Trade Thread

[League Circles]

I know (like most of us) that the Bulls are going to bring the band back; unfortunately. But I've been doing some thinking and have come to conclusion I don't need an amazing off-season. But if they're going to bring back the 3 alphas I want to see something along these lines happening.

Let Niko and anyone else that's expiring walk out of Chicago sans Felicio. Morrow, Mirotic, MCW. Which frees up roughly 14 million before resigning Felicio plus the projected 14.8 million or so after letting everyone walk out (I could be wrong). This is jut to my understanding.

Bring in a few players that haven't reached their ceilings may even be considered under achievers so far. But at least they're young, have upside and you're not paying for past performance. I'd personally like to Jerami Grant, Shabazz Muhammad, Terrance Jones and Alex Len.

Say they land 3 of the 4 in Jones, Muhammad and Grant. All should come reasonably by this market's standards. Then in the draft they land Zach Collins (I think they will fall in love with him and try their damndest to get him) and Frank Jackson in the 2nd. Then the lineup looks something to the effect of.

PG-Rondo/Jerian/Payne/Jackson
SG-Valentine/Wade/Shabazz
SF-JGB/Zipser/Jerami
PF-Bobby/Jones/Collins
C-RoLo/Felicio

Younger, much more athletic. Still basketball purgatory. But more fun to watch I'd think. But then again I'm probably wrong and nothing if not an idiot.

More athletic?

Niko is more athletic than Bobby and Wade is more athletic than valentine.

[CubbyBear2290]

I know (like most of us) that the Bulls are going to bring the band back; unfortunately. But I've been doing some thinking and have come to conclusion I don't need an amazing off-season. But if they're going to bring back the 3 alphas I want to see something along these lines happening.

Let Niko and anyone else that's expiring walk out of Chicago sans Felicio. Morrow, Mirotic, MCW. Which frees up roughly 14 million before resigning Felicio plus the projected 14.8 million or so after letting everyone walk out (I could be wrong). This is jut to my understanding.

Bring in a few players that haven't reached their ceilings may even be considered under achievers so far. But at least they're young, have upside and you're not paying for past performance. I'd personally like to Jerami Grant, Shabazz Muhammad, Terrance Jones and Alex Len.

Say they land 3 of the 4 in Jones, Muhammad and Grant. All should come reasonably by this market's standards. Then in the draft they land Zach Collins (I think they will fall in love with him and try their damndest to get him) and Frank Jackson in the 2nd. Then the lineup looks something to the effect of.

PG-Rondo/Jerian/Payne/Jackson
SG-Valentine/Wade/Shabazz
SF-JGB/Zipser/Jerami
PF-Bobby/Jones/Collins
C-RoLo/Felicio

Younger, much more athletic. Still basketball purgatory. But more fun to watch I'd think. But then again I'm probably wrong and nothing if not an idiot.

More athletic?

Niko is more athletic than Bobby and Wade is more athletic than valentine.

In totality as a roster. Not just the starting 5.

[boozapalooza]

Cavs need to shake things up. Crazy trade idea here for my 500th post:

If CP3 leaves LA to team up with his buddy Lebron, could the Cavs shop Kyrie? Great player, defensive liability, and would be expendable if CP3 were there. Or maybe this trade opens the door for the CP3 to Cleveland possibility: Jimmy for Kyrie. We need an explosive PG more than we need Jimmy and we could let Kyrie run the show. Lets assume the Cavs find a way to make the CP3 move happen, maybe through a S&T with Love or Tristian, or fillers. Jimmy would be great next to Lebron, as a defensive presence and the 2nd/3rd scoring option. A trio of CP3/Jimmy/Lebron would certainly be competitive. Its clear the Cavs need more on the defensive end and adding CP3 and Jimmy would improve them on that end greatly. For the Bulls, who knows what Kyrie can do on his own? He has potential to lead the league in scoring every year.

Thoughts?

