Around The NBA : 2023-24 Season #3

[SirKaiser]

What do you guys think about our chances of getting that Portland pick? Blazers have been playing good over the past 15 games, losing only to Rockets, Thunder, Nuggets, and Wolves.

Basically one of the Mavs, Kings, or Warriors would need to fall out of the play-in, right?

[kulaz3000]

What do you guys think about our chances of getting that Portland pick? Blazers have been playing good over the past 15 games, losing only to Rockets, Thunder, Nuggets, and Wolves.

Basically one of the Mavs, Kings, or Warriors would need to fall out of the play-in, right?

If they continue to play at the rate that they did, sure, they could get into the play-in, but it's highly unlikely, as the teams that are in the mix will likely ramp things up. But even if they did get into the play-in, they would still need to win the play-in games to get themselves into the playoffs for us to get the pick.

I think we have 3 more seasons to get the chance to get that first round pick, before it turns into a second, and eventually they are going to have to just go for it and resign some of their young talent to long term contracts, and try to build a winning team. I think our best chance may be the following year after next.

[Muzbar]

What do you guys think about our chances of getting that Portland pick? Blazers have been playing good over the past 15 games, losing only to Rockets, Thunder, Nuggets, and Wolves.

Basically one of the Mavs, Kings, or Warriors would need to fall out of the play-in, right?

This season? Nah I don't think so. They're without Ayton (who surprisingly has been a big part of their current surge).

Even if they make the play-in, they'd have to win both games for the Bulls to get Portland's FRP.

[Dan Z]

I bet the Sixers shut things down soon and just tank the season.

"Joel Embiid Says He Won't Get Back To Being Himself Until Knee Problem Is Corrected":
https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/279389/Joel-Embiid-Says-He-Wont-Get-Back-To-Being-Himself-Until-Knee-Problem-Is-Corrected

"Paul George Says He's Playing Through Pain To Remain Available This Season":
https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/279390/Paul-George-Says-Hes-Playing-Through-Pain-To-Remain-Available-This-Season

[kodo]

I can't think of a less deserving franchise to get Flagg than the Sixers. They got four top 3 picks in a row and did nothing with them.

[kodo]

Mavs traded Luka and were ranked ahead of Chicago. Damn.

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-front-office-rankings-celtics-okc-at-the-top-mavericks-sink-after-luka-trade-but-theyre-not-no-30/

NBA front office rankings: Celtics, OKC at the top, Mavericks sink after Luka trade, but they're not No. 30

30. Chicago Bulls
The Kings aspire to 46 or 47 wins. The Bulls seemingly aspire to 36 or 37. They very nearly occupied their own tier on this list and were an obvious choice for No. 30. To understand why, let's briefly go through some of the bullet points we covered up top to show all of the ways this organization is failing:

Does the GM have a track record? No. The Bulls haven't won a playoff series under Arturas Karnisovas.
Does the GM have a plan? It certainly doesn't seem like it. Karnisovas argued in a recent press conference that teams can win championships with nine or 10 very good players rather than two or three superstars. Aside from being mostly untrue historically, it is worth pointing out here that the Bulls do not have nine or 10 very good players, nor are they especially close to reaching that number.
Does the front tend to make good trades? Well, they managed to trade Alex Caruso to Oklahoma City without getting a single first-round pick back, they basically kickstarted the Orlando rebuild with the Nikola Vucevic trade, and they recently gave away their best player in LaVine to regain control of a first-round pick that was already top-8 protected and therefore eminently keepable if they had been willing to tank for it properly. So I'm gonna go ahead and say no.
Does the front office tend to sign good contracts? Patrick Williams is averaging 9.1 points per game on a $90 million deal right now, so this isn't looking great either.
Is ownership willing to spend enough to win? Despite operating in the NBA's third-biggest market, the Bulls have paid the luxury tax only twice. Only six teams have spent less in total tax dollars, according to Spotrac.

Nico Harrison at least built a Finals team last season. Matt Ishbia deserves credit for his willingness to spend. The Kings have pathways to at least being reasonably competitive. But there's just no argument whatsoever in favor of how the Bulls operate beyond consistently maximizing revenue and minimizing costs.

[MrSparkle]

I’m fairly certain the Sixers, Spurs, Blazers “swallow their pride” and have a tanky spring, while Billy Donovan gets this crap team to compete for a play-in. They’re gonna win a bunch of meaningless games while half the league shuts it down to tank or prepare for post-season. I’ve seen this show before. Listen to Billy’s recent interview with Sam Smith. Got pissed off at the idea of “experimenting” with lineups and telling vets he’s gonna tank.

