AK quote on NOP trade - edit was misreported

[dougthonus]

Did anyone ever ask him about the reported Lonzo for Smart + a first deal? Hollinger was the only one to report it, but I'm leaning even more towards it being true.

Was definitely true. Memphis made the same trade afterwards for a different expiring deal that was slightly worse for Memphis.

He was dumb not to take that deal.

How would Smart effect the Bulls cap space going forward?

Well he'd be gone after this year, so it would have had no impact. FWIW, at the time of the deadline, the pick was looking like an upper 20s pick, then Memphis went into a massive tailspin and the pick ended up much better.

[Evil_Headband]

which seems to be his philosophy of never trading for picks

After the LaVine trade he commented:

We'll continue to look for opportunities to improve our team. The next phase is during the draft and free agency. We obviously value draft compensation and young players and flexibility in that order.

I was surprised by this at the time. Frankly, the "in that order" doesn't make sense. As an extreme example, he shouldn't value draft compensation over a young player like Cooper Flagg. Still, though, I do think he values picks and would make such a trade if he felt it was in their best interest. In his defense, he did insist on a first round pick (albeit lottery protected) for Lauri.

[Dan Z]

Was definitely true. Memphis made the same trade afterwards for a different expiring deal that was slightly worse for Memphis.

He was dumb not to take that deal.

How would Smart effect the Bulls cap space going forward?

Well he'd be gone after this year, so it would have had no impact. FWIW, at the time of the deadline, the pick was looking like an upper 20s pick, then Memphis went into a massive tailspin and the pick ended up much better.

Even if it ended up as a late 20s pick it would've been a good deal.

[nomorezorro]

I understand not wanting to tank but his disdain for draft picks is moronic, especially when you consider his vision of “9-10 very good players.”

Watching how teams like the Spurs, Rockets, Magic, Timberwolves and possibly Philly with VJ have turned things around, it’s hard to be content with a FO that consistently strives for mediocrity.

At this point, it's just not a coincidence that both Paxson and AK did not want to do full teardowns around lots of draft picks. I genuinely think it's an ownership philosophy regardless of what they'll say publicly about AK having full autonomy to build how he wants to.

Maybe one day we'll actually get the real story of what happened with this trade if it proves to be impactful.

i think it's not a coincidence in that the reinsdorfs are inclined to hire guys who are averse to bottoming out and pitch themselves on the ability to stay "competitive" every year, but i don't see any reason to believe that AK's disinterest in draft picks is tied to ownership beyond that. (especially since a lot of his draft asset mismanagement has been the failure to appropriately value *other* team's picks, which would be bad regardless of how competitive the bulls are)

and like, we might not have wanted to do "full teardowns", but we very much did decide to get worse as a team in the short term in 2017 and in 2024, and we've fielded some really bad teams as a result. i don't think the reinsdorfs were like "you can trade away our best players, but you absolutely can't win any fewer than 22-31 games afterwards." we were just bad at tanking too.

[dougthonus]

I was surprised by this at the time. Frankly, the "in that order" doesn't make sense. As an extreme example, he shouldn't value draft compensation over a young player like Cooper Flagg. Still, though, I do think he values picks and would make such a trade if he felt it was in their best interest. In his defense, he did insist on a first round pick (albeit lottery protected) for Lauri.

There's no evidence he values picks. He has traded away a bunch of picks. He's turned down many, many opportunities to acquire picks.

[dougthonus]

I understand not wanting to tank but his disdain for draft picks is moronic, especially when you consider his vision of “9-10 very good players.”

Watching how teams like the Spurs, Rockets, Magic, Timberwolves and possibly Philly with VJ have turned things around, it’s hard to be content with a FO that consistently strives for mediocrity.

At this point, it's just not a coincidence that both Paxson and AK did not want to do full teardowns around lots of draft picks. I genuinely think it's an ownership philosophy regardless of what they'll say publicly about AK having full autonomy to build how he wants to.

Maybe one day we'll actually get the real story of what happened with this trade if it proves to be impactful.

i think it's not a coincidence in that the reinsdorfs are inclined to hire guys who are averse to bottoming out and pitch themselves on the ability to stay "competitive" every year, but i don't see any reason to believe that AK's disinterest in draft picks is tied to ownership beyond that. (especially since a lot of his draft asset mismanagement has been the failure to appropriately value *other* team's picks, which would be bad regardless of how competitive the bulls are)

and like, we might not have wanted to do "full teardowns", but we very much did decide to get worse as a team in the short term in 2017 and in 2024, and we've fielded some really bad teams as a result. i don't think the reinsdorfs were like "you can trade away our best players, but you absolutely can't win any fewer than 22-31 games afterwards." we were just bad at tanking too.