[aramada]

Cavs need to shake things up. Crazy trade idea here for my 500th post:

If CP3 leaves LA to team up with his buddy Lebron, could the Cavs shop Kyrie? Great player, defensive liability, and would be expendable if CP3 were there. Or maybe this trade opens the door for the CP3 to Cleveland possibility: Jimmy for Kyrie. We need an explosive PG more than we need Jimmy and we could let Kyrie run the show. Lets assume the Cavs find a way to make the CP3 move happen, maybe through a S&T with Love or Tristian, or fillers. Jimmy would be great next to Lebron, as a defensive presence and the 2nd/3rd scoring option. A trio of CP3/Jimmy/Lebron would certainly be competitive. Its clear the Cavs need more on the defensive end and adding CP3 and Jimmy would improve them on that end greatly. For the Bulls, who knows what Kyrie can do on his own? He has potential to lead the league in scoring every year.

Thoughts?

This is so bad... I was already ready to destroy my TV watching Kyrie go 1 on 5 and take stupid shots even though I hate the Cavs... Imagining him in a Bulls uniform makes me cringe...

[boozapalooza]

Cavs need to shake things up. Crazy trade idea here for my 500th post:

If CP3 leaves LA to team up with his buddy Lebron, could the Cavs shop Kyrie? Great player, defensive liability, and would be expendable if CP3 were there. Or maybe this trade opens the door for the CP3 to Cleveland possibility: Jimmy for Kyrie. We need an explosive PG more than we need Jimmy and we could let Kyrie run the show. Lets assume the Cavs find a way to make the CP3 move happen, maybe through a S&T with Love or Tristian, or fillers. Jimmy would be great next to Lebron, as a defensive presence and the 2nd/3rd scoring option. A trio of CP3/Jimmy/Lebron would certainly be competitive. Its clear the Cavs need more on the defensive end and adding CP3 and Jimmy would improve them on that end greatly. For the Bulls, who knows what Kyrie can do on his own? He has potential to lead the league in scoring every year.

Thoughts?

This is so bad... I was already ready to destroy my TV watching Kyrie go 1 on 5 and take stupid shots even though I hate the Cavs... Imagining him in a Bulls uniform makes me cringe...

Then youre one of the very few people in the world who watched the playoffs and came away unimpressed with Kyrie. I mean are you kidding me dude? Hes a freak around the rim, the best handles in the league, and is an excellent shooter. Went for 38 in game 3 and 40 in game 4 on 55% shooting....He hit the game winner to get win the title last year so FOH with that "make me cringe" BS. Unreal. He's a better guy to build around than Jimmy in my opinion. I hate the Cavs too but doesnt mean I wouldnt take Lebron Kyrie or Love on my team. Show your bias the door bro.

[aramada]

Cavs need to shake things up. Crazy trade idea here for my 500th post:

If CP3 leaves LA to team up with his buddy Lebron, could the Cavs shop Kyrie? Great player, defensive liability, and would be expendable if CP3 were there. Or maybe this trade opens the door for the CP3 to Cleveland possibility: Jimmy for Kyrie. We need an explosive PG more than we need Jimmy and we could let Kyrie run the show. Lets assume the Cavs find a way to make the CP3 move happen, maybe through a S&T with Love or Tristian, or fillers. Jimmy would be great next to Lebron, as a defensive presence and the 2nd/3rd scoring option. A trio of CP3/Jimmy/Lebron would certainly be competitive. Its clear the Cavs need more on the defensive end and adding CP3 and Jimmy would improve them on that end greatly. For the Bulls, who knows what Kyrie can do on his own? He has potential to lead the league in scoring every year.

Thoughts?

This is so bad... I was already ready to destroy my TV watching Kyrie go 1 on 5 and take stupid shots even though I hate the Cavs... Imagining him in a Bulls uniform makes me cringe...

Then youre one of the very few people in the world who watched the playoffs and came away unimpressed with Kyrie. I mean are you kidding me dude? Hes a freak around the rim, the best handles in the league, and is an excellent shooter. Went for 38 in game 3 and 40 in game 4 on 55% shooting....He hit the game winner to get win the title last year so FOH with that "make me cringe" BS. Unreal. He's a better guy to build around than Jimmy in my opinion. I hate the Cavs too but doesnt mean I wouldnt take Lebron Kyrie or Love on my team. Show your bias the door bro.

