Here are some thoughts on where the Bulls go from here, as it looks like they will be shutout on the Big 3. World Wide Wes is a fraud.

Most likely: Boozer & Anthony Morrow
This has to be the option they push for. I just really don't want to hear about JJ Reddick - give me Anthony Morrow and I want Raja Bell for the bench. Gives you a lineup of:
Rose
Morrow
Deng
Boozer
Noah

Use your cap space for a trade: Al Jefferson & Mike Miller
Al Jefferson is available from the Timberwolves and the Bulls have the room to absorb his contract. Miller is a big guard who can bomb from 3 and can guard bigger 2 guards - be very effective spot up shooter in Thibb's pick and roll offense.
Lineup:
Rose
Miller
Deng
Noah
Jefferson

Scare the hell out the East (and your own team at the same time): Agent Zero & David Lee
Team will score 130 points a night. Only problem is that they could very give up 140.
Lineup:
Rose
Agent Zero
Deng
Lee
Noah

This option ain't bad.

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Now instead of adding 1 or 2 guys the Bulls can now add 3 or 4 really good players and they still have pieces to trade if they need to.

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That's a good point - as the Bulls can now focus on some depth (ala the Blackhawks) and keeping running fresh guys at Wade, Bosh etc. who will have to play 40+ minutes a night every night.

But this approach only wins you a championship by freak accident.

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Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good.

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In the past 30 years, that strategy has only worked 1 time...for Detroit. And even then they had a lot of really really good, though not great, players.

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You're forgetting about Rose. Rose will be a stud. I think his ceiling is Dwyane Wade and this could be the year he breaks through. I'm really excited about the development of their roster without any other pieces. IMO they would still be a playoff team.

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There have been reports of a Deng trade to Portland. Is that off now, or do they still want to unload that contract if possible?

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

I wouldn't get that deal unless the Bulls were looking to free up money for next off season because both guys they would reportedly get in return have expiring contracts.

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Unlike the Hinrich trade, I think the Deng trade was contigent upon signing a certain FA.

At least I hope.

Otherwise, they're going to have a lot of egg on thier face.

And this whole wait til next year thing in free agency - with the looming lockout and the changes to the CBA, that's a really bad idea.

Deng = Dung which is why they are looking to unload that contract, but no one wants it except maybe (and hopefully) the team with no GM...

Sorry, but I just can't sign up for that line of thinking.

Then why can't they find a trade partner??

Because he's got five more years left on a contract that pays him more than he's worth. While I don't agree with the description of him as "dung," I do think he's a limited player (sporadically problematic ballhandling, not a great athlete, not a three-point threat) with a history of injuries and questions about his toughness. That said, he's a nice complementary player.

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They can and they have. They want value in return for him. If they need to dump him they would have takers. The guy is still only 25 and he just came off a season where he averaged 18 and 7. That isn't eve his best season as a Bull. Yes the annual injury is a problem. You won't get me to deny that.

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He got about $10M too much. He's a $10M a year guy and he got a deal that pays him about $12M a year.

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Oh god please no.

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I'd rather do a short term deal with Raja Bell who can defend and hit the 3.

Let me preface this by saying it does not really matter now that the Bulls are destined for mediocrity but the only chance they have is developing Rose into a true stud player and I think that playing along side a selfish lazy dog of a player like McGrady will only hamper Rose's chances of becoming a perenial all star.

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I have lost respect big time for Wade during this process. I think having a unknown coach hurt them big, and 2 guys who have proven nothing as GMs. Now we may get Boozer or Lee. Boozer is ok, but will be hurt by January. Lee is bad, as Bernsy has said, he is a product of the Knicks run and gun system. The Bulls are in NBA hell for a long time to come.

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Fuck Edwards and Zobrist

Over the last 30 years, how many NBA titles have been won by a team whose premier player is a PG and they have no other premier players on their team?

Right now, even with who it out there, I don't consider anybody else worthy of being called a premier player in the league that's a free agent or already on this Bulls team other than Rose's continued growth.

They all needed other studs on their teams to win NBA titles. Even some stud PG's had other premier teammates and couldn't get it done (Stockton, Payton, Nash).

Right now even if the Bulls add someone like Boozer their upside is they can be like the Jazz with Deron Williams the past few years. Good enough to have a solid regular season and get in the playoffs only to get their asses kicked by a team with some superstars. The Bulls took a shot and missed. Bring on Ron Mercer.

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what about working out a deal for 'Melo? (yes I'm grasping at straws)

Melo is gonna re-sign this year with Denver so he can get his guaranteed $$$ before the CBA expires.


Next.

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Completely agree. I want to say though, if Lebron sticks with Cleveland I really can't blame the Bulls for missing. I think they did all they could (without really knowing what they did). If we lose out to a team other than Cleveland, then I feel like the Bulls missed it.

I'm actually fine with it. I can't stand LBJ and would have had a hard time rooting for him as a Bull.

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1926-1931-1934-1942-1944-1946-1964-1967-1982-2006-2011

Ok Nas.

80's Pistons
80's Lakers
00's Pistons

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