I liked what the Bulls did in acquiring the rights for Mirotic and drafting Jimmy Butler. I didn't quite understand what was going on in Sacramento, though. They already had Evans and Thornton in the backcourt, then they drafted the Jimmer (who plays on the ball), Tyler Honeycutt, and reacquired Salmons. Thornton is a free agent, if I am not mistaken, restricted, but with the wing players they brought in last night, could you see him becoming available for a sign and trade, if the right offer came along? Maybe Brewer or Korver and a draft pick (though Sac. could probably get someone better in return). Drafting the Jimmer just didn't make sense to me for the Kings...
James Karmgard
Why did Chicago trade up to just get the draft rights to Nikola Mirotic? I can understand looking to the future, but it seems ridiculous to trade up just to get the draft rights that the Bulls probably won't buy out his contract for three or four years. It seems especially ridiculous when the Bulls need a two guard and a player like Marshon Brooks was available. What's more is that a point guard was drafted with the second pick which is a bit confusing since it seems like we're relatively solid at that position. Were the right players drafted? Should Chicago have drafted Brooks instead?
Avi Saini
The Bulls screwed up big time. What are they doing? They waste a draft pick on Dalibor Bagaric, when he's not going to play or fill a need, and they pass on Marshon Brooks, who fills a need A long athletic 2 that that can create his own shot and has a 7 foot 1 wingspan is something to take a chance on in a weak draft at the end of the first round! There is no guarantee that Brooks would've been the answer, but if anyone was going to fill that need in the late first round it was him and only him. The Bulls had nothing to lose and they blew it. If I'm Derrick Rose i'm scratching my head that the Bulls didn't go for it and that he'll be stuck with Keith Bogans and the soft Kyle Korver for another year. What a joke.
Alex Green
For picking as low in the draft as the Bulls did, I can't be happier with what they did. When I read about Butler before the draft I thought that he'd be the perfect player for the Bulls to draft. He knows what hard work is all about and has his head on straight. I'm excited to see what he becomes in the next three to five years. And getting a European who might turn into a valuable asset in a few years without needing to use a roster spot on him is great too. Given where they picked, the Bulls did really well.
Matt Ahrens
I think Jimmy Butler is a great pick. Any chance that he was drafted to maybe convert to shooting guard? or strictly as a backup to Luol Deng?
Francis Manaloto
Are they serious? Jimmy Butler? Good character, but can't shoot, can't score. All this character mess... We need some one who can put the bucket in the basket That how we going to construct our team huh" All good guys? But we can't score. So maybe w ecan beat the Knicks. This stinks.
Keorn Thomas
The bulls shoulda traded both picks for rudy fernandez. terrible.
Doug Seidman
How many teams in the NBA are in position to make a 1st round draft pick and able to wait 2-4 years for that player? Bulls management has put themselves in a position where their draft picks are worth more because they are able to draft lottery talent with lower picks. I remember reading similar things about Asik when they got him. He was borderline lottery talent, at least in their eyes, and he ends up being a second round pick. Credit to management for putting themselves in this position. Some teams can't afford to wait and have to take someone who can play now.
Victor Devaldivielso
I read your article about the Bulls draft, and you mentioned Stuckey as a possibility. You really prefer Stuckey to Ben Gordon?
Fernando Schmude
I'm curious if it's possible for the Bulls to still acquire Joe Johnson even after the max contract that he recently signed. I would think it would take Taj, Asik, and the Charlotte pick. But to make the money work, what if we also threw in Noah for Horford? I'm sure the Hawks would rather go with the cheaper option in Crawford at SG. But if Noah for Horford can't be added to the deal, then why not just take on the contract and pay the luxury tax? Johnson is the type of player that an organization makes that type of sacrifice for.
Ryan Grace
Monta Ellis is clearly the most talented and I'd do almost any deal with Taj, draft picks and Brewer/Korver/Bogans though I don't know if the Bulls have enough to get him and I'm not sure how Rose and Ellis coexist defensively. I'm guessing they'd want Omer and if you're the Bulls you have to give him up for a talent like Ellis? Do you think Ellis would cause huge defensive problems for the Bulls like Ben Gordon did? Is Kevin Martin available for roughly the same deal? Same defensive problems? What do you think Jason Richardson has left and could the Bulls clear enough cap space dumping Brewer and Korver to bring him in? I've always liked his athleticism and scoring ability but haven't followed him as closely the last couple of years. He's a bit bigger, older, less talented... how well can he defend?
