Predict this upcoming OffSeason

[pomelorock69]

(Mods, if the post is inappropiate in any way, please lock) Hey guys! So far, this season has been somewhat disappoining -to me-. Not because the team is struggling but because the team is not fun to watch for me anymore. The lack of defensive urgency and effort, the constant iso offense and players not caring are some of the reasons I just change the channel midway through the game.
So, in order to talk about something else rather that overanalyze what will probably end up being a poor season, I started wondering about what might happen during the upcoming offseason and I'm interested in reading what you guys think.
I'll start with my outlook of things to come by June.

1) Coach Thibodeau will be fired. I don't expect the FO to find a trade partner to pull a "Doc Rivers" type of move.
2) Taj will be traded. I think he might end up being a scapegoat for the FO to avoid the luxury tax and portrait it as a solution to the wing depth issue.
3) Hinrich will pick up his player option and we will all bitch about it.
4) Mike Dunleavy will leave via Free Agency to a contender.
5) Aaron Brooks will probably leave too.
6) Jimmy's contract situation will be dragged, another team wil present a max offer but the FO will match it as they will have no other option...

Anyways, as you can see, some more doom and gloom but that, at least, is what I foresee. I hope I'm wrong on a couple of my "predictions".

Looking forwards to reading what you think.

GO BULLS!!!

[Axl Rose]

-Thibs traded
-Gasol traded
-Taj traded
-Noah traded

this is all predicated on us losing in the playoffs early

its time to blow this thing up if they fail this year...no hope for this team

[Cowbulls]

Kirk Hinrich resigned for 3 more years. That's the only thing I'm 100% sure about this off season.

[6_Rings]

lol true true

[Mech Engineer]

If they lose in the first round...it is probably because Derrick and Pau were both terrible and Noah had very less impact. If Gasol was b a d at 34, he will be worse at 35 and he will not be starting behind a rookie or sone Dalembert type player because that's what they will get after paying Jimmy.

That will be the ultimate nightmare as a fan to watch this frontcourt.

[musiqsoulchild]

Completely playoff dependent.

Thus, this is a way too early thread.

[pomelorock69]

If they lose in the first round...it is probably because Derrick and Pau were both terrible and Noah had very less impact. If Gasol was b a d at 34, he will be worse at 35 and he will not be starting behind a rookie or sone Dalembert type player because that's what they will get after paying Jimmy.

That will be the ultimate nightmare as a fan to watch this frontcourt.

I didn't like Gasol from the very moment he stated he came to the Bulls to start and finish games. Kind of a Hamilton/Wallace vibe.
It's not that I don't like him as a player or I don't value his contribution but the fact that the offense, defense, player roles had to be "tailored" for him to fit rubs me the worng way. And, ultimately, that will be the reason this team fails -among others-. The team was good based on defense and a ball movement based offense and he came here and changed that. Maybe not himself but his acquisition altered the team's identity.

[Mech Engineer]

If they lose in the first round...it is probably because Derrick and Pau were both terrible and Noah had very less impact. If Gasol was b a d at 34, he will be worse at 35 and he will not be starting behind a rookie or sone Dalembert type player because that's what they will get after paying Jimmy.

That will be the ultimate nightmare as a fan to watch this frontcourt.

I didn't like Gasol from the vary moment he stated he came to the Bulls to start and finish games. Kind of a Hamilton/Wallace vibe.
It's not that I don't like him as a player or I don't value his contribution but the fact that the offense, defense, player roles had to be "tailored" for him to fit rubs me the worng way. And, ultimately, that will be the reason this team fails -among others-. The team was good based on defense and a ball movement based offense and he came here and changed that. Maybe not himself but his acquisition altered the team's identity.

One bigger think to consider in the offseason if the Bulls have problems. ..it is the identity of the team.

Are they going to add more offensive minded players or go back to a defensive identity.

Do they have 2 way players other than Jimmy and Derrick?

[coldfish]

One bigger think to consider in the offseason if the Bulls have problems. ..it is the identity of the team.

Are they going to add more offensive minded players or go back to a defensive identity.

Do they have 2 way players other than Jimmy and Derrick?

Derrick is not a 2 way player.

[musiqsoulchild]

One bigger think to consider in the offseason if the Bulls have problems. ..it is the identity of the team.

Are they going to add more offensive minded players or go back to a defensive identity.

Do they have 2 way players other than Jimmy and Derrick?

Derrick is not a 2 way player.

Sadly this season, neither is Jimmy.

The only player that has consistently shown up on both ends is GULP...Dunleavy.

[coldfish]

One bigger think to consider in the offseason if the Bulls have problems. ..it is the identity of the team.

Are they going to add more offensive minded players or go back to a defensive identity.

