Around The NBA : 2024-25 Season

[DASMACKDOWN]

I think it's a fair question. I think the FO goal is to focus on incremental roster improvement through "value pickups" and young player development. I think there is a underlying goal to have a team that is "star ready" should the right one come along.

You are absolutely right. There is no real serious attempt to get this "star" player either.

I just think the idea is to keep kicking the tires down the road till they luck out. It sounds sad but that is the reality of it.

They aren't trying to accumulate draft picks. They aren't trying to tank for the #1 pick.

Their idea is it keep grabbing under utilized assets till they find a gem. Then hopefully cash in for that "star" player to add to them and go from there.

If anything we are doing what the Nets did several years back. The D'angelo Russell, Jarred Allen, Spencer Dinwiddie Nets. Most of the team back in like 2017 were all reclamation projects or flyers. That was because they had no high draft picks.

They messed around long enough till Kyrie and KD wanted to go there.

With our luck though, that guy would be way past prime AD. That is so a Bulls move.

[kodo]

He said "Chicago feels like they're being run by an A.I engine that broke and the only thing they put in is: We don't want to pay the luxury tax. Could you suggest some moves for us? And the A.I said "Trade Lonzo Ball for Isaac Okoro, even though you already have Patrick Williams."

Except Patrick Williams is not that good, which is why we needed another player like Okoro.

I actually think people are underrating the acquisition of Okoro, he is going to end up being a breath of fresh air as far as a player despites his flaws, plays extremely hard. You can actually feel his presence out on the floor, unlike with Pat, where half the time, you're wondering whether he is awake or realizes he is playing basketball.

Yeah but despite all of that, he is still statically worse than PWill.

I've been saying for years that with all the drama that we go through with PWill, Okoro might be worse.

I just dont get the reasoning behind if PWill sucks somehow Okoro doesn't. Im in the camp they both do.

Okoro is much better than Williams statistically unless you're only looking at PPG, which is not important to 3&D guys. We wouldn't measure Caruso's value by his PPG.

RAPM:
Okoro: +3.5 (96th percentile)
Williams: -2.2 (17th percentile)

EPM
Okoro: +0.5
Williams: -3.5

+/-
Okoro: +4.6
Williams: -2.9

True Shooting
Okoro: 59% (+1.4% better than league average)
Williams: 51% (-6.6% worse than league average)

Okoro might not be great, but we traded very little for him. He's been a proven 3&D, positive impact player. And durable, this has been his worst year and he still played 55. Before this year he averaged 70 games per season. The opposite of Lonzo.

Patrick has been terrible in every respect and a serious negative to the team while still being injury prone, averaging 42 games per season.

[Dan Z]

Yeah but despite all of that, he is still statically worse than PWill.

I've been saying for years that with all the drama that we go through with PWill, Okoro might be worse.

I just dont get the reasoning behind if PWill sucks somehow Okoro doesn't. Im in the camp they both do.

I think Okoro is the better player, but not by much. What's the ultimate goal here? Get slightly better to make the play-in?

I think it's a fair question. I think the FO goal is to focus on incremental roster improvement through "value pickups" and young player development. I think there is a underlying goal to have a team that is "star ready" should the right one come along.

If they're hoping a star will become available then that's not a good plan. Who in the foreseeable future might come here? They gut the team and give up all their future picks for someone like Giannis? What does that leave us?

On top of that AK doesn't acquire future assets, so he has less to work with in a trade for a star.

[Guru]

I think Okoro is the better player, but not by much. What's the ultimate goal here? Get slightly better to make the play-in?

I think it's a fair question. I think the FO goal is to focus on incremental roster improvement through "value pickups" and young player development. I think there is a underlying goal to have a team that is "star ready" should the right one come along.

If they're hoping a star will become available then that's not a good plan. Who in the foreseeable future might come here? They gut the team and give up all their future picks for someone like Giannis? What does that leave us?

On top of that AK doesn't acquire future assets, so he has less to work with in a trade for a star.

Why would we have to gutt the team? We have expirings and draft picks. You can trade them expirings and draft picks.

[Dan Z]

I think it's a fair question. I think the FO goal is to focus on incremental roster improvement through "value pickups" and young player development. I think there is a underlying goal to have a team that is "star ready" should the right one come along.

If they're hoping a star will become available then that's not a good plan. Who in the foreseeable future might come here? They gut the team and give up all their future picks for someone like Giannis? What does that leave us?