It’s why they traded for their own damn pick. They could’ve just lost the rest of the way and kept it, but they want to make the play-in. Could even see the Heat free falling.

Time to prepare for 10-13 IMO. Meanwhile Spurs or Sixers add Flagg or Harper to the mix, and move on.

[Dan Z]

I’m fairly certain the Sixers, Spurs, Blazers “swallow their pride” and have a tanky spring, while Billy Donovan gets this crap team to compete for a play-in. They’re gonna win a bunch of meaningless games while half the league shuts it down to tank or prepare for post-season. I’ve seen this show before. Listen to Billy’s recent interview with Sam Smith. Got pissed off at the idea of “experimenting” with lineups and telling vets he’s gonna tank.

It’s why they traded for their own damn pick. They could’ve just lost the rest of the way and kept it, but they want to make the play-in. Could even see the Heat free falling.

Time to prepare for 10-13 IMO. Meanwhile Spurs or Sixers add Flagg or Harper to the mix, and move on.

I could see that happening too. It's frustrating.

JCool pointed out the other day that the Bulls have never properly tanks in franchise history. Ever. It's crazy.

If the Bulls were to tank I think the best they could get is the 6th pick (not including lottery luck). I'd much rather have 6th than 11th because this team needs all the talent it can get. The play-in will be meaningless.

[Indomitable]

I’m fairly certain the Sixers, Spurs, Blazers “swallow their pride” and have a tanky spring, while Billy Donovan gets this crap team to compete for a play-in. They’re gonna win a bunch of meaningless games while half the league shuts it down to tank or prepare for post-season. I’ve seen this show before. Listen to Billy’s recent interview with Sam Smith. Got pissed off at the idea of “experimenting” with lineups and telling vets he’s gonna tank.

It’s why they traded for their own damn pick. They could’ve just lost the rest of the way and kept it, but they want to make the play-in. Could even see the Heat free falling.

Time to prepare for 10-13 IMO. Meanwhile Spurs or Sixers add Flagg or Harper to the mix, and move on.

I could see that happening too. It's frustrating.

JCool pointed out the other day that the Bulls have never properly tanks in franchise history. Ever. It's crazy.

If the Bulls were to tank I think the best they could get is the 6th pick (not including lottery luck). I'd much rather have 6th than 11th because this team needs all the talent it can get. The play-in will be meaningless.

The Bulls tanked from 1999 to 2004. They tanked for the Eddy Curry and Chandler picks. His arguments were not true.

[Dan Z]

I’m fairly certain the Sixers, Spurs, Blazers “swallow their pride” and have a tanky spring, while Billy Donovan gets this crap team to compete for a play-in. They’re gonna win a bunch of meaningless games while half the league shuts it down to tank or prepare for post-season. I’ve seen this show before. Listen to Billy’s recent interview with Sam Smith. Got pissed off at the idea of “experimenting” with lineups and telling vets he’s gonna tank.

It’s why they traded for their own damn pick. They could’ve just lost the rest of the way and kept it, but they want to make the play-in. Could even see the Heat free falling.

Time to prepare for 10-13 IMO. Meanwhile Spurs or Sixers add Flagg or Harper to the mix, and move on.

I could see that happening too. It's frustrating.

JCool pointed out the other day that the Bulls have never properly tanks in franchise history. Ever. It's crazy.

If the Bulls were to tank I think the best they could get is the 6th pick (not including lottery luck). I'd much rather have 6th than 11th because this team needs all the talent it can get. The play-in will be meaningless.

The Bulls tanked from 1999 to 2004. They tanked for the Eddy Curry and Chandler picks. His arguments were not true.

It's been so long that I can't remember specifics, but know they traded Brand with the idea of being bad. But did they actually rest players and purposely try not to win in order to get a top pick?

[MrSparkle]

I’m fairly certain the Sixers, Spurs, Blazers “swallow their pride” and have a tanky spring, while Billy Donovan gets this crap team to compete for a play-in. They’re gonna win a bunch of meaningless games while half the league shuts it down to tank or prepare for post-season. I’ve seen this show before. Listen to Billy’s recent interview with Sam Smith. Got pissed off at the idea of “experimenting” with lineups and telling vets he’s gonna tank.

It’s why they traded for their own damn pick. They could’ve just lost the rest of the way and kept it, but they want to make the play-in. Could even see the Heat free falling.

Time to prepare for 10-13 IMO. Meanwhile Spurs or Sixers add Flagg or Harper to the mix, and move on.

I could see that happening too. It's frustrating.

JCool pointed out the other day that the Bulls have never properly tanks in franchise history. Ever. It's crazy.

