Bleacher Report - Articles by Michael Gibbons

Can the Chicago Media Shut It?

Michael Gibbons — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:05:14 -0400

PLEASE stop it.

Stop overreacting to one preseason game.

Stop attacking everything that comes out of Jay Cutler's mouth.

Stop saying Ron Turner is on the hot seat.

It was one preseason game.

Calib Hanie is not better then Jay Cutler.

No one in their right mind thought Devin Hester was a number one receiver before the game so why does it surprise anyone that he didn't afterwards.

We knew the secondary was beat up and it wasn't good last year so how did it surprise anyone that Trent Edwards went 10 for 10.

Remember the Lions went undefeated during the preseason last year then didn't win one regular season game. Winning and losing in the preseason doesn't matter.

Anyone want Orton back after he threw three interceptions in his first game?

If anyone thought this was team was going to the Super Bowl just because we got Jay Cutler, they were stupid.

Matt Forte and Greg Olsen didn't play.

This team is a work in progress and has a lot of holes to fill.

Again it was only ONE preseason game.

This team could easily start the season 0-3 but could be 5-4 or 4-5 when the bye week comes along.

Be patient good things take time.

Why Lamar Odom May Doom "Da Bulls"

Michael Gibbons — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:05:26 -0400

I want things to stay happy in La La Land. I want the Lakers to re-sign Lamar Odom.

As a Bulls fan, I need Odom to go back to L.A.

It is being reported today by ESPN's Marc Stein that the Lakers have pulled their three-year, $27 million dollar deal off the table. Supposedly Odom is upset over the length of the contract and owner Jerry Buss is tired of waiting for an answer. The Lakers have confirmed that contract talks have broken down. Both Odom and his agent could not be reached for comment.

You may ask why is this bad for the Bulls? Wouldn't it benefit everyone in the NBA if the defending champs lost a key part.

That answer is NO!

Odom is rumored to have received contract offers from both the Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks. Thanks to both states, Florida and Texas, not having income tax, the overall money would be very close to what the Lakers offered.

Odom going to the Heat would be awful. Odom played in Miami during Dwyane Wade's rookie season when the Heat made a big push and were able to make it to the playoffs. Reportedly, Odom and Wade are very tight, and he would be exactly the type of player the Heat need to try and lure Wade to stay. Getting Odom would cost the Heat nothing, which would allow them to still trade for someone the likes of Carlos Boozer.

If the Heat are able to sign Odom and then trade for Boozer, it would all but secure Wade re-signing in Miami. Pat Reilly would have gotten two All-Star type players to play alongside Wade, which is exactly the type of thing Wade has said he would need to see done before signing an extension.

So all Bulls fans, let's pray that cooler heads win out in La La Land, and that Odom returns to play alongside his buddies, Kobe and Ron Artest. So that next season, Wade will have nothing but the weather holding him back from signing in Chicago.

The Five Biggest Draft Busts in Bears History

Michael Gibbons — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:36:10 -0400

This was inspired by another article I wrote. All the truely awful jerseys that are in the back of your closet. With each new name a horrible image poped in my head of all the draft busts the Bears have had over the years. Trust me if the Bears are drafting in the top ten it usually isn't going to turn out well. Also watch how one bust will lead to another bust or a drastic signing or trade.

Begin Slideshow

For Once The Backup QB Won't Be The Fan Favorite in Chicago

Michael Gibbons — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:11:30 -0400

It was a constant joke while I was growing up that the most popular player on the Bears was the backup quarterback.

This was mostly due to the constant quarterback competitions that occurred every year.

We had Kramer/Walsh, Kramer/Mirer, Miller/McNown/Matthews, Grossman/Griese/Orton and let's not forget Ditka with Harbaugh, Flutie, and Tomczak (among others) during the 80's.

But not this year.

This year there is no debate. Jay Cutler is our starting quarterback. Besides Cutler being a proven NFL caliber QB with a big arm, his understudies Caleb Hanie and Brett Basanez might be the worst set of backups in the league.

Jerry and Lovie have really put all their eggs in one basket. If anything happens to Cutler...

Maybe we don't have to worry if his blood sugar is too low for a play, or a series, but what if he missed a whole game?

