Woj: Vucevic/Aminu for Carter Jr/Porter/ 2 1sts

[TheFinishSniper]

If Kawhi wants to be Bulls he can easily be one. He just wont. And that's his decision.

[coldfish]

Random comments and thoughts:
- Make no mistake, this is Zach and Vuc's team. This is a classic 2 star, inside / outside build. The real question is how much of a star are these guys? They both know right now that this is their shot.

- The team was definitely prioritizing defense with the vets they picked up. The defense should improve.

- Expect the offensive structure to stay the same. Vucevic is particularly well suited to that hub center position. They really don't have to change a thing.

- Its unknown how much the team likes Coby and Lauri. Were they shopped? What were the offers? All we know is that the Bulls didn't get an offer that they agreed to but that could mean a lot of different things. Hell, I can say the same for Pat.

- BD isn't exactly on the hot seat but this is a win now team. He is going to have to change his in game coaching strategy. Its clear the goal is the playoffs. Every win counts going forward.

- Getting all these new guys on the same page with minimal practice time is going to be a challenge. Expect there to be some ugliness for a few weeks off and on.

- AK definitely has the cajones to make trades. The season to date was definitely an evaluation period with today in mind.

- The frontcourt has been a real weakness for the Bulls. I expect that to change. Hopefully the days of every random scrub center in the NBA having a career night are over.

- The Bulls didn't get significantly older. The players coming in aren't in their 30's (other than Vuc at 30).

[Repeat 3-peat]

Watch on YouTube

Basically my thoughts when asked about what Chicago gave up. WCJ was our Kwame Brown.

[HomoSapien]

Since bumping old threads is frowned upon, I'm going to pat myself on the back by reposting some old posts:

Let me add this. We need a center, badly. Here are the bigs I would pursue and in the order I'd pursue them:

1. Vucevic for OPJ, Carter, 1st
2. Drummond for OPJ and a 2nd
3. Bamba for Carter
4. Plumlee for Felicio and a 2nd
5. R. Lopez and filler for Felico & Hutch

Over the past few seasons we've talked different front-court pairings for Lauri.

1.) A dominant defensive center.

2.) A shooter to keep the lanes open.

3.) Developing Lauri himself into a center to create mismatches.

What I haven't really seen discussed on this board is the possibility of pairing Lauri with a dominant offensive center. I hadn't really given the idea a thought until Robin Lopez had his resurgence.

During the past 6 games Lopez has averaged 17.8 ppg, 67% FG, in only 26.6 MPG. During the same stretch, Lauri is averaging 25 points per game and we've gone 4-2.

There's a real effective inside-outside thing going on between the two players. Part of Lopez's success is that he's able to take advantage of smaller lineups in this small ball era but the other is that Lauri's (and Porter's) ability to shoot is really preventing teams from doubling us in the post.

Robin has developed a post game that wasn't really existent early in his career, but he's still not a prime time offensive player. Yet, somehow he's playing like one during this six game stretch. So what would happen if we were to pair Lauri with a Vucevic, DeMarcus Cousins, or even a Brook Lopez? Maybe even Boban in a limited role. Would this give us a formidable advantage?

On a separate note, I would also strongly consider trading Rondo and a protected first for Nikola Vucevic. It may seem like an odd trade (especially given that we have Lopez, who I would then try to move) but Vucevic is a young talented guy who has had his reputation brought down by playing on a perpetually bad team. He has his defensive limitations, but on a playoff team he could be a weapon like Enes Kanter. Vucevic is still young, is locked into a very friendly long-term contract, is a tremendous rebounder, and a gifted scorer. He's easily someone who could be Butler's second option. If Wade leaves and you're able to sign Jrue Holiday, you've suddenly got a young and interesting team that could grow into a strong Eastern Conference team as the Cavs and Raptors age.

C. Vucevic/Felicio
PF.Mirotic*/Portis
SF.Butler/Zipser
SG.Valentine/MCW
PG.Holiday/Grant/Payne

Obviously there's a lot of holes here, especially on the defensive end but there is something intriguing about Butler/Vucevic/Holiday to me.

[BullsFTW]

Read on Twitter

Lonzo Ball will be the realistic target this off-season.

Lonzo will be a Bull. AK will get his point guard.

Yup. Mutual interest for both sides.

[bad knees]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that only one current All-Star was traded at the deadline, and the Bulls got him.

[Chi]

Too Excited!

