Grade the Chicago Bulls Off-Season

[League Circles]

I gave it a B, good job.

Ultimately I'm not too high on Ball, but was higher than most on Theis and Thad and Lauri. I'm pretty high on Derozan who I think is a great acquisition.

The reason I go B instead of A is my concerns over Ball, my significant concerns at the 4 spot where apparently we think if you just keep piling on 3s then you cover your weaknesses, and my conjecture that AK lucked into these moves to some extent (which I may be wrong on, as obviously there was some tampering involved).

I'm not happy to see Patrick as a full time 4. I might have preferred to see him as the 3, Derozan as the 2, Lavine as the 1, and keep Thad or Theis at the 4.

I also would likely have kept Lauri either by matching the Cavs deal or keeping him on the QO, but maybe Jones will be a nice find.

[drosestruts]

I voted A and was pretty happy early on. Spent much of the season debating with myself and on this board on whether our top target should be Ball or DeRozan, well we got both, which I did not think was possible so I was impressed early on.

The other moves, both good and neutral, are getting way overblown.

The only move I didn't really like was taking Jones Jr and the future 1st in the Lauri deal over just getting Nance and the second. I have Nance rated that highly and would have simply preferred him. So many win-now moves, which Nance would have fit perfectly with, just to change course and prioritize a future pick over an immediate contributor.

The signings the past two days do nothing for me. Don't think Johnson and Johnson will have any significant impact on our record.

Think DeRozan was a huge signing for us that's being vastly underappreciated. Only 14 guys in the league averaged over 20 points and 6 assists last year. And I think DeRozan coming to the Bulls is going to be mutually beneficial, DeRozan is a good playmaker and scorer, he's proven he can do it on a team with the talent of last year's Spurs team, Imagine what he could do with Vuc and Zach. They're all going to grow and unlock each other's games. It's gonna be beautiful.

[sco]

I gave it a B, good job.

Ultimately I'm not too high on Ball, but was higher than most on Theis and Thad and Lauri. I'm pretty high on Derozan who I think is a great acquisition.

The reason I go B instead of A is my concerns over Ball, my significant concerns at the 4 spot where apparently we think if you just keep piling on 3s then you cover your weaknesses, and my conjecture that AK lucked into these moves to some extent (which I may be wrong on, as obviously there was some tampering involved).

I'm not happy to see Patrick as a full time 4. I might have preferred to see him as the 3, Derozan as the 2, Lavine as the 1, and keep Thad or Theis at the 4.

I also would likely have kept Lauri either by matching the Cavs deal or keeping him on the QO, but maybe Jones will be a nice find.

I agree that we'll need to see a real progression from Ball. I also agree that it would have been ideal to have kept either Thad or Theis. But that last point about keeping Lauri for anything remotely near what the Cav's paid is nuts.

[TyrusRose2425]

The Bulls had a plan. Its clear as day:
- Get a coach that the FO could work with
- Evaluate the existing players and roster
- Build a team kind of like Denver but with a twist. Hub center with 4 switchable wings around him.

The Bulls executed that plan superbly. Just absolutely incredible how long sighted and disciplined the FO has been. They are looking for certain player types. They patiently wait but then pounce when one comes available.

If the plan was a good one is yet to be seen but how they executed it really isn't. This wasn't some half measure. This was all in, crossing all the t's and dotting the i's.

I still don't think the Bulls are done. That's why they were so adamant about getting a first for Markkanen. I suspect that they have follow up moves in mind but its clear that as far as phases, phase 2 is now complete.

I think Siakam might be the target, especially with them drafting Barnes. If around the deadline the Raptors are struggling as I predict and they think Barnes has got his feet wet enough to take on a bigger role, I think they'll field calls on him. Pat + Coby + DJJ + 1st for Siakam. It's why I'm assuming they went and signed Stanley Johnson as well, because there will be a need for a wing after such a trade.

[Michael Jackson]

This is the team for the foreseeable future, we went all in like Billy King. I hope we like it.

Not really. AK went all in, but to the extent there are degrees of “all-in-ness” he’s well below Billy King. Our picks are protected and we still have young assets to move around. We aren’t carved in stone.

