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I need some help clearing my mind. Part of me keeps reading these reports about Tyrus Thomas and the his situation in Chicago. I read the Bulls message board and while the papers seem to believe Ty Thomas wants out of Chicago, the fans don't want him to go and believe their FO and coaches have to accept some of the blame for the way things have gone with Thomas.

As a observer from afar, I see Thomas and think about him as an immature kid who has a TON of talent and is wasting it with all of his excuses. That said, if in fact he and Chicago decide it will be best to part ways this summer, I start to wonder whether he would be worth the risk. Now that the Sixers are establishing themselves as one of the premier fast break teams in the league, I can't help but wonder that if we strike out with the big names (Josh Smith, Emeka Okafor, Elton Brand) should we go after Thomas?

Do you think he's going to ever harness his talent? I've read a lot about his situation in Chicago and this really could be one of those situations where a change of scenery (and coaching) would really help. The kid can currently block shots and get out and break which fits in with what we currently have. What are your thoughts on this kid 'cause I'm torn??

YouTube highlight videos never show enough of a players game to be worth anything but I think his high-flying ways might be a fit here with our style of play.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=5JWUBZgszNg

He has no half court basketball skills. Championships are won in the half court. He can certainly run and dunk, but that's about it. He doesn't have a position. He gets out muscled and dwarfed by the legitimate bigs in the league and he doesn't have the foot work to guard the skilled agile perimeter players in the NBA. He's a poorman's Kenyon Martin that was drafted too high. People forget that he was nothing until the NCAA tournament. All he has accomplished so far in the NBA is prove why he was nothing before the NCAA tournament.

If he could be acquired on the cheap like a deal involving Rodney Carney, Willie Green, and a 2nd round pick I would do it, otherwise you are just hoping that some day he could turn into Kenyon Martin which even then wouldn't be enough...

My feelings pretty much echo those thoughts but I'd probably pony up our 1st since it figures to be pick #16 or higher in this draft.

He'd be intriguing but with his character issues (Skipped a practice without a reason) probably wouldn't want to give up anything big for him.

BTW the tourney was when he became a household name but he was definitely considered a top 10 pick before the tourney. I remember he had this crazy game in December of that year where LSU almost beat that awesome Connecticut team in Storrs. He was like 2 blocks short of a triple double.

Somehow I don't really care about his athleticism and inability to put it all together. He has MAJOR character issues. Fighting, showboating, and getting yelled at by refs: all things I don't want in Philly. Give me a Thad-like attitude, worker, and winner any day of the week over that garbage. You see in the video after the dunk on J. Smith when he showboats and the ref that is at all the NBA games since I started watching tells him as he's going to the FT line to "watch your mouth". LOL. No THANKS!

i don't like him at all.i don't even know if he is a sf or a pf.if he is a sf, he has zero range on his shot, if he is a pf he has zero low post moves.he can only dunk and block shots.

I thought about this before as well, but I would agree that he's not a fit. Super athletic, but Skiles called him lazy, he has character issues, and is limited in the half court. I think he'll be out of Chicago next season, but I don't know if he's worth the risk.

This team needs a 4 that can create/score in half-court offense. So no Tyrus Thomas I think. But his D is very good, we could use that.

I hear what everyone is saying and I agree with all of it. I think Thomas is one of these guys who I look at and think there's a chance he develops into an All-Star over the next 5 years. That said, there's also an excellent chance he's the next Stromile Swift.

Besides him, there are major character issues in Chicago. Duhon skipping out to go to NC, Noah's aloof style, Hinrich laughing at the end of yesterday's loss. If there is no policeman on the team, who it be a coach or star player(s), there are bound to be problems on the team.

So, getting Tyrus for this team would be good. Certainly, he may not have a half court game but the style of the Sixers now is defend and create off of a turnover. With that style, you really don't need a post offensive player. You need athletes. So, yeah, Tyrus would be good.

As for championships being won by half court teams, that's true until a run and gun team wins a championship. This league is full of mimics. So, if a team like Dallas or Golden State wins, then that rule will likely change.

