Bulls Remaining Roster Spot Discussion

[GoBlue72391]

I am not going to panic about our 12th guy on the roster. Options will become available like they always do. AKME has shown to be aggressive at trade deadline and will do so again. I still feel Thad will be bought out and could see him coming back in Feb. If not Thad, could be a number of unhappy vets for our playoff run. Let the Bison Dele sweepstakes commence!

Normally I wouldn't either, but we literally don't have a single PF on the roster. We have 3 wings who we can use as small-ball 4s and a rookie 2nd round foreign 'tweener who looks too slow to play PF and too weak to play C as our only options at PF.

[Jimmy Forums]

With Millsap off the board, who would've come with a bit of veteran leadership and toughness with a little shooting, my unrivaled top priority is hoping we find some way to get Jarred Vanderbilt without Minnesota matching for some reason. This team needs a dedicated energy, hustle, defense guy and he appears to me to be the best remaining available.

[FriedRise]

Since all we seem to want is size and rim protection, if DeAndre Jordan gets a buyout, should we be interested?

Hear me out: only 32, played 57 games last year for the Nets (43 starts), and still put up solid numbers P36 despite the lack of playing time: 12p/12r/2b, 76% FG%, 17 PER, 74% TS.

Also Chicago is the new Lob City so he'll fit right in.

Obviously not a 4, so we'll still have to frankenstein that a bit with Pat, DDR, and DJJ (or sign Pat Patterson). But if Vooch goes down/misses time, we'd be in trouble at the 5 also. Felicio ain't walking through that door!

[holv03]

Why are we discussing DJJ at the 4? Let's stop this non sense. Bulls are looking for a true big not another wing to fill out the pf position.

[TeamMan]

With Millsap off the board, who would've come with a bit of veteran leadership and toughness with a little shooting, my unrivaled top priority is hoping we find some way to get Jarred Vanderbilt without Minnesota matching for some reason. This team needs a dedicated energy, hustle, defense guy and he appears to me to be the best remaining available.

This puts the Bulls in the drivers seat.

Nets are off the board for the PF/C position.

Any FA that's still looking for a team has to consider the Bulls as an option.

As the window closes, the contract will become less and less of an issue.

[MGB8]

I agree with some, we can play small ball for stretches strategically but still need a back up PF with a bit more size and length in case of injuries and for different matchups. I have no interest in watching Derozan defend someone like AD, I mean PWill is bad enough.

I'm not concerned with PWill on AD or Giannis or even Sabonis, from a physical standpoint. He'll get abused - but those guys will abuse most everyone. Derozan or DJjr., on the other hand, do concern me at the 4 a bit in relation to their relative size (moreso DeRozan).

Patrick Patterson is an option but he only played in about half of the regular season games last season, and none in the playoffs, with a pretty negative plus minus (although, interestingly, it was more about not scoring as much as it was getting scored on more - but rebounding also suffered with him on). He was never a rim defender, either - and I'm not sure what's left in terms of perimeter defense.

Assuming Vanderbilt is out due to being an RFA, I'd probably be most interested in DJ Wilson, who flashed in his 2nd year, declined in his 3rd year, and then bounced back to more or less 2nd year levels last year but was moved from the Bucks to the Rockets mid-year as part of the PJ Tucker trade. His biggest issue isn't physical talent (he could be a versatile defending to include perimeter and rim defense 4 with 3 pnt shooting)... it's that his BBIQ (particularly defensively) isn't there. But sometimes that comes along with experience - and sometimes schemes / coaching can unlock more.

Noah Vonleh would also be fine, but more a 4/5. Marquese Chriss would be worth checking the health on.

If they want a vet, might kick the tires on John Henson (who didn't play last year, but is still only 30 for a few months and did flash some Taj-like talent early on - and he was always a pretty good defender.

Or else forget defense and just go for a Juan Hernangomez, who is the highest level guy out there IMO.

(and I do like the notion of Cam Oliver or Bates-Diop as a guy on the other 2-way deal).

[Evil_Headband]

We still gonna act like DJJ won't be at the 4, when we also have green and tbj at the 3?

He’s listed at 210 lbs.

And? Considering he's played more minutes at PF/C the past few years than SF/SG why would his weight suddenly matter?

It’s best to have flexibility at the position and be able to have more size when needed. I’m not opposed to DJJ or DDR getting some minutes there. I don’t think any of us are. I just don’t want that to be the only option.

[MGB8]

Why are we discussing DJJ at the 4? Let's stop this non sense. Bulls are looking for a true big not another wing to fill out the pf position.

DJJr. will likely be the backup 4. That's the role he played in Miami when they went small, with only one of Bam or Olynyk on the court. He's the same height as (and plays taller than) PJ Tucker, Crowder, Justise Winslow, 'Melo, and a bunch of other people who play the 4 right now in the NBA.

But I agree that adding an Ennis or whatnot would make no sense. We have plenty of "wing-4s" and need another guy with some size, but who can also defend on the perimeter some, too.

