Around the NBA 2026-27

[AshyLarrysDiaper]

I don’t disagree with either of you. Relegation and Poole being a whatever’s worse than a black hole complicate matters. I do think it’ll take a player that bad and a contract that big to net a first rounder however. Anything short of that and we’re talking a collection of seconds — and if that’s the best we’re going to do, I’d rather target the good on-court fits with movable contracts (like Isaiah Joe).

[jnrjr79]

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.

In both radio interviews yesterday, BG talked about passing on 2nd rounders because he wanted to keep roster spots open that he can fill with the $30M in cap room and Room MLE. Maybe he intends to offer that $30M to Peyton Watson or something like that, and therefore feels he couldn't do a deal like this. That's just me being hopeful, because in isolation, the Bulls easily could have said something like "we'll give you 3 2nds" and beaten this offer and the fit would have made a ton of sense.

[MrFortune3]

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.

And they promptly drafted the player who would eventually replace him as a starter and he's now traded while the other guy is about to sign a max contract...

[MrFortune3]

I don’t disagree with either of you. Relegation and Poole being a whatever’s worse than a black hole complicate matters. I do think it’ll take a player that bad and a contract that big to net a first rounder however. Anything short of that and we’re talking a collection of seconds — and if that’s the best we’re going to do, I’d rather target the good on-court fits with movable contracts (like Isaiah Joe).

I don't have an issue with it being protected. I was being cheeky. If I remember correctly, Bryson is the one that couldn't believe Dumars was actually offering the 23 and unprotected 1st in 2026 for 13.

[AshyLarrysDiaper]

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.

And they promptly drafted the player who would eventually replace him as a starter and he's not traded while the other guy is about to sign a max contract...

No team would hesitate to draft a center over Claxton. I mean he just got pushed aside for Day’Ron Sharpe.

[AshyLarrysDiaper]

I don’t disagree with either of you. Relegation and Poole being a whatever’s worse than a black hole complicate matters. I do think it’ll take a player that bad and a contract that big to net a first rounder however. Anything short of that and we’re talking a collection of seconds — and if that’s the best we’re going to do, I’d rather target the good on-court fits with movable contracts (like Isaiah Joe).

I don't have an issue with it being protected. I was being cheeky. If I remember correctly, Bryson is the one that couldn't believe Dumars was actually offering the 23 and unprotected 1st in 2026 for 13.

I hadn’t seen your initial reply until now. Yeah we are clearly talking about a protected first (at best) in any salary dump scenario.

[MrFortune3]

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.

And they promptly drafted the player who would eventually replace him as a starter and he's not traded while the other guy is about to sign a max contract...

No team would hesitate to draft a center over Claxton. I mean he just got pushed aside for Day’Ron Sharpe.

I wouldn't either. I still wanted a C even with Claxton. But Stewart is a bench player and that's his best role. He's legitimately a 6th man of the year candidate.

He's going to Memphis to back up Edey and potentially spell Boozer at PF in a pinch. Even if we had acquired Stewart instead of Claxton, you would still have to add another C to the fold as you would need more height to counter other teams at some point.

[MrFortune3]

I don’t disagree with either of you. Relegation and Poole being a whatever’s worse than a black hole complicate matters. I do think it’ll take a player that bad and a contract that big to net a first rounder however. Anything short of that and we’re talking a collection of seconds — and if that’s the best we’re going to do, I’d rather target the good on-court fits with movable contracts (like Isaiah Joe).

I don't have an issue with it being protected. I was being cheeky. If I remember correctly, Bryson is the one that couldn't believe Dumars was actually offering the 23 and unprotected 1st in 2026 for 13.

I hadn’t seen your initial reply until now. Yeah we are clearly talking about a protected first (at best) in any salary dump scenario.

You just wanna **** up a wet dream

Realistically though, it's not going to take a unprotected 1st to get rid of that contract. Salary dumps are happening and not a lot of capital is being required.

[kodo]

I don’t disagree with either of you. Relegation and Poole being a whatever’s worse than a black hole complicate matters. I do think it’ll take a player that bad and a contract that big to net a first rounder however. Anything short of that and we’re talking a collection of seconds — and if that’s the best we’re going to do, I’d rather target the good on-court fits with movable contracts (like Isaiah Joe).

