I just thought I would throw a thought out there that I really haven't heard as an explanation for the demise of these Bulls.

The conventional wisdom is that Pax has overvalued his players and that he wasn't willing to trade them for a superstar because he placed too much value on them. Fine. The problem with that theory however is that for Paxon to deal them, other GMs would have had to overvalue them to trade for them. So, the only way Pax could make a deal would have been for Paxon to have a true understanding of their value but at the same time be able to con another GM who overvalues them into trading for them. I think it is unfair to say Paxon should not have overvalued them but cricize him because no other GM did. I just wonder if Paxon was willing to deal them for Garnett, Kobe, Gasol, etc. but the other GM said "These guys aren't that good. I can get Al Jefferson instead....or....these guys aren't that good.....why would I trade you Kobe for them." These GMs are paid to evaluate talent and maybe they properly evaluated the Bull's talent and didn't want it.

This is not meant to excuse Pax because he drafted these guys, but I just don't think we can say if Paxon didn't overvalue these guys he could have found another suiter who did and would be willing to trade a star for them.

What did Memphis get for Gasol? They'd have traded him over the off-season/end of last season for Deng plus Gordon or Hinrich and another player.

What did the T-wolves get for Garnett? Again, throw Deng, one of the Gordon/Hinrich and another player and they'd have gone for it over the off-season--it'd have been better than what they got from Boston at the time (seems like less good of a deal now because of the Bulls crappy season).

And the Lakers reportedly were willing to deal Kobe but the Lakers wouldn't make the deal without Deng and Kobe didn't want to come to Chicago if Deng were traded.

Seems like everyone overvalued a 3 quarter player like Deng.