotic for Martin straight up, and Taj, McDermott, and S&T Nazr at the minimum for Love. EDIT: Never mind, just realized we cannot S&T Nazr, since the minimum salary exception only lets us sign him for 2 years, and a S&T needs to be a 3 year deal. So it would have to involve adding another player (Snell or Dunleavy probably).

[panthermark]

I am much less excited about Pau than most. I hope that he gets the substantial majority of his time as a backup to Noah. Pau can't guard PFs anymore, and I want Noah protecting the rim, rather than chasing stretch 4s around the basket.

Starting Niko would also get him some guaranteed minutes each game with the better players.

If Doug or Niko is not playing serviceable defense on any night, they can be pulled quickly. If it becomes a regular problem, then they would lose their spot.

From the way our roster is constructed, it makes sense to pair Noah with Niko. It also makes sense to start Mc3. If that means that the Bulls violate some unwritten rule, then so be it.

I imagine Thibs won't do it, but I would like to see him give it a try.

Where does Taj fit in to all of that?
I can see McD starting over MDJ long before Mirotic starts over Taj and Gasol.

I think the best players will play.
So if no changes are made, I expect a starting line-up of:
Rose
Butler
MDJ (for now, McD at the All-Star break)
Noah (at PF on defense)
Gasol

[Indomitable]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/suntimes_hoops/status/494203347037982722[/tweet]

Noah and Taj
Pau and Miritoc