bulls have a bunch of players who cant create their own shots excluding:(gordon) and we've all seen what great pg's do for subpar teams alla cp3,deron. Bulls need to do whatever it takes to land derrick rose.

I say we trade a couple of players valuable around the league miami's not gonna accept junk

package a -signed- Deng and hinrich (they're high on both) and possibly a 9th for miami's #1 and their 2nd rounder
bring the hometown star to chicago!!!

also say we package Duhon, our 2nd rounder,and miami's to move up for Roy Hibbert/ or Kosta Koufos either of them will greatly help our need to score in the post and provide exceptional length on defense

Rose is a pipedream, we arent getting him. We arent getting Mayo either probably, but thats not necessarily that bad. Im not sure how well he will play at the next level. I'd like to get Augustine, or if thats not an option we should definitely be on the phone with Toronto.

I dont know who they are higher on between Ford and Calderon, and knowing Ford's injury history and spinal condition Im guessing they would like to hold on to Calderon, if not both, but they would probably entertain offers. They need help in the post and and offensively from the swing spots. Deng or Gordon would go well with that team.

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The Bulls need a star player. Plain and simple. For once, I actually agree with Sam Smith on his Gilbert Arenas idea, provided he is healthy. Washington has two very good scoers in A.Jamison and C.Butler, and they've experienced success without Arenas this season so I do believe, that instead of paying him a maximum deal, they will explore sign and trades with him. The Bulls could provide Washington role players from Kirk Hinrich or Andres Nocioni, maybe a younger big man like Tyrus Thomas, a decent lottery pick, and maybe Ben Gordon in a sign and trade role to be their 6th man. Let me reiterate - I'm not making this trade unless doctors have me 100% convinced that his knees are fine because we will have to max him out. Hinrich would most likely have to be involved in a deal because of his salary, but he would make a nice fit with Arenas. Too bad they probably wouldn't be on the same team.

I also don't believe the Bulls will trade Luol Deng. He did not blossom as many, including myself, had hoped, but I think Paxson will focus on resigning him to a long-term deal and make him one of the corner stones for the off-season.

Jakeem Noah will be here as well. They can't trade everyone, and at least he shows a desire to be on a winning club despite his immaturity. He needs to spend the summer in a weight room.

Larry Hughes will be on the Bulls next season, but he can't shoot on top of making a ton of money. They will have to find a role for him, and it may end up being the starting shooting guard if they don't acquire a big name at that position. At worse, he'll be the 6th man. We'll just have to ride it out with him until his contract becomes valuable.

Drew Gooden is valuable next season with his expiring contract, and his name will come up in plenty of trade talks as well. He could also be part of a package for a star type player.

It's safe to say there's going to be a major shake-up though. I would love to just start over and get a Derrick Rose in the draft, but I don't think teams will take our role players in a trade for a young star.

Duhon is a free agent so he isn't going anywhere in a trade since he'll he free to do whatever, and nobody is going to take Duhon/2nd round pick from the Bulls to move down. In fact, I'd be surprised if the Bulls draft pick ends up on their team by the time the next season starts. They may make a draft pick, but I believe they will take the most marketable player.
Calderon is an interesting name. He really blossomed in Toronto this season, but is splitting time with Ford, who is often injured, and I'm sure Toronto will do what they can to bring Calderon back. Still, and it may not be enough, I'd explore a sign and trade or just flat out signing him to a mid-level deal.

A lot to decide upon....
PF - Gooden/Thomas (at least one of them will be traded)
SF - Deng
C - Noah
SG - Hughes or an unknown player
PG - Hinrich/unknown

Not sure if Calderon is a FA or not. If he is a UFA, I think the Bulls need to go after him hard. He has potential to be an All Star PG.

I wouldnt trade for Arenas simply because I dont think you win a championship with him as your best player, and I dont think you give max money to anyone unless they fit that category.

Im completely fine with Noah as our starting Center next season.

I would like to keep Gooden if we can keep him at the same salary range hes at now.

I wish there was a way we can get rid of Hughes. As long as he is on our team and making $13M, its tough to see us as serious contenders.

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Listen to the river sing sweet songs
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Calderon is a restricted free agent. I don't know if any of the teams with cap space will make a big offer than the mid-level exception, but there is always a sign and trade possiblity.

In my opinion, Arenas is as close to a star as they can probably find in the trade market. Maybe Elton Brand's name comes up again, but if I'm the Clippers, I bring that team next season with Kaman, Maggette and Thorton, and see what happens.

I agree that Arenas is the most talented player on the market, but I dont like the way he plays. I think if he adjusted the way he played offensively, and commit himself wholeheartedly defensively like Lebron, he could be the franchise guy we need. I just think hes too interested in blogging and being a celebrity to do that.

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Listen to the river sing sweet songs
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Yeah, David Stern doesn't decide the NFL draft order. Let's hope the NBA office is all stocked up on liquid nitrogen.

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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 going to cling to the hope that David Stern will fix the lottery for us so we can get one of the top two guys. I am a man of faith!

