Woj: "Bulls to be a factor in July"

[bueller]

Paxson has mentioned players fitting "our timeline" quite a bit in recent interviews. So thinking about what he could be thinking..

Players potentially here for 5+ years:

PG - Dunn/Payne
SG - Lavine/Nwaba
SF - 2018 Pelicans pick/Denzel
PF - Lauri/Bobbi
C - 2018 Bulls pick/Felicio

Currently useful veterans: Lopez, Holiday

Fringe: Grant, Kilpatrick, Asik, Zipser, Vonleh, Arcidiacono, Blakeney

So maybe a free agent in age range of the first group?

Hence, someone like an Iggy / Batum.

You trade for them by taking on more years of salary and move away from the crap ton of "fringe players" on this team to adding another "currently useful veteran"

Definitely agree about Batum, though not sure I see GSW wanting to trade Iggy despite his overpaid contract.

Regardless, the idea of moving from fringe players to useful veterans makes a lot of sense.

[League Circles]

I wonder what is the best case we could make for Lebron. I would think it would involve using trades including likely sending out multiple future picks to dump all of these guys:

Lopez (maybe stretched)
Asik (maybe stretched)
Holiday
Grant
Payne

Depending on whether we have to stretch any of them to get rid of them, we should have enough to add Lebron at the max plus another max or pretty close to max FA to team up with him, plus a room MLE vet role player. Giving us a rotation of:

LBJ
2nd max or near max FA
Lauri
Dunn
#7
Lavine (signed after LBJ and other FA to utilize his low cap hold)
Portis
Valentine
22
Room MLE vet
Felicio

IMO that is likely a real step up from the Cavs and lets him play Jordan.


Sent from my G8441 using RealGM mobile app

[jmajew]

It's Scary but the more I think about it the more I come to believe we were actually close to a 40 wint team last year. If we wouldn't have traded Niko and clearly wouldn't have purposefully tanked the last 2 months my guess is we would have won between 35 and 40 games. If you include a healthy Lavine for an entire season I can easily see us being a 500 team without any additions this offseason.

Now, we currently have 25 mil in cap space, and two first rd picks. With solid additions in each of those I can see the Bulls being a 50 win team next year.

I'm not sure we could become a true contender for a title though unless one of Dunn, Lavine, Lauri, or #7 pick becomes a top 5 player though, but we can definitely be as good as the Celtics.

[kodo]

If we kept Niko we'd be drafting 10 or worse, that would be terrible looking outside in at the talent 1-7.

[Hangtime84]

We getting Lebron guys

[Ralphb07]

People thought too less of the Jimmy trade last year and I tried to say it at the time, the Bulls looked and viewed that trade as a big jump start. They got the 5th pick in the previous draft that who they would've selected and loved, they nabbed the 7th pick in the 2017 draft and they landed 13th pick in 2014 draft. Now they fell to pick 7th and will be selecting someone. They also feel like they got a steal with Lauri at 7 and he's way ahead of their projections on him.

Now this all doesn't mean go sign Kyle Korvers of the world this summer and they won't do that. But they most definitely should first reach out to LBJ and Paul George. Obviously neither of them will come but I'd reach out to see if the young talent appeals to them. After they reject them I would already be looking at young players that you can steal from other teams that fit their timeline and core. Guys I would look into are Alex Len, Justuf Nurkic, Jabari Parker and Clint Capella depending on how the draft goes. Obviously if draft one of JJJ, Bamba or Carter you need need the big and if you draft Porter Jr you don't need Parker.

[DanTown8587]

People thought too less of the Jimmy trade last year and I tried to say it at the time, the Bulls looked and viewed that trade as a big jump start. They got the 5th pick in the previous draft that who they would've selected and loved, they nabbed the 7th pick in the 2017 draft and they landed 13th pick in 2014 draft. Now they fell to pick 7th and will be selecting someone. They also feel like they got a steal with Lauri at 7 and he's way ahead of their projections on him.

Now this all doesn't mean go sign Kyle Korvers of the world this summer and they won't do that. But they most definitely should first reach out to LBJ and Paul George. Obviously neither of them will come but I'd reach out to see if the young talent appeals to them. After they reject them I would already be looking at young players that you can steal from other teams that fit their timeline and core. Guys I would look into are Alex Len, Justuf Nurkic, Jabari Parker and Clint Capella depending on how the draft goes. Obviously if draft one of JJJ, Bamba or Carter you need need the big and if you draft Porter Jr you don't need Parker.

Great job landing a guy who is now going to need a major contract and a second guy who is quite unsure. You paid premium prices (you traded an all-NBA second team guy) and you have back three guys who aren't as good as him and will cost more than he does next season. Now you want to go spend money in FA on the least efficient contracts in the NBA: RFA players who are highly inconsistent.

[Ralphb07]

People thought too less of the Jimmy trade last year and I tried to say it at the time, the Bulls looked and viewed that trade as a big jump start. They got the 5th pick in the previous draft that who they would've selected and loved, they nabbed the 7th pick in the 2017 draft and they landed 13th pick in 2014 draft. Now they fell to pick 7th and will be selecting someone. They also feel like they got a steal with Lauri at 7 and he's way ahead of their projections on him.

