WT- Nate unlikely to be back (WAIT! + instagram pic pg 81!)

[MrFortune3]

DJ Augustin? is this a joke? ew. Bobcat and Pacers reject.

[JohnnyKILLroy]

I would rather have Beno than Augustin.

[samwana]

DJ Augustin no thanks, just sign Nate already, really what else do you want out of a reserve? If you don't sign Nate at least get someone else that can score the ball. Glock would be ok I guess as a replacement, DJ? not so much.

[RastaBull]

There are a lot of undeniable pluses to Nate being on the Bulls:

-he can score on his own accord
-he is an exceptional athlete
-he can penetrate and break down the d
-he can take on defenders in iso one-on-one situations
-he can get hot with his shot
-his energy is off the charts
-GREAT teammate


There are cons I am very willing to concede as well:

-he is very small (we already have 3 pg-sized players on the rotation when including Teague)
-not a great reputation defending (struggles one-on-one against top notch PG)
-he needs the ball and iso opps for an effective PER (which he got last year out of necessity, with Rose it MAY be different)
-he gets sloppy/out of control and goes through stretches of bad turnovers


Things I am not willing to concede:

-there won't be minutes (championship teams have depth and versatility and end up needing every bit of it to get through the season and produce in the playoffs...and we are an especially injury troubled team)
-size is a make-or-break problem (we've got four wings that are 6'7" and Kirk at 6'4")...(he's athleticism allows for some awesome surprises defensively)
-can't play with Rose (he's a great 3P shooter and already a quick release and high vertical on his jump shot he gets it off easily, with Rose he's going to find even more open opportunities)
-120% salary for two years would damage our salary flexibility (that contract is not why we are in the lux tax this year and it wouldn't be next year either...what they decide to do with Boozer and Deng will be the deciding factor with or without Nate)


ULTIMATELY, I want Nate because I have a bias for his energy and chemistry with the team. I recognize that. Without that bias, I still want Nate because he's the best 3P shooter out there and, aside from 2010-11, he's put up 17+ PER in the last five years. He's going to space the floor for Rose/Deng/Butler to all go to the basket, he's going to add more scoring on the bench and when HE penetrates he'll open up the perimeter for Dunleavy/Kirk/Snell.

[Dengness9]

I can't believe the Bulls are pulling this **** with Nate.


Marquis Teague can't even play in a game against the Heat because he is so outmatched. No shot, no confidence, not enough experience. Im not even actually knocking Teague. The kid is only 20.

With Hinrich's injury history and the fact that he will have to back up the 2 spot as well, I can't believe the Bulls aren't making it an absolute priority to get Nate back here......

Im really disappointed over this situation. Nate wants to be a Bull as far as I can tell, especially now that it looks like he wont get a big contract of any kind.

[transplant]

----------------------Here's where Bulls' fans put Nate Robinson's value























-----------------------Here's where NBA decision-makers put Nate Robinson's value...and they're pretty much unanimous

[youngthegiant]

I hope Denver can snatch him from you guys. Is his defense really bad or is it solid?

[Dengness9]

----------------------Here's where Bulls' fans put Nate Robinson's value























-----------------------Here's where NBA decision-makers put Nate Robinson's value...and they're pretty much unanimous

I hear you. The thing is.... with the way the Bulls are set-up, from Coaches to players, we are one of the only teams Nate can play on and put him in his best situation to help himself and his team.

He goes to Toronto and he's just gonna be a shot jacker for 25-30 win team.

He goes to the Bulls and he will be asked from time to time to make plays for a team trying to win a championship.

I dont know if he could accept a limited role with the Bulls for the 14' season.... but with Hinrichs health concerns and Rose coming off his injury, and Teague being a college player still.....his opportunities could come sooner than later right off the bat.

[weneeda2guard]

I'm also hearing Denver and Milwaukee

I'm guessing if they are only offering the vet min he will come back to the bulls

If we can't get Nate I wouldn't mind mo Williams

But no to Augustine please no

[RastaBull]

I hope Denver can snatch him from you guys. Is his defense really bad or is it solid?

I don't think his defense is quite solid, but it isn't "really bad." He's not great defending one-on-one against strong PG. His size allows most starting PGs around the league the ability to get their shot of easily enough when driving on him. He does pretty well staying in front of most PGs (not as well against the elite one's obviously).

So in that sense, I'd say he's right at below-average (not solid, but not REALLY bad).

I know this doesn't necessarily upgrade his grade on defense, but Nate is one of the premier athletes in the NBA (just packed into such a small frame that it goes unnoticed). This allows him to make some exceptional plays:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6lIzjj_qfs[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93bllUS8clQ[/youtube]

I think his instincts and team defense improved in this year with the Bulls. Maybe not enough to make him a solid or above-average defender, but enough to make him a little less of a net-negative defensively.

[Payt10]

Yeah.. I'll pass on DJ Augustin.

[MrFortune3]

----------------------Here's where Bulls' fans put Nate Robinson's value























-----------------------Here's where NBA decision-makers put Nate Robinson's value...and they're pretty much unanimous

no one is arguing that. but we finally had a significant scoring threat and ball handler off of the bench and playing some starters minutes not named Rose for the first time since Ben Gordon.
i'm not keen on letting that walk.

[KobeDwightPau]

Yeah.. I'll pass on DJ Augustin.

i want to bang

[Mr Funk]

Relax man. Spin is not the same as having an OPINION.

I get it that you really love Nate, but sometimes other people view it a little differently. He grew on me last season, but I just don't view him as the key to a championship victory like you do.

There is a reason he's fighting for a minimum contract.

I don't "view him as the key to a championship" so seriously just STFU.

[BIGGIEsmalls 23]

Relax man. Spin is not the same as having an OPINION.

I get it that you really love Nate, but sometimes other people view it a little differently. He grew on me last season, but I just don't view him as the key to a championship victory like you do.

There is a reason he's fighting for a minimum contract.

I don't "view him as the key to a championship" so seriously just STFU.

Well, my bad then. I confused you with other posters that have trumpeted that doomsday scenario.

Relax.

[Mr Funk]

This should concern every fan:

Right now our bench rotation will consist of:

Taj
Dunleavy
Hinrich
Nazr

Unless Taj makes some major steps next season, this appears to be our weakest bench yet. It's also extremely unathletic and pretty damn slow.

That bench is awful.

Outside of Taj, there is no athleticism. Dunleavy can "sort of" create his own shot, but he's almost 33 and isn't an offensive creator like Nate. Kirk will get hurt and miss loads of games, and even when he's healthy he simply cannot provide an offensive spark. Snell will barely play. And Teague has been awful at the NBA level and is barely an adult.

Without Nate, all the pressure is back on Rose with a barely athletic bench that can't really score.

[fleet]

Speaking of relax, The above 2 posters need to relax on each other. And definately responding STFU is never a cool way to have discourse in this forum.

[Mr Funk]

I hope Denver can snatch him from you guys.

after a warning for "STFU", then "die in a fire" was the next post. This warrants a 12 hour break.
~fleet

[jl342323]

i understand why thibs doesnt want nate back. it will just cause chaos. if kirk shoots below 40% again in limited minutes, thibs will have pressure from everywhere to play nate robinson. the fact is, thibs dont want to lose kirk's defense in favor of nates wild offense.

this is one of the reasons why i see boozer's minutes and plays decreasing next season.

they will try their best to win with defense. when it fails after multiple times, then they will change it.

[cubbiefan009]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3t-DuslN4E&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/youtube]

I want to go back and watch Game 4 again. Still can't believe how Nate carried us. Just awesomeness.