He actually hasn't been bad at evaluating NBA players. And he'll be long gone before his plan to build through the draft bears fruit. If he works it right, he can be competitive by trading the guys that he has on his roster for current NBA players. Leon Rose did it with the Knicks. And Harrison did it with the Mavs.

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The evaluation of DeRozan as a #1? Vuk as 2 way player? Lavine's basketball instincts? Lonzo at PG when he can't make a layup?

He won't work it right and he shouldn't be allowed any more 40 win teams.

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Wattabout Kodak Black?

He was never evaluated to be a #1. Which is why he was only paid $26 million instead of max money. Derozan was actually a steal for what they paid him and gave up to get him. In essence he outplayed his contract.

He never claimed that he was a 2 way player. Vuc was an All Star at the time they traded for him. Who was only being paid $20 million per season. And plays every game and averages a double double

He inherited Lavine.

His worst acquisition by far but a lot of people here were in love with the move at the time.

He's also the dude who spotted Alex Caruso's talent when MANY believed him to be nothing more than a towel waver and water bottle carrier for the Lakers. And signed him at the Low Low Price of $9 Million per season.

He also spotted Ayo as a 2nd Round pick who had 1st Round talent. There have been some misses for sure but overall AK hasn't been that terrible of a GM. Hid biggest mistake has been overvaluing his guys and not firing Billy D.

And besides what would you have done at the time he made all of these moves back then?

And is there any evidence of you advocating for said moves at the time these were made? Just Asking A Question

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AK may have inherited Lavine, but he also is the one that signed him to a killer max contract. The Vuc trade turned out to be a swing and a miss. I don't care that he was an all star on a bad team, it's AK's job to recognize his deficiencies and fit with his team. He trades picks like the beloved Ryan Pace. AK also traded away Markkanen for a bag of balls & he is solely responsible for the continued presence of your hated Bill-D. His only current draft success is getting a back-up pg in the 2nd rd. I'd give him plus marks for Ayo, Caruso and DeRozan and that's pretty much it. Using the "everbody was in favor of it at the time" or "what would you have done" is irrelevant. AK is the one that is paid to get it right and he has mostly failed. "Hasn't been that terrible" is pretty generous.

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“Mr. Trump is unfit for our nation’s highest office.”- JD Vance
“My god, what an !diot.”- JD Vance tweet on Trump
“I’m a ‘Never Trump’ guy”- JD Vance

What moves would you have made at the time to make the team better?

Because no matter what anyone says AK made the team better. 10-15 games better per season.

I forgot about Markannen. Which was probably his worst move in hindsight.

We all can sit back and Monday Morning QB it, but the fact remains that MANY of the moves that were or weren't made by AK were moves that "WE" agreed with.

To a person I was told by people on here that Lonzo Ball was better than Jalen Brunson. Which he clearly wasn't.

I was also told that it made sense to keep career loser Coby White. OK he did. And thus we get what we get.

I've also been told repeatedly that Billy D is not the problem. OK last I checked he is still the coach. So what are we complaining about?

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That essentially proves my point. Our opinions make for a fun (usually) discussion, but don't matter in the least. His do and in the end, his successes or failures are the only criteria on which he should be judged. AK increased the win total by 10-15 games and the Bulls squeaked into the playoffs a couple of times. That got Billy-D an extension and ultimately has left the team in NBA hell. What is there to defend? Woo-hoo...he's not the worst GM in the league.

For the record - I liked the hires of both AK and Billy-D. I also liked the signing of Ball. I was wrong in each case. That doesn't make AK less terrible.

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“Mr. Trump is unfit for our nation’s highest office.”- JD Vance
“My god, what an !diot.”- JD Vance tweet on Trump
“I’m a ‘Never Trump’ guy”- JD Vance

I've said from Day 1 AK was pissing up a tree. It was never going to be championship level. No one cared. They wanted "competitive".Then there was Max Signing Lavine. To your credit, you were mildly against it while I was mildly for it only because the Bulls got put in a corner and would have been left empty handed. Little did we know his value would tank as much as it did.

