Its not really about being right actually. The GM sort of agreed with what I've been thinking about Butler. There is a lot I could have bashed Butler over but I have sort of let it roll simply because this Bulls thing is larger than the play of Butler. Its bigger than Hoiberg too. I know for most its an "if only had Thibs" they'd be contenders thing. There is a lack of athleticism and talent that can't be ignored any longer. Gasol was a godsend his first year and a liability during his 2nd.

Its up to Paxson to fix this thing. Butler does need to stop anointing himself leader of the team though. Paxson was right about that. He isn't a leader and the veterans on the team don't need him to act as their leader.

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Too bad that dumb fuck Pax didn't gave the balls or brains to lock Butler up for 11 mill a tear like his agent requested..instead that dummy Pax opted to pay him 20 mill a year. Fuckin meathead.

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The Bulls would definitely be in better financial shape. Paxson has made some mistakes but I still think he has been a net plus as a GM. I remember the Post Jordan/Krause/Cartwright/Floyd years. This isn't nearly the mess that was. That is why I am finding it laughable when I read all of the worst bulls year in (mark the year). I don't know if its been said on here but I have read it in some places. They were 2 games over .500 when it was all said and done. That record makes the playoffs in any year that Thibs was the coach. They have to make some moves and I'm willing to see what moves Paxson will make. This is on him and if he truly believes that he is responsible then he is going to work hard to make the necessary moves. He cannot come back with this same roster. I hope the guy has the sense to realize this.

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I joked earlier but Pax is absolutely going for the fired in the press route with Butler. Hood played an interview from Bulls PR mouthpiece Sam Smith shitting on Butler so it looks like they'll go the weasel route again.

They're complete idiots.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

And then they'll be shocked after they broadcast their intentions of unloading him no matter what to the rest of the league that the offers aren't quite as enticing as expected. Just like when they were so surprised when teams weren't willing to give up a 1st for Thibs last year after they had made it beyond clear they were canning him.

But hey, it's all about the short term for GarPax, and anything that gets people focused on hating on a player instead of their responsibility for a massive organizational failure is a win in their book. And if Jimmy does go, well the Bulls are just in rebuilding mode, so you can't possibly foist lofty expectations like an actual playoff appearance on the front office!

By all accounts Butler works his ass off. It's not surprising that a guy who has never had to be a leader will struggle being a leader. Instead of helping him (After giving him a max deal) they shit on him in public and also destroy his trade value. I'm sure star players will love to come here because of that.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

He had no problem, nor did people have a problem with him shitting on a rookie coach struggling to get established in the NBA though. He also had no problem throwing his teammates under the bus by proclaiming that they weren't leaders either. Mind you among that group were a future hall of famer and 2 time champ, a former MVP, and a two time all star whose leadership skills have never been in question.

Lost in all the hoopla regarding missed playoffs are statements made by Butler following the Bulls final reg. season game. He basically asserted that the only reason that he played was because Hoiberg guaranteed him that he'd run the point prior to the game. Players on the team have spoken off the record about the preferential treatment that he seeks and receives. It's obvious that Butler's newly attained status as best player has gone to his head. He was the person that decided to shit on the franchise by hanging Hoiberg out to dry. If they have decided to return the favor oh well.

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Why can't GarPax be the adults and not "return the favor"?

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LTG's Butler hate is really odd. Butler, Noah, Gasol, Taj and Hoiberg have questioned Hoiberg's coaching ability this year. Anyone objectively watching the Bulls recognize that Hoiberg has a long way to go to become a competent head coach. They also recognized that he wasn't helped by the CBA assistant coaches that were put around him AND a roster that didn't fit the system he wanted to run. All these things fall on Paxson who is now devaluing his #1 asset.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

This is the Reinsdorf way. Krause might have been the one to verbalize it but I believe he was only repeating what he heard in saying that organizations win championships. JR thinks that stability in the executive office is the strongest indicator of organizational strength.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Let's look at each case on an individual basis and not as part of the collective. Noah has an axe to grind because he was benched. Taj Gibson has also said a number of positive things about Hoiberg's coaching ability too. He also gotten ripped into his teammates too. He has taken some not so subtle jabs at Paxson along the way. Lost in Hoiberg bashing has been Gibson's questioning of personnel. Don't really know what Gasol said about Hoiberg.

Butler is the guy that placed himself above the team, and above Hoiberg's coaching. Sam Smith NBA scribe, has written about Butler and his prima donna behavior this season.

Before we dismiss Smith for the team mouthpiece that he is, a question must be asked. If guys like he and K.C. Johnson don't she'd light on this who will? Joe Cowley? Forget it. He has his face so far up Butler and Thibs ass they could probably commit a brinks truck robbery and he'd find a way to blame Bulls management.

Sure Bulls management leaks stuff to these guys. But they do it because they know it is guaranteed to be reported. It's obvious that Jimmy Butler sought to undermine Hoiberg. He made a miscalculation with regards to capital. He is the best player on a team that missed the playoffs. He also came up rather small in games that determined whether the Bulls would make the playoffs or not. If Paxson wants to call him on it or trade him because of it shouldn't be of much concern, because Butler brought it on himself. He did it both in word and in deed.

