According to Mike McGraw, Aldridge wants the Bulls

[Chicago-Bull-E]

Wow. You just called Noah a role player, I don't even know how to respond to that.

What's wrong with being a roleplayer? Doesn't mean he's Daequan Cook. He's a super role player. Players like Tyson Chandlerand a prime-Marcus Camby are the same thing.

What's Noah's role?

I'll answer that. If you have 5 different roles, by definition, you aren't a role player.

[red222]

Do people on this board seriously think a Rose/Butler/Deng/Boozer/Noah starting 5 with Hinrich + Taj + #20 pick + Nazr + shooters isn't title worthy?? It's the best friggin team the Bulls have had since 98...

its too imbalanced in my mind

[Unbeata-BULL7]

Aldridge is a every year all star in the east....and I mean if we take back asik, u have 1 of the best big defensive young centers in the league.Omer is 7'2 right?

People have got to get over this Asik idea... we're not magically getting LMA and Asik by simply trading Noah and random picks.

[RastaBull]

I still like my proposed trade involving the Bobcats and Nets. Granted, it would never happen; allows the Bulls to keep ahold of too many guys and the basketball gods/Jerry's pockets won't allow for that:

TRADE 1
Bulls get: Ben Gordon, Nets 22
Nets Get: Boozer, Bulls 20
Bobcats get: Humphries, Brooks

TRADE 2
Bulls get: LMA
Blazers get: Gibson, Rip (+1 mil), Charlotte pick, Nets 22, Bulls 2014

[Red Larrivee]

You have a weird definition of role player. And when and if the Bulls win a title Noah is entirely capable of being the 3rd best player, maybe even 2nd best if we can grab one next year with this roster. Not a role player, at all.

I don't think Noah can be the 2nd best player on a title team unless he ups his scoring big time.

Being a roleplayer isn't a bad thing. It's not like Noah's some championship scoring option. He's really, really good at what he does and he's easily a starter.

[Unbeata-BULL7]

Do people on this board seriously think a Rose/Butler/Deng/Boozer/Noah starting 5 with Hinrich + Taj + #20 pick + Nazr + shooters isn't title worthy?? It's the best friggin team the Bulls have had since 98...

I don't disagree with you, but 29 teams right now who didn't win the title should be tweaking their teams to get better. Difference in 91-93 or 96-98 is we were winning titles. This team has proved to be good, but it's obvious we need more firepower.

That's a valid point about re-tooling. I just feel like people on this board fall too in love with making a deal just to make one... the good thing about GarPax is their not going to make a stupid trade that compromises our future. I'm all for making a deal that actually makes us better but it's hard to pry away LMA without making us worse. And I think we have a pretty damn good team already.

Not to mention, although we didn't win the title last year we're adding back a prime D Rose. Combined with Butler's continued development and the returning health of Deng/Noah (hopefully) those are some large changes in themselves.

[Chitownbulls]

Aldridge is a every year all star in the east....and I mean if we take back asik, u have 1 of the best big defensive young centers in the league.Omer is 7'2 right?

With a 7"0 Mirotic coming next season..

Biggest team in the L

EXactly, an its not like Noah really takes advantage of Miami bigs downlow. He still mostly scores off put backs and such. Getting Omer back is nice....plus he's usually healthy. Something you can't trust Noah with.

I don't know guys, bulls may have to really think about this. Asik is a LOAD downlow. And the transition would be really smooth.

[HomoSapien]

Wow. You just called Noah a role player, I don't even know how to respond to that.

What's wrong with being a roleplayer? Doesn't mean he's Daequan Cook. He's a super role player. Players like Tyson Chandlerand a prime-Marcus Camby are the same thing.

I don't know. It's sort of like comparing Dennis Rodman and a prime Tom Gugliotta or something. Googs was obviously a really good second option, but Rodman was able to impact the game in a more meaningful way. I think it's essentially the same thing here. We'll have to agree to disagree on this one.

[TBpup]

I don't know much about Mirotic. Can someone tell me a little about him and his contract/buyout situation?

[Shill]

What are the chances of the Charlotte pick turning into a player that's better than LaMarcus Aldridge?

And if you don't think we're close to a title right now with or without Aldridge, what's your plan for improvement? Is it based on the Charlotte pick turning into a superstar?

My plan would be to keep the cap space, bring along Mirotic, and hope that the Charlotte pick ends up being a Harrison Barnes-level player or possibly a lot better.

You are all overrating Aldridge. He's not a Kevin Love-level player. We would have to gut ourselves of assets to get LMA, it would empty our cupboard and completely restrict future moves. There is no way that we can trade just the Charlotte pick for him. If we could get him cheaply, of course I'd be for it, but we can't.

Better to keep the future open than lock yourself into a Rose-LMA combo that I do not believe can beat Miami now, with LMA getting old by 2014 (he'll be over 30).

You want to wait 3 years for a Harrison Barnes-level player?

The disconnect is our perceived value of Aldridge. I'd rather have him than Kevin Love.

[Unbeata-BULL7]

Do people on this board seriously think a Rose/Butler/Deng/Boozer/Noah starting 5 with Hinrich + Taj + #20 pick + Nazr + shooters isn't title worthy?? It's the best friggin team the Bulls have had since 98...

its too imbalanced in my mind

I think we need to see this team together before we can say that. I believe Butler can be a real difference-maker next to Rose.

[The Bear Jew]

You have a weird definition of role player. And when and if the Bulls win a title Noah is entirely capable of being the 3rd best player, maybe even 2nd best if we can grab one next year with this roster. Not a role player, at all.