[coldfish]

Since bumping old threads is frowned upon, I'm going to pat myself on the back by reposting some old posts:

Let me add this. We need a center, badly. Here are the bigs I would pursue and in the order I'd pursue them:

1. Vucevic for OPJ, Carter, 1st
2. Drummond for OPJ and a 2nd
3. Bamba for Carter
4. Plumlee for Felicio and a 2nd
5. R. Lopez and filler for Felico & Hutch

Over the past few seasons we've talked different front-court pairings for Lauri.

1.) A dominant defensive center.

2.) A shooter to keep the lanes open.

3.) Developing Lauri himself into a center to create mismatches.

What I haven't really seen discussed on this board is the possibility of pairing Lauri with a dominant offensive center. I hadn't really given the idea a thought until Robin Lopez had his resurgence.

During the past 6 games Lopez has averaged 17.8 ppg, 67% FG, in only 26.6 MPG. During the same stretch, Lauri is averaging 25 points per game and we've gone 4-2.

There's a real effective inside-outside thing going on between the two players. Part of Lopez's success is that he's able to take advantage of smaller lineups in this small ball era but the other is that Lauri's (and Porter's) ability to shoot is really preventing teams from doubling us in the post.

Robin has developed a post game that wasn't really existent early in his career, but he's still not a prime time offensive player. Yet, somehow he's playing like one during this six game stretch. So what would happen if we were to pair Lauri with a Vucevic, DeMarcus Cousins, or even a Brook Lopez? Maybe even Boban in a limited role. Would this give us a formidable advantage?

On a separate note, I would also strongly consider trading Rondo and a protected first for Nikola Vucevic. It may seem like an odd trade (especially given that we have Lopez, who I would then try to move) but Vucevic is a young talented guy who has had his reputation brought down by playing on a perpetually bad team. He has his defensive limitations, but on a playoff team he could be a weapon like Enes Kanter. Vucevic is still young, is locked into a very friendly long-term contract, is a tremendous rebounder, and a gifted scorer. He's easily someone who could be Butler's second option. If Wade leaves and you're able to sign Jrue Holiday, you've suddenly got a young and interesting team that could grow into a strong Eastern Conference team as the Cavs and Raptors age.

C. Vucevic/Felicio
PF.Mirotic*/Portis
SF.Butler/Zipser
SG.Valentine/MCW
PG.Holiday/Grant/Payne

Obviously there's a lot of holes here, especially on the defensive end but there is something intriguing about Butler/Vucevic/Holiday to me.

IMO, the Bulls need to pair a quality big man with Zach. Vuc is a little older but he is locked up on a value contract and I think him and Zach would play off each other well.

Chicago out - Lauri Markkanen, Wendell Carter, Felicio (expiring filler), 2021 first round pick top 5 protected, 2022 first round pick swap top 5 protected.

Orlando out - Vucevic

Orlando would have to resign Lauri as an RFA.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2054658

Trade board over a month ago.

[Jeffster81]

Read on Twitter

?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

Yup.

[ChiCitySPORTS#1]

How much does Lonzo project to make? $20M seems like a lot

[jordanwilliams6]

Read on Twitter

This can't be right? KAT did it last year, and will do it again this year. Unless there's some games played qualifier.

[jordanwilliams6]

How much does Lonzo project to make? $20M seems like a lot

I guess you could hope that he might give up $2-$4 mil to come to us if he can gain that back in big market endorsements. Wishful thinking.

[CaPiTanAK]

Since bumping old threads is frowned upon, I'm going to pat myself on the back by reposting some old posts:

Let me add this. We need a center, badly. Here are the bigs I would pursue and in the order I'd pursue them:

1. Vucevic for OPJ, Carter, 1st
2. Drummond for OPJ and a 2nd
3. Bamba for Carter
4. Plumlee for Felicio and a 2nd
5. R. Lopez and filler for Felico & Hutch

Over the past few seasons we've talked different front-court pairings for Lauri.

1.) A dominant defensive center.

2.) A shooter to keep the lanes open.

3.) Developing Lauri himself into a center to create mismatches.

What I haven't really seen discussed on this board is the possibility of pairing Lauri with a dominant offensive center. I hadn't really given the idea a thought until Robin Lopez had his resurgence.

During the past 6 games Lopez has averaged 17.8 ppg, 67% FG, in only 26.6 MPG. During the same stretch, Lauri is averaging 25 points per game and we've gone 4-2.

There's a real effective inside-outside thing going on between the two players. Part of Lopez's success is that he's able to take advantage of smaller lineups in this small ball era but the other is that Lauri's (and Porter's) ability to shoot is really preventing teams from doubling us in the post.

