Woj: HOU still wants Asik for Lee, CHI determined to add SG

[anorexorcism]

Honestly, if we can't get Mayo, then enough is enough. He would have been the difference maker and pushed us into a title. Lee will not.

And this FO has never been able to pull off a "blockbuster" where we actually do anything beyond salary dumps at the deadline, so I'm not surprised to see they couldn't get anything done (beyond - you guessed it - another salary dump).

Onto the summer.

[The Explorer]

Could someone please paint me a picture of how these "insiders" (KC Johnson, Bucher, Woj, etc) get ANY legitimate information on a day like today?

I mean we are talking about a game of high stakes poker, dealing with multi-million dollars contracts, and real people's careers here. I just don't understand how GM's and owners would allow these little hourly "updates" to constantly flow out to the media.

The way I envision it, Gar and Pax and JR are in a locked "war" room talking to other GM's and owners directly on the phone, and aren't running out to the hallway every 10 minutes to give company pee-on's updates on the negotiations. I envision all these "insiders" basically just reading RealGM and picking out conceptual trades that make sense, and then adjusting these concepts as other trades around the
league unfold and the deadline draws nearer.

Its not GM's, its people working in the front office with knowledge of the ongoing talks. People like Woj contact these people constantly.

[Big Sexy]

People over-rate Lee way too much around here

Nope. Lee is a perfect fit for this team. He's an above-average defender that can hit the open 3 and he's still pretty young. Lee was a pretty big reason why the Magic went to the Finals a few years back and that was when he was a rookie

[Clocian]

damn asik, im going to bed, nothings gonna happen. not trading a min per game big for a 30 min per game sg starter we desperately need.

headache!

[johnnyvann840]

KC Johnson on NBA TV....

Asked about SG... Says the Bulls refuse to give up Omer or Taj to get one.

Asked about the Bulls needing a better back up PG.... He is concerned that CJ Watson is not conducive to playoff basketball.

Said that Noah told him that he has to play more to get into game shape and was he gassed last night



Doesn't sound like anything is getting done.

So....

-The team really wants an upgrade at SG
-The teams best trade chips (outside the core), are Asik, Taj, and draft picks
-After that, the rest of the players don't seem to have much value as they are career backups with not much upside
-But the Bulls refuse to trade Asik or Taj

I don't see how a deal gets done with our best trading chips (aka our 3rd and 5th bigs) off the table. There is no reason for any team to even discuss trades if that's the case. Can't see how a team would be dying to take Watson or Korver off our hands.

YUP... and the part about Noah doesn't bode well at all for tonight.... or our next few games really. This happens so often in the NBA... a key play goes down. Team does great without them. They come back. Team struggles for a few games. BUT then.... team plays it's best ball when rhythm comes back for said team.

Prepare for a tough night on the board.. NO TRADE for SG. Probably loss tonight to hated Miami. Board MELTDOWN.

[TheAdmiral]

People over-rate Lee way too much around here

True.

[organix85]

I'd rather have a good backup C who is currently shutting down the lane for the second unit

For 30 seconds a night.

Yes - 1 game makes the season.

Next year - when Thomas isn't resigned and Asik is the backup 5, he'll be getting 18 mpg.

I tried this battle before and it was really hard for me to win. Asik is our backup of the future and they'd still say "You won't trade a 3rd string center?".

[IllinoisReppa20]

wait, how is Darell worse than Taj, do you watch basketball? Arthur is 22 years old , shooting 50% and avg 8 and 4 in 20 mins off the bench.. PER of 15.06

Taj is Avg 7 and 6 shooting 43% in 22 mins , with a PER of 13.5 - taj is 25

Why are they looking for a PF then? Look, I like Arthur, but remember the numers Taj was putting when he was starting. Arthur got his chance to start also and he was not as impressive as Taj in that role. Also, a far superior defensive player Taj is.

Because Randolph might leave this summer.. and 14 and 6 in 30 mins shooting 52% as a starter isnt good for a 22 year old?

Taj did 11 and 7 in 28 min shooting 49& in 28 mins as a starter this season...

