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Posted by Sam Smith | asksam@Bulls.com | 12.04.09 | 10:20 a.m. CT
I just read Al Harrington for Tyrus and Jerome? Could it be?
Mike Q
What's this rumor about the Knicks wanting Tyrus for Al Harrington? Talk about leaving Joakim high and dry under the basket by himself. I can't think of worse idea. Please tell me this is just a rumor started by NYers.
Ken Willis
Use your contacts, send a note, physically force Vinny, do whatever you have to do: Get James Johnson on the court. That or send him to the D-League so he can at least get some run. That is 2 games in a row now where he got as much PT as I did. The way he is being used, or rather not used, is one of the most mind-boggling things I’ve ever seen. Right behind watching the Bulls select Dalibor Bagaric to help rebuild the post-MJ franchise. Seeing Lindsay Hunter and Jannero Pargo getting extended minutes while Johnson toils away on the bench…I swear it is eating away at my soul. What does the guy have to do? Vinny claims he’s a hard worker and good practice guy, he never pouts on the bench and is supportive of teammates, he hasn’t openly complained to the media, and when he has gotten in lately (like against Toronto) he has tried to make things happen (like grab a defensive board, bring the ball up, then drive the lane – who else on the Bulls can do that?). I don’t buy the “Vinny doesn’t trust him” angle either. How can you even evaluate trust if the guy has never played more than 5 minutes in a row? The worst part for Johnson is, pretty soon Hinrich and Tyrus will be back. And if Johnson isn’t getting any PT now, he’ll never get it once the roster is healthy again. Someone has to do something. Since Vinny isn’t, Gar is staying quiet, and Pax has disappeared, it’s on you Mr. Former Monday Morning GM. Save this kid’s career before Vinny buries him and completely destroys his confidence.
Dan Frystak
Mark my words - if Miami trades Beasley (or whatever), picks and fillers for Bosh so as to appease Wade Chicago fans will absolutely freak out and look at this as another missed opportunity. Not only are you passing up on an all-star power forward, but you also are giving Wade what he wants in order for Miami to re-sign him. It is a win-win for Miami and a lose-lose for the Bulls. A least that will be the perception. As you and I know, in this society perception is reality. I know that you think Bosh is soft but look at Gasol - he could not carry a team and never took his teams to the playoffs and even Garnett could not do it on his own in Minnesota. Both of these guys were labeled soft and look what they have done. I know that Gasol is second fiddle to Kobe but Garnett is undoudtedly the leader of that Boston team. The only thing that would derail the negative press from this happening would be to go get Lebron which is highly unlikely. By letting Miami get Bosh, you essentially lose out on two of the three top tier free agents.
Dan Abdo
With the Tiger Woods situation I was wondering your take from having been around young millionaire athletes so long. I was far (did I mention FAR?) from ever being in such a position, but I would think that if you're young, rich and famous you'd want to stay single and enjoy what life brings you. By the time these guys are 35 their careers are over or winding down and would seem to make a lot more sense to "settle down" as you open that chapter. Its more the norm these days to get married after 30 anyway. Tiger, Kobe, MJ -- to just think about the women that come at them, wave after wave, how do they or their wives really expect them not to stray? I am not justifying it just stating a fact. A dog is a dog and these are ultra-competitive guys who always are up for a new challenge and trying to top themselves, so to speak. And they're the types that feel they can have it all and get away with it I guess, so maybe that's the rub. And I am sure there are guys who stay faithful. But I almost feel like there should be some kind of seminar/intervention/brainwashing that shows them the likely road if they choose to get married while they are in their professional prime. There's no stopping love I guess, but Steve McNair died playing the game.
Kelly Barone
It seems like having Salmons at small forward and Deng at power forward is a combination that works. Is there a 2 guard out there we can trade for to fill out the starting 5?
Peter Karazeris
What's the deal with Vinny del Negro? Does he have incentives in his contract that pay him for every minute a player plays over 40 minutes? At this rate, the wheels are going to fall off around January.
Matt Becker
Not that I am a fan of this idea, but with current Bulls scoring so low and the thumb issue Kirk has shouldn't management consider signing AI?