John Paxson very obviously valued draft picks and building through the draft and also valued remaining competitive and not fully bottoming out. He made the playoffs in 11 of his first 13 years vs 1 in 5 with that methodology.

So I do agree that ownership is probably a tear down only as a last resort type of mentality, but they definitely aren't micromanaging about whether you stay competitive with the draft as a big part of your strategy vs something else.

[CROBulls]

AKME is so unaware of themselves that if you asked them if they are alive they would answer I dont know.

[Evil_Headband]

I just watched the interview. The Drew Stevens tweet is wrong. Terrible, in fact. The question was if everyone between 9 - 13 was offered an unprotected pick. It's near the end (18:50 mark).

Watch on YouTube

[nomorezorro]

yeah wow that's bad aggregating

[Jeffster81]

So..........AK is either incompetent or lazy. Cool, cool.

[DuckIII]

I just watched the interview. The Drew Stevens tweet is wrong. Terrible, in fact. The question was if everyone between 9 - 13 was offered an unprotected pick. It's near the end (18:50 mark).

Watch on YouTube

Even though it doesn't undo the mountain of stupid and embarrassing things I've heard him say over the years, thanks for this.

[League Circles]

I just watched the interview. The Drew Stevens tweet is wrong. Terrible, in fact. The question was if everyone between 9 - 13 was offered an unprotected pick. It's near the end (18:50 mark).

Watch on YouTube

The most boring explanation is so very often the accurate one. Thanks

[The Force.]

Honestly, that answer is inexcusable. It’s not like we’re taking about some mid FRP in 2029. It’s a potential lottery pick in 2026. The fact that he glosses over it like it’s nothing is further evidence of his glaring incompetence as a manager and apathy towards the fans.

[DropStep]

If the Bulls had not been offered a similar trade package, I would imagine most GMs would have been happy to clear this up by now, just so they don't have to deal with people still thinking (and openly discussing the possibility) that they passed on it. That is, unless there's some GM honor code about not giving out specific information, which there doesn't really seem to be.

[League Circles]

"Bad aggregation" is quickly become the norm and the rule, not the exception, with the implementation of the AI hoax.

[SalmonsSuperfan]

AK isn't a native English speaker, correct?

I feel like people should chill on his verbiage and that ME should take the reins on the press platitude presentations.

All that matters is who AK drafts, signs, and trades, and which coach he hires.

He has been an NBA executive for over 20 years. His English is fine. And if he can't communicate clearly in English, how can he be expected to communicate with other GMs, agents, players, etc? That's like his primary duty.

That being said, I don't think there's anything wrong with what he said. I think there's something wrong with him; to your second point, he's really bad at those things. He's not good at his job. His English is fine, his decision-making is poor.

[samwana]

I could imagine him not even listening to the offer because he was so happy Noa was available.

[DuckIII]

I could imagine him not even listening to the offer because he was so happy Noa was available.

This probably isn’t all that far off the mark. The presser Eversley gave was pretty transparent. The Cliff’s Notes version is they had numerous trade offers on the table to move up and down, but at the 9th pick “realized the guy we liked was going to be there” at 11 so they rejected all the proposals.

Not exactly “not listening” but it makes it pretty clear they wanted Noa specifically and didn’t think anything on the table was worth passing on him.

[The Force.]

I could imagine him not even listening to the offer because he was so happy Noa was available.

This probably isn’t all that far off the mark. The presser Eversley gave was pretty transparent. The Cliff’s Notes version is they had numerous trade offers on the table to move up and down, but at the 9th pick “realized the guy we liked was going to be there” at 11 so they rejected all the proposals.

Not exactly “not listening” but it makes it pretty clear they wanted Noa specifically and didn’t think anything on the table was worth passing on him.

If that’s the case then AK should’ve just said it. Instead he came off as completely clueless and inept with his non-answer.

[Seccci]

I frankly don't see anything wrong with how this was handled, maybe could be better communicated to us( but they don't really owe it to us to explain internal process to get to decision, they get judged by its outcome)...

I think by experience from previous draft, where they didn't overthink, overanalyze their position and just pick what was best left on the board and it was absolutely a hit with Matas-
they took the same approach...
Listen to offers but once Noa slide down all the way to our pick, they just repeat the process and pick what's staring right at them. Way better than Patrick Williams process where they reach and try to be smartest in the room and pick bench player at #4 overall. I'm pleased with the last two drafts, now it's on the players to reward bulls with their selection