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If the Bulls don't get a high draft pick this year(and maybe even if they do), then they need to prepare themselves to enter the Lebron/Wade/Melo/Bosh bidding wars. I see no reason why Lebron wouldn't come here if the money was right. He has that big Nike contract incentive too.

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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 think as long as Pax and his crew are in charge, we will continue to see poor talent evaluation. My only hope is that they suck really bad the next three years and get an obvious future all star in one of the next few drafts.

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If the Bulls made the max offer that they could I think it would get one of them. I doubt Chris Bosh loves living in Toronto in obscurity.

Kobe almost went to the Clippers a while ago. The money wasn't that much different.

I think 2 out of 4 of those players will find new teams.

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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 wasnt just focusing on drafting because I realize there really wasnt much for him to draft, though you are right on the Thomas move. Are you convinced that it is Paxson falling in love with players? I am just amazed that the Bulls do not have one legit all star on the roster.

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we have a winner!

...no player is untouchable when your team isn't a contender

I was surprised when people started saying he is in love with his players/doesnt want to part with them because none of them were all star quality in my opinion. Hinrich showed flashes of it against Wade, but their effort against Detriot last year opened my eyes.

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Cleveland can outbid us for James, and Paxson will probably be out of a job if he waits another season or two for these guys to possibly come to Chicago.

It seems that everything started going backwards from the moment Tyrus Thomas was drafted. Obviously, Thomas hasn't lived up to his potential as of yet, and I am not blaming him for Kirk Hinrich and others falling on their faces, but up until that point, Paxson had done a great job of drafting what was avalable. Thomas made sense at the time because they were looking to add more athleticsm, but since then Paxson made the Wallace signing, traded Chandler away, and now looks like we are back to rebuilding or, more likely, rebuilding.

So are you saying that Lebron James is definitely staying in Cleveland? I'm not ready to say that yet.

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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 really doubt he will actually. The salary wont matter because the added endorsements from playing in a bigger market will more than offset that. Also Cleveland has had 4 years to get him alot of help and outside of him the team sucks.

Not sure if the Knicks will have the cap room to sign him, and if they do they would be the obvious leading contender. The Nets should be in Brooklyn by then and they are also a big name in there, with Bron being friends with Jaz-Z. Either way I dont see LeBron resigning long term with Cleveland as the roster sits right now.

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I agree. I think Lebron James, Wade, Bosh, Carmelo are all definitely in play and are the best options for the future.

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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!

For Wade itll depend on Miami's upcoming draft. If they land Beasley and he is what we thought he was, then hes staying. If the Raps show Bosh the money I think he'll stay because he'll likely have a very talented young PG and he already said many times he loves the city of toronto and doesnt necessarily want to play in a big market, and his personality seems to corroborate that a bit.

I have no clue what will happen to Melo. He needs to get his shit together on and off the court.

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Jose Calderon currently has a 58-1 assist to turnover ratio in April. I would definitely spend more than the MLE for him.

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hire Tom Thibodeau as the new head coach.

Heck his 5.5 to 1 ratio for the season is pretty phenomenal

I wonder what Ramon Sessions' ratio is

Agreed. I'd be surprised if he didnt get an offer of $9M+/year this offseason. He was easily a top 10 PG this season when starting. I would love to have him on the Bulls.

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What star player is signing for $9M? I think Calderon gets more than the MLE. Anyone who signs him for the MLE or less is getting an incredible steal. He's really not better than Devin Harris(5 years, $45M)?

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I would rather have Jose Calderon then Luol or Gordon. The biggest problem with it is already paying Kirk that type of money. I agree Arenas and Brand are better, I would love to have Brand, but I would rather have Calderon than Arenas.

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I've explained my thoughts on Arenas before. He is probably the most selfish player in the league, he doesnt bring it on defense, and he doesnt make his teammates better. Yes, he is incredibly talented, I just dont want him on my team.

As for Luol, I would argue he is the one who has shown flashes. Good small forwards are a dime a dozen. Im not sold on him being even the 2nd best player on a championship team.

Calderon is an excellent PG who runs a half court offense very well. Half court PG's are not easy to find. He can also score when he needs to, is extremely careful with the ball, and generally doesnt make mistakes. He's an all effort guy who is decent defensively and has the chance to be very good on the defensive end. I can see him averaging 15-10 when he gets a full time gig.

Yes I do love PG's. Not only do I find them the most exciting, but I think unless you have a Franchise Center, which Dwight Howard is the only one that comes to mind in entire league unless you count Duncan as a PF, then a great PG is the most important position to have success in today's NBA. Just look at all the teams in the playoffs. Every team in the West except the Lakers has a really good PG, and Sasha, Farmar, and Fisher are a very decent platoon.

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How can you say that with certainty when Toronto tries to be the Phoenix of the east? I like Calderon but unless the bulls can get rid of Heinrich & Hughes he is a pipe dream

I wouldn't say that LeBron James is definitely staying in Cleveland, but I also wouldn't say that the Bulls are going to him, and there's no way Paxson will have a job if he still has a struggling job, and banks it all on getting a superstar player. I don't think the fans have the patience to wait on a gamble.