Now this all doesn't mean go sign Kyle Korvers of the world this summer and they won't do that. But they most definitely should first reach out to LBJ and Paul George. Obviously neither of them will come but I'd reach out to see if the young talent appeals to them. After they reject them I would already be looking at young players that you can steal from other teams that fit their timeline and core. Guys I would look into are Alex Len, Justuf Nurkic, Jabari Parker and Clint Capella depending on how the draft goes. Obviously if draft one of JJJ, Bamba or Carter you need need the big and if you draft Porter Jr you don't need Parker.

Great job landing a guy who is now going to need a major contract and a second guy who is quite unsure. You paid premium prices (you traded an all-NBA second team guy) and you have back three guys who aren't as good as him and will cost more than he does next season. Now you want to go spend money in FA on the least efficient contracts in the NBA: RFA players who are highly inconsistent.

I think they did do a great job. You have to pay people eventually. BTW did you ever change your view on Donovan Mitchell from all the he’s Ben Gordon athleticism talk last year?

[TheFinishSniper]

It's Scary but the more I think about it the more I come to believe we were actually close to a 40 wint team last year. If we wouldn't have traded Niko and clearly wouldn't have purposefully tanked the last 2 months my guess is we would have won between 35 and 40 games. If you include a healthy Lavine for an entire season I can easily see us being a 500 team without any additions this offseason.

Now, we currently have 25 mil in cap space, and two first rd picks. With solid additions in each of those I can see the Bulls being a 50 win team next year.

I'm not sure we could become a true contender for a title though unless one of Dunn, Lavine, Lauri, or #7 pick becomes a top 5 player though, but we can definitely be as good as the Celtics.

those would be 40 artifical wins. with 1/3 of league tanking that's likely closer to real 30 win team. Records are meaningless. But I get your point. This is better. Much better

[ChettheJet]

I wonder what is the best case we could make for Lebron. I would think it would involve using trades including likely sending out multiple future picks to dump all of these guys:

Lopez (maybe stretched)
Asik (maybe stretched)
Holiday
Grant
Payne

Depending on whether we have to stretch any of them to get rid of them, we should have enough to add Lebron at the max plus another max or pretty close to max FA to team up with him, plus a room MLE vet role player. Giving us a rotation of:

LBJ
2nd max or near max FA
Lauri
Dunn
#7
Lavine (signed after LBJ and other FA to utilize his low cap hold)
Portis
Valentine
22
Room MLE vet
Felicio

IMO that is likely a real step up from the Cavs and lets him play Jordan.


Sent from my G8441 using RealGM mobile app

I'm for them finding a way to get James but you're eliminating two of the things that make him want to come here.


There's not much chance of getting anyone to just take Asik, Felicio, Payne and Grant are expendable now with or without James. Everybody wants to build a team around Lebron with two other superstars and a roster of filler. That doesn't work well for Lebron. I think he needs to be the lone big dog on an athletic all around team


James Holiday
Markkanen Portis Vonleh
Lopez Portis #7
LaVine Valentine Kilpatrick
Dunn FA #22

Could they trade #22, Valentine, Portis and take back a contract to get rid of Felicio, Asik Grant and Payne, maybe and they should if they can but the 10 man rotation there is good maybe trades can make it better

[NZB2323]

We have room for a max after we re-sign LaVine?

How much do you think we’ll have to spend on LaVine?

[CBS7]

I wonder what is the best case we could make for Lebron. I would think it would involve using trades including likely sending out multiple future picks to dump all of these guys:

Lopez (maybe stretched)
Asik (maybe stretched)
Holiday
Grant
Payne

Depending on whether we have to stretch any of them to get rid of them, we should have enough to add Lebron at the max plus another max or pretty close to max FA to team up with him, plus a room MLE vet role player. Giving us a rotation of:

LBJ
2nd max or near max FA
Lauri
Dunn
#7
Lavine (signed after LBJ and other FA to utilize his low cap hold)
Portis
Valentine
22
Room MLE vet
Felicio

IMO that is likely a real step up from the Cavs and lets him play Jordan.


Sent from my G8441 using RealGM mobile app

At least 25 teams are a step up from the Cavs. LeBron isn't going to leave Cleveland for a sidegrade or minor upgrade of a roster. He's going to stay in Cleveland or go where he has a good chance to win more rings.

[kodo]

It's Scary but the more I think about it the more I come to believe we were actually close to a 40 wint team last year. If we wouldn't have traded Niko and clearly wouldn't have purposefully tanked the last 2 months my guess is we would have won between 35 and 40 games. If you include a healthy Lavine for an entire season I can easily see us being a 500 team without any additions this offseason.

Now, we currently have 25 mil in cap space, and two first rd picks. With solid additions in each of those I can see the Bulls being a 50 win team next year.

I'm not sure we could become a true contender for a title though unless one of Dunn, Lavine, Lauri, or #7 pick becomes a top 5 player though, but we can definitely be as good as the Celtics.

those would be 40 artifical wins. with 1/3 of league tanking that's likely closer to real 30 win team. Records are meaningless. But I get your point. This is better. Much better

The quality of the bottom of the league this year really wasn't worse than any other year.