Could have had both Joe and Wiggins. Both just required empty cap space and future 2nds.

[JohnnyKILLroy]

Sam Presti someone widely regarded as the best in the bizz ? It wouldn’t surprise me if he asked his guys where they would rather get traded to and we weren’t one of those teams.

[2weekswithpay]

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.

And they promptly drafted the player who would eventually replace him as a starter and he's now traded while the other guy is about to sign a max contract...

He's not as good as Duren, but there's no denying he's a better rim protector than Claxton. Claxton's peak rim numbers would be Stew's 5th best season as a rim protector.

[JohnnyKILLroy]

Jordan Poole ? Gross why would you willingly invite cancer into the organism?

Would be horrible for our culture and kids.

[AshyLarrysDiaper]

Jordan Poole ? Gross why would you willingly invite cancer into the organism?

Would be horrible for our culture and kids.

He isn’t a cancer. He just sucks.

But I agree about him being an on court detriment.

[Ballerkingn23]

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.

In both radio interviews yesterday, BG talked about passing on 2nd rounders because he wanted to keep roster spots open that he can fill with the $30M in cap room and Room MLE. Maybe he intends to offer that $30M to Peyton Watson or something like that, and therefore feels he couldn't do a deal like this. That's just me being hopeful, because in isolation, the Bulls easily could have said something like "we'll give you 3 2nds" and beaten this offer and the fit would have made a ton of sense.

Highly doubt it. I think he will try to use the cap space to take on a bad contract for draft capital. Doing that goes against everything he said.

[DuckIII]

Sam Presti someone widely regarded as the best in the bizz ? It wouldn’t surprise me if he asked his guys where they would rather get traded to and we weren’t one of those teams.

We know for a fact that he did it with Giddey. But I'm not aware of anything suggesting this is some normal course of conduct for him.

I think its a stretch to suggest Joe went to Detroit because Presti did him a solid. I guess it could be true. But we have a clear deficit, and each time it appears we could have easily addressed it, and don't, its going to come up.

Plenty of time remains for both this offseason and beyond of course.

[jnrjr79]

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.



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.

In both radio interviews yesterday, BG talked about passing on 2nd rounders because he wanted to keep roster spots open that he can fill with the $30M in cap room and Room MLE. Maybe he intends to offer that $30M to Peyton Watson or something like that, and therefore feels he couldn't do a deal like this. That's just me being hopeful, because in isolation, the Bulls easily could have said something like "we'll give you 3 2nds" and beaten this offer and the fit would have made a ton of sense.

Highly doubt it. I think he will try to use the cap space to take on a bad contract for draft capital. Doing that goes against everything he said.

Not true. In his interviews yesterday, he said they're looking at both - spending on players they want or being "incentivized" to take on a contract.

[Chi town]

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.

I’d much rather just trade them PW. Get off that contract.

[JohnnyKILLroy]

Sam Presti someone widely regarded as the best in the bizz ? It wouldn’t surprise me if he asked his guys where they would rather get traded to and we weren’t one of those teams.

We know for a fact that he did it with Giddey. But I'm not aware of anything suggesting this is some normal course of conduct for him.

I think its a stretch to suggest Joe went to Detroit because Presti did him a solid. I guess it could be true. But we have a clear deficit, and each time it appears we could have easily addressed it, and don't, its going to come up.

Plenty of time remains for both this offseason and beyond of course.

Like you said you said he did it for Giddey and I think it’s probably standard practice in OKC and thats just how they do it over there. Those are his guys and they’re victims of him being so good at his job that they gotta go so let’s try to right by his players. It’s a small ask I think and he’s going to probably be dealing with their agents down the road on other players too.

[JohnnyKILLroy]

Jordan Poole ? Gross why would you willingly invite cancer into the organism?

Would be horrible for our culture and kids.

He isn’t a cancer. He just sucks.

But I agree about him being an on court detriment.

-Arrogant
-Locker rooms problems
-Thinks he’s better than he is
-Horrible leader to the kids in Washington
-Probably deserved some of that Draymond punch
-plays a losing brand of basketball

[Tetlak]

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 throw 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.

So what happens when we inevitably make free agent signings in 1-2 weeks? Do we admit we jumped the gun?

Not trying to sound like a dick here. I don't see the issue. Once free agency ends, sure.