On top of that AK doesn't acquire future assets, so he has less to work with in a trade for a star.

Why would we have to gutt the team? We have expirings and draft picks. You can trade them expirings and draft picks.

Because a team like Milwaukee isn't going to trade him only for expiring contracts and draft picks. If they did that then Chicago improves and those picks are no longer that good.

A bunch of picks that aren't great and they get to shed salary. That's an awful deal for Giannis.

I can probably say the same about any other stars that might be available, but I don't see any that might be on the market in the near future.

[kodo]

Interesting that the NBA fell short of revenue projections. FYI last season it was $11.4B.

https://www.sportico.com/leagues/basketball/2025/nba-player-salaries-cut-escrow-system-1234858905/

The NBA just wrapped its accounting on the 2024-25 season and pegged basketball-related income (BRI) at $10.25 billion, according to someone familiar with the accounting who was granted anonymity because the details are private. It’s a key number for players, as it determines how much of their salary they get to keep from last season.

The news is not great for players, as they will forgo more than $480 million from the escrow fund set aside to make the math work in the shared-revenue system laid out in the collective bargaining agreement between players and the league.

"Overall revenue likely came in light due to the choppy local media environment"

I have to think the Bulls fiasco with broadcasting contributed to this, we're a top 3 market and everyone I know had no idea how to watch Bulls games and didn't care enough to go through all the hoops.

[Midwest219]

Interesting that the NBA fell short of revenue projections. FYI last season it was $11.4B.

https://www.sportico.com/leagues/basketball/2025/nba-player-salaries-cut-escrow-system-1234858905/

The NBA just wrapped its accounting on the 2024-25 season and pegged basketball-related income (BRI) at $10.25 billion, according to someone familiar with the accounting who was granted anonymity because the details are private. It’s a key number for players, as it determines how much of their salary they get to keep from last season.

The news is not great for players, as they will forgo more than $480 million from the escrow fund set aside to make the math work in the shared-revenue system laid out in the collective bargaining agreement between players and the league.

"Overall revenue likely came in light due to the choppy local media environment"

I have to think the Bulls fiasco with broadcasting contributed to this, we're a top 3 market and everyone I know had no idea how to watch Bulls games and didn't care enough to go through all the hoops.

the Bulls fiasco with broadcasting contributed to this, we're a top 3 market and everyone I know had no idea how to watch Bulls games and didn't care enough to go through all the hoops.

THIS.
they done fked up. no lie. I had to watch delayed illegal streams. I'm good for local broadcasts but cant stream live, it's completely twisted up that CSN is a zipped bag.

[tunit213]

He said "Chicago feels like they're being run by an A.I engine that broke and the only thing they put in is: We don't want to pay the luxury tax. Could you suggest some moves for us? And the A.I said "Trade Lonzo Ball for Isaac Okoro, even though you already have Patrick Williams."

Except Patrick Williams is not that good, which is why we needed another player like Okoro.

I actually think people are underrating the acquisition of Okoro, he is going to end up being a breath of fresh air as far as a player despites his flaws, plays extremely hard. You can actually feel his presence out on the floor, unlike with Pat, where half the time, you're wondering whether he is awake or realizes he is playing basketball.

I agree man, finally someone that sees the light. Not only is he a perfect fit next to Giddy and Coby with his improved 3 point shooting, being a very good defender, and not needing usage (which takes away from Giddy, Coby, and wanting Buzelis to get more touches). He also was in the 97th percentile in transition offense, which is elite. Our offense is about to be even more fun than last season.

[tunit213]

Except Patrick Williams is not that good, which is why we needed another player like Okoro.

I actually think people are underrating the acquisition of Okoro, he is going to end up being a breath of fresh air as far as a player despites his flaws, plays extremely hard. You can actually feel his presence out on the floor, unlike with Pat, where half the time, you're wondering whether he is awake or realizes he is playing basketball.

Yeah but despite all of that, he is still statically worse than PWill.

I've been saying for years that with all the drama that we go through with PWill, Okoro might be worse.

I just dont get the reasoning behind if PWill sucks somehow Okoro doesn't. Im in the camp they both do.

I think Okoro is the better player, but not by much. What's the ultimate goal here? Get slightly better to make the play-in?

Worst case we get another asset in Okoro by pumping up his value during the season with extended playing time and then trading him as a 11mil expiring deal after this season.

[Dan Z]

Yeah but despite all of that, he is still statically worse than PWill.