You are entitled to your opinions. You can "are you kidding me dude" all you want or talk about his handles, it's barely convincing.

Your point was not about whether I would welcome him on my team, but whether I would trade Butler for him. And my response is a resounding no. If by miracle he was traded for Wade (just for the sake of our discussion), I would be happy to take him, but I would still destroy my TV watching him go all playground basketball...

To me he can definitely score and in a variety of ways, but his decision making leaves to be desired more often than not. He might have scored 38 in Game 3, but his last play was the dumbest freaking shot I've ever seen. Not to mention his laughable defense.

As to better player to build around, look no further than his Cavs just before LeBron came back, on his 3rd year (and already a 2 time All Star) - Cavs won 33 games

[boozapalooza]

This is so bad... I was already ready to destroy my TV watching Kyrie go 1 on 5 and take stupid shots even though I hate the Cavs... Imagining him in a Bulls uniform makes me cringe...

Then youre one of the very few people in the world who watched the playoffs and came away unimpressed with Kyrie. I mean are you kidding me dude? Hes a freak around the rim, the best handles in the league, and is an excellent shooter. Went for 38 in game 3 and 40 in game 4 on 55% shooting....He hit the game winner to get win the title last year so FOH with that "make me cringe" BS. Unreal. He's a better guy to build around than Jimmy in my opinion. I hate the Cavs too but doesnt mean I wouldnt take Lebron Kyrie or Love on my team. Show your bias the door bro.

You are entitled to your opinions. You can "are you kidding me dude" all you want or talk about his handles, it's barely convincing.

Your point was not about whether I would welcome him on my team, but whether I would trade Butler for him. And my response is a resounding no. If by miracle he was traded for Wade (just for the sake of our discussion), I would be happy to take him, but I would still destroy my TV watching him go all playground basketball...

To me he can definitely score and in a variety of ways, but his decision making leaves to be desired more often than not. He might have scored 38 in Game 3, but his last play was the dumbest freaking shot I've ever seen. Not to mention his laughable defense.

As to better player to build around, look no further than his Cavs just before LeBron came back, on his 3rd year (and already a 2 time All Star) - Cavs won 33 games

Its like saying seeing Steph or John Wall in a Bulls jersey would make you cringe....really bro? If the thought of Kyrie running point guard for us makes you cringe then what did seeing Grant or Carter Williams embarrass themselves out there do to you? Watching one of the smoothest players in the league makes you wanna destroy your TV....alright then. This trade will never happen but just throwing it out there.

And on that play he took the shot cause Lebron was hiding by the half court line with no interest in touching the ball or taking that shot. Maybe a bad shot but no one was complaining when he took that shot last year to give them the lead down the stretch in game 7. Im not interested in defending the Cavs but gotta respect Kyrie as a top 3 PG in the league. He has taken his game to a completely new level since his 3rd year in the league, winning a championship will do that to a player.

[AirP.]

Ugh... pushing the young guys working out. Gotta try to make the fanbase believe the team will be better with very little to no changes in the roster. Well that and hey look, remember when we had a championship roster 20 years ago.

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[rowseyna]

Ugh... pushing the young guys working out. Gotta try to make the fanbase believe the team will be better with very little to no changes in the roster. Well that and hey look, remember when we had a championship roster 20 years ago.

Read on Twitter

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I wouldn't say they're "pushing" it. I mean, it's the Bulls Twitter. What do you expect? It's the off-season. Most fans like seeing the players working out in the off-season. You're just putting a negative spin on it.

[AirP.]

I wouldn't say they're "pushing" it. I mean, it's the Bulls Twitter. What do you expect? It's the off-season. Most fans like seeing the players working out in the off-season. You're just putting a negative spin on it.

Don't remember seeing this much workout stuff before this early in the offseason.

For example, if you go to last year at this time for @chicagobulls ZERO working out pictures(first few weeks of June). They did have 1 article about Doug named to the the men's select team. Yeah, I'd say they're going to push the improvement of the Bulls coming from these young players working this offseason and this is how they'll be better this next season. Get hype, this team could get to the 2nd round(then lose Wade and Rondo right afterwards to FA or Father Time).