If the Bulls were to tank I think the best they could get is the 6th pick (not including lottery luck). I'd much rather have 6th than 11th because this team needs all the talent it can get. The play-in will be meaningless.

The Bulls tanked from 1999 to 2004. They tanked for the Eddy Curry and Chandler picks. His arguments were not true.

They actually didn’t tank in 02/03. They went for it… Krause made the regrettable Jalen Rose trade… gave MJ’s locker to Jay Williams… signed playoff/finals vet Donyell Marshall… They ended up being bad, but not bad enough in the year of Lebron-Melo-Wade. Though knowing our luck and Krause’s slipping decision making, we’d have taken Darko.

I kinda saw the vision, but he did blow what could’ve been an epic scenario.

Jamal
JRich (or Battier)
Artest
Gasol (or just keep Brand)
Miller

[MrSparkle]

I could see that happening too. It's frustrating.

JCool pointed out the other day that the Bulls have never properly tanks in franchise history. Ever. It's crazy.

If the Bulls were to tank I think the best they could get is the 6th pick (not including lottery luck). I'd much rather have 6th than 11th because this team needs all the talent it can get. The play-in will be meaningless.

The Bulls tanked from 1999 to 2004. They tanked for the Eddy Curry and Chandler picks. His arguments were not true.

It's been so long that I can't remember specifics, but know they traded Brand with the idea of being bad. But did they actually rest players and purposely try not to win in order to get a top pick?

From what I recall:

1. Murmurs of Brand not being good enough to be the Bulls’ main guy (and not wanting to max him).

2. Krause thought Chandler was the 2nd coming of Garnett (this one always confused me: TC seemed to have concrete mittens for basketball hands, whereas KG could effectively play PG).

I think he thought the twin towers were gonna dominate the NBA. He really bombed that draft, especially considering all the lotto talent (Pau, JRich, Battier, Amare, Joe Johnson, Richard Jefferson).. then you had late 1st & 2nds like Parker, ZBo, Arenas. Hilarious that Krause and Jordan bombed 3 of the 4 top picks.

[Ice Man]

One OT thing I wonder ... to what extent is the NBA becoming a clown league? I say this because as TV ratings for the league decline (which, I realize, is a statistic that must be interpreted with care, given the changes in how fans consume sports product), I see more and more social-media posts/video clips about the pundits. The TNT gang especially, but also SAS, the podcasters, and so forth.

And they are deeply unserious people. You don't watch them to learn, you watch them for entertainment value -- for their personalities. It sometimes feels to me these days as if the NBA exists in large extent as a prop -- a background -- for 1) people to lay bets and 2) the entertainers to hold forth.

Admittedly, I write this after the All-Star weekend, which was essentially just a bunch of boring, semi-basketball level activities that were supposed to be interesting because we could hear the TNT crew and watch celebrities. That weekend is the ultimate expression of the trend. But it seeps into the regular season as well. I mean, the lead article in the official nab.com site today is not about a team, a player, or the season itself, but instead a promo hyping up the "predictions" from a guy who said that the Warriors couldn't win a NBA title because you can't win with jump shooters. If I'm going to listen to that sort of nonsense, I might as well be at the bar, so that I can have a couple of drinks and see if there are any pretty women around.

OK I lied about that last part, too married and too old. But you get the point.

[DuckIII]

The Bulls tanked from 1999 to 2004. They tanked for the Eddy Curry and Chandler picks. His arguments were not true.

It's been so long that I can't remember specifics, but know they traded Brand with the idea of being bad. But did they actually rest players and purposely try not to win in order to get a top pick?

From what I recall:

1. Murmurs of Brand not being good enough to be the Bulls’ main guy (and not wanting to max him).

2. Krause thought Chandler was the 2nd coming of Garnett (this one always confused me: TC seemed to have concrete mittens for basketball hands, whereas KG could effectively play PG).

I think he thought the twin towers were gonna dominate the NBA. He really bombed that draft, especially considering all the lotto talent (Pau, JRich, Battier, Amare, Joe Johnson, Richard Jefferson).. then you had late 1st & 2nds like Parker, ZBo, Arenas. Hilarious that Krause and Jordan bombed 3 of the 4 top picks.

For some reason this has been lost to history and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article it appeared in appears to be long gone, but as a Clipper playing a road game against the Bucks Brand was asked about being traded by the Bulls and responded candidly. The truth is vastly different from the commonly held belief.

Brand admitted that prior to that year’s draft he, through David Falk (who was fresh off repping MJ and hated the Bulls and Krause), demanded a trade and informed the Bulls he would never sign an extension when his rookie deal ended.

