The Chicago Bulls need help at the General Manager position to turn their team’s future around. They have been helped by the horrible management and judgement of the New York Knicks, but still can’t get over the hump.
The Chicago Bulls seemed poised to make the jump from rebuilding team to perennial contender for the Eastern Conference championship after the 2004 and 2005 seasons, as they made the playoffs two years in a row and showcased their young talent.
Ben Gordon, Luol Deng, Chris Duhon, and Kirk Hinrich made the fans and management believe the Bulls had turned the corner and were ready to make the jump to the next level. After their 2005 playoff run, John Paxon made a bold move that should have put the Bulls in a position to get everything they needed.
He traded Eddy Curry to the Knicks for Michael Sweetney, Tim Thomas, Jermaine Jackson, a first-round pick, and two second-round picks. The net result of all of Paxon’s wheeling and dealing with the Knicks over the years was two first-round picks in which they could switch positions with New York.
With Chicago’s best players being perimeter players, this was their opportunity to upgrade their front line with a proven post-up scorer and add a serious front line presence. While the league laughed at the Knicks, the joke was on Chicago—as they turned a plethora of draft picks and trades into a dysfunctional and confused team.
In the 2006 draft, Chicago drafted LaMarcus Aldridge, which was a good move and filled a definite need—but they proceeded to trade him for Tyrus Thomas, who has no concrete offensive game and is a tween-er. That move made no sense at all.
Chicago was one of the best defensive teams in the Eastern Conference, but they made another mistake in trading Tyson Chandler to the Hornets for P.J. Brown and J.R. Smith. Chandler may not have been a go-to low-post option, but he guarded the basket and rebounded the ball very well. Big mistake.
The worst mistake of all was violating the Jason Williams rule (former New Jersey Nets power forward who had no offense, but was a good defender). They foolishly gave Ben Wallace a larger-than-life contract, even though he was an offensive liability and couldn’t shoot free throws.
I know he was a great defender, rebounder, and played excellent team defence, but my rule is to never, never, ever pay that kind of money to someone that offensively challenged. I cringed when the news came out about the signing.
With the other first-round pick they got from the Knicks, the Bulls took Joakim Noah. Another offensively-challenged big man that couldn’t help them on the offensive end. What Chicago should have been looking to do is package that pick with one of their perimeter players, and trade them for a power forward who can score, adding players to make up any dollar difference.
What the Bulls became this past year was an over-rated team with malcontents that didn’t fit well together. Scott Skiles paid for that with his job, but Paxon was the one that caused it.
One last miscalculation for the Bulls.
With Kobe wanting a trade and Kevin Garnett on the table to be had, supposedly Chicago didn’t want to include Deng in a hefty package for either. How can that happen? How can you not trade Deng, either Gordon or Hinrich, and a pick or another young player for Garnett or Kobe?
They were afraid to pull the trigger, and instead had to watch Garnett help Boston win a championship. Now that they have Derrick Rose, here is what I would do. They still need an inside presence, and veterans like Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess may be available.
I would also call Houston and see if Yao Ming would be available. He may not be, but you have to make the call. Houston hasn’t gotten out of the first round with him, and he can’t seem to stay healthy for a whole season, so I would at least inquire about him.
Carlos Boozer is someone else I would find out about. Andres Nocioni and Ben Gordon would be nice sign-and trade bait for the soon-to-be free agent power forward.
Presently constructed, the Bulls don’t work. Rose will make them a little better, but in order to contend they need a stud up front. Deng won’t be enough. Every one on the team should be considered expendable except for Rose.
Paxson balked at moving pieces that he should have moved to get star quality players. I wouldn’t. I wouldn’t play fantasy basketball like Isiah Thomas, but as long as I don’t compromise my defensive philosophy, I wouldn’t be afraid to upgrade my roster.
Are you listening, Chicago?
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3 months ago
It's definitely a mess in Chicago these days. Hard to believe it's been a decade since the Jordan era ended isn't it? Paxson hasn't done much positive for the franchise since his three-pointer to clinch the '93 finals against Phoenix.
It's almost inevitable they move Hinrich now, and I think Ben Gordon should be involved in a transaction this summer as well.
The Bulls aren't that far off from contending again, but this franchise needs a definite facelift.
3 months ago
Maybe sign-and-trade Gordon along with Hinrich and Tyrus Thomas for a good low-post scorer.
