SB Nation User Blog: CJ Bulls

Wait, another trade possibility. I really like it (Elton Brand)

CJ Bulls — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:27:43 -0000

Chad Ford's latest chat inspired me to put together an Elton Brand trade:

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/traderesult?players=1711~2381~3030~91~1725&teams=20~20~20~4~4&te=&cash=

Bulls get:

Elton Brand

Kareem Rush

76ers get:

Ben Gordon

Drew Gooden

Cedric Simmons

Deal works for the 76ers because it dumps the suddenly bad contract of Elton Brand with several expirings. But the expirings also have talent so they can still make a playoff run. BG gives them the shooter they've desperately been seeking as well. With Brand and Gooden out as free agents, they would also be under the cap in order to re-sign BG. Presumably next season Speights could help fill Brand/Gooden shoes.

Deal works for the Bulls because they get a low post presence (hooray). They also get value for BG in case he's leaving this summer. Brand's contract is a bit much, but it still should allows the team to be under the cap in 2010 if they want to go out of there way to be (ahem Noc/Tyrus/Thabo have to go). It also avoids the luxury tax for both teams.

Tyrus Thomas era needs to be over

CJ Bulls — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 19:22:56 -0000

I think it's time to just sit back, take a breath, and realize it's never going to happen for Tyrus. At least not with the Bulls. This is now his third year, historically the year that players make a big leap in their game. After three years, I can honestly say he is no better today than he was as a rookie. His game is one problem after another. The biggest problem being he has no game.

He is a jack of all trades, below average at everything, master of nothing. This problem causes him to remain completely unfocused for what he should be doing on the court. At least with Noah (who probably should go too), he knows his limitations and has a mold for what type of player he should be. With Tyrus, he can't decide where to apply any of his various skills. For every positive, there's a negative.

He has great form but can't shoot.

He has great athleticism but chooses not to take advantage of it.

He has great defensive tools but can't seem to keep his head in the game.

Patience is always something I feel should be preached, especially as it applies to Paxson and VDN etc. But with Tyrus, there doesn't seem to be any true development. He isn't moving in a positive directions. If anything his game is trending downward. There's no point in finding patience for a guy who just doesn't seem to get it or even learn from his mistakes. I can't find any negatives that I remember from his rookie year that he has corrected now in his 3rd year.

I watched him specifically against Cleveland as well as Cedric Simmons. While I was watching, I did my own personal scouting to ask who was the former #2 (or 4) pick? You know, if I had no idea and just watched for the first time. At the end, I found myself leaning towards Simmons because of his height, strength, and finishing advantages. I know it was only one game, but when Tyrus athleticism isn't on display, he appears below average as a player.

Tyrus has been compared to several players (Kemp, Marion, Stoudemire). I decided to post their career links below. I want someone to find any real similarities in their games. Go ahead, try your best. He may have their athleticism, but he doesn't have any of their skill.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/k/kempsh01.html

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mariosh01.html

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/stoudam01.html

All of these players made waves by their second year or sooner. Tyrus is now in his third year, two removed from high school on top of that. He is not exactly the young raw player he once was. He's just the moderately young, moderately raw bust. The Bulls need to move him and move on. I wish him well, hopefully he can have a Tyson-like resurgence.

I wanted to close out this post with a bang by comparing his numbers with a guy he does resemble. But sadly, upon looking at it, even Stromile Swift was outperforming Tyrus at this point in his career.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/swiftst01.html

Reasonable Bulls Trade w/Rockets

CJ Bulls — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:11:02 -0000

Houston sends: Rafer Alston, Carl Landy

Chicago sends: Kirk Hinrich

This trade is pretty simple and helps with one of our team problems, interior strength. Alston's salary comes off the books next year and Landry has potential as a starting PF. I don't believe his again ridiculously high PER (20.17) will keep up for 35 minutes a night, but he can play. The best part about him is his contract. 3mm for this year and next. And in 2010, a TEAM option at 3mm. So either you can dump him for cap space or keep him as a low cost big. This also shaves off about 1.25mm from the luxury tax line for next year.

Houston needs a point guard, preferable one who can shoot and defend. Hinrich reasonably fills those spots and clears up their log jam at PF. They basically have Artest, Scola, and Chuck Hayes filling that spot. Especially once Battier comes back.

