Da Bulls

[MtSkier]

Originally Posted by DMBZeppelin

No question Deng was a great Bull and a good person. I'm with you guys that it sucks to see him go, but this is the only move that made sense. Had they extended him I'm not sure I'd be that happy. Though I'm very glad we weren't willing to overpay him.

Oh I totally agree, but he was a great player and a generally all around good dude.

[rustysurf83]

Thibs sounds pissed, but for once I agree with GarPax over his short sightedness.

[DMBZeppelin]

I meant to post this the other day when the news broke. Had the Bulls extended Deng, even at their price, I would have been mad. This team needs to get bad in a hurry after winning 4 of 5 recently.

@WojYahooNBA: Luol Deng rejected a 3 year, $30 million extension with Bulls last week, league source tells Yahoo. Turned out to be prelude to trade.

@JeffZillgitt: Have been told Luol Deng's reps wanted $15-16 million/season. Trade now gives Bulls time to waive Bynum before his deal is full guaranteed.

@KCJHoop: No negotiation on Bulls' last ditch extension offer. $10M annually. Take it or leave it. Bulls slotted that #, knew he'd say no--or both.

[DMBZeppelin]

Deng denies asking Bulls for $15M per year
By K.C. Johnson

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Wearing an unfamiliar No. 8 on his practice jersey, made even stranger by the fact it said Cavaliers on it, Luol Deng wanted to make two things clear Wednesday.

He’s not bitter. And despite reports, he never asked for $15 million a year from the Bulls, who traded Deng to Cleveland on Monday in a financial move to create flexibility for the future.

“My thing is in the summer, I never came with a number,” Deng told the Tribune. “I heard on the radio that I asked for 15 (million). I would never ask for a number. We came to (general manager) Gar (Forman) last summer and we wanted to sit down and talk. And Gar didn’t want to talk. They felt like they wanted to wait and see how everything goes with Derrick (Rose).

“Three days before the trade, Gar called me upstairs and put three years, $30 million on the table. Take it or leave it. No negotiation. I said no and that was it. But 15? That’s the only thing that upset me. I’m not upset with the organization. I want everyone to understand that. If I was a GM, would I make that move? Maybe.

“I wanted to be in Chicago. I thought I was going to end my career there. Not talking during the summer, did that hurt me? Yeah. And then you come back with 10 (million). Who knows what I would’ve taken in the summer? That’s the part that is really bothering me. Other than that, I have no issues at all.”

In fact, Deng’s memories of nine-plus seasons with the Bulls are incredibly fond ones.

“They paid me,” Deng said, referencing the $71 million extension he signed in 2008. “I can’t be mad at that. You don’t have to tap me on the shoulder every day. That’s not me. That’s not my personality.

“I had an opportunity to play for a great organization. I’ve been very lucky to play 10 years for the only team that I ever knew as a kid. I only knew Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and the Bulls when I was 7 years old and in Egypt. For me to be the fourth-leading scorer on that team, did I ever think a refugee kid in Egypt would even play for the Bulls? There’s a lot of amazing things that have happened.”

Deng saw the comments his teammates made in the wake of his trade, the ones that made it clear he’ll be remembered for more than being a two-time All-Star. He appreciated those.

“I wish (the trade) was face-to-face so I could say good-bye to my teammates,” Deng said. “I had to call them and talk to each one. There are workers at the stadium, people at the Berto, I wanted to say good-bye face-to-face. After nine or 10 years, those are not just people you work with. Some of them, I’m closer to them than teammates. The way I went down, I wish it wasn’t a phone call.”

For a person who grew up in war-torn Sudan, lived as a refugee in Egypt and then found asylum in Great Britain, Chicago always will hold a special place to Deng.

“I’ve never lived anywhere else longer,” he said. “I grew up in Chicago. I had just turned 19 when I came in. I was just a kid. There are so many things that I’ve learned in Chicago. I’d watch the news and see what’s going on on the south side and then I’d travel and people would talk about Chicago, and I’d feel like they were talking about my home city. It got to that point. It’s really hard to leave. But I’m excited at this new opportunity. This is a great opportunity too.”

Click the "Show Spoiler" Button to reveal hidden text.

[DMBZeppelin]

Could Chicago Bulls be moving more players?
Sam Amick, USA TODAY Sports

RENO, Nev. – When news broke late Monday night that the Chicago Bulls had broken up their championship-contending core by trading Luol Deng to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the proverbial blood was in the water almost immediately.

