Bulls Free Agency - Merged

[dumbell78]

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Jabari really is Melo Lite


And this for the one saying he didn’t really look like his old self. He was close to it for a 30 game sample size. Bucks still don’t know how use him right tho

Is that the selling point? Becasue I dislike him even more if it is.

[kulaz3000]

My guess is Jabari is a contingency for if Lavine demands too much. An either/or thing. Because having those defenders on the wing is pretty impossible to overcome teambuilding wise.

The same issue is going to apply for Parker though, even more so most likely. As far as I'm aware, Parker was previously demanding the max.

Seemed a bit baseless though, no one's going to offer him that, market or no market (of which latter is the case).

I think at least one of these guys has a reality check that their range is around 15m and not heaps higher, and I think Jabari would love to come here also. Maybe that's enough to dissuade Lavine to bring his price down a few mil.

If it's at the same price point, I still prefer LaVine over Parker. Just the fact that Parker has 2 ACL injuries under his belt scares the hell out of me. 1 I can live with.

[GimmeDat]

The same issue is going to apply for Parker though, even more so most likely. As far as I'm aware, Parker was previously demanding the max.

Seemed a bit baseless though, no one's going to offer him that, market or no market (of which latter is the case).

I think at least one of these guys has a reality check that their range is around 15m and not heaps higher, and I think Jabari would love to come here also. Maybe that's enough to dissuade Lavine to bring his price down a few mil.

If it's at the same price point, I still prefer LaVine over Parker. Just the fact that Parker has 2 ACL injuries under his belt scares the hell out of me. 1 I can live with.

Agree, it scares me too. Something I like about Jabari though, is he has a better feel offensively than Lavine showed last season; Jabari plays within the flow of the offense. Also creates matchup problems and a little bit more positionally versatile than Lavine.

My logical mind's telling me you just re-sign our existing pieces and wait it out, but in a vacuum I do really like Jabari, and if you a cynical about us signing stars in future years, he might be a worthwhile investment.

[MGB8]

I would MUCH prefer Parker to LaVine.

He’s been improving, has been ok being a 6th man, and I believe that he can pretty easily drop 10 to 20 pounds, gain a touch extra quickness because of it, and play the 3 very well as a combo forward ... and at a weight that will also be easier on his legs.

The guy gives you all the scoring and creation of LaVine, but without being undersized, and he is more versatile as a combo F 3/4, as opposed to LaVine who is strictly a 2. He’d also fit nicely in a lineup with Dunn, Hutchinson/Nwaba/Valentine, him/(backed up by another wing), and the big trio of Markannen, Carter and Portis... giving the Bulls lots of small ball options with him at the 4, too.

[VolumePoster]

Parker's a good player to take a chance on. the cost would determine the relative value. but I'd probably be excited for jabari in chicago regardless.

[Alcatraz17]

Dunn
LaVine
Parker
Lauri
Carter

Sprinkle some water...mix in some playing time...let grow...evaluate next off-season.

[GimmeDat]

If you've got Lavine and Parker I think you have to play one as 6th man. Hope Hutch can be a 2 way starter or find a 3/D guy for the SG spot.

Also, you trade Portis.

Valentine's fit becomes a bit iffy also.

[BullsInBuffalo]

Dunn
LaVine
Parker
Lauri
Carter

Sprinkle some water...mix in some playing time...let grow...evaluate next off-season.

I am intrigued. Just don't get sucked into long term deals.

[Betta Bulleavit]

Dunn
LaVine
Parker
Lauri
Carter

Sprinkle some water...mix in some playing time...let grow...evaluate next off-season.

I’d do it. Especially if you can get both Parker and Lavine on high dollar 1+1 deals.

[arich35]

I would love Parker. He is young, hometown guy and still has potential.

[Dabears2240]

Dunn
LaVine
Parker
Lauri
Carter

Sprinkle some water...mix in some playing time...let grow...evaluate next off-season.

I shudder to think of what a LaVine/Parker defensive pairing would look like. Are we sure Jabari can guard 3's? Or any position really? I do not think he is a wing at all, or a winning player for that matter.

I also cannot emphasize enough that he has had two ACL tears already, in the same knee! Has there been any player in NBA history to become a star after tearing an ACL, let alone the same one twice?

I understand the fascination with him, but I think people are too caught up in his "potential" and gloss over the obvious, glaring weaknesses with him. Unless it's a long term, low annual salary type deal, I want nothing to do with him. Signing him to a short-term deal seems attractive on the surface, but if he ends up performing well then we need to make a big financial investment into an injury-ridden player off one or two good seasons. I don't know how anyone could have confidence signing him to a long-term, near-max deal given his injury history.

[GimmeDat]

Ideally I thinkif you go for Parker you run -

Dunn / Payne
Lavine / Nwaba
Hutchison / Parker
Markkanen / Parker
Carter / Felicio*

Then explore using assets like Portis, Valentine, future picks to get the best back-court piece you can, or at least get picks.

[Chi town]

KCP for 12M. Lavine shouldn’t get more than 15M per

[musiqsoulchild]

KCP for 12M. Lavine shouldn’t get more than 15M per

Nah man.

KCP is Klutch Sports aka LeBron. It is a completely different set of circumstances. Just like how Tristan Thompson's contract was not based on market value but rather on the fact that he was a client of Klutch.

