Around the NBA 2026-27

[MrFortune3]

After years of being undersized and having no defense or shot blocking at C. Are some of you seriously complaining about us acquiring Claxton over Stewart? Am I seriously reading this right now?

You all do understand that Claxton was acquired to be the starter and that Stewart was acquired to be the backup for the Grizzlies...

[Red Larrivee]

Inch deals closer… like acquiring a flexibly paid center who doesn’t have to park in the dunker spot on a team built around rim pressure.

Honestly, the contract differences alone make the case. Another 5 million in cap helps if the #1 priority is to grab first rounders in salary dumps. And, at the deadline, how much more valuable is Stewart with his team option?

Like I said in my first post: I’m waiting to see the whole picture. But opportunities like Joe and Stewart raise the bar on BG’s execution going forward.

Again, I think it's fair to prefer Stewart. I also think it's fair to prefer Claxton. I don't think either one changes anything significantly about the situation with the different pros and cons. Splitter has coached Claxton before. Claxton is a better passer, plays in a lot more games, is taller and is a better athlete even with back concerns. One cost us cap space. The other cost cap space and seconds. One makes 8M less. I guess we could've had both? But, I don't think picking either over the other is consequential.

[Jcool0]

39 years old worth 41 billion

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[AshyLarrysDiaper]

Inch deals closer… like acquiring a flexibly paid center who doesn’t have to park in the dunker spot on a team built around rim pressure.

Honestly, the contract differences alone make the case. Another 5 million in cap helps if the #1 priority is to grab first rounders in salary dumps. And, at the deadline, how much more valuable is Stewart with his team option?

Like I said in my first post: I’m waiting to see the whole picture. But opportunities like Joe and Stewart raise the bar on BG’s execution going forward.

Again, I think it's fair to prefer Stewart. I also think it's fair to prefer Claxton. I don't think either one changes anything significantly about the situation with the different pros and cons. Splitter has coached Claxton before. Claxton is a better passer, plays in a lot more games, is taller and is a better athlete even with back concerns. One cost us cap space. The other cost cap space and seconds. One makes 8M less. I guess we could've had both? But, I don't think picking either over the other is consequential.

It will definitely be consequential one way or another. Either Claxton’s play justifies the big difference in their contracts or it doesn’t. Either Stewart’s play would’ve justified the cost of three second rounders or it wouldn’t have. Reasobable minds can disagree on which scenario is more likely but this is hardly a ‘six of one, half a dozen of the other’ situation.

We’ll have to see if BG planted his flag with the right C from both an on-court fit and cap mgmt standpoint. I’m skeptical, but it’s obv early days.

[MrFortune3]

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Interesting. This is now the 3rd sports team that the Walton family has purchased an interest in. The Penner-Waltons own the Broncos and bought a stake in the Colorado Rockies. Now the other side of the family is buying into the Bulls.

If it's anything like what they did with the Broncos. I hope they are buying the Reinsdorf's out.

[2weekswithpay]

After years of being undersized and having no defense or shot blocking at C. Are some of you seriously complaining about us acquiring Claxton over Stewart? Am I seriously reading this right now?

You all do understand that Claxton was acquired to be the starter and that Stewart was acquired to be the backup for the Grizzlies...

Claxton is taller, but Stew has like 20lbs on him and a longer wingspan. Stew is also the better rim protector.

[MrFortune3]

After years of being undersized and having no defense or shot blocking at C. Are some of you seriously complaining about us acquiring Claxton over Stewart? Am I seriously reading this right now?

You all do understand that Claxton was acquired to be the starter and that Stewart was acquired to be the backup for the Grizzlies...

Claxton is taller, but Stew has like 20lbs on him and a longer wingspan. Stew is also the better rim protector.

What are we basing the better rim protecter stance on? Claxton blocks more shots per game. In the 3 years that Stewart was starter he averaged less than 0.9 bpg in 2 of those 3 seasons. He averages less steals and more personal fouls than Claxton as well.

[DuckIII]

Can anybody tell me what absorbing Wiggins or Joe do for us? We're at stage 2 of 5 in our rebuild if we're being generous. What's the benefit?

Whats with the fake outrage?

We have to have a team. Josh Giddey is our best shooter - the guy who half the board thinks we urgently need to trade because he can't shoot (the most hilarious hypocrisy of the post-draft posting). Joe provides something we lack horribly and fits the timeline as only being under contract for 2 years - like Claxton.

In order to develop young players you want to do it on a roster that will somewhat replicate the roster we eventually expect them to contend with. Presumably, BG will not populate our entire roster with guys who can't shoot it in the ocean. He will get quality shooters so that guys like Matas, Swain and Wilson will gain NBA experience playing with and off such players.

Why is everyone getting so pissy when BG gets criticized? I love BG. But he doesn't get free passes on everything just because he's not AK.

