O'Connor: Bulls interested in Gobert and Mitchell Robinson

[meekrab]

If we end up needing to include Williams in a deal for Gobert, I'm insisting they take Marko too!

Why? He's young and makes the minimum salary. Still the chance he figures things out and turns into a decent backup.

[Ctownbulls]

If Bulls get Gobert they'd desperately need shooting. Can Demar be part of the package?

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[Dominator83]

I'm not married to anybody on this roster. IMO if we stick with Zach, we need major front-court defensive upgrades. If he moves on, it's a very different concept altogether.

Going in the direction of Gobert makes sense for sticking with the Demar/Zach tandem. I believe Lonzo, Vuc and Pat all could become expendable in whatever 1-2-3 set of moves start to develop after that. Lonzo was wonderful for 2 months, but he has knee issues and can't really penetrate a defense. Glad to keep him, but moving him can't be off the table.

Yep. Not a single player on this roster is untouchable. Far from it.

[weneeda2guard]

If Bulls get Gobert they'd desperately need shooting. Can Demar be part of the package?

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I think the bulls can trade for gobert sign Mitchell Robinson and still have access to their 10 mill MLE

They can use that for shooters. Issue is, there are not many available unless we want to take a flier on a guy like Joe Ingles

[dougthonus]

If Bulls get Gobert they'd desperately need shooting. Can Demar be part of the package?

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Would be sort of interesting if you did DeMar + Vuc + Coby (maybe) for Gobert + Conley. You keep Pat Williams in that scenario and get back a guard that can shoot. Zach now has a lot more pressure on him offensively, but you have four guys who can shoot + Gobert as your main starting lineup.

[babyjax13]

If Bulls get Gobert they'd desperately need shooting. Can Demar be part of the package?

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Would be sort of interesting if you did DeMar + Vuc + Coby (maybe) for Gobert + Conley. You keep Pat Williams in that scenario and get back a guard that can shoot. Zach now has a lot more pressure on him offensively, but you have four guys who can shoot + Gobert as your main starting lineup.

Would rather keep Rudy than trade him for older/worse players. I think there are ways to make it work without Pat depending on what a third team would give for Vooch. I envision Utah getting 18 + Ayo + Por 1st from Chicago, then value from a third team if Williams is not involved. But, I would have less than zero interest in swapping Rudy for Derozan and Vucevic.

[d boy gentleman]

If Bulls get Gobert they'd desperately need shooting. Can Demar be part of the package?

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Would be sort of interesting if you did DeMar + Vuc + Coby (maybe) for Gobert + Conley. You keep Pat Williams in that scenario and get back a guard that can shoot. Zach now has a lot more pressure on him offensively, but you have four guys who can shoot + Gobert as your main starting lineup.

Would rather keep Rudy than trade him for older/worse players. I think there are ways to make it work without Pat depending on what a third team would give for Vooch. I envision Utah getting 18 + Ayo + Por 1st from Chicago, then value from a third team if Williams is not involved. But, I would have less than zero interest in swapping Rudy for Derozan and Vucevic.

I get you but it's clear that Rudy and Donovan do not coexist with each other nor do they like each other at all. I think the whole Rudy covid situation really severed the relationship between Rudy and the rest of his teammates. One of them is gone and it's probably going to be Rudy. Believe it or not, I think Vuc would be a better fit than Rudy is especially on offense. It remains to be see what happens...

[babyjax13]

Would be sort of interesting if you did DeMar + Vuc + Coby (maybe) for Gobert + Conley. You keep Pat Williams in that scenario and get back a guard that can shoot. Zach now has a lot more pressure on him offensively, but you have four guys who can shoot + Gobert as your main starting lineup.

Would rather keep Rudy than trade him for older/worse players. I think there are ways to make it work without Pat depending on what a third team would give for Vooch. I envision Utah getting 18 + Ayo + Por 1st from Chicago, then value from a third team if Williams is not involved. But, I would have less than zero interest in swapping Rudy for Derozan and Vucevic.

I get you but it's clear that Rudy and Donovan do not coexist with each other nor do they like each other at all. I think the whole Rudy covid situation really severed the relationship between Rudy and the rest of his teammates. One of them is gone and it's probably going to be Rudy. Believe it or not, I think Vuc would be a better fit than Rudy is especially on offense. It remains to be see what happens...

I don't think they have personal issues anymore, they've both gone to great lengths to deny it. They also compliment each other really well.

I think Vucevic is probably the worst possible fit for us. He doesn't defend well, he isn't a huge PnR threat, and we are already the best three-point shooting team in the league. Don't get me wrong, I like him as a player, I just don't like him with our roster composition because we don't need what he brings, but we do need what he is poor at.

It's really a huge shame we've never been able to put the right pieces around Rudy and Donovan, but I think Chicago would already have the infrastructure in place around Rudy and LaVine to be a real threat to win a championship. Certainly not a favorite, but in the tier that Phoenix was this year.

