Love #5: P. 88, Bulls 'moving on' from Love

[AAU Teammate]

Several twitter reports floating around that its a done deal. If its just for Bennet and Wiggins, then I think people are sleeping on the Cavs.

Lebron / Love / Irving is close to what Lebron / Bosh / Wade was and the Cavs are going to have some depth. Varejao, Waiters, Miller, Thompson, etc.

They might take some time to iron things out but when they do, I think the east is Lebron's again.

I'd be shocked if the deal is just Wiggins and Bennett. From what I've heard ,Minny is not a fan of anyone other than Wiggins on their team and as good as Wiggins MIGHT become, they need more than just him.

Also I don't think Flip is as high on Wiggins as people seem to feel.

This thing has to get moving. Love will be a free agent if he wants to be so eventually Minn has to cave on whatever they're grasping onto. Take Wiggins and be done with it. Other teams' offers suck.

[Ralphb07]

Several twitter reports floating around that its a done deal. If its just for Bennet and Wiggins, then I think people are sleeping on the Cavs.

Lebron / Love / Irving is close to what Lebron / Bosh / Wade was and the Cavs are going to have some depth. Varejao, Waiters, Miller, Thompson, etc.

They might take some time to iron things out but when they do, I think the east is Lebron's again.

I'd be shocked if the deal is just Wiggins and Bennett. From what I've heard ,Minny is not a fan of anyone other than Wiggins on their team and as good as Wiggins MIGHT become, they need more than just him.

Also I don't think Flip is as high on Wiggins as people seem to feel.

This thing has to get moving. Love will be a free agent if he wants to be so eventually Minn has to cave on whatever they're grasping onto. Take Wiggins and be done with it. Other teams' offers suck.

What if they take Wiggins only and he becomes the next Beasley or OJ Mayo or Tyreke Evans? It sets them back so much. Regardless if they like these guys or not, they need to get Waiters, Thompson or Bennett, Wiggins and a 1st. They need to get assets to help build them.

[coldfish]

Several twitter reports floating around that its a done deal. If its just for Bennet and Wiggins, then I think people are sleeping on the Cavs.

Lebron / Love / Irving is close to what Lebron / Bosh / Wade was and the Cavs are going to have some depth. Varejao, Waiters, Miller, Thompson, etc.

They might take some time to iron things out but when they do, I think the east is Lebron's again.

Lol, I'm not panicking. I was never one of the people that lived in mortal fear of Miami. That being said, if this goes through the Cavs are going to be a stacked team. On paper, the most talented in the East.

[Ben]

Several twitter reports floating around that its a done deal. If its just for Bennet and Wiggins, then I think people are sleeping on the Cavs.

Lebron / Love / Irving is close to what Lebron / Bosh / Wade was and the Cavs are going to have some depth. Varejao, Waiters, Miller, Thompson, etc.

They might take some time to iron things out but when they do, I think the east is Lebron's again.

Given the WT report that Saunders is "Increasingly Interested in Trading for Wiggins, Bennett," I wouldn't be surprised if Cleveland hadn't actually offered Wiggins yet at all. If they had, and if Saunders were interested in that deal, then it would be done. It's not as if GMs have some sort of "interest meter" that gradually inches up until it rings the bell at the top, as in some strong-man test at the carnival. You're interested or you're not. I wouldn't be surprised if these leaks are just means of putting further pressure on Cleveland to make Wiggins available, which I assume that they'll do.

[DRoseCantStop]

Several twitter reports floating around that its a done deal. If its just for Bennet and Wiggins, then I think people are sleeping on the Cavs.

Lebron / Love / Irving is close to what Lebron / Bosh / Wade was and the Cavs are going to have some depth. Varejao, Waiters, Miller, Thompson, etc.

They might take some time to iron things out but when they do, I think the east is Lebron's again.

Sigh........

[Ralphb07]

I didn't think the Bulls were getting Love. Flips preference IMO would be to get Wiggins, Gibson, Snell and a 1st round pick. Obviously the Bulls would only trade Gibson for the right scoring wing (IMO Waiters is such guy) and if they could walk away with a big replacement like Thompson as well that it was a no brainer for the Bulls. They could of also helped by taking Martin and sending out Snell and Dunleavy.

I know many may not like above but I think that Bulls teams is better, more skilled and deeper than a Love, LBJ and Kyrie team.

[DRoseCantStop]

I wanted Kevin Love so badly.......even before the Melo free agency......felt like Rose and Love were destined to play with each other when I read those reports.

