Rumors: Bobcats, Bulls, Kings three-team discussions

Red Larrivee · Post #1 » by **Red Larrivee** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 9:42 pm

As reported earlier this week on Rumor Press, the Charlotte Bobcats are interested in reacquiring their protected first round pick from the Tyrus Thomas trade. They’ve talked to the Bulls a few times and Bismack Biyombo was brought up in conversations. Biyombo has two years left on his rookie contract, but has underperformed for a Top-10 pick.

The Bulls have no interest in trading the Bobcats pick in return for a package built around Biyombo. The Bobcats are seeking a third team with a young, athletic big that they hope can interest the Bulls. We have no recent indication of the Bulls shopping the Bobcats pick, but dating back from last year, we know Charlotte wants the pick back.

The latest:

The Bobcats have sought the Sacramento Kings as a potential third team in their efforts to reacquire their first round pick from the Bulls, according to a source.

The Bobcats are trying to interest the Bulls in a young big man who could boost their frontline, like Kings forward Jason Thompson. Thompson is under contract through the 2017 season and is on the table for the Bulls. Thompson has started all 39 games for the Kings this season.

Talks are described as early, and a lot of different ideas are being tossed around. Along with Thompson, Kings guard Jimmer Fredette and a 2013 first round pick coming from Charlotte are on the table. The Bulls are being offered a combination of Thompson, Fredette and a 2013 first round pick from Charlotte. Bobcats swingman Jeffrey Taylor could also be substituted for Fredette in another scenario.

It's unclear whether the Bulls would acquire the Bobcats own or Portland Trailblazers first round pick from the Gerald Wallace trade a few years ago. The Trailblazers pick is top-12 protected, and currently the Blazers have the 14th worst record in the league.

The Kings are interested in Bobcats guard Gerald Henderson. Henderson, who is a restricted free agent this summer, was not offered an extension by Charlotte before the RFA deadline.

Bulls guard Rip Hamilton and center Nazr Mohammed have also been brought up in discussions. In the discussions, Mohammed would go to Sacramento along with Henderson, while Hamilton would go to Charlotte with the Bobcats first round pick from the Bulls.

One deal that works under the CBA (but we don't know if the teams have proposed) would have the Bulls take Jason Thompson, Jeffrey Taylor or Jimmer Fredette, along with a pick from Charlotte, the Bobcats get Rip Hamilton and their pick back from the Bulls, and the Kings taking Gerald Henderson and Nazr Mohammed.

Ice the knees · Post #2 » by **Ice the knees** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 9:48 pm

This is fun.

Seems like a place for Rip. Maybe it would also explain his lack of playing time right now. Keep him fresh, let him showcase his abilities, and rest him when you can.

Also it lends itself to the idea that the Bulls are interested in another big man. Jason Thompson is no joke. We would become an incredibly strong front court team again.

League Circles · Post #3 » by **League Circles** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 9:51 pm

Not interested in Thompson while we have Taj and Mirotic on the way.

MVP Rose · Post #4 » by **MVP Rose** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 9:52 pm

Fredette is a scrub, Thompson is okay but I don't think either player (or both) warrants giving up the Charlotte pick. There's a reason the Bobcats want it back so badly. And Jimmer Fredette has one NBA skill, that won't cut it.

Ice the knees · Post #5 » by **Ice the knees** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 9:53 pm

I don't know if it's of any note but Thompsons last 5 games he's played 24, 30, 22, 22, 22 minutes. He is around 30mpg this season and has had a very good January.

Maybe his minutes are being watched too around this trade deadline.

Could be nothing.

Jahensle · Post #6 » by **Jahensle** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 9:54 pm

Jason Thompson, Jimmer and a 2013 lottery pick? yes please.

Ice the knees · Post #7 » by **Ice the knees** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 9:55 pm

Gar Paxdorf wrote:Not interested in Thompson while we have Taj and Mirotic on the way.

Really? It makes the Bulls so much better. Mirotic isn't close to coming over and Thompson is a taller Taj type player. 11/7 on 50% shooting and he's listed at 6'11.

How could you not want that? There is no such thing as too much of a good thing when it comes to your front court IMO

Post #8 » by **Payt10** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 9:57 pm

Would you rather have Biyambo or Jason Thompson?

The Force. · Post #9 » by **The Force.** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 9:57 pm

Thompson and Fredette both suck. PASS.

Ralphb07 · Post #10 » by **Ralphb07** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 9:58 pm

Gar Paxdorf wrote:Not interested in Thompson while we have Taj and Mirotic on the way.

