Last night we beat Orlando and I was as down as I have been with any sports moment the Bulls have had since Drose got injured. I wish I was joking. I know you're super anti-tank, so I think me (and many other tankathoners) could use rousing Sam Smith oratory on how winning and landing the 8th pick is not the worst that could happen.Alejandro Yegros
Shouldn't it matter that we end up with a player who's going to do what Derrick Rose, Taj Gibson, Joakim Noah, and even Jimmy Butler once did,(get us into the playoffs per season, and had us look like contenders each time)? The fans don't seem to mind us losing games? Now that sounds totally odd. If I'm going to a Bulls game at United Center, I'm not going there to watch my team lose, but rather win. And if they do lose, not by many points in the process....meaning they tried their best, but wasn't able to either block the last shot, didn't anticipate opponents hitting their free throws, or wild shot didn't go in unfortunately.Kieron Smith
I'm writing just to ask if you could please explain once again to tank enthusiasts that it is not possible to lose games with good players and no internal problems or injuries. I've been reading insane stuff these days. People criticize management (which is not perfect but I feel has done a great job since last summer) for the Butler trade, then the three kids turn out to be good and they criticize management for not tanking properly. You want good players and you want to lose games? What is this nonsense going on? I feel the Bulls could have fought for a playoff spot if not for the initial stretch with Dunn, Portis, Niko, Nwaba and LaVine out. They are playing .500 ball since December even with LaVine working to get back, Dunn's injury and the Niko trade. This is a team that could have earned a low playoff seeding, how on earth are they supposed to get the #1 odds? And some argue that the Kings, Suns, Magic and so on are better positioned for the future, because "the bulls are stuck in mediocrity". Well, if mediocrity means having a young team playing with effort that makes you want to watch all the games and cheer for them, then I hope the Bulls are mediocre forever. I think that the firing of Sam Hinkie started all this nonsense. I would have loved to see him go through with his insane plan and fail so that people could realize that there are no shortcuts, processes or anything like that. And that it's not championship or bust. The process is just declaring you want to lose, trading for picks with teams that are actually trying to entertain fans and selecting injured players so that they can't help you win straight away. It's easy to look smart when you are judged with a criteria that is opposite to the rest of the league. I just hope the Sixers end up not having any kind of success or this madness will never end, especially among young people and guys who love analytics. It's a sickening mindset, the draft should be a consolation prize, the real fun is when your team wins!Cosimo Sarti
As of today the Bulls are looking at the 8th and 16th picks in the draft with Utah in my estimation of fighting NO for swapping the last west playoff spot and maybe they move up to 15th. Like you I am not a fan of tanking for a better draft place and evidence in the unlikely can show some value in lower picked players like Golden States Curry. Greek Freak was selected 15th and Kawhi Leonard two players that would be a steal in any top five selection let alone at 15. So with this mini All Star break I hope the Bulls focus on developing players to win as much as possible and see how many games they can win to work on building the team with always a winning attitude. They need to see what is the ceiling on the young guys and see what is the risk reward for signing an extension on Levine as currently he seems worth one yet with spending curtailed I would say one around the scale of Butlers as he is still unproven on the knee and not a defensive player at all. Then this summer two selections and some minor roster moves and this team is back to 8th playoff seed with money to spend in free agency in 19.Kevin Franzen
LaVine looks like a max player to me, and he's only going to get better. Why have fans come to the united center if the object is to lose games? There were a couple of times last night (Timberwolves) when LaVine went around defenders like Gale Sayers on the run (and Sayers didn't have
to dribble). And while he's mostly been looking to score, when he does pass, it's usually a smart one & right on the money. Also knows how to run a break. My guess is Grant or Holiday don't get that ball back to Denzel for the dunk.Potentially, I think he's better than Butler. Not as strong/tough and not as good a defender, but much faster & more athletic with better shooting range. If that sounds crazy, let's check back at about this time next year.Art Alenik
Do you think the Bulls would consider buying out Asik's contract either this year or next, and use that roster spot for a younger talent?Abram Bachtiar
Did you read that Fultz article? https://www.phillyvoice.com/what-has-really-been-going-markelle-fultz-shoulder-injury-broken-jump-shot/ Crazy. Never herd of a player losing his jump shot. I remember Rick Ankiel forgot to throw strikes and kept throwing wild balls but never this.Bob Ding
What do you make of the Lakers' moves? Do you see LeBron coming to L.A. this summer? I do think so if the Cavaliers do not come away with a title. I think LeBron will consider coming to the Lakers although I do think Paul George will become a more serious candidate.Tom Plonowski
The bulls are not known for retiring Jersey numbers but who do you think will be the next Jersey to be lifted above the Rafters of the United centre I'm thinking Deng. Jo. And even rose they did play there heart's out for the bulls and have never been the same player since they left ok Rose had injuries and we will never know what would have happened if he didn't. What do you think or am I just mad?James Leadbetter
Bulls clearly aren't trying to make the playoffs this season. So why not give Blakeney some playing time over Justin Holiday to see how he can fit in with this team the years ahead? Holiday's gotten plenty of chances this season and has not proven that he's more than a mediocre player.Bambi Choy
As an Indiana alum, I'm hopeful that Noah Vonleh will come to life here. It's easy to talk yourself into with his pedigree. But, I think it's much more likely we traded for the PF version of Joe Alexander. Also, I watched him play several games on tv during his 1 year of college and can't really remember anything about it. Joe Guest
I was hoping to get your thoughts on what's happening to our, once great, Joakim Noah. I feel really bad for the guy, with the situation he is in. I know people will say he's a professional and shouldn't cry with a 72 million dollar pillow. But for a guy who wore his heart on his sleeve every single night for the Bulls, it is heartbreaking to see him end up like this. I still think he was a great fit for the Knicks triangle offense, as a high post passing big man, but the team and coaching staff never really knew how to make the triangle work with all of Melo's iso-ball, effectively making Jo redundant. I hope he's able to get back on his feet.Daniel George
I'm a little skeptical about this trade deadline deal that Cleveland just pulled off. How did they get four more than serviceable, young and athletic players with giving up so little? All the players they shipped out, we're having horrible seasons or towards the end of their careers. This was definitely the most vulnerable a Lebron led team was looking and in jeopardy of not making the finals. Then out of nowhere this trade happens to almost certainly get Lebron back to the finals, which we know the league wants. They didn't even have to give up that Brooklyn pick. By the way didn't the Bulls offer Mirotic to Utah for Rodney Hood? Which was way better than what they got for him in this deal.Carl Reynolds