Ask Sam | Sam Smith opens his mailbag | 05.24.2013

Sam: I’ve really never been much of a fan of Hibbert’s, though he is a very personable and particularly nice guy. Just moves so mechanically. I sort of winced watching him. Kind of reminded me of the Peter Boyle monster character from Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein the way he ran. But he’s surprised me the way he throws in some shots that do look as unlikely as many of Joakim Noah’s. And his block on Carmelo Anthony in Game 6 was the winner. His coach, Frank Vogel, called him the best rim protector in the NBA. And then took him out the last two plays against Miami in Game 1 when LeBron made two layups to win the game. It obviously was a huge mistake, but it happens. Everyone makes mistakes. It ended up being the story of Game 1 even as Vogel seemed to first admit it was a mistake and then said it wasn’t. Vogel’s done well with the Pacers, but he comes across in general conversation as an unusually pompous guy for having done so little thus far, especially compared with Erik Spoelstra. You get the sense with Spoelstra he believes there’s a lot to learn and with Vogel a lot you should learn from him. But it does set up a good series as that sort of game less than deflating does persuade the Pacers, if they didn’t know it already, that they can defeat Miami. And like the Bulls did with half their rotation out, it exposes Miami as a team less building to multiple championships than hanging on to perhaps get one more.

Sam: Poor Lu. He’s Wally Pipp every year. He’s the guy who got sick and then Lou Gehrig played 2,134 straight games for him. The suggestion du jour has been again to trade Deng. Let me say for now I’m opposed and would like to see this current Bulls team get a chance healthy to see what sort of run it can make. Next season could be its last time as comprised. I do understand the suggestion about Deng and I’ve gotten quite a few like it this week, including various trades for draft picks from the Kings to Mavs. I don’t think there’s going to be much interest in Deng given he will be an unrestricted free agent after next season. And teams will look at it that if the Bulls are trying to trade him and don’t think they can keep him what chance do they have. So you don’t give up much for one year rentals, especially if you are not close to a title. On this one, I assume the Clippers want to keep Jamal as he’s the only guy on the roster other than Chris Paul who can create a shot, which isn’t what Deng does. Plus, I don’t see the Bulls taking a step back moving Deng for a pick in a weak draft. I don’t see how dumping Harden has helped the Thunder and though the Grizzlies have done well I still think Rudy Gay would have helped. If Miami is vulnerable next season, as I believe they are, I’d like to have Deng around plus Butler for defense and also have injury protection, which we all know the Bulls need. You can’t keep playing for some uncertain future. The Bulls have held onto these futures like Mirotic and the Charlotte pick. Yes, I know they could lose Deng in 2014. But I would worry about it then and next season try to be as strong as I could be given the salary constraints, which already are difficult. Yes, perhaps you can trade Deng for a draft pick and then maybe have money to keep Belinelli and Nate Robinson. I could see that, but I still prefer going forward with Deng.

Sam: Well, he isn’t a horse. Not being considered a top 60 in this draft suggests some issues. But these GM guys don’t get it all right. He’s not fast, an undersized shooting guard. But it is a family of shooters if that translates. He’ll probably be a good free agent summer league pickup. The Bulls have No. 49 in the second round, so perhaps if only to have him get everyone autographs from his brother.

Sam: Kevin Durant is seven feet tall and basically plays guard. The issue, which is well known, is players refuse to be coached at a young age. Which means they have the power like never before. And not like it was perfect before, but if you were tall you played center. Now if you are tall and the coach wants you to be center and you don’t want to be you transfer schools (it used to be assigned by district according to where you lived) or you have your shoe company representative fire your AAU coach. Rebounding doesn’t even equal rings anymore. It certainly doesn’t equal MVP votes and commercials. The chicks dig the cross over dribble. Yes, there have been rules changes in the notion of flow which gives guards more freedom to work and shoot and score, so slightly built guys like Stephen Curry can excel. A few years back not only his ankle would need regular surgery. But the fact of the game remains you play inside first and a valuable big man is more valuable than any other man. Jordan and LeBron are exceptions, which is why they are two of the best ever. Otherwise, interior size still has led to titles.

Sam: It does remain intriguing to consider the possibilities regarding Oden. I’m fairly sure he’d never consider a minimum deal as someone likely would bet a few million on him. I’ve generally heard he wants considerable money or a team where he can see being a starter, neither of which the Bulls could offer. I’d suspect if he takes a minimum it means teams don’t believe he can return because if he really could someone surely would offer him a few million for a reasonable look.

Sam: When you are as bad as Charlotte and don’t want a player it suggests the draft is worse than we think. I assume if Charlotte were thinking to move down it would be to get some young players to move forward. And certainly not a veteran rental. You never know, but given Charlotte’s situation my sense is the Bulls intend to ride out that 2016 pick as their last big shot at a high lottery pick in hopefully a draft with more talent.

Sam: Like Blatche, eh? He’s a bit of a head case, though you can handle one with a good group. He’s more offensively oriented and doesn’t seem much interested in defending, which is not the sort of player Thibodeau tends to like or use. But I believe he played for a minimum so he wouldn’t have to again. He probably earned himself a bit more, and the Nets seem most likely to bring him back as they can pay in valuable minerals the owner has dug up when they are needed.