The opposing defense would think Christmas came early.

Would bringing Rex Grossman back have been so bad? What about Jeff Garcia? Give me Joey Harrington or David Carr, anyone who actually won a game in the NFL. Michael Vick could be available, at least he could run.

If anyone calls a radio show this year saying why Hanie or Basanez need to start, then the Bears have some serious issues.

Let us pray for the health of Cutler.

Carlos Boozer To The Chicago Bulls Update

Michael Gibbons — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:37:25 -0400

It has been a couple days since the rumor broke about Carlos Boozer possibly being traded in a three-way deal to the Chicago Bulls. But where do we stand now? The trade as rumored is probably completely dead. Usually if these types of trades don't happen right away, they die.

The Utah Jazz still want to trade Boozer and the Bulls still need a low post scorer so they still could be trade partners. However, the Portland Trailblazers will probably be replaced for a trade to go down.

The Bulls were looking to get some guard help in the trade due to losing Ben Gordon and sending Hinrich away in the trade. They were rumored to want Bayless but probably would have been happy with Fernandez to help fill the void created by losing two of their three top guards from last season.

And now with the Trailblazers signing the Jazz's restricted free-agent Paul Millsap to an offer sheet, there is probably some bad blood between the division rivals.

However, what Millsap being signed to an offer sheet does do, is put a clock on a potential Boozer trade. The Jazz have seven days to match the offer, which is supposedly front loaded, or let Millsap go to Portland.

If the Jazz match and keep Boozer they will be well over the luxury tax which is somewhere they don't want to be. Because of that there can't be a straight up trade because it would not save the Jazz money. So a third team must be found.

The only team besides the Blazers that have the cap room to help this trade would be the Thunder who are not looking to spend their money and ruin their cap situation. Lucky for them the Bulls have a lot of expiring contracts which would be very attractive to the Thunder.

On its simplest form a trade of Boozer to the Bulls, Tyrus Thomas to the Jazz and Tim Thomas to the Thunder would work. The Jazz cut cost, the Bulls would get their low post threat and the Thunder get a piece that may help them win some games but more importantly could be a valuable trade chip at the deadline come February.

I'm sure some other pieces (draft picks or cash) would be thrown in but this could work.

The Bulls would be able to keep Hinrich while also getting Boozer which would allow them to keep their backcourt depth.

If I was Gar Foreman, I would have Sam Presti on the phone ASAP.

Carlos Boozer Headed to Chicago Bulls?

Michael Gibbons — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:32:20 -0400

Supposedly, the Chicago Bulls are in talks to bring Carlos Boozer to The Windy City.

In a three-way trade involving Chicago, the Utah Jazz, and the Portland Trail Blazers, Kirk Hinrich would go to the Blazers, Tyrus Thomas would head to Utah, and Boozer would come to Chicago.

Portland has been searching for a point guard and has been after Kirk for some time. The Jazz are trying to clear some salary so they can re-sign Paul Millsap. Utah is already over the luxury tax and was really counting on Boozer opting out so the team could re-sign Millsap.

I'm sure there will be a couple more parts of this trade if it ever becomes final.

What does everything think? Good move for the Bulls?

I personally think this is a great gamble for the Bulls, because Boozer only has one year left on his deal, so it would not affect their cap space for next summer.

Jannero Pargo Signs with Chicago Bulls

Michael Gibbons — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:11:43 -0400

Jannero Pargo is coming back home.

Pargo has signed a one-year deal to return to his hometown team, the Chicago Bulls, for around $2 million after playing last season overseas.

Pargo will be expected to fill the gap by Ben Gordon, who left Chicago and signed with the Detroit Pistons.

Pargo has played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors, and New Orleans Hornets, as well as his two-plus previous season in Chicago.

He has averaged 6.9 points, 2.4 assists, and 1.6 rebounds per game while shooting 39.5 percent on field goals and 34.9 percent from behind the arc.

The How To Book On Getting Wade & Bosh In Bulls' Uniforms

Michael Gibbons — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 16:08:34 -0400

Yes it is possible. It is possible to get both Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade in Chicago playing along side D Rose. The first step was not resigning Ben Gordon. The second step is drafting players who can play multiple spots on the floor, done. Now comes the hard part.