Do they have 2 way players other than Jimmy and Derrick?

Derrick is not a 2 way player.

Sadly this season, neither is Jimmy.

The only player that has consistently shown up on both ends is GULP...Dunleavy.

I don't think that's fair. No one would classify Jimmy as a bad defender. Just because he has slipped from being a superduper defender does not mean he is no longer a 2 way player. Same thing as Taj. Both are better at defense than Dunleavey, even with their slides.

Rose is an outright awful defensive player, much like he was early in his career. He is orders of magnitude worse than these other guys.

[Mech Engineer]

Both Jimmy and Derrick have been bad. Again, everything we measure about Derrick is projection and he is capable of playing good defense. He has played well in spurts and if he is bad next year when healthy, he is not even a one way player.

But, Jimmy has been coasting on defense reputation. He basically couldn't get Harden to stop doing anything the other day after 3 days rest. Maybe he will improve and his defense is at a really low level this year.

I do think it is his energy on offense which is causing this. So, to look to the future. ..if Mirotic and others are getting touches because they are good offensive players....is Jimmy worth a max contract?

[pomelorock69]

One bigger think to consider in the offseason if the Bulls have problems. ..it is the identity of the team.

Are they going to add more offensive minded players or go back to a defensive identity.

Do they have 2 way players other than Jimmy and Derrick?

Derrick is not a 2 way player.

He is when he is engaged. At least, IMHO. I believe I've seen some glimpses throughout the year. They have been rare though

[musiqsoulchild]

Both Jimmy and Derrick have been bad. Again, everything we measure about Derrick is projection and he is capable of playing good defense. He has played well in spurts and if he is bad next year when healthy, he is not even a one way player.

But, Jimmy has been coasting on defense reputation. He basically couldn't get Harden to stop doing anything the other day after 3 days rest. Maybe he will improve and his defense is at a really low level this year.

I do think it is his energy on offense which is causing this. So, to look to the future. ..if Mirotic and others are getting touches because they are good offensive players....is Jimmy worth a max contract?

Tough question to answer if we get bounced in the first round.

I still think we match a max though just to retain the asset.

[Rerisen]

The only player that has consistently shown up on both ends is GULP...Dunleavy.

Dunleavy doesn't get criticized much on D because most teams don't have 2 good scoring wings and he mostly guards a non-threat. He is very slow though and this opens up opportunities against us when our defense starts rotating and gets scrambled.

Bigger picture, unfortunately, this means Butler every night has a tough assignment. Maybe he wouldn't be trending down every month and so tired and blaming himself for the D if we had a SF that could cover his position no matter who it was.

A simple 3 and D Small Forward would help this team more than Dunleavy.

[musiqsoulchild]

The only player that has consistently shown up on both ends is GULP...Dunleavy.

Dunleavy doesn't get criticized much on D because most teams don't have 2 good scoring wings and he mostly guards a non-threat. He is very slow though and this opens up opportunities against us when our defense starts rotating and gets scrambled.

Bigger picture, unfortunately, this means Butler every night has a tough assignment. Maybe he wouldn't be trending down every month and so tired and blaming himself for the D if we had a SF that could cover his position no matter who it was.

A simple 3 and D Small Forward would help this team more than Dunleavy.

For the umpteenth time, I dont disagree that we need to add a 3 and D wing (SF).

I disagree vehemently that this person should be acquired with Dunleavy. That doesnt upgrade the position...its only upgrades the person.

Thats why I am all over the Taj rumors.

[Rerisen]

Thats why I am all over the Taj rumors.

That's fine, it can be done this way, but then you have to acquire a defensive big, and this could be very hard to get back in addition to the wing we need.

[SpinninHouse]

My prediction is Thibs is gone and Hoiberg is brought in.
We re-sign Jimmy to a max or near-max deal.
Taj is moved for Aaron Afflalo - who picks up his PO.
Dunleavy signs elsewhere.
Hinrich picks up his option.
Brooks signs else where
We draft Cliff Alexander in the first round as our fourth big. Provides defensive presence to counter Mirotic's offense.
Mirotic is moved into the starting line and the injured-Noah moves to the bench.
McDermott see's a lot of rotational minutes.

5 Gasol
4 Mirotic
3 Butler
2 Afflalo
1 Rose

6 Noah
7 McDermott
8 Snello
9 Alexander
0 Hinrich

Ladies and gentleman, our 49-win Chicago Bulls!!!

[TankOverlord]

Completely playoff dependent.

Thus, this is a way too early thread.

Just like all the other pointless threads clogging up the board.

Bulls win title, everyone comes back for the repeat!

[6_Rings]

a first round exit will more likely break this team up and start rebuilding around Hinrich.