Thomas is a guy you go after if you are trying a lower cost, shotgun approach to solving the PF deficit on this team. You have to grab him as one of several high-potential/high-risk PF's and let them fight it out, hoping one develops. He can't be the centerpiece of your attempt to solidify the PF spot, he's a highly athletic shot in the dark. My biggest concern would be if he has serious attitude problems. Immaturity is fixable, guys that are real problems (see: Artest, Ron) never really get it.

I don't know the young man. The whole Chicago team is a leader-less mess, so it may be that he simply needs someone to put him back in line. If the team does enough background research to feel comfortable and brings him in fairly cheaply as one of multiple options at PF, fine. Otherwise, I'll pass.

LieCheatSteal wrote:As for championships being won by half court teams, that's true until a run and gun team wins a championship. This league is full of mimics. So, if a team like Dallas or Golden State wins, then that rule will likely change.

So true....the way this game is played is evolving at a fast pace. It's only a matter of time before someone breaks the mold.

With that said, Thomas may be worth the risk. We have Young, who has a post game. We don't necessarily need a starting PF to play the post. If we can add another wingman that drives, or a backup PF/Center that can get inside the paint, things may work for us.

I think Thomas is a 4 especially if he played on this team with Iguodala and Young. As for the character issues, LieCheatSteal is right... Chicago has had issues with a number of players this season. In fact, I believe Aaron Gray just got into some sort of an issue with the coaching staff. Obviously their is real leadership problems in Chicago since you have all of these young guys (Thomas, Noah, Gray, Hinrich, and Gordon) venting. This is why in my initial post I said this really could be a case of a guy changing cities and having a lot more success.

Non-big time guys to think about going after:

TT
Digou
Wilcox (pricier but also more established)

Wilcox would be the best fit, and he will be a FA next summer, so Seattle may be willing to deal him. He will want a big contract, so he is riskier than the other options.

I agree with those names. Hopefully Stefanski can pull a rabbit out of his hat and land a big name so that we don't have to resort to lower level players.

The Guilty Party wrote:I agree with those names. Hopefully Stefanski can pull a rabbit out of his hat and land a big name so that we don't have to resort to lower level players.

I compiled a quick list of big men age 25 or younger.
Dwight Howard
Chris Bosh
Amare Stoudamire
Greg Oden
David West
Al Jefferson
LaMarcus Aldridge
Andrew Bynum

Al Hortford
Andrea Bargnani
Chris Kaman
Emeka Okafur
Josh Smith
Andres Biedrins
Andrew Bogut
Jeff Green
Brandan Wright
Yi Jianlian
Joakim Noah
Spencer Hawes
Tyson Chandler
Chris Wilcox
Charlie Villanueva
Tyrus Thomas

David Lee
Paul Millsap
Jason Maxiell
Kendrick Perkins
Andray Blatche
Ike Diogu

The top 8-10 are probably not available for anything we would likely be offering. They are possible I guess, but pretty much unrealistic.

And I think the bottom six don't have a high enough ceiling to be a major upgrade over going small with Thad. They would be a nice addition but not a major piece of the puzzle.

The most realistic would be Okafur, Josh Smith, Biedrins in some kind of sign-and-trade. Brandan Wright or Tyrus if their value is low. Or Villanuvea or Wilcox through trade or free-agency.

Thanks, the list is helpfull. I actually would not mind having Thad split time at PF with a "bottom six" type guy if we get them for cheap.

I would rather go another year without a great PF than overpay for the wrong guy. We have a big window of opportunity with our young team, and may have more tradeable assets in the next few years as our young bench players develop.

I'm all for waiting for the right premier PF to come available- even if it takes waiting another 2 years. Its a shame we missed out on Gasol, but someone wlse like him will be available in a trade in the next 2 seasons.

Blatche...

Biedrens to me, is the most obtainable with a big deal...I don't think GS will match, but the Sixers probably would have to over pay. 22 year old 7'er who is averaging right around 10/10 now is probably worth the risk.

Blatche is a nice prospect, but is under contract for another year or two I believe....could have had him instead of LW a few years ago, but I don't think he's going anywhere now.

Thompson is on ESPN2...nice footwork, nice touch from outside, long arms...it will be interesting to see how he tests out in the pre draft workouts. Tough to tell against this level of competition, but he looks like a longer, more athletic Jason Smith.