I read it. In Brand’s own words. I used to be able to find the article and post it here to prove it, but it’s been over decade since I’ve been able to find it.

I was always fine with the Brand trade and still am. But that was Brand and Falk’s trade, not Krause’s. Though yes Krause did love Chandler as a prospect.

[DuckIII]

Christie also addressed the team's commitment to defense and their need to improve their communication. Included in this meeting were Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray, DeMar DeRozan, Malik Monk and trade deadline acquisition Zach LaVine.

Poor Doug Christie. Can you imagine trying to get that starting 5 to commit defensively? That’s like calling a meeting of blind people and telling them you need their help to drive a car.

[MrSparkle]

It's been so long that I can't remember specifics, but know they traded Brand with the idea of being bad. But did they actually rest players and purposely try not to win in order to get a top pick?

From what I recall:

1. Murmurs of Brand not being good enough to be the Bulls’ main guy (and not wanting to max him).

2. Krause thought Chandler was the 2nd coming of Garnett (this one always confused me: TC seemed to have concrete mittens for basketball hands, whereas KG could effectively play PG).

I think he thought the twin towers were gonna dominate the NBA. He really bombed that draft, especially considering all the lotto talent (Pau, JRich, Battier, Amare, Joe Johnson, Richard Jefferson).. then you had late 1st & 2nds like Parker, ZBo, Arenas. Hilarious that Krause and Jordan bombed 3 of the 4 top picks.

For some reason this has been lost to history and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article it appeared in appears to be long gone, but as a Clipper playing a road game against the Bucks Brand was asked about being traded by the Bulls and responded candidly. The truth is vastly different from the commonly held belief.

Brand admitted that prior to that year’s draft he, through David Falk (who was fresh off repping MJ and hated the Bulls and Krause), demanded a trade and informed the Bulls he would never sign an extension when his rookie deal ended.

I read it. In Brand’s own words. I used to be able to find the article and post it here to prove it, but it’s been over decade since I’ve been able to find it.

I was always fine with the Brand trade and still am. But that was Brand and Falk’s trade, not Krause’s. Though yes Krause did love Chandler as a prospect.

That does ring a bell, now that you mention it.

The draft was great. If Krause took Pau at #2 and somebody other than Curry, that would’ve been an epic combo, on the cheap. Chandler had a good career, but obviously just a bad pick for the Bulls. The trade in theory was solid.

Either way Floyd Bulls were a mess. Combined with Artest drinking Hennesy at halftime and Fizer being added to a roster with no competent PG, I could see why Brand wanted out.

[cocktailswith_2short]

Artest trade killed us I remember it well . Most bulls fans were pissed . I liked jalen rose lol so it was ok for me . But if we just stuck by artest side and zenned him out we would have been so much better off .

[Dan Z]

It's been so long that I can't remember specifics, but know they traded Brand with the idea of being bad. But did they actually rest players and purposely try not to win in order to get a top pick?

From what I recall:

1. Murmurs of Brand not being good enough to be the Bulls’ main guy (and not wanting to max him).

2. Krause thought Chandler was the 2nd coming of Garnett (this one always confused me: TC seemed to have concrete mittens for basketball hands, whereas KG could effectively play PG).

I think he thought the twin towers were gonna dominate the NBA. He really bombed that draft, especially considering all the lotto talent (Pau, JRich, Battier, Amare, Joe Johnson, Richard Jefferson).. then you had late 1st & 2nds like Parker, ZBo, Arenas. Hilarious that Krause and Jordan bombed 3 of the 4 top picks.

For some reason this has been lost to history and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article it appeared in appears to be long gone, but as a Clipper playing a road game against the Bucks Brand was asked about being traded by the Bulls and responded candidly. The truth is vastly different from the commonly held belief.

Brand admitted that prior to that year’s draft he, through David Falk (who was fresh off repping MJ and hated the Bulls and Krause), demanded a trade and informed the Bulls he would never sign an extension when his rookie deal ended.

I read it. In Brand’s own words. I used to be able to find the article and post it here to prove it, but it’s been over decade since I’ve been able to find it.

I was always fine with the Brand trade and still am. But that was Brand and Falk’s trade, not Krause’s. Though yes Krause did love Chandler as a prospect.

Did the Bulls tank back then? Or was it just a bad team?

[kodo]

Philly with all 3 of Embiid, PG, and Maxey playing lost to Brooklyn, I've given up hope on them. But maybe Brooklyn can pass us.
Brooklyn even started Killian Hayes to try and tank.

[JimmyButler21]

Bulls will be in the play-in. All the winning at the beginning of the season was already too much