Wacky Trade Scenario (Bulls/Heat)

CJ Bulls — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 04:44:48 -0000

I know I get annoyed by all these, yet I'm still posting one myself. After seeing how horrible this team looks, it's time to make a change. I'm throwing my hat in on a blockbuster. Feel free to slam if necessary.

Heat send:

Beasley

Marion

Blount

Bulls send:

Hinrich

Deng

Gooden

Noah

For the Bulls, it kills two birds with one stone. One, it clears a TON of cap space. And two, it adds a potential star to your roster. Downside, you add two giant potential cancers in Marion and Blount, not to mention the potential Beasley is a cancerous player. Deng can't be traded til 12/15, so you hope Marion and Blount don't have enough time to affect all the young people. Blount and Marion only have 1 year left on their deals and the Bulls will have plenty of minutes available for them so you might just be able to survive those 50 games or so.

Bulls run a

backcourt rotation of Rose, Gordon, Thabo/Hughes

forward rotation of TT, Beasley, Marion??, Nocioni??

center rotation of Gray/Blount (ugh)

This trade of course isn't about this year though. It speeds up the rebuilding process and adds a potentially devastating scorer to pair with Rose. Bulls would be around 15mm under the cap next year (including Gordon as FA) and a giant amount under for 2010. I'd also be very intrigued by the pairing of tweeners Beasley/TT. Their strengths and weaknesses seem to offset each other.

On the Heat side, they now have a serious team. If Wade returns to form, they are now competitive in the Eastern conferece with Hinrich, Wade, Deng, Gooden, Noah. Not to mention a bench of Chalmers, Cook, Wright, and Haslem. The way the team is currently structured, it will be hard for Wade to really stick around. The team has little depth and few character players. Adding 3 professionals (and Noah) would help alleviate some of Wade's concerns regarding 2010.

I'm not sure I'd pull the trigger on this deal, but it is something to think about. Commence slamming.

Game 1: Starters?

CJ Bulls — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 15:23:47 -0000

Based on VDN's preseason lineups and newspaper speculation, I believe the Bulls are probably entering Game 1 against Milwaukee with the following starting lineup:

PG-Rose

SG-Hinrich

SF-Deng

PF-Thomas

C-Gooden

Is anyone happy with this ilneup? It seems to be a compromise of all the players we have? For instance, Gordon is a scorer with little D while Thabo is a defender with little scoring so let's put in Hinrich. And VDN can't determine who's better for the PF, Gooden or Thomas, so let's just play them both.

I think VDN should mess around with the lineup early on based on matchups until he can find who deserves to be starting. For instance, Game 1 is a great example of why a Gordon/Rose backcourt could struggle. Deng has to take Richard Jefferson. That leaves either Gordon/Rose to take Michael Redd. Neither one can even affect his shot and we risk letting Redd get into a rhythm early. I favor starting Thabo for game 1 to slow Redd early before bringing in Gordon. I'm not saying play Thabo huge minutes, but the first 6 minutes of each half could go a long way towards setting the tempo/style. If the rest of the lineup stays as listed above, it's not like there isn't plenty of offense available that Thabo's lack of scoring will matter.

As for the PF/C positions, I don't agree with starting Gooden at Center. He's going to be outsized on a nightly basis, and we have two legitimate Centers on the roster that could do a better job. Gooden seems like a natural fit next to Noah, while TT a good fit with Gray. I'd prefer to see Vinny start one of those two sets so that we can start off with a more traditional lineup and save the small ball for random spots in the game when he's trying to change the momentum.

What does everyone at BAB think about the lineup? And should Vinny determine a consistent starting lineup, or play with it depending on matchups?

Another day, no Gordon practicing

CJ Bulls — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:30:57 -0000

Another day, no Gordon practicing

"''He has some irritation there,'' Del Negro said of Gordon's toe.
"Because Gordon injured the toe at home and because he reluctantly signed a one-year contract two days after the start of training camp -- he and the Bulls failed to come to terms on a long-term deal -- there has been speculation that the extended absence is some sort of protest."

So I guess we can add John Jackson to the list of people who hate Ben Gordon.