You've been gunning down every "go for Melo fan" and I'm with you in that, just want to ask you who you think the Bulls will go for in the free agency?
Bruce Dela Cruz
While I doubt the Bulls will get Carmelo Anthony this summer, there is one possibility I can think of him coming over without the Bulls losing much. Melo signing a 2 year deal at a lesser rate with the idea that the players opt out of the labor agreement after the 2016 NBA season. I think the players will opt out because the league will have a new TV deal probably worth $2 billion+ which also means bigger contracts for players. It would take a lot of convincing (which the Knicks will do too) and a lot of long term thinking by Melo for it to work. Would Melo sign a 2 year $30 million deal (assuming Bulls clear enough cap space) with the hope that the next labor deal allows him to sign a 4-5 year deal that nets him $100-$120 million, more money than a current 6 year $129 million deal? I don't think a player would leave money on the table like that, but I wouldn't rule it out. After all, Lebron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade all signed short 3 year deals before the 2007 season in the hopes they'd be able to obtain a bigger contract after a new labor agreement.
Belal Tiba
Oklahoma City? They have no offense. Ball into Westbrook, shoot. Ball into Durant, shoot. Zero movement with that PG. They have Durant, Westbrook and Ibaka. They should play better than that.
Rui Dias
What is the situation with Thibs? Why are there so many rumors about Golden State reaching out to him, the Lakers, the Knicks, and any other opening? Is the divide between Thibs and "GarPax" really that great? Is there some level of dissatisfaction on one side or the other that has not been reported? During the Bull Run in the 90's there was never news about teams reaching out to Phil Jackson (not until we knew his run was done). You never heard rumors about teams reaching out to Pat Riley in the 80's, or Bill Fitch. Even on teams that were not winning championships coaches like Doug Moe, Jerry Sloan, etc... were never rumored to be contacted by other teams. I hope this not a stealth courtship of Fred Hoiberg (although I like him). Where's the fire from all of this smoke?
Greg Mendel
I know the Bulls are not going to let Thibodeau go if they have any chance to get Carmelo, but if Golden State is serious about his services, what do you think they would have to give up for the Bulls to even consider something? Do you think Klay Thompson and at least 1 first would be enough?
Dan Mallen
Thibodeau has proven to be a great regular season coach but do you think his relentlessness and stubbornness, traits that have helped the Bulls achieve success during an 82 game season, become weaknesses in the Playoffs? I get that the Bulls do not scrimmage a lot during the season and have a lot of off days, but they are held to a very high standard, especially defensively, during the regular season which I believe eventually wears them down. I'm aware the team made the Conference Finals the one year Rose was healthy but remember Thibodeau didn't do himself or the team any favors that season by keeping Kurt Thomas and by not isolating Rose enough against the Heat, and this year he waited until they were down two games to change his fourth quarter lineup.
Daniel Brecher
Because I have too much time on my hands, I follow a half-dozen mock drafts. It's as pointless as pulling dandelions, but you don't get your hands dirty and you can do it sitting on your butt. I find myself snickering when mock drafters project the Bulls drafting high scoring college players who have a reputation for low motor and bad defense. I especially laugh when the mock drafter points out the Bulls have a scoring problem. They do, but no #16 pick in history has ever solved a contender's offensive woes as a rookie. I'm interested in knowing what you think the team's strategy will be in this year's draft?
Might they trade one or both first-round picks so they can invest that money in veterans? Do you think they would expect a #16 or #19 pick to be a rotation player as a rookie? I understand that happened with Taj and to a lesser extent with Tony Snell, but would they expect that? What is it with the #16 pick? In the last 10 years it has been one of the worst draft slots, producing Vucovic, Babbitt, Speights and Nick Young as the four best. Most of the 17-30 slots have been at least as productive and many have been better. #21, for example, has produced Gorgui Deng, Jared Sullinger, Dareen Collison, Ryan Anderson, Dequan Cook, Rajon Rondo, and Nate Robinson... plus Boris Diaw in 2003.
Kirk Landers
If OKC gets sent home packing after round 2 do you think they would make a big trade to shake it up? If so, who says no to this one... Westbrook to Boston for Rondo, their #1 pick this year plus one of Brooklyn's unprotected picks? (Of course Boston would have to throw in another player to make salaries match)
Billy Habibi
I wonder how folks around the NBA are responding to Houstong going out of the playofffs. Proud is positive, pompous encourages backlash. Houston has playmakers, the Bulls have a system. No disrespect directed at McHale who seemed to do what he could nor really at the players who are the players they are. Does Howard need a bossy point guard to keep him in line? Glowering Kobe didn't work, or was that just LA? Harden doesn't seem to overflow with a need to ride herd on his team.
Pete Zievers
I'm an Arizona guy and Steve Kerr is god here. Who wins the Steve Kerr sweepstakes?
John Rallis
Does Anthony Morrow ever come up as a possible acquisition? He certainly would fill a need as an excellent shooter.
Matthew Mikulice
I'm hearing that the Bulls could go after Zach Randolph. That would mean Noah can slide to 4 and Taj plays the 3, Butler the 2?
LongGiang Le
The two players I would target are PG/SG Austin Rivers and SG/SF Harrison Barnes. Austin Rivers seemed to take a step forward the last two months of the season. He's athletic and can definitely create his own shot. He can be the backup point guard and get minutes at shooting guard as well playing with Rose. As for Harrison Barnes, AI is blocking his way and there is not enough shots to go around in Golden State while there are plenty of shots to go around on the Bulls. He's big and strong and a good defender. He averaged nearly 10 points in taking only eight shots per game. I think using our mid 1st round picks to bring in these two players would be better than bringing in rookies.
Rocky Rosado
How about a shooter in Jason Terry? He's not young and had a rough two years but he was injured. The guy is a proven shot maker and champion who could be that vocal leader we need. Terry/Dunleavy/Snell may be enough shooting off the bench for us. Now Terry will have to agree to come cheap. We can tell him to come for a chance at a ring and a chance for payback against the Nets/Celts/Heat.
Mike Queensworst
What’s up with Roy Hibbert? The guy is 7'2" and doesn't grab rebounds, nor does he score a 3rd time in a playoff game? What's up with this guy? How do you not even score on your home court?
Kieron Smith
John Wall looked like Washington’s weakest link in that Game 2 loss in Indiana.
Mike Sutera
Up 24 with 4 minutes to go, Tony Parker still in the game. This is what the great coaches do, it's why complaining about how the coaches play their stars too many minutes at the ends of games, with big leads, is for talk radio, etc. Note that Parker had two drives where he went down to the court and Pop still kept him in. So much for the silly criticism of Thibs via Rose, starter minutes.
Matt Adler
I am going to disagree with you and predict that the agency that represents both Melo and Thibs will somehow work out a deal that sends Thibs to L.A. with assurance Melo joins up with Kobe and and then Love next season. Bulls will then take the 6th pick and trade that along with the 16th and 19th picks to move up to select Parker. Then the Bulls hire Jerry Sloan.
Mike Kay