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Wattabout Kodak Black?

This is silly. He is hardly the "Worst GM in the league". At worst he is middle of the road. The Bulls aren't a championship contender but they should be a playoff team given the talent. Their biggest problem is the coach. Who sucks. Their second biggest issue (which I documented last week) is ownership. Ball's injury exposed the frugality of Bulls ownership. Jerry Reinsdorf tied the guy's hands by not allowing him to make moves that would have placed them in the luxury tax. They have only paid the luxury tax once in the team's history. That isn't on AK. I'm fairly certain that if he could have filled the void left by Ball's injury he would.

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I've said it since the beginning. At $20 mil per season Zach was a helluva bargain. At $45 per year he was vastly overpaid. And you know who wanted "competitive" and not merely "rebuild"? Billy-D. That's whom He left OKC because he was too "accomplished" as a coach to do rebuilds. Meanwhile all OKC has done is lapped the Bulls and are well on their way to contending.
And as much as people bash the squad, there really is talent on it.

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there is no out door. Yes, let DeMar walk, they moved Caruso for an "eh" player and yes Zach has to go, for a bucket of balls if need be. The NBA is just as much luck with draft position. Get picks and hope for some luck in the draft.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Re-Signing the Paw was a step in the right direction. So Was the trade for Giddey. Bulls won that trade no matter what the comnon consensus happens to be. Drafting Matas was also a good move. However the "party" doesn't start until AK moves Lavine, Vuc and Derozan along. This is where AK will have to earn his spurs. Not only moving them, but finding value in them. He has to get a solid return for those 3 in order to be credible as a GM.

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The other part that hasn't been talked nearly enough is Lonzo and his availability in a trade. AK should be able to move him and get something back because Lonzo has an expiring contract.

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No market for Lavine. Can't give him away.
https://www.bleachernation.com/bulls/20 ... ine-trade/

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As noted previously, it seems like AK values picks less than Pace did. I would rather keeps him as a disgruntled 6th man than have to chip in a 1st to dump him. As noted in the article he could prove his value to a contender before the trade deadline. Alternatively, why not trade him for another bad contract? A disgruntled big man such as Deandre Ayton perhaps?

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“Mr. Trump is unfit for our nation’s highest office.”- JD Vance
“My god, what an !diot.”- JD Vance tweet on Trump
“I’m a ‘Never Trump’ guy”- JD Vance

If you can get him for Ayton, I would be fine with throwing in a future pick. The Bulls are trying to tank next year, so it shouldn't matter if they can only get you and I in return for Lavine. He's not worth having on the roster. Cut your losses and move on.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

You're missing the Market perspective. Everyone needs the Market (TM). After the Bulls locked in 7 PPG 3.6 RPG Patrick Williams, holding on to Lavine would make them perilously close to the luxury tax. In a penny pinching market like the one the Bulls operate in, no way can you hold on to Lavine. That's why they are offering first round picks to get rid of him - it's all about the Market.

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I have neither the time, or the inclination, to explain myself to a man who rises and sleep under the blanket of the very economic growth that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it.

Good job Bulls. Got to get fucked twice to attempt to get out of this mess.

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Wattabout Kodak Black?

The entire narrative to re-signing LaVine to a max deal was that you couldn't let him walk and get nothing in return. Now to get this jackass off their roster, they will have to give up something additional. Fire AK now.

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I know I posted this, but they will be able to trade Lavine Question is what will they receive for him. Teams on the cusp of winning it all will always believe that a guy like that can put them over the top. Have to see where other guys are traded and signed first. Just because Lavine isn't a team's #1 or #2 trade target, doesn’t mean that he isn't a trade target.

It really just comes down to AK and whether he wants to tank or not. I don't believe that he does. Which might be the problem.