Wiggins and Joe both got traded to contenders. I understand the want and need for shooting but in most cases, the players you want, in terms of type are going to chase joining a contender first.
A guy that is trying to build up his value will come here, he can likely land a starting role and function as mentor to young players.

That's not Wiggins or Joe. Also notice, most of the teams that are making certain moves are in a later rebuilding window that we are.

You are writing about it like this bench guys have no-trade clauses. I guess everyone could just be doing their former players a solid. Not really the norm in the NBA though, especially not for cogs.

[MrFortune3]

We have to have a team. Josh Giddey is our best shooter - the guy who half the board thinks we urgently need to trade because he can't shoot (the most hilarious hypocrisy of the post-draft posting). Joe provides something we lack horribly and fits the timeline as only being under contract for 2 years - like Claxton.

In order to develop young players you want to do it on a roster that will somewhat replicate the roster we eventually expect them to contend with. Presumably, BG will not populate our entire roster with guys who can't shoot it in the ocean. He will get quality shooters so that guys like Matas, Swain and Wilson will gain NBA experience playing with and off such players.

Why is everyone getting so pissy when BG gets criticized? I love BG. But he doesn't get free passes on everything just because he's not AK.

Wiggins and Joe both got traded to contenders. I understand the want and need for shooting but in most cases, the players you want, in terms of type are going to chase joining a contender first.
A guy that is trying to build up his value will come here, he can likely land a starting role and function as mentor to young players.

That's not Wiggins or Joe. Also notice, most of the teams that are making certain moves are in a later rebuilding window that we are.

You are writing about it like this bench guys have no-trade clauses. I guess everyone could just be doing their former players a solid. Not really the norm in the NBA though, especially not for cogs.

I'm writing about it like fans are acting as if the world is falling down because we don't trade for guys that are getting traded to contending teams.

There are only 2 reasons for a player to want to come to the Bulls right now. A starting gig or money.
Wiggins and Joe are trades that teams contending or coming right out of a rebuild make.

[2weekswithpay]

After years of being undersized and having no defense or shot blocking at C. Are some of you seriously complaining about us acquiring Claxton over Stewart? Am I seriously reading this right now?

You all do understand that Claxton was acquired to be the starter and that Stewart was acquired to be the backup for the Grizzlies...

Claxton is taller, but Stew has like 20lbs on him and a longer wingspan. Stew is also the better rim protector.

What are we basing the better rim protecter stance on? Claxton blocks more shots per game. In the 3 years that Stewart was starter he averaged less than 0.9 bpg in 2 of those 3 seasons. He averages less steals and more personal fouls than Claxton as well.

The rim contest number for both players. Claxton's rim protection has fallen off a lot in the last two seasons.

Spoiler:

Read on Twitter

[MrFortune3]

Claxton is taller, but Stew has like 20lbs on him and a longer wingspan. Stew is also the better rim protector.

What are we basing the better rim protecter stance on? Claxton blocks more shots per game. In the 3 years that Stewart was starter he averaged less than 0.9 bpg in 2 of those 3 seasons. He averages less steals and more personal fouls than Claxton as well.

The rim contest number for both players. Claxton's rim protection has fallen off a lot in the last two seasons.

Spoiler:

Read on Twitter

OK... you do realize that in the 2nd tweet you cited the author even says he would have to look into the talent he played with after someone questioned it...

[Dan Z]

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Cmon man, how the **** are we not on this???? He'd be perfect here.

God damnit, after the "we hate shooters" draft he was one of my main targets for this offseason. 2 second rounders? Isn't this what punting on the second round was supposed to help accomplish?

Its early, there will be more opportunities. But this one kinda sucks.

I agree, but maybe they didn't have to shop Joe very much. Detroit called them and OKC just said yes.

I've gotta think the Bulls will sign a shooter at some point, but who?

[DuckIII]

Wiggins and Joe both got traded to contenders. I understand the want and need for shooting but in most cases, the players you want, in terms of type are going to chase joining a contender first.
A guy that is trying to build up his value will come here, he can likely land a starting role and function as mentor to young players.

That's not Wiggins or Joe. Also notice, most of the teams that are making certain moves are in a later rebuilding window that we are.

You are writing about it like this bench guys have no-trade clauses. I guess everyone could just be doing their former players a solid. Not really the norm in the NBA though, especially not for cogs.

I'm writing about it like fans are acting as if the world is falling down because we don't trade for guys that are getting traded to contending teams.

First of all, that's definitely not happening in this thread. People need to chill with the hyperbole when BG gets criticized for something. He's got a job to do and sometimes he's not going to do it well in the eyes of fans.

There are only 2 reasons for a player to want to come to the Bulls right now. A starting gig or money.
Wiggins and Joe are trades that teams contending or coming right out of a rebuild make.

Again, who cares what they want? This is not how the vast majority of transactions involving role players work. They work to the benefit of the team, so outbid the offer.

