McGraw: Bulls SG issues

[step]

Don't you know that they're sitting at the bottom of the candy coated popcorn and peanuts?

Why are we in such a rush to go out and get players well beyond their better days?

The main guys being talked about are 32-33 year olds earning $9-12.5M or so and are still on lengthy deals. We don't have any sizable contracts to part with and would need to send many players back just to match.

More players become available closer to the deadline, who knows who'll they'll be, and these guys will still be available too.

[Bulltalk]

Don't you know that they're sitting at the bottom of the candy coated popcorn and peanuts?

Why are we in such a rush to go out and get players well beyond their better days?

The main guys being talked about are 32-33 year olds earning $9-12.5M or so and are still on lengthy deals. We don't have any sizable contracts to part with and would need to send many players back just to match.

More players become available closer to the deadline, who knows who'll they'll be, and these guys will still be available too.

I know, you like the two in the bush more. It's just your nature.

[step]

I know, you like the two in the bush more. It's just your nature.

If only I knew what that meant.

I would love an upgrade at SG, but I just don't see these guys as an upgrade over what we have currently and what we have to part with to get them.

[Bulltalk]

I know, you like the two in the bush more. It's just your nature.

If only I knew what that meant.

I would love an upgrade at SG, but I just don't see these guys as an upgrade over what we have currently and what we have to part with to get them.

Hello? A bird in the hand...

[bullsnewdynasty]

The minute we signed Boozer we technically went into win now mode. He is in his prime. Why wait? The longer you wait to cash in assets, the more of Boozer's prime you waste. Thibs has made no hesitation to play his starters big minutes and Boozer and Noah WILL play 40+ minutes guaranteed in the playoffs, save for foul trouble. Taj is nice to have, but not "someone you only trade for an all-star or near all-star." You say you need Taj for injury insurance? Sorry to say, but if Boozer ain't healthy, we're not winning anyway.

Say you do trade for Stephen Jackson. He's effective for a few years (who knows how the team does), then he's a big expiring. Same exact thing with Deng. Brewer, Korver, and Watson will all be attractive players next year because they will be pseudo-expirings. You can retool on the fly that way.

And still waiting on that list of SG's.

[Bulltalk]

The minute we signed Boozer we technically went into win now mode. He is in his prime. Why wait? The longer you wait to cash in assets, the more of Boozer's prime you waste....You say you need Taj for injury insurance? Sorry to say, but if Boozer ain't healthy, we're not winning anyway.

Basically speaking, yes.

[zenvibes]

The minute we signed Boozer we technically went into win now mode. He is in his prime. Why wait? The longer you wait to cash in assets, the more of Boozer's prime you waste....You say you need Taj for injury insurance? Sorry to say, but if Boozer ain't healthy, we're not winning anyway.

Basically speaking, yes.

well said...the both of you!

[Clocian]

yeah i dunno why people are acting like there are plenty of quality SGs out there to get. If you can get sjax you try to get him, he's not another bogans, hes a very quality SG even at his age. The sooner the better to build up chemistry, probably wont be any better available sgs near the tradeline anyway unless its mayo and thats mainly because of his age tbh.

[jax98]

Here's the key quote. Not "fiscally responsible". Whatever happened to the notion that ownership would pay up for a contending team?

Eh. I wouldn't too much stock in that. Obviously, paying that kind of money for players in that age group would be wasting a lot of money. This team needs a player who is at least in his 20's (preferably 25 or younger) who can grow with Rose, Noah and Deng. Boozer is a below-the-rim post player and thus has a longer life span when it comes to on-court production if we ignore his injury pattern. He'll remain productive til the end of his deal.

Besides, according to McGraw, Bulls are ready to pay up for Mayo using the Charlotte pick. Fully knowing that Mayo needs an extension the same time as Rose. So this is not about the Bulls not wanting to spend.

[JayT44]

The minute we signed Boozer we technically went into win now mode. He is in his prime. Why wait? The longer you wait to cash in assets, the more of Boozer's prime you waste. Thibs has made no hesitation to play his starters big minutes and Boozer and Noah WILL play 40+ minutes guaranteed in the playoffs, save for foul trouble. Taj is nice to have, but not "someone you only trade for an all-star or near all-star." You say you need Taj for injury insurance? Sorry to say, but if Boozer ain't healthy, we're not winning anyway.

Say you do trade for Stephen Jackson. He's effective for a few years (who knows how the team does), then he's a big expiring. Same exact thing with Deng. Brewer, Korver, and Watson will all be attractive players next year because they will be pseudo-expirings. You can retool on the fly that way.

And still waiting on that list of SG's.

This may be the best post I've yet to read on this board. Makes perfect sense. All of it.

Let's go get Captain Jack now.

