League source: Bulls talking Taj trade

[realEAST]

Wouldn't doubt Dunleavy Jr & Taj ending up as salary dumps without much in return.

Agree, they should have been moved prior or at the draft night, especially with so many talent falling to the late 1st/ early 2nd.
Now, I doubt they will yield more than a 2nd rounder in next year draft, since it is considered loaded. Maybe Spurs if Duncan and Ginobilli retire give us their late 1st, which is 27. at best, but that's not something they usually practice, especially since they are rumored to be in after Conley.

Probably the best thing is to wait for tops FAs to sign, so those teams which strike out might get desperate.

[donaldtrump_00]

I hope its Minnesota for Taj, but I don't want him traded.

This team will give up 120ppg this season...

I try to wait and let this front office make moves but all they do is destroy the team with there trades. Its always to save money. And mostly a downgrade in talent. Id rather sign brandon jennings because he looks to score and is quick. Trading taj is useless unless he clearlynsays he wants to go. We haventhe worst front office alive. You see why they didn't touch the roster last year now. They only mess up and end up saving a dollar. They have no clue how to put a competetive team out there. There taste in players one demenional players or a player long player who isn't that good. When rose was the man yes these players fit cause all they did was watch the d. Rose show. We need players who can contribute. This fo is not good at that. We draft and sign plan b guys. Then trade our best players for garbage.

[SteelerSpartan]

I'd trade Taj for a good piece, not to make time for Portis/Niko/Doug.

I've been reluctant to wanting to trade taj over the years....but at this point with rose/Noah gone I'm open to it if it gets us something of value in return......but no.. not to make room to "showcase" those guys in some stupid attempt to prove gar/pax have assembled half the core of the future.

[DarthDiggler69]

Bulls should trade Dunleavy for a 2nd rounder then trade that 2nd rounder + Taj for a First rounder

[sco]

I want to keep Taj if we can fill holes another way, but the definitely need a starting caliber PG more than we need a back-up PF.

Sacto really wants to dump Koufos for something. I wonder if we could do Koufos/Collison for Taj/MDJ/Snell.

[Mech Engineer]

We are making this team in the image of Fred Hoiberg.

Have you or anyone else ever noticed how GarPax always make reactionary, copy-cat moves but always seem to end up with a cheap "knock-off" of what they were seeking? For instance, when Kawhi Leonard broke out in the Finals a few years back, GarPax drafted Tony Snell thinking he could be the next Kawhi. Sure, they played the same position, had similar bodies, came from the same HS, and were both really quiet but they overlooked the fact that Tony Snell plays like a sleepwalking idiot.

After Steve Kerr coached the Warriors to a championship, GarPax responded by firing Thibs and hiring Hoiberg. Sure, Hoiberg was a former NBA guard, both played for the Bulls, both have blonde hair, but Kerr was mentored by Phil Jackson and Gregg Popovich and played with MJ, Pip, Duncan, Manu, Parker, Robinson, etc... Hoiberg was mentored by Tim Floyd and played alongside Ron Mercer.

Yeah...that's a new thread on its own on how they try to copy other teams but do it horribly. They forget that Cleveland essentially won with ISO-ball where LeBron/Kyrie took turns. Or, if Clippers win next year with a lot of rebounding, put-backs, defense ....do they get rid of all the soft guys?

Pax mentioned Spurs a lot a few years back but the beauty of the Spurs is no in-fighting and a head coach is the main decision maker which is completely unlike the Bulls where GarPax are not giving up their kingdom.

And, basketball wise, GS has guys who can drive but use their shooting to open up lanes. Meanwhile, the Bulls kept talking about 3 pt shooting in a vacuum as if you can shoot without the ability to drive.

[ChicagoStrong]

I would be trying to do a taj and snell for Eric bledsoe deal.

His injury history scares me

[greenl]

I'm starting to wonder if the Bulls are considering a mini tank. That is to say, keep Butler but make the team around him so crappy that the team continues to get lottery picks.

Wouldn't be the worst idea. I don't expect us to sign any meaningful free-agents. I think this is basically our roster. There's a reason KC Johnson is telling us from June that Jose Calderon is starting.

On the upside- their drop in the standing should push Sacramento up- and they might get two lottery picks in next years draft. Wouldn't be the dumbest thing they could do. In the interim- you find out if Fred can coach and if any of the young players can play.

[Leslie Forman]

I'm starting to wonder if the Bulls are considering a mini tank. That is to say, keep Butler but make the team around him so crappy that the team continues to get lottery picks.

Wouldn't be the worst idea. I don't expect us to sign any meaningful free-agents. I think this is basically our roster. There's a reason KC Johnson is telling us from June that Jose Calderon is starting.

I think it is literally the worst idea.

If they get rid of Taj, this roster from 2-15 will be complete garbage that will neither look attractive to the 2017 free agents (supposedly their big "plan") or drag the team into the top lottery spots due to Jimmy's remaining presence.

I honestly cannot think of a worse idea than Jimmy+as crappy a roster as possible

[RedBulls23]

I'm starting to wonder if the Bulls are considering a mini tank. That is to say, keep Butler but make the team around him so crappy that the team continues to get lottery picks.

