In the first 24 hours after the Celtics eliminated the Cavaliers on Thursday, the Bulls sold more than 500 new full season tickets and a team official estimated incoming call volume to their sales office stood roughly 50 times normal levels.

The question now is whether the allure of LeBron James will have a similar effect on Bulls management.

League sources said Sunday that noted NBA power broker William Wesley continues to work back channels to sell John Calipari and James as a package deal to franchises such as the Bulls, Nets and Clippers with coaching vacancies and salary cap room.

Another league source confirmed that an unknown Calipari connection contacted Bulls management over the weekend. This not only once again renders the coach's vows to remain at Kentucky hollow, it underscores the juggling act general manager Gar Forman and senior vice president John Paxson must navigate as they tackle a coaching search while planning for free agency, which begins July 1.


Forman addressed this dynamic at the news conference announcing Vinny Del Negro's dismissal on May 4. And while initially it appeared the Bulls' coach search might pick up steam — and perhaps conclude — when the NBA world descends upon Chicago for this week's predraft camp, James' possible departure from Cleveland should prolong it.

James' uncertain future also introduces an internal debate on whether the two-time reigning Most Valuable Player is even the best fit with Derrick Rose. While James unquestionably is the game's most dominant player, he dominated the ball on the court and input on organizational decisions off it in Cleveland.

As his relationship with Wesley attests, James also brings with him a small army of friends and advisers to whichever franchise for which he plays. James repeatedly referred to this group — which also includes respected agent Leon Rose and business manager Maverick Carter — as "my team" when discussing his free agent plans in the aftermath of the loss to the Celtics.

Signing James and hiring Calipari would seemingly cede more organizational control than the Bulls historically are known to do. But that's what Wesley, who is becoming a certified agent for coaches with the same firm Leon Rose started, is trying to accomplish with various teams.

Add in the fact a strong buzz continues to circulate that All-Star shooting guard Joe Johnson is strongly open to signing with the Bulls and that his agent, Arn Tellem, enjoys a close relationship with Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf and the intrigue becomes greater.

There's no guarantee James will sign with the Bulls, obviously, no matter what rumors pop up between now and then. No matter what machinations his advisers try to orchestrate, it's James' call in the end.

But the question — as crazy as it sounds — that Bulls management has to ask itself is if it already has its alpha male superstar to build around in All-Star Rose.

Would the Bulls be better off adding a space-the-floor shooter in Johnson — whose only drama would be a poor performance in the Hawks' Eastern Conference semifinal loss to the Magic — and perhaps having enough money left to sign another piece?

These are questions for a higher pay grade. But the drama between now and whenever the Bulls hire a coach and enter free agency will remain intriguing.

kcjohnson@tribune.com

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Joe Johnson is the equivalent of signing Ron Mercer and Eddie Robinson when it comes to selling tickets. Jerry would sign LeBron and whatever coach he wants because he knows how much money it would put in his pocket. The decision would be so easy that Paxson wouldn't even have to ask him about it. The Bulls would trade Rose in a blink of an eye if it came down to a decision between him and LeBron. No question they can play together.

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Joe Johnson is going to be way over paid by someone. I hope to god it is not the bulls.

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They pretty much said he is full of shit.

A source with direct knowledge of the Chicago Bulls' front-office plans says the team believes it has the right players in place -- namely, Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Luol Deng -- to surround LeBron James when it makes its case with the free agent to-be on July 1.

But the source said there has been no discussion of bringing Kentucky coach John Calipari in with James as part of a package deal.

The Chicago Tribune reported Monday that according to league sources, basketball power broker William Wesley -- a friend of both James and Calipari -- has been quietly contacting NBA teams that have coaching vacancies and salary cap space about the possibility of bringing in James and Calipari together.

James
James

But the source with knowledge of the Bulls front office's thinking said that at no point has there been discussion about packaging Calipari to get James to come to Chicago. The source also said that bringing Calipari along to get James would lessen Calipari's status in the locker room, because he'd be seen as the coach who is only there because of James.

Another league source told the Tribune that another person, described as an "unknown Calipari connection," contacted the Bulls over the weekend.

However, ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard reported Monday on "SportsCenter" that according to his sources, James is not demanding Calipari coach him on whichever team he plays for next season. And a source close to Wesley told ESPN.com that Wesley had not contacted the Bulls or any other team about a James/Calipari package deal.

Calipari has publicly stated that he is coaching at Kentucky next season.

NBA teams cannot formally contact free agents until the league signing period starts at 12:01 a.m. ET on July 1.

James and Calipari have become friends through their mutual friendship with Wesley, who is considered one of the most powerful men in basketball. Wesley is part of the "family" that James referred to repeatedly in his postgame comments after the Celtics knocked the Cavaliers out of the playoffs. Wesley was also reportedly involved in steering Rose and Tyreke Evans to Memphis when Calipari was coaching there.

Calipari, who completed his first season at Kentucky this year, said Friday on his Twitter feed that he will remain in Lexington to coach the Wildcats in 2010-11.

"I've said many times that I've got the best job in the country. Still the speculation runs wild and I can't stop that. I want to address this with the Big Blue Nation one last time, I will be coaching at Kentucky next year. Now let's finish what we started!" Calipari said Friday on Twitter.

Calipari
Calipari

Calipari has one NBA stop on his coaching résumé, with the Nets from 1996-99, making the playoffs in 1997-98. He coached two full seasons and was fired 20 games into the 1998-99 season, finishing with a 72-112 record in 184 games.

But a source close to Wesley said it was "insulting" to assume that Calipari could only get an NBA coaching job with James' help. The source also said that it would take between $5 million and $6 million to pry away Calipari from Kentucky, where he earnes $3.5 million.