Rival executives had been waiting and wondering whether the Bulls would have to go this route, to opt for Plan B because of Derrick Rose's second season-ending injury by finally succumbing to the league's collective bargaining agreement by way of a money-saving deal. And so they did, taking on Andrew Bynum's contract for the right to waive him and sneak under the luxury tax that is so much more punitive than it has been in the past. The Bulls landed three draft picks in the trade as well (a first and two seconds) but the strong message had been sent that the Bulls' shop may finally be open for business.

Bulls fans, players and most certainly coach Tom Thibodeau may be in mourning today, as Deng was a fan favorite and this is as tough as NBA decisions come. But this is welcome news for everyone else around the league.

So, what's next? We shall see.

While forward Carlos Boozer could be waived via the league's amnesty clause during the offseason as yet another way to clear the Bulls' books, it appears point guard Kirk Hinrich will be drawing the most immediate interest when it comes to the Bulls' possible next move. According to a person with knowledge of the situation, the Golden State Warriors are among teams that had been showing serious interest in Hinrich long before the Deng trade. The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because trade talks are typically private.

Hinrich, the 33-year-old who is making approximately $4 million in the final season of his contract, is averaging 7.8 points, 4.7 assists and 30.7 minutes per game but shooting at a career-low rate from the field (34%) and three-point range (28.6%). In the wake of the Deng trade, the natural question being asked by opposing teams is whether the Bulls will go into full-tank mode as a way to improve their draft standing and how that might impact the trade possibilities.

Even with the Warriors' current nine-game winning streak, they remain on the lookout for a point guard to play behind Stephen Curry. While small forward Andre Iguodala spends ample time as a playmaking point-forward and veteran Toney Douglas provides spot minutes, this is the void that was created when Jarrett Jack left for Cleveland as a free agent last July. Hinrich is certainly not the only possible solution on the Warriors' radar, as they remain in the mix for Denver point guard Andre Miller as well.

Miller was suspended recently and excused from the team indefinitely after his verbal altercation with coach Brian Shaw on Wednesday, and the Nuggets – according to several executives here at the D-League showcase – have been telling teams that they expect to trade him this week. The Sacramento Kings are also known to be bidding on Miller. Yahoo! Sports first reported on the Nuggets' newfound urgency to trade Miller.

As for the Bulls, this is the new way of their world. Let the bidding wars for almost anyone on their retooled roster begin.

Click the "Show Spoiler" Button to reveal hidden text.

[Tiduwho]

Can't believe anyone would want Hinrich for anything more than cap space trade-off. He's a walking injury, even if he's one of my favorite Bulls ever.

[MtSkier]

Originally Posted by DMBZeppelin

Deng denies asking Bulls for $15M per year
By K.C. Johnson

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Wearing an unfamiliar No. 8 on his practice jersey, made even stranger by the fact it said Cavaliers on it, Luol Deng wanted to make two things clear Wednesday.

He’s not bitter. And despite reports, he never asked for $15 million a year from the Bulls, who traded Deng to Cleveland on Monday in a financial move to create flexibility for the future.

“My thing is in the summer, I never came with a number,” Deng told the Tribune. “I heard on the radio that I asked for 15 (million). I would never ask for a number. We came to (general manager) Gar (Forman) last summer and we wanted to sit down and talk. And Gar didn’t want to talk. They felt like they wanted to wait and see how everything goes with Derrick (Rose).

“Three days before the trade, Gar called me upstairs and put three years, $30 million on the table. Take it or leave it. No negotiation. I said no and that was it. But 15? That’s the only thing that upset me. I’m not upset with the organization. I want everyone to understand that. If I was a GM, would I make that move? Maybe.

“I wanted to be in Chicago. I thought I was going to end my career there. Not talking during the summer, did that hurt me? Yeah. And then you come back with 10 (million). Who knows what I would’ve taken in the summer? That’s the part that is really bothering me. Other than that, I have no issues at all.”

In fact, Deng’s memories of nine-plus seasons with the Bulls are incredibly fond ones.

“They paid me,” Deng said, referencing the $71 million extension he signed in 2008. “I can’t be mad at that. You don’t have to tap me on the shoulder every day. That’s not me. That’s not my personality.