[BuffaloBull]

All I'll add is that "fiscally responsible," in this scenario, isn't just about ensuring profitability and keeping costs down. With the uncertainty regarding the new CBA, it makes a lot of sense to be as prudent as we can, so that if things end up changing a lot, the Bulls still have the wherewithal to sign Rose to his extension. As much as adding a Stephen Jackson could potentially benefit the team now, the fact that he will still be on the books when Rose needs an extension rightly is making he front office very careful about who they are adding and when.

[dice]

Well considering that the Bulls led the league in payroll during the dynasty days, I would say you are completely off base. Cuban just hands out contacts like the Mavericks are his toy. JR treats it like a business since he has a board to answer to.

Let's back it up here. How many years did the Bulls lead in payroll in the 1990's? I just checked two championship years where they weren't the leaders in payroll.

for the first 3-peat MJ and scottie were under cheap contracts. obviously we were a top 4 team (which is reinsdorf's criteria) after MJ's return, so JR shelled out the dough necessary to keep it that way

any of the prospective SGs we're talking about likely do not make us a top 4 team

[coldfish]

Good job as usual Mike. This is why McGraw is consistently the best Bulls beat writer. He combines inside information with intelligent analysis.

[transplant]

Good article. It pretty much lays out the dilemma...with the possible exception of Mayo whose availability is purely speculative, there aren't any moves out there that make sense.

Of course you can go ahead and jam that square peg into the round hole if you like.

[sleepyhead]

Good job as usual Mike. This is why McGraw is consistently the best Bulls beat writer. He combines inside information with intelligent analysis.

Seriously? How can you be "the best Bulls beat writer" if you don't even know how the Bobcat's pick works?

That pick is lottery-protected this year, but the restrictions ease gradually until it's completely unprotected in 2016.

We can not get this pick until 2012, how about you get your facts straight before writing for a newspaper. Absolutely pathetic, I understand if some random NBA analyst like Wojnarowski wrote this, but the "best Bulls beat writer" doesn't even know simple things like this about his beloved Bulls? Lack of professionalism, or as my fellow Brits would say "poor form mate."

I worked as a sell-side stock analyst and if I made a mistake like this in my research report, I would have gotten sacked on the spot and the bank could've gotten sued for many millions of dollars.

If the Bobcats miss the playoffs this year and keep getting worse — not at all far-fetched — that pick could become a top-five selection someday.

Yes it could be a top five selection, but only in 2016. If I buy a lottery ticket sometime this week - not at all far-fetched - I could become a millionaire someday. Bad journalism again, because McGraw either:
1. Believes that we have a relatively good chance of landing a top 5 pick; or
2. He is purposely misleading us to believe that the chance of that happening is a lot better than it really is (probably less than 1%).

Other than that he wrote a good article, but he needs to get his facts straight.

[panthermark]

I'm just happy to hear to Bulls are indeed looking to fix the position this year.

Armed with that knowledge, I'm willing to sit tight until the trade deadline.

There is no need to overpay for S-Jax.... No need what so ever.... We are still on track to win our division and stay in the #4 seed range... The schedule is fairly easy up until the time we will be looking for Noah....which will also be around the trade deadline....and a possible Melo move. Once that happens, we will be able to get a SG without breaking the bank.

[boogydown]

We're going to be stuck with Bogans for another 6 weeks.

At least could we increase minutes to Brewer and Korver?

[Tommy Udo 6]

I know the Bulls are fiscally responsible. Jackson is probably the easiest to obtain. The Bulls probably do not want him for small pieces since the small pieces can all be gone before Derrick's max extension kicks in.

A fiscally responsible trade is Deng for Jackson & filler. It saves the Bulls one full year of Deng & also meets an immediate need. However, Deng is very well liked by managaement & I dont think he is on the trading block.

Smith is probably the next easiest to obtain but he is held hostage by Melo situation. If they get Smith, it will be near Feb 17 deadline

Mayo will be the hardest to obtain. However the major problem with Mayo is that he is due for an extension at the same time as Rose. I just cant see management being willing to pay two large increases.

The Bulls could easily get Jackson or Smith without dealing Taj or the Charlotte pick.

With Mayo, I dont see the team as being willing to pay him big bucks, so they will not try hard to get him.

[panthermark]

I'd think Smith is probably the easiest to obtain. It is easier to match his salary.....and his brother's "tweets" have given the Bulls a little leverage. But true, we do have to wait for the Melo situation to unfold first. I'm cool with that.

[BR0D1E86]

Besides, according to McGraw, Bulls are ready to pay up for Mayo using the Charlotte pick. Fully knowing that Mayo needs an extension the same time as Rose. So this is not about the Bulls not wanting to spend.

Ignore that, focus on what makes it look like the Bulls are cheap, slap a $ in Rein$dorf, pat self on back.