I have seen the light on the value of Omer Asik! I must admit I was skeptical that the idea of signing was more important than keeping guys like Korver. After watching game 4 and especially game 5 of the Thunder-Spurs series I understand. I’m like you in that I don’t think much of the plus minus stat but Tim Duncan was the highest on the Spurs at +17 in game. It seems like whenever Duncan went for a rest OKC would go on big runs. It was painfully obvious that Spurs have no one to protect the rim. Duncan isn’t even close to all league defender and basket protector he used to be and yet the Spurs couldn’t get any stops without him it seemed. I see why teams would want Omer and why the Bulls may have a hard time keeping him.
John Swank
I would trade Deng & cash for Tyreke Evans, trade for Dorrell Wright out of GS (I've read they are trying to move him), and sign a PG with the MLE (Kirk maybe?). I think that would keep us competitive short-term and under the luxury tax threshold, while having more upside with Evans long-term.
Pete Alonso
Is there any truth to the reports that the Bulls are going to go after Nash, Kidd or Andre Miller this summer?
Ralph Bounauito
Is OJ Mayo worth a look? Rumors spreading he wants to play PG. I don't see him being a PG and I'm pretty sure Thibs won't play him as PG. But he can provide the team with some scoring punch and ball handling. Are the Bulls exploring a trade for OJ Mayo?
Peter Jimenez
Do [you] predict the Bulls trading up in this draft? Potentially to grab one of the SGs in the top 15?
Mike Kay
I know you said that trading Boozer is impossible, but I have one more that I think really does work for both teams. Trade Boozer to the Raptors for Calderon and Amir Johnson. Toronto has a hard time bringing in talented free agents and while Boozer is no star anymore, he has more talent than anyone they could ever attract. I think he could start while Ed Davis either develops or fades away. And their bad contract to Johnson, (while not huge, but still way to much) is gone.
Steve Schnakenberg
I heard Washington is looking to add good veterans. They want use Rashard Lewis's expiring contract and Andray Blatche to facilitate a trade. I feel Washington is one team that might be willing to take on Carlos Boozer's contract because he's actually an upgrade to who they have and there aren't any garauntees at the #3 pick. How about Andray Blatche ($7 million), Rashard Lewis ($23 million expiring), #3 pick for Carlos Boozer ($15 million), Luol Deng ($13 million), Rip Hamilton ($5 million).
Rocky Rosado
Here's a trade for you: The Bulls trade Luol Deng, Omer Asik, and the Charlotte pick to Sacramento for Tyreke Evans and their next year pick. The Bulls finally get a guy who can create his own shot as well as distribute the ball.
Bryan Shaw
How about Deng for Gay? Rumors are that the Grizzlies may want to ship out Gay as he doesn't mesh with Z-Bo, plus he didn't exactly play well these past playoffs.
Philbert Varona
I say we keep everything the way it is and save our money to go after James Harden when he becomes an unrestricted free agent after the 2013-2014 season. Boozer will be in the final year of his deal so he could easily be amnestied. Harden and Rose would be the best backcourt in the NBA and the Bulls would be serious title contenders for the next decade as both would still be young. Is there anyway this could happen or am I just dreaming?
Tim Brandes
Ok, I am really tired of all the Carlos Boozer hating. I don't even get it. Yeah, ok, he's overpaid, but really who isn't these days? He still produces, I mean considering he's one of only seven forwards in the entire league to average at least 15ppg and 8.5 rpg last season. And yet, people are still calling for this guy to be amnistied. Why?
Chris Boblink
With next season a possible first round playoff exit/write off is there any way that the Bulls roll the dice on Michael Beasley? If it all goes horribly right they'll have a second scoring option to partner with Rose and someone who can provide iso offense when Rose is subdued. He may be just what this team needs. We all know the Bulls were taking a considerable risk trading for Rodman but it worked so well. Beasley may be a nutter, but he’s still very young and can score effortlessly, as we saw on numerous occasions this season, and if Thibs can get through to him, he could be a star.
Steve Lewis
I know it's early but do you see Rajon Rondo becoming a Hall of Famer? He's been phenomenal in this year's playoffs.
Gorav Raheja
What do you think the Bulls' chances of keeping Kyle Korver are for next year? He's really the only pure shooter off the bench, and is less expendable than say, Brewer, because no one else on the bench can really replicate what he does. His defense improved a fair deal over the course of this season as well, so can you see the Bulls taking the third year of his contract for the upcoming season?