[AAU Teammate]

I didn't think the Bulls were getting Love. Flips preference IMO would be to get Wiggins, Gibson, Snell and a 1st round pick. Obviously the Bulls would only trade Gibson for the right scoring wing (IMO Waiters is such guy) and if they could walk away with a big replacement like Thompson as well that it was a no brainer for the Bulls. They could of also helped by taking Martin and sending out Snell and Dunleavy.

I know many may not like above but I think that Bulls teams is better, more skilled and deeper than a Love, LBJ and Kyrie team.

Continuity is a big thing for the Bulls though. Totally shaking everything up strips us of the stuff from the past few years that we've been building on. Taj is a big part of that, so he can only go for a very clear talent upgrade.

[DanTown8587]

Taj Gibson has played 44 playoff games. How many times has he scored above 15 points in those games? Twice, games 2 and 4 against Washington.

What "excellent" history in the playoffs are we talking about? He was **** atrocious last year.

12 games
6.5 points
3.0 rebounds
17.2 minutes
PER of 12.3
TS of .515

Got to love Taj having two really strong playoff games and now all of the sudden he's a playoff legend. And in one of those games, the Wizards were without a starting big man due to suspension and then had their third big in foul trouble.

Are we going to be fair in analysis? Taj played well for some of that series and didn't play well for other parts of it.

Why would anyone trying to discuss Taj Gibson's playoff worth not look at his performance this past playoffs?

He had a PER of 26+, a TS% of 62%+ and averaged 21 ppg, 7 boards and nearly 3 blocks per36. He was the most productive player on the team during that series. Not to mention his effort on defense.

He's not a better player than Love but let's not pretend like he wasn't glorious against the Wiz.

Sigh. "Last year" would be 2013 so I don't know why you quoted me his stats. With that, Taj was on the floor and playing in games 1-2 when the team lost fourth quarter leads at home. I don't know what you want me to say. He was good and bad. Game 1 was a fairly pedestrian performance. Game 2 he was both good and bad. In that second quarter, he dominated (especially watching it) when he had 13 points on 4-5 shooting and was 5-7 from the line in 12 minutes.

The rest of the game? 3-12 from the floor and 2-3 from the line in 24 minutes of game play and he made his last shot when the game was in hand for the Wizards.

You want me to sit here and sugar coat it? Say that because Taj played well in the second quarter he had a good game and a great playoffs? Taj was ON THE FLOOR when the offense went dead in game 2. Should I just forget how games 1 and 2 ended because Taj had good numbers?

[ralphisBullsFan]

it will be fun to watch noah and Gibson beat love down mentally....they put love on gasol or gibson he gets posted up and scored on...they put him on noah then noah plays the high post and takes love away from the boards....Gibson will have a brake out season...he get getting better and better every season glad we are not losing him...

[WhiteM0nkey]

sorry i have been out of it for the past 30+ hours. they once said a few days ago that some 30 day clock started.

does it mean we would have to wait 30 days? before anything can happen. or is it possible for it to be soon or 2 weeks from now.....

[DanTown8587]

I didn't think the Bulls were getting Love. Flips preference IMO would be to get Wiggins, Gibson, Snell and a 1st round pick. Obviously the Bulls would only trade Gibson for the right scoring wing (IMO Waiters is such guy) and if they could walk away with a big replacement like Thompson as well that it was a no brainer for the Bulls. They could of also helped by taking Martin and sending out Snell and Dunleavy.

I know many may not like above but I think that Bulls teams is better, more skilled and deeper than a Love, LBJ and Kyrie team.

Continuity is a big thing for the Bulls though. Totally shaking everything up strips us of the stuff from the past few years that we've been building on. Taj is a big part of that, so he can only go for a very clear talent upgrade.

Yeah, hence why the Bulls are adding three guys to the rotation already in Mirotic, Gasol, and McDermott.

[Jeffster81]

Cavs getting Love, perhaps?

Dooooonnnnnn'ttttt ccccaaaaaaaaaaare. The Cavs are just another obstacle to overcome for #7.

[GetBuLLish]

He had a PER of 26+, a TS% of 62%+ and averaged 21 ppg, 7 boards and nearly 3 blocks per36. He was the most productive player on the team during that series. Not to mention his effort on defense.

He's not a better player than Love but let's not pretend like he wasn't glorious against the Wiz.

All that really needs to be said.

[jc23]

**** it, where u at bulllas?

"Don't worry guys, its in the BAG! Melo is a Bull!"

