KC: Predictions for second half

Post #1 » by **Tommy Udo 6** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 10:31 am

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com ... 3286.story

Interesting points:

The GM will make his first trade since sending Eddie Basden to the Cavaliers for Martynas Andriuskevicius in August 2006. Expect this one to have more impact.

Boylan has done well in establishing himself as his own voice after being linked closely with close friend Scott Skiles. Will a low-seed playoff berth and a near-.500 mark be enough for Boylan to keep the job? Paxson isn't saying, but probably not. Look for Boylan to land on the staff of whatever team Skiles coaches next season.

The Bulls own both players' rights through next season. Look for Deng to rectify his error in passing up a $57.5 million extension and sign a long-term deal. Gordon sounds like he's leaning toward signing the Bulls' one-year tender offer next summer and playing out the 2008-09 season to become an unrestricted free agent.

Post #2 » by **Tommy Udo 6** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 10:36 am

KC clearing is standing by the $57.5 Million offer to Deng, despite Deng's denial that he turned down that much. KC must really trust his sources to keep mentioning it, since he can let the story fade away.

I agree with him on Gordon & that would actually be a move to help the Bulls avoid Lux Tax. In a related article in today's Tribune, KC says:

"Like Deng, Gordon turned down an extension before the season, his for five years and $50 million. But given that his camp sought near maximum money, Gordon doesn't regret his decision.

That said, he, like Deng, at times has played on his own agenda. Gordon has told confidantes he might sign the Bulls' tender offer next summer and then become an unrestricted free agent in 2009."

Post #3 » by **coldfish** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 11:42 am

In general, its really surprising how stupid KC is. In his first tour, I did not realize what a bad reporter he is. Maybe its working too close to Sam Smith.

.....

Regardless, he is essentially calling Gordon and Deng liars. I will be curious to see if they respond.

Shinky · Post #4 » by **Shinky** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 12:02 pm

I think his assessment of Ben Gordon is spot on. I have heard elsewhere that Gordon was seeking BIG money, God knows why he thinks he deserves it. But that's what I've heard. And these two, Gordon and Deng, most certainly seem to be playing with their own agendas in mind.

Our biggest problem as to why we are losing this season, is that we are not a "team" anymore. And a huge part of the reason why, has been Gordon and Deng.

Bull Shak · Post #5 » by **Bull Shak** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 12:10 pm

No, Gordon has not been playing for his own agenda. The guy is coming off the bench, putting the team on his back, distributing. Luol "I can chuck just as bad as Nocioni" Deng is the cancer here.

And Gordon isn't going to take the qualifying offer, I think thats pretty asinine. He's going to be extended, signed outright by a team that creates capspace (Philly?), or sign and traded for garbage (probably something on the Knicks).

Post #6 » by **Tommy Udo 6** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 12:35 pm

coldfish wrote:In general, its really surprising how stupid KC is. In his first tour, I did not realize what a bad reporter he is. Maybe its working too close to Sam Smith.

.....

Regardless, he is essentially calling Gordon and Deng liars. I will be curious to see if they respond.

I think Smith is definitely having a bad effect on KC

He doesnt need to keep bringing up the offers - especially when there is disagreement on the facts

i do agree with the QO offer part for Gordon, though.

Reports for Gordon say he was seeking anywhere from $65-70 million for 5 years. Even ESPN concedes that $50 million was above market & no one will pay him that

Post #7 » by **dougthonus** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 1:41 pm

Gordon can afford to take the QO since his QO is for pretty large money. It's not nearly as big a financial risk for him as it is for Deng because he won't lose nearly as much money vs his expected income if he signs a big 1 year deal.

That being said, Gordon is likely to be very surprised if he thinks he's going to get more than 10 mil a year as an FA years from now.

I could see us trying to work out a S&T with him, but with the amount of money he wants the BYC issues would be really hard to get around.

bre9 · Post #8 » by **bre9** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 1:52 pm

Contracts and trades our going to be a big part of the summer coming up. Deng should have tooken the 57.5 million thats was a lot of money for a guy who wasn't even the leading scorer last year. I think it might go down this year he hasn't played like a superstar people was thinking in the offseason he might plus he's been missing several games due to injury. As for Gordon I think that 50 mil was a low ball for a guy was the leading scorer for the last three years and who has single handly brung them back in to games with his scoring heroics. Gordon is a great scorer and most scorers get overpaid in this league I think the same is going to happen with Gordon. Some teams is going to up some big money for Gordon and Deng this off season.

JeremyB0001 · Post #9 » by **JeremyB0001** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 2:22 pm

K.C. seems much more bold these days and I don't think the results are very positive. He's much more willing to interject his opinion into pieces (play Wallace/the vets more). He also seems to often shove all in with information he receives from his sources even when that information seems questionable (the Deng extension, reporting that Noc was untouchable in a Gasol deal last season, apparently jumping on the "Bulls desperate to trade Tyrus" bandwagon).

Post #10 » by **DuckIII** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 2:32 pm

coldfish wrote:In general, its really surprising how stupid KC is. In his first tour, I did not realize what a bad reporter he is. Maybe its working too close to Sam Smith.

.....

Regardless, he is essentially calling Gordon and Deng liars. I will be curious to see if they respond.

Whats stupid about what he wrote? He's providing the information his sources provided to him.

Maybe Deng and Gordon are liars. In fact, I'd say its likely that they are. Not that I care. The subject matter of their lies, if they are lying, doesn't mean anything to me.

JCrossover#1 · Post #11 » by **JCrossover#1** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 2:40 pm

Trade Gordon before the Feb. deadline. Please.

JCrossover#1 · Post #12 » by **JCrossover#1** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 2:42 pm

Bull Shak wrote:No, Gordon has not been playing for his own agenda. The guy is coming off the bench, putting the team on his back, distributing. Luol "I can chuck just as bad as Nocioni" Deng is the cancer here.

And Gordon isn't going to take the qualifying offer, I think thats pretty asinine. He's going to be extended, signed outright by a team that creates capspace (Philly?), or sign and traded for garbage (probably something on the Knicks).

The Chuker Nocioni has a higher FG% than the Great Ben Gordon. Surprise...

Bull Shak · Post #13 » by **Bull Shak** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 4:14 pm

JCrossover#1 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

The Chuker Nocioni has a higher FG% than the Great Ben Gordon. Surprise...

Nocioni also has the highest TS% (the only real measure of scoring efficiency) on the team. Gordon has the 2nd highest, and his is on the rise, Nocioni's is steady, and Deng's is sinking.

I am near 100% certain that it wasn't Gordon's agenda to miss a bunch of wide open threes at the beginning of the year.