Nikola is not coming over until Boozer is gone and when he does he'll make around the MLE. So Thompson and Gibson deals don't hurt that..

Thompson is 6'11 and 250lbs. He is a legit big and is pretty good. Our front court would be just sick and we can lower Noah back to 30-32 minutes a game of high energy.

Just thinking of being able to throw out combinations of Noah, Boozer, Thompson and Gibson makes me a warm and fuzzy inside :lol:

sco · Post #11 » by **sco** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 9:59 pm

Wow...very unattractive construct. The only guys on the King's roster that would be worth sacrificing the CHA pick for are Cousins and Evans, and I can't see a way to make it worth SAC's while for a deal like that.

The Force. · Post #12 » by **The Force.** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 9:59 pm

Ralphb07 wrote:
Gar Paxdorf wrote:Not interested in Thompson while we have Taj and Mirotic on the way.

Nikola is not coming over until Boozer is gone and when he does he'll make around the MLE. So Thompson and Gibson deals don't hurt that..

Thompson is 6'11 and 250lbs. He is a legit big and is pretty good. Our front court would be just sick and we can lower Noah back to 30-32 minutes a game of high energy.

Just thinking of being able to throw out combinations of Noah, Boozer, Thompson and Gibson makes me a warm and fuzzy inside

Yeah, none of that is worth a potential #1 pick in a couple years.

organix85 · Post #13 » by **organix85** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 10:03 pm

Seems weird to want your pick back... like saying you know you'll suck.

Ice the knees · Post #14 » by **Ice the knees** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 10:03 pm

So some of you are willing to take a chance on a future (random) pick and sacrifice this season?

The East is winnable. Thompson is a very good player. To be able to throw out 4 talented bigs, 3 of which can run and switch on the PnR...God, that's a sexy thought.

Thompson is a better offensive player than Taj, he is younger, and he is cheaper.

If the Bulls want to amnesty Boozer, wouldn't having Thompson be a good thing?

DanTown8587 · Post #15 » by **DanTown8587** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 10:05 pm

The Bulls would do this and then still amnesty Boozer for tax savings, sign a MLE SG and sign a fourth big for the minimum again.

If you're going to pay four bigs a lot of money, why on earth did you get rid of Asik?

NW7 · Post #16 » by **NW7** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 10:07 pm

Jahensle wrote:Jason Thompson, Jimmer and a 2013 lottery pick? yes please.

Agreed. That would be a fantastic haul for Rip + that Cha pick imo.

I don't really see the King's incentive to this, unless they are just incredibly high on Gerald Henderson.

AAU Teammate · Post #17 » by **AAU Teammate** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 10:08 pm

The Charlotte pick will likely peak in worth this time next year. Reason being, you get another year of Charlotte badness, and Charlotte not getting a difference maker (this year's draft will see to that)

I think it's good that we test the waters...but if this really is the value, it sure is damning of how much hype surrounded the worth of this pick.

Worth mentioning of course that even if you wait it all the way out,and against all hope Charlotte STILL is bad by 2016...you then on top of that have to win a lotto. So i can see why they'd entertain deals like this...but in my view it'd have to be slightly better return

AAU Teammate · Post #18 » by **AAU Teammate** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 10:09 pm

Ice the knees wrote:So some of you are willing to take a chance on a future (random) pick and sacrifice this season?

Thompson would not play in the playoffs. Noah would get almost all the minutes.

Meanwhile, losing Rip makes the current SG depth a good amount worse.

Ice the knees · Post #19 » by **Ice the knees** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 10:10 pm

AAU Teammate wrote:
Ice the knees wrote:So some of you are willing to take a chance on a future (random) pick and sacrifice this season?

Thompson would not play in the playoffs. Noah would get almost all the minutes.

Meanwhile, losing Rip makes the current SG depth a good amount worse.

Why wouldn't he play? He's better than Taj in a lot of ways.

Red Larrivee · Post #20 » by **Red Larrivee** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 10:12 pm

NW7 wrote:
Agreed. That would be a fantastic haul for Rip + that Cha pick imo.

I don't really see the King's incentive to this, unless they are just incredibly high on Gerald Henderson.

Kings would essentially be salary dumping.

From a value standpoint, Thompson, Fredette or Taylor and a pick from this year is good value. But Thompson's contract runs through 2017 (last year unguaranteed). He makes around 5-6 million a year throughout it.