Robin has developed a post game that wasn't really existent early in his career, but he's still not a prime time offensive player. Yet, somehow he's playing like one during this six game stretch. So what would happen if we were to pair Lauri with a Vucevic, DeMarcus Cousins, or even a Brook Lopez? Maybe even Boban in a limited role. Would this give us a formidable advantage?

On a separate note, I would also strongly consider trading Rondo and a protected first for Nikola Vucevic. It may seem like an odd trade (especially given that we have Lopez, who I would then try to move) but Vucevic is a young talented guy who has had his reputation brought down by playing on a perpetually bad team. He has his defensive limitations, but on a playoff team he could be a weapon like Enes Kanter. Vucevic is still young, is locked into a very friendly long-term contract, is a tremendous rebounder, and a gifted scorer. He's easily someone who could be Butler's second option. If Wade leaves and you're able to sign Jrue Holiday, you've suddenly got a young and interesting team that could grow into a strong Eastern Conference team as the Cavs and Raptors age.

C. Vucevic/Felicio
PF.Mirotic*/Portis
SF.Butler/Zipser
SG.Valentine/MCW
PG.Holiday/Grant/Payne

Obviously there's a lot of holes here, especially on the defensive end but there is something intriguing about Butler/Vucevic/Holiday to me.

IMO, the Bulls need to pair a quality big man with Zach. Vuc is a little older but he is locked up on a value contract and I think him and Zach would play off each other well.

Chicago out - Lauri Markkanen, Wendell Carter, Felicio (expiring filler), 2021 first round pick top 5 protected, 2022 first round pick swap top 5 protected.

Orlando out - Vucevic

Orlando would have to resign Lauri as an RFA.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2054658

Trade board over a month ago.

AK cont the tradition of Bulls management reading realgm Bulls forum.

[CaPiTanAK]

How much does Lonzo project to make? $20M seems like a lot

22-23 mil/yr with a 15% trade kicker should do the trick.

[qianlong]

Vuc was not my ideal target:

30 years old
Not a good defender
Good floor but not ceiling raiser
Buy high candidate( two firsts)

that said he is a really good player on a value deal, we took on some salary for the future instead of just waiting for a lackluster offseason and we are going for the play in.
I like that the FO took their evaluation period but then took a path, no more garpax standing path for flexibility.

[Payt10]

It's been a while since I've felt compelled to post anything Bulls-related in a while, but today was a pretty big day.

Vucevic is a big get, but I'm not in love with the idea of giving up draft capital for a 30 year old (albeit an All-Star) for a team that is more than just another move away from being a strong contender in the Eastern Conference.

What this tells you is that the team has every intention of building around Zach, and they want to win now. I appreciate the boldness behind these moves, but now they have to make sure they hit on filling out the rest of this roster over the next year or two. Not sure where they sit in the free agency game, cap-wise, but they really could use a PG, and they really need Pat Williams to get good relatively soon now. They're going to need a reliable 3rd option to compete against the true contenders in both conferences.

[Red8911]

I wonder how the bulls or any other team knew that the magic were trading their best players away and tanking. Did they send a mass text out to the league saying “ Vucevic, Fournier, and Gordon are available Lmn if anyone is interested”? How does that even work?

Then I wonder if this deal was part of AKs plan(to buy) or he just saw an opportunity once Vucevic became available and went in hard to acquire him. What would he have done if that deal didn’t go through?

[TheFinishSniper]

I wonder how the bulls or any other team knew that the magic were trading their best players away and tanking. Did they send a mass text out to the league saying “ Vucevic, Fournier, and Gordon are available Lmn if anyone is interested”? How does that even work?

Then I wonder if this deal was part of AKs plan(to buy) or he just saw an opportunity once Vucevic became available and went in hard to acquire him. What would he have done if that deal didn’t go through?

There was rumour Sabonis is maybe on block. So I wouldnt be suprised if he was another All-Star big man target. My guess is Pacers asked alot more than Magic did. So Bulls got hunch Magic was willing to be seller on deadline and Vuc is available. Essentially giving up nothing of real value with picks protected where they needed to be.

It's clear by all moves we made that our frontcourt sucked big time. And we needed changes.

[meekrab]

How in the **** does Aminu have a player option? They're really running a circus down there in Orlando aren't they?

[ImSlower]

AK's press conference is live now. He sounds very confident. You can hear the excitement from the press asking him questions, what a great vibe!