Kevin Franzen
I saw that Del Harris has now been named the new top assistant in New Jersey. I thought that Del announced he was retiring after last year with the Bulls. Do you read anything into the fact that he decided to come back with a worse team, like he didn't like coaching with Vinny?
Sean Carey
Is there any way the Bulls broker a deal w/ Washington for Mike Miller? It can't hurt to have a tall shooter w/ an expiring contract, can it? It seems to me that a lack of consistency on jumpers is still the biggest problem; they attempted what, like 3 shots from beyond the arc vs. the Bucks? The lack of deep range will never clear the lane for Rose or give Noah breathing room to work his shaggy magic.
Bob Fore
I love all this talk about Ben Gordon getting booed tonight at the UC. The only Ben that gets booed tonight will be The Corpse. I will never forgive him for how he helped eviscerate that team.
Daniel Hodgman
Do you think the Bulls would be interested in Rudy Gay, Ray Allen or Manu Ginobili to add to the guard rotation next year?
Reggie Hullon
I couldn't agree with you more about D-Rose and opening up the court for him and speeding the game (I'm sure you just breathed a sigh of relief getting my stamp of approval). I never quite understand why the Bulls, and they're not alone in this, have a jet-quick guard yet constantly set screens for him with guys like Noah who aren't a threat to score or do anything productive outside 10 feet. It seems to make it easy on teams, allowing teams to easily make the open man the guy they most want to make decisions with the ball. I would think you want teams having to bring the double from the Salmons or Deng defender, not the Noah or Gibson defender. BTW, when you asked the question, "Can you live differently on $15 million compared to $12 million?", I think Antoine Walker would tell you, "Yes.” Seriously, when you say that I totally understand what you mean, that for us we can't imagine our lives being much more different when you're talking about that kind of money, but maybe NBA guys see people like Walker and think, "Wow, it could all go away one day."
Craig Berry
It's time to talk about the elephant in the room. The Bulls are two players away from competing for a championship. They need a PF and a SG. If they sign someone like Wade, Taj and Noah will be overpowered in the paint, If they sign Bosh, the lack of outside shooting will haunt them. To make matters worse, they will need to gut a .500 team to sign one max player. I'm also not sure coming to play with Rose will be much of a draw. So, three questions: 1. Do you see a star player taking less money to come to Chicago when they are not likely to play for a title? 2. Do the Bulls really believe they are just one star away from the Lakers, Celtics, and Magic? 3. Do the Bulls view Rose as a Franchise type player or closer to a Tim Hardaway (an impact player and an all-star -- but not the guy you build around)? P.S I have been reading your articles since the late 80s There are 3 people who got me into the NBA: you, Jordan, and Bernie Linicome (I loved his jokes at Cartwright and Perdue's expense. My personal favorite: "I predict we have not heard the first from Will Perdue").
Karl Meszaros
If the Bulls were to get lucky and got themselves Chris Bosh what jersey number would he be? He couldn't be 4 because that number has been retired by the bulls for Sloan.
Matthew Griswold
Why don't they try and package a deal to get Monta Ellis, I know there's the money situation with Ellis, but we need a scoring boost on this depleted Chicago offense. Him and rose in the backcourt, although it won't be the best defensive backcourt, would be one of the most exciting backcourts in the league. I think last year you wrote about this possible move to Chicago with Ellis, you still think it can work?
Mike Ribeiro
Could I get your honest opinion on Vinny Del Negro as the Bulls’ head coach. Do you think his presence in that role helps or hurts our chances of attracting major free agents this summer? Vinny seems like a nice guy, but I wonder if our players, especially Derek Rose, would be better served by having a more experienced, more imaginative coach who could bring out their best play and institute a system that fits the current personnel. Also, do you think Rose’s game would be stronger and further along at this stage if he were being guided by a different kind of coach (e.g., Avery Johnson, Byron Scott, Mike D’Antoni, Doug Collins)?
Ed Gilbreath
It is impulsive and short sighted to turn on Vinny for a few road losses to good teams (mostly). That being said, we should fire him right now.
John Leichenko