Matt Kerner
Noah and Deng to Portland for [picks] 6 and 11. Portland finally gets a reliable center and fills out their front court and are a point guard short of a complete team (Nash). The Bulls shed 20 million in salary each year for two years. Then the Bulls let Brewer walk and that's 45 million saved which means the Bulls can amnesty Boozer. Then the Bulls are in the running for a top 3 pick just in time for Rose to come back with a season of rest.
Zack Hunter
It is all good for Luol Deng to play the summer Olympic games for Britain and go on a charity trip to Africa, either as "payback" or fame. What about his obligation to the Chicago Bulls? He has a contract with Bulls. That means that the Bulls will have to pay his big salary during the contract duration no matter what. Will Deng pay the proportion of his salary back to the Bulls due to the delayed operation on his wrist because he wants to play for Britain and travel to Africa? If he has to return his salary back to Bulls accordingly to the delayed operation time, will he still want to play for Britain and go to Africa?
Debang Liu
I am interested in your take on this year’s draft prospects for the Bulls. As you mentioned in the past trading up in the draft to the lottery is usually very tough and most [of] the time not worth it. I am interested in the options the Bulls may have, at the wing position. With the Bulls depth and strength in the front court, surely they will try to get a scorer off the bench or a 2 guard replacement. With Rip mostly likely having one more year, this could be a great opportunity to have a rookie come in, spend a year in training (we know how Thibs feels about playing young guys) and then step in when Rip retires. I’ve been reading about some interesting prospects including: Kentucky’s Doron Lamb, Memphis' Will Barton, Vanderbilt’s John Jenkins, Tennessee Tech’s Kevin Murphy, and Santa Barbara’s Orlando Johnson. Any idea on the Bulls' thinking?
Jon DeClerck
I honestly can't see the Bulls drafting any position besides shooting guard. They need a serious long-term upgrade at the position and it looks to be a deep draft at the position. Maybe they draft a point/combo guard, but can you really envision a plausible scenario where they don't draft a 2-guard?
David Ishikawa
I don't understand why the Bulls would need to make any major changes to the roster like trading Deng or Noah or Boozer. We have had the best record for two consecutive seasons but things just didn't go our way this season. I really believe that the Bulls would have beaten Miami in the ECF even without Rose. Also I don't know what people have against Boozer I belive he did fairly well this season. Also why does everyone want to trade key players like Deng or Noah? Would OKC fans want to trade a player like Serge Ibaka if Durant tore his ACL? Should the Bulls just wait it out until Rose and maybe Deng return?
Peter Fish
Will the Bulls have any exceptions to use this Summer? If they do how much will that be? Is there any chance they can sign Chauncey Billups? I definitely think the Bulls can remain one of the top teams in the league with Billups running point until D-Rose comes back. He obviously has a close relationship with Rip, and D-Rose from the World Championship.
Argie Grigorakos
The Heat's final plays (in Game 5) were truly uninspiring, but a point in Spoelstra's defense: Those are the exact plays everyone else draws up too. Thibs calls for Rose to dribble around at the top of the key and then, with or without a pick, take a hero shot. The Lakers and Thunder and everyone else do the same; only the identity of the purported hero changes. The odd thing is these plays invariably fail. The Avatar of Hero, Kobe, has hit only 25% of his Hero shots in the last 5 years of playoffs. You wrote that Rose, perhaps the greatest penetrating point guard ever, is at 28%. No matter; coaches keep calling for these likely-to-fail isos at the buzzer. And even though the Hero shots typically miss, you are not allowed to pass to a lesser player even if that guy is open.
Sheldon Hirsch
I was thinking of other scenarios in which the Bulls could acquire Gasol and I think I might have come up with one: Gasol to the Bulls, Noah to the Hawks, and Korver and Josh Smith to the Lakers. Here's why it makes sense... Lakers: Smith is the type of player they needed all along. He's an explosive athlete, can defend 3s and 4s, rebound, block shots, fill the lanes in transition. Essentially he's a more athletic Lamar Odom with a worse jump shot. An added bonus is that he's good friends with Dwight Howard, so maybe this might entice Dwight to accept a trade to LA. Korver is just thrown in as a cap filler. Assuming the trade is made before July 1st, the Lakers could choose to waive him and save $4.5 milllion. Hawks: Noah would be the key for the Hawks. He would enable Horford to move to his natural position of PF, and would provide the team with the size they desperately lacked. Noah and Horford were pals in college so I don't envision any chemistry issues. Bulls: For the Bulls the deal enables them to acquire Gasol without giving up Deng. You still have active big men in Gibson and Asik to hide Gasol's deficiencies on the defensive end. The trade makes perfect sense, which is why it probably won't happen.
Al Mirza