I don't think Noah can be the 2nd best player on a title team unless he ups his scoring big time.

Being a roleplayer isn't a bad thing. It's not like Noah's some championship scoring option. He's really, really good at what he does and he's easily a starter.

It's not like scoring separates a player from being a role player, I think that's where your wrong. You can argue scoring is just as important as defense, I think by you calling LA definitively a better player your a valuing scoring over defense which I don't agree with.

[BIGGIEsmalls 23]

I would not trade Noah for Aldridge straight up. Pairing them is the only thing that should be considered. And everyone should be available besides Rose and Noah.

that is reasonable. But also unreasonable is the idea floating around this thread that the Bulls should seriously consider trading Deng, Gibson the Charlotte pick and another 1st rounder for friggin Lamarcus Aldridge. I Like LA, but under no circumstances should the Bulls bend over and take it in the culo for him.

Let's look at the 4 potential outgoing pieces so that you can take a tour through my mind, Fleet.

Deng -- Will probably be leaving the Bulls between draft day & the end of the season.

Gibson -- Taj is one of my favorites, but he is replaceable.

Charlotte pick -- It's value will fluctuate depending on the Bobcats' success. We need to cash it in.

1st rd pick -- It will basically be a 2nd round pick.

Is LMA my ideal "franchise player" to pair with Rose?....Not at all, but his addition makes us a better team, IMO.

[Red Larrivee]

What's Noah's role?

I'll answer that. If you have 5 different roles, by definition, you aren't a role player.

I think you guys are perceiving the word "role player" as some scrub who gets minutes off the bench out of sympathy. Noah is a great roleplayer, and at the top of the line when it comes to that. There's nothing wrong with that.

What are his roles here? He anchors the defense, provides energy and facilitates ball movement. A lot of really good roleplayers do that. A prime Ben Wallace is one of the best roleplayers of the past decade.

[KiLleRInStiNcT7]

I just want someone who can hit jumpers and make their free throws. I think the Bulls are one of the worst free throw shooting teams in the NBA. I think it cost them some wins.

[HomoSapien]

What's Noah's role?

I'll answer that. If you have 5 different roles, by definition, you aren't a role player.

I think you guys are perceiving the word "role player" as some scrub who gets minutes off the bench out of sympathy. Noah is a great roleplayer, and at the top of the line when it comes to that. There's nothing wrong with that.

What are his roles here? He anchors the defense, provides energy and facilitates ball movement. A lot of really good roleplayers do that. A prime Ben Wallace is one of the best roleplayers of the past decade.

Was Ben Wallace a top 3 player on a championship team?

[Red Larrivee]

It's not like scoring separates a player from being a role player, I think that's where your wrong. You can argue scoring is just as important as defense, I think by you calling LA definitively a better player your a valuing scoring over defense which I don't agree with.

Drew Gooden is a scorer, but he's a roleplayer. 9 times out of 10, what he's good at isn't good enough to take you anywhere.

Alridge is a scorer, but he's not a roleplayer. His skillset on paper is good enough to be a Robin to someone's Batman on a championship team. Joakim Noah, as quality a player as he is, is not that type of player.

Was Ben Wallace a top 3 player on a championship team?

Absolutely, but it doesn't mean he wasnt a roleplayer. Chauncey and Rip were the two clear alpha dogs there.

[red222]

I would not trade Noah for Aldridge straight up. Pairing them is the only thing that should be considered. And everyone should be available besides Rose and Noah.

that is reasonable. But also unreasonable is the idea floating around this thread that the Bulls should seriously consider trading Deng, Gibson the Charlotte pick and another 1st rounder for friggin Lamarcus Aldridge. I Like LA, but under no circumstances should the Bulls bend over and take it in the culo for him.

Let's look at the 4 potential outgoing pieces so that you can take a tour through my mind, Fleet.

Deng -- Will probably be leaving the Bulls between draft day & the end of the season.

Gibson -- Taj is one of my favorites, but he is replaceable.

Charlotte pick -- It's value will fluctuate depending on the Bobcats' success. We need to cash it in.

1st rd pick -- It will basically be a 2nd round pick.

Is LMA my ideal "franchise player" to pair with Rose?....Not at all, but his addition makes us a better team, IMO.

[KiLleRInStiNcT7]

The Rose/Aldridge pick and role would be deadly.

[Chitownbulls]

I would not trade Noah for Aldridge straight up. Pairing them is the only thing that should be considered. And everyone should be available besides Rose and Noah.

that is reasonable. But also unreasonable is the idea floating around this thread that the Bulls should seriously consider trading Deng, Gibson the Charlotte pick and another 1st rounder for friggin Lamarcus Aldridge. I Like LA, but under no circumstances should the Bulls bend over and take it in the culo for him.

Let's look at the 4 potential outgoing pieces so that you can take a tour through my mind, Fleet.

Deng -- Will probably be leaving the Bulls between draft day & the end of the season.

Gibson -- Taj is one of my favorites, but he is replaceable.

Charlotte pick -- It's value will fluctuate depending on the Bobcats' success. We need to cash it in.

1st rd pick -- It will basically be a 2nd round pick.

Is LMA my ideal "franchise player" to pair with Rose?....Not at all, but his addition makes us a better team, IMO.

Your right on...Thibs system works and I still believe the bulls would be great. Once boozer is gone you can add another big piece. LaMarcus Aldridge is a really good player