That's likely. Maybe that can also help us get the sac pick if we are worse than them and push them to 11th

[fleet]

I'm starting to wonder if the Bulls are considering a mini tank. That is to say, keep Butler but make the team around him so crappy that the team continues to get lottery picks.

Wouldn't be the worst idea. I don't expect us to sign any meaningful free-agents. I think this is basically our roster. There's a reason KC Johnson is telling us from June that Jose Calderon is starting.

I think it is literally the worst idea.

If they get rid of Taj, this roster from 2-15 will be complete garbage that will neither look attractive to the 2017 free agents (supposedly their big "plan") or drag the team into the top lottery spots due to Jimmy's remaining presence.

I honestly cannot think of a worse idea than Jimmy+as crappy a roster as possible

Its a great idea if Reinsdorf doesnt really want to spend that cap room money.

But seriously, who is the Carlos Boozer that will end up taking the money?

[Bulls Fan 23]

I would like Richaun Holmes and Covington from Philly

[Threekola]

Wouldn't be the worst idea. I don't expect us to sign any meaningful free-agents. I think this is basically our roster. There's a reason KC Johnson is telling us from June that Jose Calderon is starting.

I think it is literally the worst idea.

If they get rid of Taj, this roster from 2-15 will be complete garbage that will neither look attractive to the 2017 free agents (supposedly their big "plan") or drag the team into the top lottery spots due to Jimmy's remaining presence.

I honestly cannot think of a worse idea than Jimmy+as crappy a roster as possible

Its a great idea if Reinsdorf doesnt really want to spend that cap room money.

But seriously, who is the Carlos Boozer that will end up taking the money?

I wouldn't be surprised if we signed Hayward, who I like. More of a third wheel on a championship team I would think though so you're still looking for another guy at Jimmy's level.

[Magilla_Gorilla]

I'm starting to wonder if the Bulls are considering a mini tank. That is to say, keep Butler but make the team around him so crappy that the team continues to get lottery picks.

This. Trade away the established veterans and give the playing time to the young guys who might still have 'potential'.

Butler stays and we build around him with draft picks (2017) and FA in 2017. If Valentine, McD, or Niko turn into anything - then all the better.

[musiqsoulchild]

I'm starting to wonder if the Bulls are considering a mini tank. That is to say, keep Butler but make the team around him so crappy that the team continues to get lottery picks.

That would fall into line with what Jerry said about all available resources to build a better team. However, when you have so many younger players, a losing culture is a bad one to get trained under.

If we fought hard and scrapped wins here and there and made the 9th or 10th seed, thats a completely different thing - and a tank that I cannot get behind as the yield would be a 13th or 14th pick.

And if you have Jimmy you are going to finish the year in the lotto of 10-15 and not inside the Top 10. So, I do not believe that this is the correct path nor the path the Bulls plan to get on.

[musiqsoulchild]

Jerry's two statements so far have basically told us what the projection should be for next season.

Statement 1: We'll make all possible resources available to make the team better.
Statement 2: We will not do a full rebuild.

That to me smacks of either being a 9 or 10th seed and missing the playoffs. Or being a 6th through 8th seed and making the playoffs.

In Option 1, your return for the "tank" is a #10 - #15 pick and no excitement for your United Center fans who would have now been missing playoffs for 2 straight seasons.

In Option 2, you get your youngsters experience and you still get a #!5 - #20 pick and you bring the excitement back to the Bulls fans of UC.

This is why its hard for me to see why Option 1 beats Option 2. Which is a longer way of saying that I think we'll sign actual basketball help this season and remain firmly within reach of Option 2.

[The Force.]

I'd trade Taj for a good piece, not to make time for Portis/Niko/Doug.

I've been reluctant to wanting to trade taj over the years....but at this point with rose/Noah gone I'm open to it if it gets us something of value in return......but no.. not to make room to "showcase" those guys in some stupid attempt to prove gar/pax have assembled half the core of the future.

We'd be showcasing them to see whether or not they are good fits with this team moving forward. Also, if any of those guys ends up panning out, your showcasing them to other free agents. Not sure I get your logic here unless you already consider our young guys busts.

[tgmxd]

I'm starting to wonder if the Bulls are considering a mini tank. That is to say, keep Butler but make the team around him so crappy that the team continues to get lottery picks.

This. Trade away the established veterans and give the playing time to the young guys who might still have 'potential'.

Butler stays and we build around him with draft picks (2017) and FA in 2017. If Valentine, McD, or Niko turn into anything - then all the better.

The down side with that though is I don't think any of these max salary guys would be attracted to a losing culture like that. Not being able to make the playoffs in the East is a tremendous red flag even if you walk away with a lottery pick.

[The Force.]

I'd trade Taj for a good piece, not to make time for Portis/Niko/Doug.

I've been reluctant to wanting to trade taj over the years....but at this point with rose/Noah gone I'm open to it if it gets us something of value in return......but no.. not to make room to "showcase" those guys in some stupid attempt to prove gar/pax have assembled half the core of the future.

We'd be showcasing them to see whether or not they are good fits with this team moving forward. Also, if any of those guys ends up panning out, your showcasing them to potential free agents and other teams. Not sure I get your logic here unless you already consider our young guys busts.

[Mr Funk]

Our interior defence is going to be complete trash.