Multiple sources close to Calipari have also recently said it would take at least $5 million a year to bring him back to the NBA.

On Monday in response to the report, Calipari said on Twitter: "Now, do I have to respond to these rumors too?"

James, meanwhile, has declined to address whether he will return to the Cleveland Cavaliers or sign with another team, as speculation about his future mounts. The Bulls, Nets, Clippers and New York Knicks are all among teams expected to make a full-court press for James, the NBA's two-time defending MVP.

The Daily Herald of Arlington Heights, Ill., reported Sunday that according to league sources, James has contacted Rose to express interest in playing with him.

Fans in Chicago appear confident that James will choose the Bulls. In the first 24 hours after the Celtics eliminated the Cavaliers from the NBA playoffs on Thursday, the Bulls sold more than 500 new full-season tickets and a team official estimated call volume at about 50 times the normal level, according to the Tribune.

But the source close to Wesley said James has not made a decision and that leaving Ohio won't be easy.

"He has a $30 million compound there and with all his friends and family there that aren't going to just leave for another city, it's not easy to just leave," the source said, pointing out that James has spent his entire life in the Akron-Cleveland area.

The source said that anyone who says what James is going to do is "lying, because he doesn't know now."

Andy Katz covers college basketball for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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And Luol would become a 12M 6th man - GREAT!

Wouldn't LeBron play the 2?

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And who's your 2 guard? Deng? Deng can barely keep up with 3's, much less than trying to guard a 2 all day.

LeBron can definitely play the 2. But if it means Calipari coming with him, then I'd definitely rather just have Wade.

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

You think he would be a full time time 2 and not a 3 that you would swing out as a 2 from time to time?

The only thing I am worried about is the Calipari thing. He was given too much power in NJ and it got real bad real quick after their playoff season. Maybe this time he just says he wants to coach?? Also...would his offense run through Rose or Lebron?? It may seem like a dumb question but maybe not. July 1st can't come soon enough!!

FF I am officially off your bandwagon. You would rather have Wade over LeBron because of Calipari? Are you high?

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Yeah I don't get that one either. I would take any coach as long as he comes with James.

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

Wade is nowhere near the same player as LeBron. It's like Jordan and Clyde Drexler

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First, Calipari is an incredibly inept coach. If you hate Vinny now, you'll definitely hate Cal.

Untill I have further evidence to the contrary, I think LeBron is a quitter. Rewatch Game 5 and 6, and then watch Game 4 of the Miami/Boston series. That will tell you why I would rather have Wade.




PS.. I have a bandwagon? Is there actually anyone on it?

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

I dont know if Jordan or Wade should be more offended. Thats clearly a big insult to both.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... lcl01.html

Just in case you forgot or didn't know how great Clyde was. Wade too is a great player but like Clyde neither were close to being the best player in the game even though both were the 2nd best player at their position for a while.

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Thats just not true. Wade definitely peaked in the spring of 2006 as the best player in the game. We have seen him definitively be the best player on a championship team, in the closest we've seen to a one man band champ in a long time. Then he had that injury-riddled tank season, and nothing the last two seasons from him suggest to me that he still isnt in that 2006 mode still, just trapped on an otherwise 15 win team.\


And not too mention the original analogy is still absurd either way. LeBron is nowhere near Mike yet.

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

this is true.

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the world will always the world. your entire existence is defined by your response.

Drugs don't make people stupid, but they certainly can exacerbate any existing stupidity.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

this is true.

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the world will always the world. your entire existence is defined by your response.

Wade was never the best player in the game in 2006. Was Kobe dead or something? The point is the gap between Wade and LeBron is the same gap there was between MJ and Clyde. One is an all time great and the other is just a great player. Your opinion of Wade really scares me.

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wade is awesome, but even derrik rose will be better then him after its said and done.

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the world will always the world. your entire existence is defined by your response.

Not sure if Kobe was dead, although he certainly didnt look like he had a pulse in the second half of Game 7 in the first round that year. Sad too, because he was definitely the true MVP that year. Maybe you forgot Wade's postseason performance. the 2010 Cavs cast is clearly superior to the 2006 Heat cast. There wasnt anything Wade couldnt do that postseason. Your opinion of Wade doesnt scare me really, I just find it strange.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

I love Wade. I've been saying since somewhere around 2005 I would rather have Wade with the game on the line than LeBron. That being said I've NEVER thought Wade was the best player. Top 5? Yes. Never the best though. I'm not one that believes just because you last longer in the postseason that automatically makes you better than player X. Until LeBron took the throne this year (some don't believe he has) Kobe was the best player in the league since at least 2003.

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Well I can understand why you'd feel that way. You want the guy that entertains. I want the only proven winner of the two.

And this isnt some stupid Horry > Jordan cuz of rings. Wade was far and away the best player on his team that season. I cant remember any recent champion having that big of a disparity between their best and 2nd best player.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Zach Zaidman vs KC Johnson. Finding it harder to see which one is the bigger mouthpiece.

edit: poor choice of words with pawn.

I lost any respect I had for K.C. Johnson when he sat on the Vinny/Pax fight story a few years back. That was probably his only chance to break a national story, and he decided to not say anything about it. How was he able to keep his job after that?

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I'm just a casual Bulls fan. So listening to KC to learn anything is useless. His message is the same, "Thibs and Paxson know what they're doing". Gee, thanks.

Not attempting to start a Beardown type conspiracy theory but why does KC seem to be missing so many games this year? He just said he wasn't at the game against the Grizz and Teddy has covered a number of road games this year for the Trib

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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

K.C. Johnson demanding Jay Williams to name names. Defending and describing that team as professional too!

Definitely on drugs.

What a fucking knob. He's probably been sitting on this weed story for 10 years now.

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