[GoBlue72391]

Why are we discussing DJJ at the 4? Let's stop this non sense. Bulls are looking for a true big not another wing to fill out the pf position.

DJJ has played PF and C in recent seasons and he will play PF and C for us. You might not like it, but it's going to happen, so you'll have to accept it eventually.

This is the new normal. This isn't 2010 anymore. Traditional height/weight requirements for positions are an antiquated thing of the past and are no longer relevant in today's game. There's a reason this era is so commonly referred to as "positionless basketball." As the years go by, the game grows and evolves.

I personally cannot understand how anyone who watches basketball on a regular basis, and has done so for the past 3+ years, can have such a difficult time grasping this. What do they think they're watching? The majority of the time teams are playing small-ball with 1 PG, 3 wings and 1 big. Most modern PFs are 6'6"-6'8" SFs playing out of position. How can anyone who watches NBA basketball on a regular basis not be aware of this??? Are they not actually watching games???

Sorry for the rant. That wasn't directed at you personally, I've just seen a surprising amount of purported NBA fans who are stuck in this outdated mindset and balk at the idea of anyone under 6'9" playing PF and bizarrely try to deny that it happens by providing things like Basketball-Reference's positional estimates as "proof" that they play SG/SF rather than PF/C.

Look at P.J. Tucker's positional estimates on B-R. Everyone and their mother knows he's a PF/C, yet B-R says he's a SF/PF/SG/C in that order... https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/tuckepj01.html

The amount of pushback and outright denial of this is just very, very confusing to me.

[holv03]

Marquese Chriss is another name that we could bring in at the veteran minimum.

[nekorajo]

This is getting ridiculous. We are absurdly unprepared at the 4 position and options will continue to decrease as the days pass by. We need 2 fours. For us to not even have one of them signed immediately upon Millsap agreeing with Brooklyn is unacceptable. I don't really care if the results end up being good, it's patently absurd to rely solely on teenage SF Patrick Williams as our 4. And I don't wanna hear how Derozan can play there, even if true, because he'll be starting at SF, and because both he and Vuc are soft defenders, so we NEED a strong athletic defender at the 4.

It is actually pathetic. I have no idea what they are thinking.

What if missing out on Milsap is tied to the tampering investigation? Its possible that AKME wanted to (or was told to) wait until the tampering penalties were solidified before they made a concrete offer to Milsap.

Either way is sucks that we didn't get him. He would have made up for the loss of Thad.

[GoBlue72391]

He’s listed at 210 lbs.

And? Considering he's played more minutes at PF/C the past few years than SF/SG why would his weight suddenly matter?

It’s best to have flexibility at the position and be able to have more size when needed. I’m not opposed to DJJ or DDR getting some minutes there. I don’t think any of us are. I just don’t want that to be the only option.

Agreed. We definitely need more size at PF/C and at least one true PF would be ideal, but people need to stop looking at traditional SF/SGs getting minutes at PF/C as just an occasional/situational thing and realize it's a normal and regular occurrence. As I said we need a true PF with size, but regardless of who we sign, PWill, DeMar, and DJJ will most likely play more minutes at PF than whichever true PF we end up signing.

[Salo23]

Milsap - I would have been ok with getting him, but honestly I prefer someone with more size and shot-blocking ability. Not that disappointed he went elsewhere.

James Ennis - seems like another SF/PF who would be playing mostly PF here. Based on his highlights - the way he moves, his size, his demeanor (getting into scuffles) reminds me a lot of James Posey.

[PrimzyBulls81]

Why are we discussing DJJ at the 4? Let's stop this non sense. Bulls are looking for a true big not another wing to fill out the pf position.

DJJ has played PF and C in recent seasons and he will play PF and C for us. You might not like it, but it's going to happen, so you'll have to accept it eventually.

This is the new normal. This isn't 2010 anymore. Traditional height/weight requirements for positions are an antiquated thing of the past and are no longer relevant in today's game. There's a reason this era is so commonly referred to as "positionless basketball." As the years go by, the game grows and evolves.

I personally cannot understand how anyone who watches basketball on a regular basis, and has done so for the past 3+ years, can have such a difficult time grasping this. What do they think they're watching? The majority of the time teams are playing small-ball with 1 PG, 3 wings and 1 big. Most modern PFs are 6'6"-6'8" SFs playing out of position. How can anyone who watches NBA basketball on a regular basis not be aware of this??? Are they not actually watching games???

Sorry for the rant. That wasn't directed at you personally, I've just seen a surprising amount of purported NBA fans who are stuck in this outdated mindset and balk at the idea of anyone under 6'9" playing PF and bizarrely try to deny that it happens by providing things like Basketball-Reference's positional estimates as "proof" that they play SG/SF rather than PF/C.

Look at P.J. Tucker's positional estimates on B-R. Everyone and their mother knows he's a PF/C, yet B-R says he's a SF/PF/SG/C in that order... https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/tuckepj01.html

The amount of pushback and outright denial of this is just very, very confusing to me.