Chris Bosh is not going to stay with the Raptors past this season. Too many teams are lining up to throw money at team to team him with a star player. Well the way for this plan to work is getting to Bosh before everyone else can. The easiest way to do that is trade for him. Sending to Toronto Deng and Tyrus Thomas for Bosh works under the salary cap.

It gives the Raptors part they can use while giving the Bulls the low post scorer they have been lacking since Krause traded Elton Brand. This way the Raptors get something for Bosh instead of losing him for nothing. Teaming Deng with Hedo gives them a very talented forward combo and it also puts Tyrus Thomas in a system where his strengths would be better suited.

This trade will leave the Bulls a little thin out of the wing but thanks to drafting Johnson they already have Deng's replacement plus having Thomas' in Gibson. This leaving the Bulls probably a step below the big three of the East, Cleveland, Boston and Orlando but not too far behind.

Now the big part. Letting Brad Miller and Tim Thomas walk clearing the cap space for Wade. While also resigning Chris Bosh. Both might be willing to take a bit of a discount to play together as well as with Rose. This pairing would give the Bulls something unbelievable. Three star players, 2 in their primes and 1 with a huge ceiling still, to play together and would hands down be the dominate team in the league.

A starting lineup of Rose, Wade, Salmons/Johnson, Bosh and Noah would be great. The hardest part of all this would be Jerry Reinsdorf forking over all the money, which he said he would do if the team is able to compete for a title.

Now we must sit and wait and hope that Toronto starts off slow and that Wade continues to be annoyed by the Heat and the immaturity of Beasley. But most of all let's all hope the Heat don't beat us to the punch and get Bosh first. Otherwise it might be Joe Johnson coming to town which wouldn't be to bad either.

What If Elton Brand Never Got Traded in 2001? Part 1

Michael Gibbons — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 12:43:23 -0400

What if on that faithful night back in 2001 Jerry Krause didn't trade Elton Brand, the corner piece of the franchise for the right to draft Tyson Chandler? But if instead of trying to build around two 18-year old 7 footers, he drafted for need instead of him trying to prove he won the championships.

I give Jerry Krause a lot of credit because he found the parts to fit around Michael Jordan but after that he wasn't on the court and he wasn't on the sideline drawing up plays.

The best GMs are the ones working in the shadows trying to stay out of the spotlight. But with this trade Jerry turned the spotlight into a bullseye.

I wish I could go back and undo the draft of the year before but that might be pushing it. This was the moment that set the Bulls back. The 2000-2001 season was another mess for the rebuilding Bulls but their were signs of hope.

A young team that maybe some pieces were starting to fall into place. Brand being the low post scorer, Miller being the outside shooting bigman, Crawford's shooting and Artest just being tough as nails guarding whoever he found in front of him. Also had Ron Mercer who averaged almost 20 points a game.

The 2001 draft had a lot of talent. It was the year of the 7 footer with high schoolers Brown, Chandler and Curry (a local Chicago kid, the type has passed over before just from being from Chicago) and European Pau Gasol.

Looking back it also produced the likes of Jason Richardson, Joe Johnson, Shane Battier, Richard Jefferson, Zach Randolph, Tony Parker, Mehmet Okur and Agent Zero Gilbert Arenas.

Looking back the Bulls needed either a real point guard because Jamal had already proven he could not run the point or a shooting guard who could maybe take some of the ball handling away from him.

I'm not going to go and say the Bulls should have taken Tony Parker who was drafted 28 overall but taking Joe Johnson who was drafted 10th wouldn't be a stretch. With the Bulls second pick which was the 30th pick I would have selected Okur as a project to keep over in Europe for a few years instead of having him sit at the end of the bench.

The Bulls big free agent signing of the offseason was Eddie Robinson who was a total waste. Robinson was signed after Jamal Crawford had torn his ACL during the summer.

So going into the season my new looks Bulls would have had Joe Johnson, Ron Mercer, Ron Artest, Brand and Miller starting with Marcus Fizer, Eddie Robinson and the Oak Tree Charles Oakley on the bench with the likes of AJ Guyton and Fred Hoiberg.