[Guy]

Orlando was able to pull off a regular finals contender with the best defensive center in the middle + mediocre offense, and a team full of catch and shoot sharpshooters. They had weak perimeter defense and literally no real second option on offense. Jameer Nelson? Rashard Lewis? Ryan Anderson? Yikes

Gobert on a team with Ball and Caruso would cause havoc. Ship DDR or Pat and fill the vacancy with an elite shooter and shooters off the bench. Is Grayson available?

[Jcool0]

Orlando was able to pull off a regular finals contender with the best defensive center in the middle + mediocre offense, and a team full of catch and shoot sharpshooters. They had weak perimeter defense and literally no real second option on offense. Jameer Nelson? Rashard Lewis? Ryan Anderson? Yikes

Gobert on a team with Ball and Caruso would cause havoc. Ship DDR or Pat and fill the vacancy with an elite shooter and shooters off the bench. Is Grayson available?

Orlando happened in a totally different NBA I think they were #1 in in 3pt attempts but in today's NBA that would be like 28th.

[nomorezorro]

i don't think you need to trade derozan if you get gobert. it's not like gobert's going to be operating with the ball in his hands a ton and demar's lack of shooting will hurt us in that respect, and i think one guy operating out of the midrange while an elite lob threat is in the dunker's spot is not gonna kill your spacing.

that being said, we would 100% have to invest every other resource we have into adding shooting. ideally, you get to a place where caruso is your worst 3pt threat in your g/f rotation (other than derozan)

[rosenthall]

i don't think you need to trade derozan if you get gobert. it's not like gobert's going to be operating with the ball in his hands a ton and demar's lack of shooting will hurt us in that respect, and i think one guy operating out of the midrange while an elite lob threat is in the dunker's spot is not gonna kill your spacing.

that being said, we would 100% have to invest every other resource we have into adding shooting. ideally, you get to a place where caruso is your worst 3pt threat in your g/f rotation (other than derozan)

Yeah, I think a Gobert-Derozan fit is not ideal, but doable. It'd be an upgrade over Vuc-Derozan. By the end of the season teams were triple-teaming DeMar at his favorite spots and completely leaving Vuc alone. It's not like his supposed spacing was providing any practical benefits.

With Gobert you'd at least have an elite lob threat who generates free throws.

[dukeespn]

Why the hell AKME are so obsessed with getting a center?

Worse part is they already failed. It's not GarPax who traded two FRPs and a former lottery prospect for Vucevic. AKME did it and the Bulls didn't even manage to make the play-in tournament that year. Also they traded a young athletic big named Gafford saying we got an all-star center!!

They **** up the Vuc trade and now they still want to get a big? For what? Making mediocre roster while spending lots of money? LaVine is UFA this summer saying he wants the max contract. And AKME really want to trade for Gobert who makes more than 200M for next five years?

Bulls really struggled offensively in the playoffs and yet AKME are interedted in trading another future assets for a center who can't take any single shot outside of the paint and continue to get neutralized in the playoffs. LMAO.

[dougthonus]

Would rather keep Rudy than trade him for older/worse players. I think there are ways to make it work without Pat depending on what a third team would give for Vooch. I envision Utah getting 18 + Ayo + Por 1st from Chicago, then value from a third team if Williams is not involved. But, I would have less than zero interest in swapping Rudy for Derozan and Vucevic.

It is probably the case that the Bulls would pursue Gobert only if he is available at a deep discount because the Jazz feel forced into moving him and the market is tepid and results in mostly a salary dump. In which case, I would bet you don't like the return regardless because it will be much less than you think it should be.

That said I totally get why you wouldn't like this return, perhaps a 3 way deal that moves those pieces around to get you something else that fits better with what you're trying to do.

[Muzbar]

Why the hell AKME are so obsessed with getting a center?

Worse part is they already failed. It's not GarPax who traded two FRPs and a former lottery prospect for Vucevic. AKME did it and the Bulls didn't even manage to make the play-in tournament that year. Also they traded a young athletic big named Gafford saying we got an all-star center!!

They **** up the Vuc trade and now they still want to get a big? For what? Making mediocre roster while spending lots of money? LaVine is UFA this summer saying he wants the max contract. And AKME really want to trade for Gobert who makes more than 200M for next five years?

Bulls really struggled offensively in the playoffs and yet AKME are interedted in trading another future assets for a center who can't take any single shot outside of the paint and continue to get neutralized in the playoffs. LMAO.

Oh hey Mr Forman, how's the wife?

AKME traded some future 1sts and a young player the was pretty meh his whole time here for a (at the time) Allstar center that was playing Allstar basketball in Orlando, they wanted to put a 24ppg, 12rpg who shot 40% from 3 big man next to Zach. How were they to know he was about to fall off a cliff? He had just taken his team to the playoffs the previous 2 seasons with Evan Fournier is the next best player on the team.

That was AKME's 1st season with the team, was it the right move? Probably not, I'm iffy on it myself but they took a shot to try and turn this ship around sooner rather than later, I can't fault them for that.