Plus the man has proved he can make a deal happen. I can trust that AK can make lemonade out of lemons now. He is creative and active, plus has direction. Pretty much every contract we have at this moment is movable except maybe DDR but even with him it is not impossible. We are draft asset poor for sure but not locked in. With GarPax we could have had every asset and still not be able to make a deal. AK is way better at that part of the job hands down. His staff seems competent. He has vision. Once again I say, I have faith he can make moves. We aren’t locked in place. Now if his plan works out or not is still a bug question but you have to like he has made moves instead of wash, rinse, repeat

[Michael Jackson]

The Bulls had a plan. Its clear as day:
- Get a coach that the FO could work with
- Evaluate the existing players and roster
- Build a team kind of like Denver but with a twist. Hub center with 4 switchable wings around him.

The Bulls executed that plan superbly. Just absolutely incredible how long sighted and disciplined the FO has been. They are looking for certain player types. They patiently wait but then pounce when one comes available.

If the plan was a good one is yet to be seen but how they executed it really isn't. This wasn't some half measure. This was all in, crossing all the t's and dotting the i's.

I still don't think the Bulls are done. That's why they were so adamant about getting a first for Markkanen. I suspect that they have follow up moves in mind but its clear that as far as phases, phase 2 is now complete.

I think Siakam might be the target, especially with them drafting Barnes. If around the deadline the Raptors are struggling as I predict and they think Barnes has got his feet wet enough to take on a bigger role, I think they'll field calls on him. Pat + Coby + DJJ + 1st for Siakam. It's why I'm assuming they went and signed Stanley Johnson as well, because there will be a need for a wing after such a trade.

Well we now have 4 former raptors, let’s make it a fifth

[fleet]

The Bulls had a plan. Its clear as day:
- Get a coach that the FO could work with
- Evaluate the existing players and roster
- Build a team kind of like Denver but with a twist. Hub center with 4 switchable wings around him.

The Bulls executed that plan superbly. Just absolutely incredible how long sighted and disciplined the FO has been. They are looking for certain player types. They patiently wait but then pounce when one comes available.

If the plan was a good one is yet to be seen but how they executed it really isn't. This wasn't some half measure. This was all in, crossing all the t's and dotting the i's.

I still don't think the Bulls are done. That's why they were so adamant about getting a first for Markkanen. I suspect that they have follow up moves in mind but its clear that as far as phases, phase 2 is now complete.

I think Siakam might be the target, especially with them drafting Barnes. If around the deadline the Raptors are struggling as I predict and they think Barnes has got his feet wet enough to take on a bigger role, I think they'll field calls on him. Pat + Coby + DJJ + 1st for Siakam. It's why I'm assuming they went and signed Stanley Johnson as well, because there will be a need for a wing after such a trade.

Patrick Williams at 19 is about the same quality as Siakam at 22. If Pat is worth getting for Siakam for Toronto, he’s probably worth keeping as well. You probably can’t honestly say that Pat will ever be as good as Siakam is now when Pat is 26, but neither wuld you have said that about Siakam at 22 let alone Siakam at 19. I guess if we are all about winning in 2022 that’s what’s up. But I don’t like dealing strictly on that basis. I would need some future stock coming back to us. And I don’t know how we are paying everybody either. And I don’t know what salary you are matching up.

[meekrab]

Between the deadline and the summer, they executed a complete roster turnover aside from one of the most efficient scorers in the game and an injured backup PG. Team now has multiple facilitators, multiple strong defenders, multiple guys who shoot the ball well, lots of athleticism and some stable veterans who have been to the playoffs.

Easy A.

[coldfish]

Just as a general comment: At the time that Pat was drafted, he looked like a reach. It was out in the media that the Bulls were interested weeks before he was drafted.

Now with some hindsight, look at all of the players have got recently. Pat looks a lot like them. These 6'7" jack of all trades types.

IMO, the Bulls' vision for who they wanted to be as a team was already in place BEFORE the 2020 draft. That vision is so contrary to what the Bulls used to be under GarPax (a team of specialists; One guy shoots, one rebounds, one defends, tall guys, short guys, etc.) I think a lot of people are having trouble visualizing what is happening right in front of them.

[_KYUSS_]

I gave it a B, good job.