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When you look at guys like KCP, you see why AK hurried up and signed the Paw to a 5 year deal. KCP is about to sign for 3 yes $66 mil.

8 years older with similar Stats (or worse) last season
https://www.basketball-reference.com/pl ... wke01.html

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KCP has done nothing in this league and should be mopping floors.

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Soon, he'll be on fries. An then the grill...

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Good Riddance and take your Iso ball style of play and defensive lapses with ya!
https://www.bleachernation.com/bulls/20 ... rozan-701/
Hopefully they can do a sign and trade on his way out the door

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He was the best player on the team and a guy that his teammates loved. Thirty four is too old for a rebuilding team, so I'm not upset. I would have loved to get something in return.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

It looks as if AK's plan is to accumulate a team full of young, talented players with 3-4 years of NBA experience and rollout from there. It actually might not be a terrible plan. He has to get something for Lavine, Vuc and Derozan though. It can't be simply a salary dump.

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That's exactly what they appear to be doing.

I think they are likely stuck with Vuc and Zach (maybe both, but at least 1) until the trade deadline. That contract that Zach has is nearly impossible to move.

It looks like they are will have a younger core of Coby, Ayo, Giddey, Williams, Buzelis, Jalen Smith, Phillips....but then these large contracts like Zach/Vuc/Ball hanging over them with a few of the remaining bottom of the roster players like Terry, Craig, Carter.....

Normally this team would be brutal and probably would struggle to win more than 25 games, but the East has a lot of trash so this team is probably going to get into the 30-35 win area...I don't think there is any superstar in this group unless Buzelis becomes that, but the best players on this team, like Coby specifically, is a 4th or 5th options on a good team. The rest of these guys are borderline starters, maybe bench players. Giddey and Buzelis can become clear cut starters, same with Coby, but it's hard to see this team competing without landing a major talent influx if they keep/obtain a top pick in next year's draft.

Depending on what AK wants to do, he does have some flexibility. At least with Vuc and Ball I believe. As an expiring contracts ge should be able to get off Ball. He may have to wait until the season begins though. Vuc is making about $20, mil, still productive offensively, and extremely durable. With 2 years left they should be able to move him too. I just believe that it will come down to whether AK wants to tank or not. If he moves all 3, he should be able to secure a few starters as well as rotation players out of the deal.

He also should be able to do a sign and trade for Derozan. Problem is that it's tough to find the right fit for Derozan's game among contending teams. He wants to play for a contender buy it takes 2 to dance.

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As much as I think Vuc was a bad signing to begin with, horrible defensively and declining in general....and don't get me wrong, my preference would be to trade him, but I think it's a tough sell with 2 years left because other teams see the same things we can see. Saying that, even before it became clear that the Bulls were going to do more of a youth movement off-season, I would have been satisfied with reducing Vuc's importance/role some. If Jalen Smith is really a via-able option, they now have the makings of a rotation at center and can use use Vuc less (say 25 minutes per night with more of an emphasis against teams that are more favorable to his style).

Agreed on Ball. Nobody is going to be trading for him for any kind of help on the floor, but an expiring contract can have value so maybe there's something they can eventually do there.

DeRozan is now talking about taking a 1 year deal and going back into free agency next season. I'm not sure if they have the money, but a team like Denver could make sense if he wants to be on a winning team and willing to take a reduced role. I think they lost both Jackson and Pope so bringing in a scorer in a 6th man type role could be a landing spot, but I just don't know if his style of play fits into most teams these days.

I don't think Derozan would ever accept a reduced role though. He's one of the guy's that will say that he wants to win, but it has to be on his own terms. I can't see accepting anything less than being the #2 option. And that's even on a contending team. I think an ideal role for him would be that of 6th man scorer off the bench. But I don't believe he wants that role at this stage of his career.

In terms of Vuc I still believe someone would take that salary on. He's still a legitimate Starting NBA center. $20 mil per year is about the norm for one of those.

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