Yeah, Jones will play small ball PF, but I dont think he ever played and will play center with 6'5 hahaha.. We need one true defensive PF with proper size, someone with 6'8-6'10

[Global Game]

FG%, Rebounding, free throw shooting, wingspan, shot altering.

Watch on YouTube

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[GoBlue72391]

Why are we discussing DJJ at the 4? Let's stop this non sense. Bulls are looking for a true big not another wing to fill out the pf position.

DJJ has played PF and C in recent seasons and he will play PF and C for us. You might not like it, but it's going to happen, so you'll have to accept it eventually.

This is the new normal. This isn't 2010 anymore. Traditional height/weight requirements for positions are an antiquated thing of the past and are no longer relevant in today's game. There's a reason this era is so commonly referred to as "positionless basketball." As the years go by, the game grows and evolves.

I personally cannot understand how anyone who watches basketball on a regular basis, and has done so for the past 3+ years, can have such a difficult time grasping this. What do they think they're watching? The majority of the time teams are playing small-ball with 1 PG, 3 wings and 1 big. Most modern PFs are 6'6"-6'8" SFs playing out of position. How can anyone who watches NBA basketball on a regular basis not be aware of this??? Are they not actually watching games???

Sorry for the rant. That wasn't directed at you personally, I've just seen a surprising amount of purported NBA fans who are stuck in this outdated mindset and balk at the idea of anyone under 6'9" playing PF and bizarrely try to deny that it happens by providing things like Basketball-Reference's positional estimates as "proof" that they play SG/SF rather than PF/C.

Look at P.J. Tucker's positional estimates on B-R. Everyone and their mother knows he's a PF/C, yet B-R says he's a SF/PF/SG/C in that order... https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/tuckepj01.html

The amount of pushback and outright denial of this is just very, very confusing to me.

Yeah, Jones will play small ball PF, but I dont think he ever played and will play center with 6'5 hahaha.. We need one true defensive PF with proper size, someone with 6'8-6'10

He has played C and probably will for us too. P.J. Tucker is 6'5", the same height as DJJ, and has played a ton of C over the past few years even though he's not nearly as athletic or lanky as DJJ is...

[dabig3]

Shame about Millsap. He would have fit perfectly into the current roster. But I guess he wants to start, which we could not guarantee him here even with our dearth of PFs. And Nets are way closer to a chip than the Bulls currently...

On to the next one. But I agree that we'll see a decent amount of DJJ at PF and a lot of small ball lineups regardless of who we can pick up in the next couple weeks.

If we want a defensive 4 that will truly take this team to the next level, then we might need to wait for the trade deadline. That's where DJJ's expiring and that Portland 1st (and Coby White?) will be very useful assets...

[Global Game]

An initiator

https://www.thestepien.com/2017/11/08/2018-draft-primer-simple-subjective-initiator-test/

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[Pax for Prez]

I would be open to giving a camp invites (non guarantees) to Reggie Perry and Marquese Chriss for a look.

[FriedRise]

Why are we discussing DJJ at the 4? Let's stop this non sense. Bulls are looking for a true big not another wing to fill out the pf position.

DJJ has played PF and C in recent seasons and he will play PF and C for us. You might not like it, but it's going to happen, so you'll have to accept it eventually.

This is the new normal. This isn't 2010 anymore. Traditional height/weight requirements for positions are an antiquated thing of the past and are no longer relevant in today's game. There's a reason this era is so commonly referred to as "positionless basketball." As the years go by, the game grows and evolves.

I personally cannot understand how anyone who watches basketball on a regular basis, and has done so for the past 3+ years, can have such a difficult time grasping this. What do they think they're watching? The majority of the time teams are playing small-ball with 1 PG, 3 wings and 1 big. Most modern PFs are 6'6"-6'8" SFs playing out of position. How can anyone who watches NBA basketball on a regular basis not be aware of this??? Are they not actually watching games???

Sorry for the rant. That wasn't directed at you personally, I've just seen a surprising amount of purported NBA fans who are stuck in this outdated mindset and balk at the idea of anyone under 6'9" playing PF and bizarrely try to deny that it happens by providing things like Basketball-Reference's positional estimates as "proof" that they play SG/SF rather than PF/C.

Look at P.J. Tucker's positional estimates on B-R. Everyone and their mother knows he's a PF/C, yet B-R says he's a SF/PF/SG/C in that order... https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/tuckepj01.html

The amount of pushback and outright denial of this is just very, very confusing to me.

But who's gonna defend Karl Malone?? Oh wait, what decade are we in?

I agree with you that we're fine at the 1-4 using some/any of these wing guys we've acquired. But I also agree that we need some size - not to play the 4, but rather the 5. Maybe it's a lasting impression from the Wendell Carter experience last year where he was way too undersized to guard centers. I just don't want Tony Bradley to be our only center option if Vooch has to miss some time...