That guy?

ya, lets get the old melo gang back together.

[Narf]

He had a PER of 26+, a TS% of 62%+ and averaged 21 ppg, 7 boards and nearly 3 blocks per36. He was the most productive player on the team during that series. Not to mention his effort on defense.

He's not a better player than Love but let's not pretend like he wasn't glorious against the Wiz.

All that really needs to be said.

5 games, even playoff games, do not make a player great. Troy Hudson earned his contract in Minnesota over a fantastic playoff series vs the Lakers, and was a bane on the Wolves for years because of it.

Obviously, Gibson is a very good player not trash like Hudson but I would caution against using 1 great series to define a player's value.

[WesleyExChiFan]

it will be fun to watch noah and Gibson beat love down mentally....they put love on gasol or gibson he gets posted up and scored on...they put him on noah then noah plays the high post and takes love away from the boards....Gibson will have a brake out season...he get getting better and better every season glad we are not losing him...

Love better learn to defend the pick and roll. We can put Gibson and Gasol out there and run that play all day. Have fun! Without Wiggins to help double team Rose they're going to have all kinds of problems.

[BullsFTW]

I didn't think the Bulls were getting Love. Flips preference IMO would be to get Wiggins, Gibson, Snell and a 1st round pick. Obviously the Bulls would only trade Gibson for the right scoring wing (IMO Waiters is such guy) and if they could walk away with a big replacement like Thompson as well that it was a no brainer for the Bulls. They could of also helped by taking Martin and sending out Snell and Dunleavy.

I know many may not like above but I think that Bulls teams is better, more skilled and deeper than a Love, LBJ and Kyrie team.

Hopefully we're still involved as the 3rd team.

I know many people are against it, but I'd flip Taj/Snell/MDJ into Waiters/Thompson/Martin.

[BullsFTW]

I'd be shocked if the deal is just Wiggins and Bennett. From what I've heard ,Minny is not a fan of anyone other than Wiggins on their team and as good as Wiggins MIGHT become, they need more than just him.

Also I don't think Flip is as high on Wiggins as people seem to feel.

This thing has to get moving. Love will be a free agent if he wants to be so eventually Minn has to cave on whatever they're grasping onto. Take Wiggins and be done with it. Other teams' offers suck.

What if they take Wiggins only and he becomes the next Beasley or OJ Mayo or Tyreke Evans? It sets them back so much. Regardless if they like these guys or not, they need to get Waiters, Thompson or Bennett, Wiggins and a 1st. They need to get assets to help build them.

This is where the Bulls come into play and offer a player Minnesota likes in Taj, in exchange for Waiters and Thompson.

[Harmoo]

Taj Gibson has played 44 playoff games. How many times has he scored above 15 points in those games? Twice, games 2 and 4 against Washington.

What "excellent" history in the playoffs are we talking about? He was **** atrocious last year.

12 games
6.5 points
3.0 rebounds
17.2 minutes
PER of 12.3
TS of .515

Got to love Taj having two really strong playoff games and now all of the sudden he's a playoff legend. And in one of those games, the Wizards were without a starting big man due to suspension and then had their third big in foul trouble.

Are we going to be fair in analysis? Taj played well for some of that series and didn't play well for other parts of it.

Why would anyone trying to discuss Taj Gibson's playoff worth not look at his performance this past playoffs?

He had a PER of 26+, a TS% of 62%+ and averaged 21 ppg, 7 boards and nearly 3 blocks per36. He was the most productive player on the team during that series. Not to mention his effort on defense.

He's not a better player than Love but let's not pretend like he wasn't glorious against the Wiz.

Taj was ON THE FLOOR when the offense went dead in game 2. Should I just forget how games 1 and 2 ended because Taj had good numbers?

You don't have to forget anything but you need to acknowledge the fact that Taj is not nor should he be treated as a primary offensive option.

The fact that he was able to provide superstar-like production during that series and his numbers when he's able to start and play significant minutes over the past season, goes to show Taj is a high quality, 2-way player and should be treated as such.

Saying silly things like "bu- but taj was on the floor when the offsneve died!" is akin to blaming Lebron when his team's defense failed against the Spurs. I suppose Taj should have simply scored over double teams, despite it being a horrible idea because then he would truly be a legit player.

"Numbers" as you put it, is what wins basketball games. The players that put up enough positive numbers are the better players. Taj put up very positive numbers, whilst being arguably the best defender at the 4 spot in the entire NBA. Very few players today are capable of that production.