3 months ago
in that picture joakim noah looks like steve urcle, snoop doog, and carrot top rolled into one.
from 3 months ago
I can definitely see the resemblance. Hopefully he meant it as a goof.
3 months ago
Great! You really hit it straight on. The Bulls screwed up on Aldridge, and they keep screwing up. They have made Duhon nearly worthless by making it obvious they don't want him. Two years ago, he might have brought a late 1st round pick. Now, he's virtually worthless.
They overpaid Hinrich, and tried to overpay Deng and Gordon. Neither of them is worth the money they were offered. I would either, or both, if the right player was available. I sure would have traded Deng to get Kobe!!!
I hope they don't trade Hinrich unless they get real value. Rose will make his life a lot easier, and he plays great defense when he's not trying to cover for Gordon or Deng's deficiencies.
This is a bad team, and I don't think it will contend seriously for at least three more years. Right now we have too many losers.
3 months ago
they havent been run quite as bad as the Knicks, but they probably did waste the great opportunity they had in the Curry trade. (what did ever happen to Sweetney?)
Im not ready to concede that Thomas is worse than Aldridge, but probably is worse for the Bulls. They need a 25 ppg guy. Thomas is an athletic freak. Of course, if they had kept Chandler, there was no need for Thomas and they could have run Aldridge and Chandler out there together with Deng. Quite a front line.
Noah? Bad. But you can't expect all-stars past the first 5 picks in most drafts. They happen all the time, but you can't expect them. Still, they needed a scorer.
And the Wallace signing was awful, but somebody was going to fall for it. At least they don't have to pay for it anymore.
Im thinking the Bulls players are all "half all-stars" They need a player who is half Hinrich and half Gordon. (Rose perhaps) They need a player with Tyrus size and athleticism, but Dengs scoring and smarts. (Boozer?)
You see the pieces are there, but they'll never work together. This might not sound like a great idea, because the player is a question mark, but if you could trade Gordon for Vince Carter, I'd take that deal. Im not sure where NBA Execs rank the two players, I personally would think Gordon is rated higher, but Carter works better for the Bulls. So if you have to throw in a Nocioni, do it. But Carter in a Bulls uniform would get them to the next level. (And if they really want to match the Celtics, send Noah and Deng to Utah for Boozer) Rose, Carter, Boozer, Thomas, Hinrich. It could work.
3 months ago
That could possibly work. You are right about one thing. They don't have a bonafide star who can put the team on its back. Rose will be a star in time, but how many opportunities will the Bulls get to get it right? Very few teams have gotten the opportunities they have had the last few years. I would probably prefer Elton Brand over Vince, only because he is tough in the paint, and that is only if he has recovered from his injury. Good points though
from 3 months ago
Yes, if only the Bulls could find a way to get their hands on Elton Brand. Lol. There is another one they screwed up.
I mean, some team out there is going to pull a Boston Celtics and great two legit superstars. Why not the Bulls? They have championship history and they have a LOT of good players who simply don't fit together.
Celtics didn't have as much as the Bulls have now and they managed to get Allen and Garnett.
The only pieces that I would keep in Chicago are one of your bigs (Noah or Thomas) and Rose. The Clippers are going to lose Maggette, so thats a chance to offer them Deng and a 1st rounder or Deng and Hinrich (plus some contracts to match.) The Nets just want cap relief but if you can offer Ben Gordon, they'll take that too. They won't get a better offer than Ben Gordon. But of course thats another one where you have to find some contracts to match. Shouldn't be too hard though.
Now you are talking about Rose, Brand, Carter. My only concern is Rose's youth. A good reason to keep Hinrich around if you want to.
No, Brand and Carter aren't winners. But neither were Garnett, Allen, and Pierce.
If they make those deals, book the Eastern Conference Finals now. Chicago v Boston.
3 months ago
You guys aren't even looking at some of the best free agents out there. Elton Brand, Andris Biedrins, Mickael Pietrus, and Emeka Okafor. are the best big men out there. The Bulls picked up Omer Asik in the draft. He's 7 feet tall but needs to put some weight on. He's not going to be over here for 2 years, but the wait should be worth the wait. By the time he comes over here, he will only be 24. He averaged 10.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and a league-high 1.9 blocks in 30 games with two teams last season. Scouts say his energy and athleticism are unusual for a 7-footer. He blocked 19 shots in one game over in the Euroleague. Carter is on the way down in his career and that would be only a great deal for maybe a year or two, but way too much monday.
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