Total wins of the bottom 4 teams of the EC:
2018: 104
2017: 108
2016: 96
2015: 92
2014: 82

And this wasn't just "bad teams beating bad teams."

The worst team in the EC, the Atlanta Hawks, knocked off Minnesota, Cleveland, Portland, Wizards, Miami, Nuggets, Spurs, Utah, Pelicans, Pacers, and Celtics. I believe they beat every EC playoff team other than MIL, and a fair chunk of the WC.

[rtblues]

I like and trust Woj, but the comment that started this all is based on what exactly?

The fact that the Bulls have CAP space? Pfft, we all know that this is B.S. year in Free Agency after James and George, and they ain't ever coming here, and with next year being a far better free-agency year, if I'm the Bulls, I punt, Then next year, Asik money will be gone adding to the CAP, then go shopping. And hopefully they aren't giving Lavine a bag of money before that either.

I think WOJ just kind of said it to answer the question on TV, and that there aren't any tangible reasons to believe this.

[keloms]

I like and trust Woj, but the comment that started this all is based on what exactly?

The fact that the Bulls have CAP space? Pfft, we all know that this is B.S. year in Free Agency after James and George, and they ain't ever coming here, and with next year being a far better free-agency year, if I'm the Bulls, I punt, Then next year, Asik money will be gone adding to the CAP, then go shopping. And hopefully they aren't giving Lavine a bag of money before that either.

I think WOJ just kind of said it to answer the question on TV, and that there aren't any tangible reasons to believe this.

Money will be tight this summer around the league and Bulls will be one of 7-9 teams that can make major changes with cap space, if a situation presents itself whether it be through trades or free agency. That's important because this is the last year Bulls have the money advantage since the horrible contracts around the league start to come off the books in 19 and the money can start flying again when the number of teams with $20m+ in cap space is likely to be in the 15-20 range.

[musiqsoulchild]

Whatever they do, what I am NOT OK with is just reaching the salary floor and doing nothing.

Thats wasted opportunity.

[jump]

I'd rather see them absorb some bad salary to get another good draft pick. Hint: Denver, Faried, #14. Take Lonnie Walker at 14, draft and stash Musa at 22. Save the salary till 2019 or 2020 when AD and Greek Freak are possible.

[khufure]

Why should the Bulls spend money with the Warriors such obvious top dogs right now? We're not close.

[musiqsoulchild]

I wonder what is the best case we could make for Lebron. I would think it would involve using trades including likely sending out multiple future picks to dump all of these guys:

Lopez (maybe stretched)
Asik (maybe stretched)
Holiday
Grant
Payne

Depending on whether we have to stretch any of them to get rid of them, we should have enough to add Lebron at the max plus another max or pretty close to max FA to team up with him, plus a room MLE vet role player. Giving us a rotation of:

LBJ
2nd max or near max FA
Lauri
Dunn
#7
Lavine (signed after LBJ and other FA to utilize his low cap hold)
Portis
Valentine
22
Room MLE vet
Felicio

IMO that is likely a real step up from the Cavs and lets him play Jordan.


Sent from my G8441 using RealGM mobile app

If LeBron indicates he'll come here, then we'll do whatever we need to do.

We gave away Kirk Hinrich and cash to create max cap space. The golden child and the "gold" so to speak. If LeBron wants to come here, we'll do whatever it takes.

Heck we have the perfect team to put up next to him.

Dunn / Payne / Trae Young
Holiday / Valentine
LeBron / #22
Lauri / Portis
Lopez / Felicio

With a bunch of ring seeking vets / LeBron jock-riders following in.

[Droseisthe1]

I wonder what is the best case we could make for Lebron. I would think it would involve using trades including likely sending out multiple future picks to dump all of these guys:

Lopez (maybe stretched)
Asik (maybe stretched)
Holiday
Grant
Payne

Depending on whether we have to stretch any of them to get rid of them, we should have enough to add Lebron at the max plus another max or pretty close to max FA to team up with him, plus a room MLE vet role player. Giving us a rotation of:

LBJ
2nd max or near max FA
Lauri
Dunn
#7
Lavine (signed after LBJ and other FA to utilize his low cap hold)
Portis
Valentine
22
Room MLE vet
Felicio

IMO that is likely a real step up from the Cavs and lets him play Jordan.


Sent from my G8441 using RealGM mobile app

If LeBron indicates he'll come here, then we'll do whatever we need to do.

We gave away Kirk Hinrich and cash to create max cap space. The golden child and the "gold" so to speak. If LeBron wants to come here, we'll do whatever it takes.

Heck we have the perfect team to put up next to him.

Dunn / Payne / Trae Young
Holiday / Valentine
LeBron / #22
Lauri / Portis
Lopez / Felicio

With a bunch of ring seeking vets / LeBron jock-riders following in.

He's not coming here. Why in the WORLD would LeBron with 3-4 realistic years left to compete wanna come to Chicago? every 4 years RealGM goes nuts about this stuff for no reason. Haven't we all learned at this point? After Melo '14, this should be clear by now.