We as fans can always sit behind our keyboards and say what they should/shouldn't do, most of what we say is purely in hindsight.

Why are they targeting a center you asked? Um because that center provides exactly what this team lacked last season, a interior defensive presence and rebounding. Do I agree with it? I'm not fond of his price tag (over the next 4 seasons btw, not 5) but can see what they are trying to do, personally I'd rather Myles Turner or Mo Bamba but they're not the rebounder Gobert is.

AKME are literally going into their 3rd season at the helm and our team has improved each season talent wise.

Besides, just because there's a rumor out there that the Bulls are interested in Gobert doesn't mean it's true.

Have AKME been perfect? No, of course not, no one gets it right all the time, even Danny Ainge. But I think they've done a solid job so far and I'm looking forward to see what they do next season.

[LateNight]

If Bulls get Gobert they'd desperately need shooting. Can Demar be part of the package?

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Would be sort of interesting if you did DeMar + Vuc + Coby (maybe) for Gobert + Conley. You keep Pat Williams in that scenario and get back a guard that can shoot. Zach now has a lot more pressure on him offensively, but you have four guys who can shoot + Gobert as your main starting lineup.

Would rather keep Rudy than trade him for older/worse players. I think there are ways to make it work without Pat depending on what a third team would give for Vooch. I envision Utah getting 18 + Ayo + Por 1st from Chicago, then value from a third team if Williams is not involved. But, I would have less than zero interest in swapping Rudy for Derozan and Vucevic.

Rudy is fine - but my immediate reaction to that trade would by fury.

I would not give up any picks for him (definitely not 18). would very happily walk away from that.

Based on these convos - most bulls fans see rudy’s contract as something of a negative asset.

[sco]

Would rather keep Rudy than trade him for older/worse players. I think there are ways to make it work without Pat depending on what a third team would give for Vooch. I envision Utah getting 18 + Ayo + Por 1st from Chicago, then value from a third team if Williams is not involved. But, I would have less than zero interest in swapping Rudy for Derozan and Vucevic.

It is probably the case that the Bulls would pursue Gobert only if he is available at a deep discount because the Jazz feel forced into moving him and the market is tepid and results in mostly a salary dump. In which case, I would bet you don't like the return regardless because it will be much less than you think it should be.

That said I totally get why you wouldn't like this return, perhaps a 3 way deal that moves those pieces around to get you something else that fits better with what you're trying to do.

Doug, I think you are right in terms of the "right" approach to Gobert. That said, if AK has shown anything, it's that he scans for available stars, zeroes in on a guy, and tries for the quick deal with a propensity to overpay. With Ainge on the other side, I can't help but worry that a deal would be more likely to include Pat and a 1st than it would to not include either.

[dougthonus]

Doug, I think you are right in terms of the "right" approach to Gobert. That said, if AK has shown anything, it's that he scans for available stars, zeroes in on a guy, and tries for the quick deal with a propensity to overpay. With Ainge on the other side, I can't help but worry that a deal would be more likely to include Pat and a 1st than it would to not include either.

I think the only guy they overpaid for so far is Vuc. Ball / DeMar came at very reasonable price tags. In that sense, I wouldn't really build up an MO around him yet. I don't think there is enough evidence to say he has a single path of acting, most people, particularly at this level, are going to be far more nuanced than that.

[sco]

Doug, I think you are right in terms of the "right" approach to Gobert. That said, if AK has shown anything, it's that he scans for available stars, zeroes in on a guy, and tries for the quick deal with a propensity to overpay. With Ainge on the other side, I can't help but worry that a deal would be more likely to include Pat and a 1st than it would to not include either.

I think the only guy they overpaid for so far is Vuc. Ball / DeMar came at very reasonable price tags.

I guess we'll see. I hope you're right. IMO, on the buy-side, he is a guy who likes to get deals done and won't let cost on the margin stand in the way. He gave up Thad and Theis, he lost us our 2nd rounder in the Ball mess, he paid Demar a lot more than anyone else could (although still a good deal). On the sell-side, he's done better...getting the 1st back for Lauri. My hope in the Gobert situation, AK has (probably too much) love for Pat.

[dougthonus]

He gave up Thad and Theis

I don't think either of those things are relevant really?

he lost us our 2nd rounder in the Ball mess

Do you think he was really doing anything here that other teams don't do, or do you think the agents just f'd this up?

he paid Demar a lot more than anyone else could (although still a good deal).

We got DeMar through a S&T where he was BYC and SA didn't demand much. I don't know if another team would have stepped in and offered what we did or something similar, but more or less any team in the league could do it.

On the sell-side, he's done better...getting the 1st back for Lauri. My hope in the Gobert situation, AK has (probably too much) love for Pat.

I don't know that I'd applaud the Lauri return. It's ultimately a heavily protected pick that has a high likelihood of conveying into two seconds, and is fully lotto protected forever, so it has no upside to it. It's fine for who Lauri was, but it wasn't anything special.