Ultimately I'm not too high on Ball, but was higher than most on Theis and Thad and Lauri. I'm pretty high on Derozan who I think is a great acquisition.

The reason I go B instead of A is my concerns over Ball, my significant concerns at the 4 spot where apparently we think if you just keep piling on 3s then you cover your weaknesses, and my conjecture that AK lucked into these moves to some extent (which I may be wrong on, as obviously there was some tampering involved).

I'm not happy to see Patrick as a full time 4. I might have preferred to see him as the 3, Derozan as the 2, Lavine as the 1, and keep Thad or Theis at the 4.

I also would likely have kept Lauri either by matching the Cavs deal or keeping him on the QO, but maybe Jones will be a nice find.

pat williams isnt ready to start at the 3. he is a really bad ball handler and cannot create for himself or others. he's also not comfortable shooting off the dribble consistently yet. all things you need from your starting 3 in todays nba.

ddr has not played SG in several yrs now, he's nowhere near as laterally fast anymore. he plays sf/pf nowadays.

how did AK get lucky? i dont get that, it doesnt make any sense. lucky with what?

[cool007]

IMO, it is an EASY A for me. This is exactly how I envisioned our front office. Take chances - don't sit on your ass - just try. If it doesn't work, you can always pivot and make moves again. GarPax always took easy way out. They wanted to do it through the draft but they never moved up and took a chance (guys like MPJ, Luka, Trae heck even Wade back then). They also only traded for either closer to retirement type stars or 3rd grade ones (Ben Wallace, D-Wade, Boozer, etc).

While this new Regime had a plan, and they went after it like bandits and got it done. No one has like 4-5 year contracts. If it doesn't work within 2 years, they can always pivot and rebuild again. The assets they got, all are tradeable so not too hard.

I think they want the big in the middle with skills and then all other 4 interchangeable players where they want to play fast on offense and switchable defense on the other end with young athletic guys who can recover fast. With Billy D as a coach, this might just work.

I LOVE IT!!! Easy A for me.

[ThisGuyFawkes]

The fact that not one person has voted for "F" is actually quite amazing. Even the trolls can't conjure up the negativity required to select that option.

[superdave]

Easy A. Bulls operated over the cap like other big market teams- and have a plethora of young and tradeable assets on this team. With Zach coming up on FA and likely two 1st round picks- we might be lined up to land another big fish next off-season.

As for this season- if one of our young backup wings (TBJ, DJJ, SJ) can take the leap and shoot a respectable 37%+ on 3-pt, we are looking good. Perimeter on-ball D and having switchable wings seems to have been JJAKME’s priority this off-season. Love to see it.

[Ugly Duckling]

After watching part of DeRozans interview with gilbert arenas and realizing that vuc was the reason he came (along with m.e. of course), i realized the game ak's been playing. i wasn't thrilled with giving up wcj and our 8th because of vuc's age and the fact that his stats were inflated and his team sucked, with the caveat being if we get another all star, which i thought we might. zo has fringe all star potential and DeRozan was an allstar who still has plenty left in the tank, so i call this a win. not fully sold on pw yet, but he has potential. if he takes a big step fwd this season it will prove that ak is as elite as he seems

[MrSparkle]

After watching part of DeRozans interview with gilbert arenas and realizing that vuc was the reason he came (along with m.e. of course), i realized the game ak's been playing. i wasn't thrilled with giving up wcj and our 8th because of vuc's age and the fact that his stats were inflated and his team sucked, with the caveat being if we get another all star, which i thought we might. zo has fringe all star potential and DeRozan was an allstar who still has plenty left in the tank, so i call this a win. not fully sold on pw yet, but he has potential. if he takes a big step fwd this season it will prove that ak is as elite as he seems

This is it.

One opportunity opens up another. There's a recruitment pipeline now. I always thought it was pretty important for general trade/FA flexibility. Veterans stars and their agents make stronger relationships with teams, you'll get more guys positioning to become Bulls, and in general guys are gonna be more interested in DeRozan's opinion of the Bulls than Wendell Carter's or Chandler Hutchison's (let alone Felicio).

Plus we're not even an old team. More than half the squad is actually under 25, and the rest are under 30 (besides Vuc and Demar).