Sam: The landscape is changing and the players are going to be in for some rude awakenings. The NBA is beginning to mirror U.S. society in which the wealthy are getting wealthier and the lower and middle classes are being locked into much less than what was at one time the mythical American dream. The income gap in the U.S. is becoming greater than ever. Consider the cost difference now between your house assuming the bank hasn’t taken it and a rich person’s house and the same difference say 25 years ago. The NBA is evolving similarly and would have been even more disparate if not for the ceiling put on salaries. I recall Michael Jordan saying many times privately the Bulls couldn’t pay him enough, much like something LeBron James said this season. And it’s mostly true. Everyone comes to see the star, but you also can’t have a team that way. Imagine if players could be paid now what Jordan made in 1997-98, which was $33.4 million. If Miami paid just James and Dwyane Wade that there was no way they could have a team. It really is a good economic lesson for fans who keep demanding more stars. The more you add, the more you have to reduce your roster. Which is why many hope the Pacers succeed. They pretty much don’t have a so called star. I’d say the way Wade is going Miami will have only one in another year. But that’s another issue. Can you win only with so called “max” stars, or can you win with five good players. Players, like anyone, will seek as much money as they can make. They’ll judge themselves, like all workers do, according to fellow workers. Your salary is basically good until you find out the guy next to you makes more. Anytime you have a so called star player he’s going to want to make the most he can. So, no, contracts are never going to fall in line with the new labor deal. The landscape of the NBA is going to be teams with four or five players making maximum or close to salaries and seven or eight players making minimum. It’s about $1 million, so it’s not bad. But like in society in general, the NBA middle class is about to disappear. Many players making $3 million and $4 million will become minimum salary players, or they’ll gravitate to poor teams that don’t have stars and can pay them more. That’s likely with guys like Nate Robinson and Marco Belinelli. No, Boozer and Deng aren’t voluntarily taking pay cuts, and why should they? Why don’t Rose or LeBron or Durant take cuts? After all, without teammates they can’t win a title. NBA rules also changed years back where players cannot cut their salaries anymore until their contracts expire. Everyone will, as they do in the rest of the world, get the best deal for themselves that they can. Then the team will have to figure out the rest. But expect huge income gaps on every team between rich and “poor,” which doesn’t exactly make for great team potential.

Sam: We assume the Knicks have figured out as they couldn’t even use Novak in the playoffs that it was a mistake. But that’s the shock many are about to get, that instead of everyone having their salaries raised because someone stupidly overpaid a player it will be a few guys who just got lucky in a financial sense. Of course, given these are the Knicks with crazy contracts that will have the team headed on a downward spiral for the next three years we can only sit back and enjoy Carmelo hitting his goals of reaching the second round of the playoffs in what apparently is his one upsmanship with Tracy McGrady. Some guys like Kobe aim for Jordan. And some guys aim a bit lower.

Sam: Instead of terminal head cases, shouldn’t the Bulls try getting Thibodeau players he’d like and enjoy coaching? Of course, it is possible as the way Young burned through yet another team and coach with his disinterest in defense, passing and the play book he seems likely to end up looking for a minimum contract. Or maybe going to the Knicks, having two good games and the fans demanding he get $10 million.

Sam: Me, too, and the Bulls as well. The problem as I pretty much went into is the fantasy acquisition days are over. Jimmy will be a starter because the Bulls likely will have no one better. It’s going to be a major luxury to have a deep bench and having someone of Butler’s skill level on the bench will be rare. Manu effectively is a starter, though his minutes are curtailed for health reasons. Sure, if you can pick up a Danny Green type and insert him as a starter, perhaps. But Butler is proving too talented for a limited role. Actually, you can see a Bulls defensive lineup at times next season of Hinrich, Butler, Deng, Gibson and Noah which would have a strong man defender at every position, a league rarity.

Sam: The Bulls are pretty deep at point with Teague having to play this season and based on what I saw no reason why he cannot help. But Smith with a basketball family and doing well in the D-league and probably at a minimum fits the job description.

Sam: Kyle will be in demand by a number of teams this summer as a free agent after a very good season with the Hawks. He will not be with the Bulls next season.

Sam: I do like to keep up with many of those guys. Cliff has been around living in the Chicago area again. He’s done some minor league and high school coaching and does some teaching in clinics under Good News Basketball (his nickname). Will does broadcasting for ESPN and where he lives in Louisville. Scott was a Suns broadcaster for about five years and coached in the D-league last season. Trent has remained active and successful in the community in Minneapolis and is a school district director now and does some broadcasting. His annual golf and tennis tournament is a favorite for players. Bobby used to live near me in the west suburbs of Chicago and I’d see him in a golf business. I think he still does Iowa basketball broadcasting. Jud lives right by Steve Kerr and their families hang out a lot. Jud surfs quite a bit, I’m told, and he’s been involved with kid kids’ sports in San Diego. As for some others, Darrell Walker is on the Knicks bench and a head coaching candidate around the league. Ron Harper I think is back in New Jersey and has been trying to get into coaching. I ran into Dickey Simpkins at a retired players event and he’s been a motivational speaker and running a basketball company. I saw Rusty LaRue at summer league a few years back and he’s back as an assistant at Wake Forest, where he played. Craig Hodges I think is still in Long Beach and was working for the Lakers until Phil Jackson left. One of my favorites was Brad Sellers, who wasn’t on a title team but has been one of the more impressive. He went into politics and was elected mayor of Warrenville Heights, Ohio, where he grew up near Cleveland. The city has prospered under him with thousands of new jobs.

Sam: I have heard with the effort to get the new arena and all the extra money and thus cutbacks on other necessities they are a bit short on jockstrap supplies. So for a box I think it’s possible.