This isn't about just this. Joe isn't the only free agent. But he's a guy who costs very little, makes perfect sense, and was just gotten for nothing. Fans are gonna say our GM - even our GM who is so beloved its getting a little sickening real fast - should have gotten in on that.

[MrFortune3]

You are writing about it like this bench guys have no-trade clauses. I guess everyone could just be doing their former players a solid. Not really the norm in the NBA though, especially not for cogs.

I'm writing about it like fans are acting as if the world is falling down because we don't trade for guys that are getting traded to contending teams.

First of all, that's definitely not happening in this thread. People need to chill with the hyperbole when BG gets criticized for something. He's got a job to do and sometimes he's not going to do it well in the eyes of fans.

There are only 2 reasons for a player to want to come to the Bulls right now. A starting gig or money.
Wiggins and Joe are trades that teams contending or coming right out of a rebuild make.

Again, who cares what they want? This is not how the vast majority of transactions involving role players work. They work to the benefit of the team, so outbid the offer.

This isn't about just this. Joe isn't the only free agent. But he's a guy who costs very little, makes perfect sense, and was just gotten for nothing. Fans are gonna say our GM - even our GM who is so beloved its getting a little sickening real fast - should have gotten in on that.

It's happening in various threads. From the Stewart stuff to Joe, Wiggins, selling picks and etc. It's a tad much.

The Thunder as a whole have pretty much always gone out of their way to deal guys to places, they want to go if they have been there for some time.
Obviously, they are going to take the best potential deal for the team.

Let's say you acquire Wiggins, Joe or some similar profile shooter, what happens if they don't play?
I understand the desire to acquire talent and stack it up for extra draft capital and etc. But if they don't play a big role and their value is lessened because of it, was it really a smart move?
Now, the other side of that is they come in for a little bit of capital and you use them to add even more valuable assets after they show out.

I don't care about fans criticizing BG and the new regime for things that make sense. Hell, I'm still pissed about the Swain pick.
At the end of the day, what are we actually complaining about?

[2weekswithpay]

What are we basing the better rim protecter stance on? Claxton blocks more shots per game. In the 3 years that Stewart was starter he averaged less than 0.9 bpg in 2 of those 3 seasons. He averages less steals and more personal fouls than Claxton as well.

The rim contest number for both players. Claxton's rim protection has fallen off a lot in the last two seasons.

Spoiler:

Read on Twitter

OK... you do realize that in the 2nd tweet you cited the author even says he would have to look into the talent he played with after someone questioned it...

It is plausible that Claxton stopped playing hard as the Nets were rebuilding, but good rim protection is usually fairly consistent. Stew's rim numbers were great even when the Pistons were a 14 win team.

[AshyLarrysDiaper]

How are we feeling if BG kept the powder dry for:

Bulls trade: Kam Jones
Pelicans trade: Jordan Poole + 2027 Pelicans protected first

That would be all of our cap space. Getting a first for Poole (one year left @ 34M) is a win. On the other hand, when I see Thomas Haugh and Braylon Mullins mocked in the top 6 of next year’s draft it tampers my enthusiasm somewhat. And I imagine the protections would be closer to top 10.

Just have to weather a year of Poole being Poole, then we roll that cap space over to 2027.

[nomorezorro]

i would be pretty worried about landing in the relegation zone if jordan poole was the last piece we added

(i also think the pelicans FO might actually think he's good, which means i dunno if they'd be particularly motivated to dump him)

[Dan Z]

How are we feeling if BG kept the powder dry for:

Bulls trade: Kam Jones
Pelicans trade: Jordan Poole + 2027 Pelicans protected first

That would be all of our cap space. Getting a first for Poole (one year left @ 34M) is a win. On the other hand, when I see Thomas Haugh and Braylon Mullins mocked in the top 6 of next year’s draft it tampers my enthusiasm somewhat. And I imagine the protections would be closer to top 10.

Just have to weather a year of Poole being Poole, then we roll that cap space over to 2027.

Id be surprised if NOs trades their 2027 pick. That would be back to back drafts with no first.

Poole...ugh. I like the idea, but Id pass if Im the Bulls.

[Dan Z]

Now that Joe is in Detroit does this mean Malik Beasley isn't coming back?

[MrFortune3]

How are we feeling if BG kept the powder dry for:

Bulls trade: Kam Jones
Pelicans trade: Jordan Poole + 2027 Pelicans protected first

That would be all of our cap space. Getting a first for Poole (one year left @ 34M) is a win. On the other hand, when I see Thomas Haugh and Braylon Mullins mocked in the top 6 of next year’s draft it tampers my enthusiasm somewhat. And I imagine the protections would be closer to top 10.

Just have to weather a year of Poole being Poole, then we roll that cap space over to 2027.

BG can do better than a protected first. After all, they unprotected one for jumping up 10 spots.