[Dabears2240]

Ideally I thinkif you go for Parker you run -

Dunn / Payne
Lavine / Nwaba
Hutchison / Parker
Markkanen / Parker
Carter / Felicio*

Then explore using assets like Portis, Valentine, future picks to get the best back-court piece you can, or at least get picks.

This makes a bit more sense, using him as a combo forward off the bench who is a spark plug offensively. As you said, that would require shipping out Bobby, as he is currently filling a similar role as our "6th man" big.

Do we have much confidence that Jabari will be better than Bobby? Jabari obviously has the higher ceiling, but he is a very poor rebounder and defender. Bobby is a solid rebounder and is at least mediocre-to-average defensively. Jabari, to me, still doesn't have a clear position defensively. He struggles rebounding against PFs and he doesn't have the lateral quickness or awareness to guard out on the perimeter. He is a classic "tweener", so to speak.

Bobby isn't the most versatile player but he has the size and strength to play inside, rebounds well, and scores efficiently enough for a bench big. He has a defined role on the team. I'm not sure I see that same role for Jabari, as IMO he lacks the ability to play next to Lauri and that will limit his effectiveness when Lauri is playing 30-35 mpg.

Furthermore, Bobby is still on his rookie deal whereas Jabari is unlikely to come at a cheaper cost than Bobby. From an asset management perspective, I don't like the idea of dumping a rookie-scale, productive player for an oft-injured RFA. I understand Bobby will get paid next summer, but I still think he is a better asset moving forward as both a trade chip and player.

[TheSuzerain]

Ideally I thinkif you go for Parker you run -

Dunn / Payne
Lavine / Nwaba
Hutchison / Parker
Markkanen / Parker
Carter / Felicio*

Then explore using assets like Portis, Valentine, future picks to get the best back-court piece you can, or at least get picks.

I think we have different definitions of the word "ideally".

[Evil_Headband]

It's kind of interesting that two players the Bulls have been rumored to be interested in, Jerami Grant and Jabari Parker, are both SF-PF hybrids. The Bulls don't have anyone like that on their roster currently. All their forwards are either the SG-SF type or the PF-C type.

[GimmeDat]

Ideally I thinkif you go for Parker you run -

Dunn / Payne
Lavine / Nwaba
Hutchison / Parker
Markkanen / Parker
Carter / Felicio*

Then explore using assets like Portis, Valentine, future picks to get the best back-court piece you can, or at least get picks.

This makes a bit more sense, using him as a combo forward off the bench who is a spark plug offensively. As you said, that would require shipping out Bobby, as he is currently filling a similar role as our "6th man" big.

Do we have much confidence that Jabari will be better than Bobby? Jabari obviously has the higher ceiling, but he is a very poor rebounder and defender. Bobby is a solid rebounder and is at least mediocre-to-average defensively. Jabari, to me, still doesn't have a clear position defensively. He struggles rebounding against PFs and he doesn't have the lateral quickness or awareness to guard out on the perimeter. He is a classic "tweener", so to speak.

Bobby isn't the most versatile player but he has the size and strength to play inside, rebounds well, and scores efficiently enough for a bench big. He has a defined role on the team. I'm not sure I see that same role for Jabari, as IMO he lacks the ability to play next to Lauri and that will limit his effectiveness when Lauri is playing 30-35 mpg.

Furthermore, Bobby is still on his rookie deal whereas Jabari is unlikely to come at a cheaper cost than Bobby. From an asset management perspective, I don't like the idea of dumping a rookie-scale, productive player for an oft-injured RFA. I understand Bobby will get paid next summer, but I still think he is a better asset moving forward as both a trade chip and player.

All valid points, Portis is a much better rebounder and a slightly better defender. Parker's a better scorer but Portis is pretty damn close himself.

I think the positional difference is what pushes me towards Parker. For me, Portis doesn't work at C, and he doesn't work as a PF with Markkanen at C very well, so I feel like he can only be used as a straight, 1 position backup, and that might not be an effective use of cap if you're paying him near or over 10m post-extension.

I also feel a bit assured by the fact that Carter is an elite rebounder, we have some really good rebounding perimeter players, and Markkanen was better than advertised in that aspect. It'll be a loss, but I don't think losing Bobby's rebounding well kill us.

I'm scared about the defense, that's my main concern. Obviously the hope is, that at 23 and 22 respectively, that Lavine and/or Parker become close to neutral defenders over time (I'm skeptical but it's not impossible). If they are as they are now, then that's the main reason I would skew the lineups like I did. Bobby's not good but he's not a glaring liability either.

[GimmeDat]

Ideally I thinkif you go for Parker you run -

Dunn / Payne
Lavine / Nwaba
Hutchison / Parker
Markkanen / Parker
Carter / Felicio*

Then explore using assets like Portis, Valentine, future picks to get the best back-court piece you can, or at least get picks.

I think we have different definitions of the word "ideally".

What would be your ideal scenario if the Bulls brought in Lavine and Parker? Because that was the premise.

[TheSuzerain]

Ideally I thinkif you go for Parker you run -

Dunn / Payne
Lavine / Nwaba
Hutchison / Parker
Markkanen / Parker
Carter / Felicio*

Then explore using assets like Portis, Valentine, future picks to get the best back-court piece you can, or at least get picks.

I think we have different definitions of the word "ideally".

What would be your ideal scenario if the Bulls brought in Lavine and Parker? Because that was the premise.

Oh nevermind then.