I've been saying for years that with all the drama that we go through with PWill, Okoro might be worse.

I just dont get the reasoning behind if PWill sucks somehow Okoro doesn't. Im in the camp they both do.

I think Okoro is the better player, but not by much. What's the ultimate goal here? Get slightly better to make the play-in?

Worst case we get another asset in Okoro by pumping up his value during the season with extended playing time and then trading him as a 11mil expiring deal after this season.

If he plays well why would AK trade him?

I think Okoro is an okay player, but like I said before, the Bulls should think bigger. At best he adds an extra win or two so they can make the play-in?

[Chi town]

Where is Beal going post buyout?

[MisterRoy]

Where is Beal going post buyout?

My magic 8 ball said "it's not looking good" if that is any help.

[Infinity2152]

Somehow Beal ends up on the Lakers. Then Dame get the call. 2025 lakers Lillard (out for the year), Reaves, Beal, Luka, Lebron, Ayton. Next year Dame comes back.

Lillard, Beal, Luka, Lebron, Ayton. Three bought out max players for cheap. And Luka who they got for AD and a first.

[Almost Retired]

Somehow Beal ends up on the Lakers. Then Dame get the call. 2025 lakers Lillard (out for the year), Reaves, Beal, Luka, Lebron, Ayton. Next year Dame comes back.

Lillard, Beal, Luka, Lebron, Ayton. Three bought out max players for cheap. And Luka who they got for AD and a first.

Lillard..old. Beal...old. Luka...will he stay in shape? Lebron...old. Ayton...head case. The coach better be pretty good at minutes management.

[Infinity2152]

Somehow Beal ends up on the Lakers. Then Dame get the call. 2025 lakers Lillard (out for the year), Reaves, Beal, Luka, Lebron, Ayton. Next year Dame comes back.

Lillard, Beal, Luka, Lebron, Ayton. Three bought out max players for cheap. And Luka who they got for AD and a first.

Lillard..old. Beal...old. Luka...will he stay in shape? Lebron...old. Ayton...head case. The coach better be pretty good at minutes management.

They can afford to put young players around them with three starters making about $10 mill AAV. And they're going to get every top vet min player. Then find a way to send Dame back to Portland to retire for Jrue and now its's Holiday, Beal, Doncic, James, Ayton. Healthy, that's team's going to be crazy.

[kodo]

Somehow Beal ends up on the Lakers. Then Dame get the call. 2025 lakers Lillard (out for the year), Reaves, Beal, Luka, Lebron, Ayton. Next year Dame comes back.

Lillard, Beal, Luka, Lebron, Ayton. Three bought out max players for cheap. And Luka who they got for AD and a first.

Lillard..old. Beal...old. Luka...will he stay in shape? Lebron...old. Ayton...head case. The coach better be pretty good at minutes management.

Lillard
Beal
Luka
Lebron
Ayton

Might be the worst defense the NBA has seen. That team will make the Bulls like the 80s Pistons.
Well at least opposing teams can't target or hunt anyone on switches, everyone is equally as bad on D.

[WesPeace]

Somehow Beal ends up on the Lakers. Then Dame get the call. 2025 lakers Lillard (out for the year), Reaves, Beal, Luka, Lebron, Ayton. Next year Dame comes back.

Lillard, Beal, Luka, Lebron, Ayton. Three bought out max players for cheap. And Luka who they got for AD and a first.

Lillard..old. Beal...old. Luka...will he stay in shape? Lebron...old. Ayton...head case. The coach better be pretty good at minutes management.

Lillard
Beal
Luka
Lebron
Ayton

Might be the worst defense the NBA has seen. That team will make the Bulls like the 80s Pistons.
Well at least opposing teams can't target or hunt anyone on switches, everyone is equally as bad on D.

135 points against average lol

[MrSparkle]

Just mentioning it early, but the laughing stock Wizards are in good position for two top-4 picks next year.

I don’t know which realm Phoenix projects to be better next year, but they’re a Devin Booker injury away from bottom-2 in West disaster.

[Dominator83]

Cam Whitmore traded to the Wizards for two 2nd round picks.

Now this, AK, is why having a surplus of picks is important! Even if you hate using them to select players, you can use them as trade currency. Someone should tell him that

[jnrjr79]

Cam Whitmore traded to the Wizards for two 2nd round picks.

Now this, AK, is why having a surplus of picks is important! Even if you hate using them to select players, you can use them as trade currency. Someone should tell him that

One of them was a Bulls pick, lol.