Jeff Johnson
I always wondered how trade "rumors" begin. Are 99% of what we hear really started at the water cooler or some bored journalist? Do pro-ball teams have a representative that reports to the media every time they are considering a deal? How can all these "reports" out there even get out in the first place? For example, "Lakers are said to offer Lamar Odom to the Timberwolves for the No. 2 pick." - How would this info get out? Do GM's have a private line or access to every other GM in the league or a yellow pages of sort where just they have access, call them up and talk shop? Are their phones tapped? Someone under the desk listening with a notepad? Are any offers emailed through today to other GM's? I've been caught up in draft day, free agency periods the last 30 years and I am finally just too damn curious how this entire process works. If anyone can explain this the right way to us all, it's got to be you.
Josh Ryan
With Jerry Sloan and Phil Jackson out of coaching, who do you consider the top five coaches in the league? Gregg Popovich has to be at the top of the list right? And would Tom Thibodeau be in that list?
Connor Strawn
How about Noah and Boozer for Howard trade? Orlando gets a playoff front court instead of simply losing Howard and a Rose, Deng, Howard big three would be dominant. Throw in Gibson, Asik and maybe we find someone who can hit open jump shots without getting pumelled on defense and I think we have a championship team again. I don't see the downside in this for anyone.
Aaron Carson
With the NBA free agents signing coming up, we know that the Bulls need to sign a SG. A lot of people think we should go after J.R. Smith, yes Smith can create his own shot, but can he stay out of trouble and grow up?
Michael Welch
That kid that the Heat got... people think he will be a starting NBA PG.
Mike Sutera
I guess we'll have to call you Svengali Sam, Carnac Sam, or even Nostradamus Sam (I won't call you Sham like that blogger who appears not to like you). Anyway, what's in your crystal ball now? I read the possibilities that were listed in your pre-draft articles, but which way do you think the Bulls will lean? The Bulls appear strapped to buy a player and a trade would ask too much in return, and might disrupt their chemistry. Money here says they go cheap and try talking Vince Carter, Shane Battier, Grant Hill, or some other aging veteran to forsake $'s now for a championship and future rewards of being on an NBA champion team (I notice all the ex-Bulls on those winning teams are still working off the coat tails of those winning teams). So which guy is going to land on the Bulls?
Thomas Allen
As an optimistic person, I am pretty excited about the drafting of Mirotic last night. If he would truly be a lottery pick right now, he is well worth the wait. The video I just watched of him at the Nike Hoop Summit from 2010 looked pretty impressive. My question is why do players make themselves eligible for the draft when they are stuck under a continuing contract? What is in it for them? How many years do the Bulls rights towards the player continue? When they do come, do they get paid a rookie wage, and if so, is it the wage now or the one that will be in effect when they show up? If he could get paid more in Spain (I understand he is very valuable to them because he now has Spanish citizenship), why would he leave unless the Bulls could pay more than the rookie scale? Could all of this change with the new CBA? These questions hurt my mind.
Bart Law
Assuming the Bulls are allowed to sign players who went undrafted last night (I have no idea how the current labor situation would impact that), who do you see the team signing, if anyone? Is Richmond's Justin Harper a possibility?
David Ransburg
Hey Sam, I would like to know what you think about Josh Smith. I heard that he wants to be traded so I was thinking that maybe he could be a good fit for the Bulls because besides Rose we don't have a player who can go to the basket and drive hard. Smith, with his abilities and athleticism, could do that. Now I know he's a poor shooter and makes a lot of bad decisions, but with coach Thibs he won't play like he did with the Hawks, at least I don't think so. So what do you think? He can drive hard, he's strong, and amazing dunker and shot blocker, he just has to work on his jump shot and stop acting like he's a big star.
Sami Hidan
For this coming year, how about this change: Luol Deng moves over to starting 2-guard. He keeps working on his shooting touch all summer, which has improved. Coach Thibs seemed to use Deng & Gibson on the floor together late in the Miami series. Taj Gibson becomes the starting 3.
LongGiang Le
I wondered if you got any news on what Jerry Krause is doing these days? Is he back in baseball or just enjoying retirement? It wouldn't surprise me if he was undercover following some prospect by now...
Jay Ernani
What ever happened to Joe Alexander? He looked like he would be at least an NBA bench contributor when I watched him play at West Virginia, and Milwaukee must have gotten a good impression drafting him so high. Definitely an unbelievable athlete.
Aneel Belani
I was wondering what you thought about the Minnesota Timberwolves with Rubio coming over and picking up No. 2 Derrick Williams. Love, Beasley, Williams, and Ridnour, Rubio.. seems like a decent 5.
Mitch Frazier
Any idea who the Bulls are inviting to summer league out of the undrafted players? I kind of like Xavier Silas from NIU to get a shot.
Ninab Maradkel