The team would have been set back due to the Crawford injury and would have been seller at the trade deadline but this is where we undo the second worst move, the trading of Artest, Mercer and Miller to the Pacer for Jalen Rose and Travis Best.

In my world this trade doesn't happen and the Bulls wait till Crawford rejoins the team in March and plays out the rest of the season. This season proves a lot. First Tim Floyd got fired and replaced with Bill Cartwright and also shows Eddie Robinson was a bust and Crawford is a scoring guard not a point guard.

The 2002 draft was looking like a great one with Yao Ming, the giant center from China and Jay Williams, the point guard from Duke. With the Bulls again finishing out of the playoffs they entered the Lottery and againt struck gold in getting the 2nd pick in the draft.

In part 2 I will cover the 2002 draft and the events leading up to the 2003 NBA Draft which was the start of good times for the Bulls.

Is Scottie Pippen Underrated?

Michael Gibbons — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:20:59 -0400

I was in the car the other morning when the news of Ed McMahon's death broke.

Of course I was listening to sports radio, and the topic of greatest sidekicks got brought up because, even though McMahon did so much on his own, he will still forever be remembered as Johnny Carson's sidekick.

People were mentioning different teammates across all sports. Pippen and Michael Jordan were mentioned several times, but there wasn't an overwhelming response, as I thought there would be.

Some people weren't even mentioning them as the top basketball combo, which I guess is debatable, but I feel there is no question Pippen and MJ were the top.

Just like there is some debate whether or not Jordan is the greatest ever, I understand people will disagree with this. I feel this argument will also show just how great MJ was.

Both Jordan and Pippen were put on the top-50 of all time list the NBA came out with a few years ago. While looking at how great Pippen was, it just shows how much better Jordan was because of him.

While looking at Pippen's stats, I subtract the years that he wasn't with the Bulls, because he was asked to do very different things and was not asked to be the first or second option on any of those teams.

Pippen played 12 years with the Bulls during the "Jordan Era" and, for the most part, two of those years were spent without Jordan.

During those two years without Jordan, Pippen put up huge numbers. He averaged 22 and 21.4 points while grabbing 8.7 and 8.1 rebounds, dishing out 5.6 and 5.3 assists, and averaged 2.9 steals both seasons—and these were his per game stats.

His best season was probably during the second championship when he averaged 21 points, seven assists, and 7.7 boards per game. These numbers might not seem that great given that it is basically what LeBron has been putting up, but almost 20 years ago, these were huge.

Pippen was on the first Dream Team and was easily a top-10 player of his era. What this really shows is how good Jordan was when Pippen was, without a doubt, his sidekick, while other teammates are debatable.

For example, who was better between: Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, John Stockton and Karl Malone, and Magic Johnson and Kareem Adbul-Jabar? It will always be Jordan first and Pippen second, but that shouldn't make him a lesser player in the historical view.

What Are The T-Wolves Doing?

Michael Gibbons — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:13:47 -0400

Let me start out with I am not a real T-Wolves fan but have followed them ever since they drafted KG, back when I was in high school. Over the years Kevin McHale made a lot of questionable moves (trading Foye for Roy will always stand out as well as having a back room deal with Joe Smith before FA started). But what the new GM is doing really has me wondering.

They make the great trade to get two picks in the top six and there was talk all day about how they wanted to trade up to the two spot which didn't happen. So they draft Rubio, (the first player ever drafted who was born in the 90s) who slid to them, but then things got weird.

With the sixth pick they drafted Flynn, another point guard, who is smaller than Rubio. It is weired that they drafted two point guards back to back, especially because they still have Telfair on their roster.

But then with the 18th pick they drafedt Ty Lawson, another point guard. Supposely there is a deal in place to trade him to the Nuggets for a future pick, but this is a team that just traded Foye (who they traded Roy for, see the connection) & Mike Miller to Washington to get the number five pick. Wasn't there a player they wanted or could have used? Because looking at the roster, I'm not sure they have a shooting guard. Did all those fans up in the land of 10,000 lakes think this is what was coming with McHale gone?