[Repeat 3-peat]

The young guys are working out/hard because Paxson made it clear these guys have to get better. The spotlight is on them.

[AirP.]

The young guys are working out/hard because Paxson made it clear these guys have to get better. The spotlight is on them.

Wait... you don't think this is a common theme for young players in the offseason? Most are busting their #)@(# in the offseason to become better players, it's really their only time during the year they can concentrate their efforts to becoming better. During the season they have to rest and be ready for games and that doesn't include all the traveling, summer they can go all out on their development.

[Repeat 3-peat]

The young guys are working out/hard because Paxson made it clear these guys have to get better. The spotlight is on them.

Wait... you don't think this is a common theme for young players in the offseason? Most are busting their #)@(# in the offseason to become better players, it's really their only time during the year they can concentrate their efforts to becoming better. During the season they have to rest and be ready for games and that doesn't include all the traveling, summer they can go all out on their development.

Doesn't always feel, or seem that way sometimes.

[3noD]

Ugh... pushing the young guys working out. Gotta try to make the fanbase believe the team will be better with very little to no changes in the roster. Well that and hey look, remember when we had a championship roster 20 years ago.

Read on Twitter

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Read on Twitter

I guess that's good. Building a team culture, developing younger players, that's the type of direction you want to see. Big question is will any of these guys be good? If 3 or 4 end up being decent, maybe we have something. Let's say Payne actually turns into a pg, Valentine a respectable 2, Portis a starting 4, and Zipser a versatile forward off the bench. Then you have a core group of young players who can support Jimmy + FAs we can get in.

I'm not naive that this is a high probability success plan, but what else do we have?


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[HomoSapien]

Looks like Niko is working out with the young guys. That's pretty unexpected.

[kulaz3000]

Looks like Niko is working out with the young guys. That's pretty unexpected.

Yeah, that's the main thing that stands out for me. And yet, for some reasons it's unsurprising.

Don't get me wrong, it's great that he is putting in work, but judging by the fact that he is working out with the young guys has me thinking that Niko simply hasn't put in the work in past seasons and the Bulls management has basically said if you don't put in the work this off season don't even think that we are going to resign you.

The guy should be well ahead of most of the young guys, and the fact that he hasn't improved all that much over the time he has been a Bulls makes me think he is finally putting in the work because he realizes that the way that he is going he isn't going to last long in the NBA.

I tell you what, out of the young group the Bulls have, Zipser is my guy. I think he is going to make the biggest jump.

[BahamaBull]

Looks like Niko is working out with the young guys. That's pretty unexpected.

Pay day push...Happens to all of them...

Niko had his chance and blew it. Dont want him back.

[sco]

IIRC, Niko has been noted has an off-season worker. One big problem for his game, IMO, has been international play during offseasons. I think it reduced his workouts and with the different ball and 3pt line, it messes with his game.

[GimmeDat]

Looks like Niko is working out with the young guys. That's pretty unexpected.

Pay day push...Happens to all of them...

Niko had his chance and blew it. Dont want him back.

If pay day push was the narrative, wouldn't he have worked hard leading up to his contract year, not after?

The contract year is usually a pretty bad narrative.

In the eyes of ever critical fans, how many times a player posts pictures of himself working out seems to correspond to how hard they must be working. You don't think they don't work on their game each and every day?

[AirP.]

I guess that's good. Building a team culture, developing younger players, that's the type of direction you want to see. Big question is will any of these guys be good? If 3 or 4 end up being decent, maybe we have something. Let's say Payne actually turns into a pg, Valentine a respectable 2, Portis a starting 4, and Zipser a versatile forward off the bench. Then you have a core group of young players who can support Jimmy + FAs we can get in.

I'm not naive that this is a high probability success plan, but what else do we have?

And this is why I believe these young guys working out are being pushed on social media, to spark some sort of excitement about bringing back basically the exact same team as last year. This will get some fans excited about some aspect of the Bulls in the 2nd year of their wasting prime years of Butler's to get to 2018 free agency, which is odd since they had enough cap space to throw away nearly 40 million in 2016 to Wade and Rondo.