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO what are you talking about?

so u think they do this huh? If you wouldnt give up Taj, Korver and charlottes 1st, our 1st and whatever else they want for mayo and arthur, youre nuts

[Sir Buckets]

Lee is a complete SG. We don't have that.

I wouldn't give up Asik because he's a great asset. I think three first rounders for Lee is about right. They get to have a real nice headline to show off...whereas meanwhile we only lose one pick of possibly nice value.

Charlotte pick + one of our 1sts is like the absolute max. Theoretically, the Charlotte pick should be enough to get it done, but Morey is insisting on Noah

[kingmalaki]

The Woj tweet makes sense. The Rockets have no incentive to trade Lee unless it makes us better. The GM seems to want a big or high picks.

The trade has to make sense for the other team, assuming they have a quality GM.

[PJ Brown]

Honestly, if we can't get Mayo, then enough is enough. He would have been the difference maker and pushed us into a title. Lee will not.

And this FO has never been able to pull off a "blockbuster" where we actually do anything beyond salary dumps at the deadline, so I'm not surprised to see they couldn't get anything done (beyond - you guessed it - another salary dump).

Onto the summer.

Bunk. The Miller/Salmons acquisition totally changed the stretch run of that season. Last year's deals were indeed about dumping, but that's not always been the case.

[Shill]

There's a rumor that Battier is going to Memphis for Thabeet.

Maybe Houston will back off their big man demands now.

[Magilla_Gorilla]

MG, I think shut down is a litlle bit of an exaggerating. PLus you are way to big of an Omer fan to have an unbias opinion in this argument. And Lee would be more than Marginal. Parker would be marginal.

With Asik and Taj out there on the second unit - the paint is no longer open for transactions.


As for my bias - WGAF?


Lee is marginal and would still be our worst starter and the first guy we look to upgrade. He's got a damn 13.1 PER, hell Brewer is higher at 13.3.

[hammertoes]

I was at the Bulls/Raptors game in early January and Asik has his best game of the season against the Raptors. What does Thibs do? Follow it up with playing him 30 seconds against that same team. I love Asik but if you aren't going to play him, trade him.

Ok! Enough already with the 30 seconds! You keep harping on this.

It was one game. The first game that Noah's been back, and someones PT was bound to go down. But it was one game. Give them time to work out the new rotation. If ten games from now he's still playing 30 seconds, then you'll have a leg to stand on.

[SDBearsFan]

Hey guys, long time lurker, rare poster b/c I spend most of my time at that other board...

I'm shocked at how fast so many people on here want to "throw" Asik in the deal. What you don't understand is that come playoff time, his size is going to be needed. I'm all for getting Courtney Lee, don't get me wrong, but he's not the future SG of this team anyway, more of a one year fix.

Hang onto Asik, and if Houston doesn't budge, so be it. We've got a good enough team moving forward, IMO, no need to panic.

[jax98]

And this FO has never been able to pull off a "blockbuster" where we actually do anything beyond salary dumps at the deadline, so I'm not surprised to see they couldn't get anything done (beyond - you guessed it - another salary dump).

It wasn't necessarily a blockbuster, but Chicago took on money when they acquired Brad and John back in 2009. That improved the team significally. But naturally, you're not about to recognize that..

[Sir Buckets]

People over-rate Lee way too much around here

True.

But people swoon and faint at the mere mention of Afflalo, when in reality Lee and Afflalo are very similar (AA's better, obv, but it's not like he's WAY better)

[organix85]

People over-rate Lee way too much around here

Nope. Lee is a perfect fit for this team. He's an above-average defender that can hit the open 3 and he's still pretty young. Lee was a pretty big reason why the Magic went to the Finals a few years back and that was when he was a rookie

Haha...c'mon now. A BIG reason? At most, he was the 5th reason. Just look at what he did in the playoffs. Nothing that amazing. I understand he was a rookie...but that isn't the debate here.

[The Explorer]

Thabeet is pure trash, I don't understand why Houston would give up a great locker room/intangibles guy like Battier for trash.

[TheAdmiral]

There's a rumor that Battier is going to Memphis for Thabeet.

Maybe Houston will back off their big man demands now.

From what I understand, Houston is waiting for Chicago to include Asik. If they don't, they'll trade Battier for Thabeet. So they want to deal for a big one way or the other.