New front office skill acquired: Turn everything into an asset

[sco]

So 2 things I'm still unclear on:

1) Do we still have our MLE?
2) Did we get back a TPE from the Lakers or Houston that we can still use?

[TeamMan]

I have to admit after watching AKME essentially do nothing to the team during their first off season I was worried but the trade deadline and this off season so far have been an absolute masterclass.

I mean. They had a very disjointed first offseason with COVID screwing everything up and had to hire a new coach and whole new front office staff.

Actually, IMO hiring BD was hitting a home run right off the bat.

Having a HC in place that players respect, and want to play for, is a major key to dealing in the FA market.

It was putting the cornerstone in place for everything that has happened this off-season.

=================
Next came the drafting of P-Will. All of the feedback that has come in from around the league has been positive for his future in the league. No one doubts that he has the potential to be a future star.

=================
Not counting the the changes in the FO, those were two major moves that occurred during AK's 1st off-season.

With those two pillars in place, AK took the time, and went about systematically evaluating the talent that he'd inherited from the Gar/Pax regime. And by the trading deadline, he knew who he wanted to get rid of, and who he wanted to keep.

=================
Then, bringing in Vuc to pair up with Zach, kicked the AK machine into full gear. Top tier FAs look at those two, and think, we can make it to the playoffs and maybe make it past the 1st-round. Then anything can happen.

=================
It has been a masterpiece to behold.

[The Explorer]

Is Paxson still a special advisor? I wonder what advice could he possibly give to a man who works so completely opposite to everything he stands for

[Hangtime84]

Is Paxson still a special advisor? I wonder what advice could he possibly give to a man who works so completely opposite to everything he stands with for

Paxson is the one who wanted a more modern FO. And made slight jabs at organization on how it was NOT.

Much respect on firing oneself.

[Michael Jackson]

I think one outstanding question is if there was ownership outlook change at all. The old regime wasn't necessarily not unresourceful, but quite often their resources seemed pointed towards ownership goals re: profit maximization. Is that a longstanding change? Or early goodwill? Or a change from ownership whose primary goal is reaching the playoffs again?

I think this has more to do with the ineptness of GarPax as well as the overly conservative mindset of Paxson than it had to do with the Bulls ownership not allowing them to be aggressive. We’ve seen guys like Kenny Williams be very aggressive for an owner like Reinsdorf. I still do think Bulls ownership strongly values profits but a smart and creative as well as connected FO can get around those constraints. There is no way any of these acquisitions happen if Paxson is still running this team. Good riddance to him!

Yeah the Jerry is holding this team back because he is cheap was always a narrative that didn't jive with me. Sure Jerry was frugal no one argues that but if you bring the man a plan he will sign off on it. He did just that with Lebron/Wade and Carmelo which were really the only times he swung for the fences. He was way too conservative and tried to hand the reigns to Gar who absolutely made the situation worse. They just never had an actual plan, just ultra conservative tactics. Not saying shooting for the moon nets guaranteed results, it surely doesn't but you want to see an aggressive plan that you pull off (not like theirs that they missed on) even if it fails. AKME's plan is no guarantee by any means but they have tradable assets now if it doesn't work out and they will trade. As mentioned Jerry let Kenny Williams be aggressive (and Hahn), hell he let Paxson be aggressive when he was willing to take a risk and present a plan. Pax didn't want the job and doesn't have the passion that this FO does, they are more into the job and less into the title of the job I think. Not saying the results are going to be good but you like to see a FO actually working.

[The Explorer]

Is Paxson still a special advisor? I wonder what advice could he possibly give to a man who works so completely opposite to everything he stands with for

Paxson is the one who wanted a more modern FO. And made slight jabs at organization on how it was NOT.

Much respect on firing oneself.

Giving yourself the boot upstairs to a comfy role is no the the same as a self-firing. He and Forman's only long term vision was to have perpetual flexibility and cap-space. They were not running a winning organization, so my guess is he only has a title and paycheck. I am doubtful he is actually advising or sitting in meetings with AKME.

[Michael Jackson]

Is Paxson still a special advisor? I wonder what advice could he possibly give to a man who works so completely opposite to everything he stands with for

Paxson is the one who wanted a more modern FO. And made slight jabs at organization on how it was NOT.

Much respect on firing oneself.

the job had long passed Paxson by and he knew it. He has an honorary title and a salary because Reinsdorf is loyal "that" way and wants him to save some face. He tried to resign. He sucked at the modern game honestly and he knew it. Don't think he meddles at all nor would the new FO listen to him. Since when does a new team listen to the old guard that failed miserably? Thats not to say they have an antagonistic relationship either, just more out of the way of each other I believe and sure they may have some sharing of information of angles Pax has seen from other GM's over the years etc... but minimal input.

[MrFortune3]

But I still gotta give GarPax credit for signing Thad despite Jimbo not using him right. And Sato was a positive asset too.

How soon you forget that Gar/Pax:

- Scammed/mislead millions of Bulls fans over the years
- Spied on staff/players
- Banned fans for wearing Fire Gar/Pax shirts
- Turned a golden franchise into a joke
- Caused yearly drama inside the organization
- Completely disrespected our coaching staff
- Were completely understaffed having 1 trainer and limited health staff
- Focused on maximizing profits versus winning
- Didn't know how to draft talent
- Didn't know how to hire proper coaches
- Didn't know how to hire proper trainers
- Didn't know how to hire proper assistants / front office staff
- Lacked creativity
- Didn't know how to make any productive trades
- Didn't know how to utilize cap space
- Didn't know how to attract free agents
- Never properly utilized the G League
- Never took risks, always conservative

I could go on and on here. If you want to give them credit, give them credit for nearly destroying this franchise. I didn't think that could be possible after MJ but they nearly pulled that off.

You do of course realize that some of us are still traumatized by that reign? Why would you bring that up? It's like a bad divorce, just trying to forget it all.

[MrFortune3]

If you go back to AK's history, this is his thing. He comes in and evaluates the situation for a season and then sets about making changes.

That's why I could never understand the frustration with him early on. He flat out told everyone what he was going to do.
Even when he gave up the picks for Vuc, he plain as day said when they drafted P-Will that he hoped to never draft that high again.

We have ourselves a superstar in the FO and Eversley may not remain with us long if this plan works out.
I think we will eventually see a ton of teams wanting to pull talent from our FO.

[GoBlue72391]

So 2 things I'm still unclear on:

1) Do we still have our MLE?
2) Did we get back a TPE from the Lakers or Houston that we can still use?

If we somehow do still have our MLE in addition to the BAE and of course minimum salary exceptions, then we're going to be a super well-rounded and deep team:

PG
Lonzo (28)
Caruso (16)
Ayo (DNP-CD)
Dotson (Two-Way/G League)

SG
Zach (34)
Coby (21)
Green (DNP-CD)

SF
Demar (30)
TBJ (15)
BAE 3 and D (DNP-CD)
Baxter Jr. (Two-way/G League)

PF
Lauri (25)
PWill (28)
Marko (DNP-CD)

C
Vuch (32)
MLE rim protector (14)
Bradley (DNP-CD)