[umfan83]

This offseason has changed my vision of how championship caliber teams and consequently championship caliber organizations are built. We all remember the never ending discourse of whether to trade or build around Jimmy, it nearly tore this place apart. I was on Team Tank and looking back its because I saw literally no other way to build a contender. You need the superstar. The Bulls will always be in the second tier of teams trying to acquire established superstars, ergo they must tank to get a superstar.

Now that is still 100% true. You need a superstar. The Bulls probably(?) don't have one. No, they are probably not championship contenders. But what the front office did this offseason in taking the decaying husk of the GarPax Bulls and building a fun, exciting, competitive team around Zach has changed my mindset. We managed to build that team without screwing over the long term cap situation. And while there was a lot of criticism for trading away 3 1st round draft picks, we've essentially punted on the draft this year and focused on adding quality veterans. Now because of the Lauri S+T we are only at -1 in terms of 1st round picks for the future. So while we are still a little handcuffed in trading 1sts, we have draft assets, we have pretty good player assets, and we have a team that could be very good.

Zach playing in the Olympics continued to grow his star cred, and assuming he is re-signed, he will be the face of the franchise and is a guy that stars want to play with. So we get a good team now, we haven't destroyed our future and we've put ourselves in a position to build a winning culture and be a viable place for stars to consider. There is energy around the franchise and a positive mindset now, and that's largely due to the work AKME has done thus far.

Based on all of this, I give the offseason an A

[FriedRise]

93 votes and 1 C.

I think we should get that one poster who voted C to explain himself

[wickywack]

93 votes and 1 C.

I think we should get that one poster who voted C to explain himself

Thanks for asking.

I admit, I'm pretty surprised to be on an island here. I was "kinda" on a similar GB poll - i.e., more positive that most. I don't think I've ever seen *this* much distance between the fandom and the general public before.

My primary concern is that we've brought together older, top players from mediocre teams. In the past, that hasn't been a formula for success in the NBA. That said, the best GMs sometimes buck conventional wisdom big time (e.g., moneyball). Maybe AKME see something others don't. Or maybe he's got a step 2 for flipping them down the line. If this team wins 50+, I'll give them extra credit for delivering. But I'm loathe to give credit for offseason hope. I want to see actual wins.

[coldfish]

OK fine, I'll just say it.

I think the Bulls are going to be good. I liked the Vuc trade. Conceptually, I know where they are going with it. I called for Derozan before the team got him. Not a fan of Ball but when you add him as a piece of a larger puzzle, it makes sense. I think they did a great job filling out the bench with Alize, Bradley, Thomas, etc.

I know how they want to play offense and I can visualize how the players will work in it. I know how they want to play defense and again, it fits.

There is no dead weight on the team. Most of the players are just coming into their prime. Outside of Coby, everyone fits a concept. They have athleticism, size, shooting. The defensive problems outside of Derozan are overstated.

BD has certainly been a part of the plan since day 1 and the players fit what he really wants to do.

I get that Bulls fans have been beat down by literally 2 decades of disappointments. I also get that the team is built up on players who don't have a lot of NBA wins under their belts. That said, everything points to this being a good team. Not just 43 wins good but night in and night out good. If healthy, this should be a 50+ win team.

[Indomitable]

OK fine, I'll just say it.

I think the Bulls are going to be good. I liked the Vuc trade. Conceptually, I know where they are going with it. I called for Derozan before the team got him. Not a fan of Ball but when you add him as a piece of a larger puzzle, it makes sense. I think they did a great job filling out the bench with Alize, Bradley, Thomas, etc.

I know how they want to play offense and I can visualize how the players will work in it. I know how they want to play defense and again, it fits.

There is no dead weight on the team. Most of the players are just coming into their prime. Outside of Coby, everyone fits a concept. They have athleticism, size, shooting. The defensive problems outside of Derozan are overstated.

BD has certainly been a part of the plan since day 1 and the players fit what he really wants to do.

I get that Bulls fans have been beat down by literally 2 decades of disappointments. I also get that the team is built up on players who don't have a lot of NBA wins under their belts. That said, everything points to this being a good team. Not just 43 wins good but night in and night out good. If healthy, this should be a 50+ win team.

I agree with you. Plus I like Stanley Johnson and love the pickup