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Good Paxson moves:
Hitting that one shot when Jordan passed him the ball.
Finding E'Twaun Moore
Not signing Carmelo Anthony even though he wanted to.

Bad Paxson moves:
Pretty much everything else

The good outweighs the bad.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

I am not declaring this but simply guessing... I read this sentiment that GarPax are or were not adult in this Butler business. How is it know that they did not in fact try to address this in a quiet fashion during the season. The could have also tried to hint to Butler that the leadership skills are in need of work and maybe ease it up? It may just be that Butler is a jerk in reality and said blow me? Again just spit balling.

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Elections have consequences.

Paxson has gotten better though. He hasn't attempted to murder anyone by strangulation lately.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Plus, he's a thug who choked his coach.

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Ecclesiastes 5:8

Are you putting that in the good or bad moves?

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

That's the real kick in the nuts, if Butler is locked up on that 50 million instead of 100 million. Imagine if Thibs got Draymond Green instead of Pax grabbing another scrub..Thibs was the leader and he's gone, its natural for Butler to try to step up n fill a void, Rose sucks, I can't wait for Rose n Noah and Dunleavy to be gone but I'm more hopeful that Pax and Hoiberg are canned.

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I agree, his irrational dislike of Jimmy kinda reminds me of your irrational dislike of Bernie.

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Uh Cowley is the one who said Butler and Noah were on the verge of throwing hands this season (and that the start of the rift came last year when he viewed the preferential treatment Rose and Noah themselves received at the behest of the front office as unacceptable). Mike McGraw said specifically that Butler and Gar hate each other. It's not just Smith reporting anything which is an indication both that yes Butler may have been a problem and that these guys are getting enough info that it's in line with the usual way the children in the front office conduct themselves.

Just in case you were wondering if I only reserved such dislike for bums like Taj now you know. This is done in an effort to achieve equity.

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You just illustrated my point. Cowley always tells the story from the lens of Jimmy Butler or Thibs. "The preferential treatment of Noah or Rose". Which writer was the one pushing the Rose/Butler rift? Cowley. I could go up and down the past 2 years and find a number of puff piece Butler articles written by Cowley.

While other outlets last week were pushing Bulls players annoyance about the Preferential treatment received by Butler, Cowley was busy writing yet another article about how this is "Butler's team". Who cares whose team it is? They missed the damn playoffs.

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Again, stories putting Butler in a bad light have been pushed by all the usual Bulls suspects, not just Cowley. Which like I said indicates he probably was a dick at various points this year but which also indicates an agenda.


I care to the extent that if the Bulls need change in the locker room I'd probably side with the guy who's still actually a useful piece. If you're siding with Noah, Rose, and Dunleavy, you may as well just announce you're going the Hinkie route. Butler was far and away the best Bulls player this season, regardless of how he may have felt about Hoiberg's system and regardless of how poorly he played when he came back from injury down the stretch.

But taking sides in disputes between players is, as I've been saying all along, an utter red herring to distract from the massive failure of John Paxson and Gar Forman and to soften fans up in the event they decide to trade their one player worth a damn.

I've never seen ya address the biggest problem(Paxson) and if numbnuts is going to trade Jimmy, don't badmouth your asset before he goes on the trade market.

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I actually have addressed Paxson. If Butler's value is reduced it won't have much to do with anything stated by Paxson as much as it has to do with teams not thinking that Butler is that good. I think they can get decent players for him, but they aren't going to break the bank by trading Jimmy Butler. Since Brick preceded me (not in death) by invoking the name I will piggy back. Who the hell does Jimmy Butler think he is Carmelo Anthony?

Boston already allegedly killed a deal by refusing to include the immortal Jae Crowder (former college teammate of Butler's) for him. What does that suggest about his relative trade value?

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What is this? Did you change your mind in the middle of writing this post?

Actually I remembered that he drafted Wade after I wrote it and decided to include it before someone made reference. Still think Isaiah has drafted better overall though. Remember that Riley is also the guy that drafted Beasley too.

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2015: Paxson rewards Butler with a max contract
2016: Paxson intimates that Butler could be dealt one year into max contract

2015: Paxson fires coach for pushing players hard, including Butler
2016: After failed season, Paxson pledges to push players harder, including Butler

2015: Paxson hires coach to optimize the talents of all players, especially Butler
2016: Paxson publicly criticizes Butler when the Paxson-hired coach fails to do so, and suggests he could be dealt

2015: Paxson's boss criticizes fired coach for leaking information to allies in the press
2016: Paxson leaks information to Bulls mouthpiece and living fossil Sam Smith that criticizes Butler

2016: Paxson earns shout out thread

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Successful calls:

Kyrie Irving will never win anything as a team's alpha: check
T.rubisky is a bust: check
Ben Simmons is a liability: check
The Fields Cult is dumb: double check

2013 CSFMB ROY

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.