“I had an opportunity to play for a great organization. I’ve been very lucky to play 10 years for the only team that I ever knew as a kid. I only knew Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and the Bulls when I was 7 years old and in Egypt. For me to be the fourth-leading scorer on that team, did I ever think a refugee kid in Egypt would even play for the Bulls? There’s a lot of amazing things that have happened.”

Deng saw the comments his teammates made in the wake of his trade, the ones that made it clear he’ll be remembered for more than being a two-time All-Star. He appreciated those.

“I wish (the trade) was face-to-face so I could say good-bye to my teammates,” Deng said. “I had to call them and talk to each one. There are workers at the stadium, people at the Berto, I wanted to say good-bye face-to-face. After nine or 10 years, those are not just people you work with. Some of them, I’m closer to them than teammates. The way I went down, I wish it wasn’t a phone call.”

For a person who grew up in war-torn Sudan, lived as a refugee in Egypt and then found asylum in Great Britain, Chicago always will hold a special place to Deng.

“I’ve never lived anywhere else longer,” he said. “I grew up in Chicago. I had just turned 19 when I came in. I was just a kid. There are so many things that I’ve learned in Chicago. I’d watch the news and see what’s going on on the south side and then I’d travel and people would talk about Chicago, and I’d feel like they were talking about my home city. It got to that point. It’s really hard to leave. But I’m excited at this new opportunity. This is a great opportunity too.”

Click the "Show Spoiler" Button to reveal hidden text.

This makes me sad. Especially this part

“I had an opportunity to play for a great organization. I’ve been very lucky to play 10 years for the only team that I ever knew as a kid. I only knew Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and the Bulls when I was 7 years old and in Egypt. For me to be the fourth-leading scorer on that team, did I ever think a refugee kid in Egypt would even play for the Bulls? There’s a lot of amazing things that have happened.”

[Tiduwho]

Zep,

What do we need to get the Bobcats pick this year? They are the 8th seed now I see. Is it just lottery protected or?

[DMBZeppelin]

Originally Posted by Tiduwho

Zep,

What do we need to get the Bobcats pick this year? They are the 8th seed now I see. Is it just lottery protected or?

Bobcats pick is top 10 protected.

Kings pick is top 12 protected.

So if the Bobcats fall into the back end of the lottery and get pick #11 it goes to the Bulls. It's Top 8 protected in 2015 and completely unprotected in 2016.

[cwsrule88]

Tonight would be a great time for a tank loss.

[rustysurf83]

They need to lose this shit. OT? Fucking sweet. Thibs is going to get this team to the playoffs unless they can dump a couple more dudes.

[MtSkier]

It's gonna be pretty tough to tank that low, lots of terrible teams.

[rustysurf83]

Yeah, 2OT now. They would need to move Hinrich and Dunleavy.

[rustysurf83]

Triple OT...Boozer hasn't played since the third quarter

[MtSkier]

big baby with the game tying deep 3? classic.

[SqueeBaBooSquee]

How we feeling about the tanking lately? I don't think they're tanking very well.

[skwormin]

Bulls are bad at tanking until the playoffs. That's where we shine.

[rustysurf83]

Clearly past the point of tanking, probably going to host a playoff series.

[DMBZeppelin]

@KCJHoop: Bulls win draft tiebreaker with Raptors so they pick 16th from Bobcats and 19th with their own pick.

[DMBZeppelin]

Noah won defensive player of the year.

[cwsrule88]

Good for him, even though Nene made him look bad yesterday.

[DMBZeppelin]

Only preseason, but Mirotic looks like the real deal.

[rustysurf83]

McD3rmott looks decent too.

[DMBZeppelin]

Originally Posted by rustysurf83

McD3rmott looks decent too.

Easily the best bench the Bulls have had since the 62 win 2010/11 team.

McBuckets can shoot. Mirotic can create his own shot. If the Bulls can stay semi-healthy then Thibs should have the depth to not kill everyone before the playoffs start.

[rustysurf83]

Do they deal Snell for picks or hold on to him in case of the inevitable Thibs' injury train? I vote the latter.

[DMBZeppelin]

Originally Posted by rustysurf83

Do they deal Snell for picks or hold on to him in case of the inevitable Thibs' injury train? I vote the latter.

If they can find a spot for him I'd keep him. He has some untapped upside, but I doubt he's worth much in a trade right now.

[gocubsgo3822]

i like this team a lot*

[Tiduwho]

Why the *?

[gocubsgo3822]

Why the fuck do you think

[SqueeBaBooSquee]

Is it too early to start tanking?