SB Nation User Blog: CookDing

(UPDATE: Pax says no deal?) Kobe's talks stalled and NOT because they won't include Deng

CookDing — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 13:41:10 -0000

[Update: Paxson talked to the media after practice today, and I couldn't transcribe Pax's exact words but Pax more-or-less said they talked to the Lakers but the talks are done for now. Or kindof done for now. I guess your interpretation depends on how much you want to believe it's done, one way or another.]

I'm so turned around on this that I have no sense of when to roll it into another thread so I'll leave that up to our omnipetent lourde, Matt. And just to satisfy him, I offer the latest from Chris Sheridan and what he "has learned" from the crafty ESPN "Sources"....

This is like attack of the CHUD (that's the espn link) in that it is seedy, ill-conceived and just won't die. Now, ESPN.com has done us the favor of clarifying the 'true' state of the matter further....

Deng is very much in play in the conversations between Chicago and Los Angeles, ESPN.com has learned.

As ESPN.com reported on Saturday, the Lakers have asked for Deng, Thomas, guard Ben Gordon and rookie Joakim Noah as the core parts of any trade for Bryant.

Contrary to most reports, the Bulls remain ready and willing to deal Deng, the source said. But if they're going to include Deng in a deal, they will not part with more than one of the other three, said the source.

I don't know how believable that sounds all though I'm encouraged by the fact that we won't give up half of our team and frontrow seats to "Wicked" for Kobe. The other part that I liked?

The Bulls can afford to sit back and wait for the Lakers to cave, knowing that when a team trades a superstar, it rarely gets equal value in return. (See the Kevin Garnett, Allen Iverson and Vince Carter trades, for example.)

It surprises me that the Lakers' brass hasn't taken more heat for their misguided notion of Kobe's "worth" and what they need to get for him. They dealt Shaq for Lamar Odom and Caron Butler for sh!t's sake!!!!
Anyways, sit back, drink in the wonder that is major network journalism and try not to gouge your eye out with a spoon.

The official 'Resignabull' thread

CookDing — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 14:16:34 -0000

let Matt's Noce-salary bashing begin anew

looks like there's some rumblings about the early returns for both Deng and Gordon..
http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/cs-071003smith,1,1788157.column?coll =cs-home-headlines
Sorry for the long link but I'm lazy this morning.
Since we'll talk about it for the next month (and let's be realistic, Pax 'SlowHand' won't sign either of The Two before then), can we just make an official thread? It's been a long time since our last 120-comment topic.

grading a's

CookDing — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 14:37:08 -0000

someone catches on...

Draftexpress grades the picks and the Bulls are one of three teams with a similar one:

Chicago Bulls

Picks: Joakim Noah (#9), Aaron Gray (#49), JamesOn Curry (#51)

A+

The rich get richer, as they say. Joakim Noah is a proven winner with the best motor in this year's draft. He's the perfect big man for Scott Skiles' style of play, and they somehow managed to snatch him all the way down at #9. Noah is ready to contribute right away and should become a crowd favorite at the United Center. Many are questioning whether he fits their need for a low-post scorer, but the Bulls don't have three years to wait on Spencer Hawes, and if Noah had a great back to the basket game he obviously would have been long gone by the time they picked. He'll pick up 12-14 points a game just by running the floor and hitting the offensive glass every night. This isn't the early 90's anymore anyway, and that's not how the Bulls play.

At #49, the Bulls got fantastic value with a player that probably would have gone in the top 20 (likely to Washington at #18) had he kept his name in last year's draft. Instead he stayed in school and became a better player, and the Bulls snatched him up in the late second round to help fill a need at the center position. He should develop into a solid backup center. At #51 the Bulls got a Jannero Pargo clone in JamesOn Curry--and anything they get out of him will be pure gravy at this point in the draft.
http://www.draftexpress.com/viewarticle.php?a=2156

I think giovony makes good points across the board. I don't know how this draft isn't extraordinary for a playoff team so young. We put a LOT of size and experience on the team in one night. Plus, getting an atheletic shot-chucker never hurts either ... damn, how I've missed Pargo. Now, if Curry leads to Du getting shipped for a decent big.

Because the draft can't die

CookDing — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 12:56:36 -0000

why stop talking about players we've seen only in spurts? Let's talk about who we can add to our summer league.

I noticed some players that were slated to be drafted did not get drafted. I thought we could throw out some ideas of what sort of players we might be able to get our hands on for the summer league.
I've heard good things about Kyle Visser as a low-post scorer ... And while we're talking about it, Matt, can you come up with an acronym for this need that is as catchy as M2GWCD&S?

Pssst, Assists?

CookDing — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 14:29:52 -0000

Don't look now

but it seems like Ben may be a channeling a little Arvydas. Ok, while he's nowhere near Sabonis, has anybody else found Big Ben's passing to be a revelation. I always knew he was a heady player and I've seen him make some good passes in the past, however, he's been on a tear lately. On top of that, he's averaging an extra apg versus last year without a noticeable uptick in turnovers. Last night, he dropped some impressive dimes. Is anybody else seeing this or am I just, um, dum?
Clearly, any assist is one assist more than Chandler could offer.

Next stop, Odentown!

CookDing — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 14:38:57 -0000

Nice to see this is already starting...

No, Isaiah, they're not saying "boo", they're saying Boooooo-urns
Who knows what will happen with this team as the season wears on, but this is going to build confidence. Also, I loved the part about Thomas telling the team to ignore the boos immediately followed by a reference to Curry... ...what does Isaiah think he's been doing for the entirety of his NBA career.
What Knicks fan wouldn't trade Isaiah, their car and first born for Don Nelson right now? It's kinda sad.

Isaiah, 'Nuff Said

CookDing — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 14:24:47 -0000

Hey Matt, it's been a long time since I posted so I decided to included a little 'Nuff said.. ...you know, just to curry some favor.

Looks our favorite illogical GM and Head Coach is at it again in this week's wacky rendition of "What Might Isaiah Do". Apparently, his pre-eminent scouting abilities have allowed him a unique and revealing view on one Mr. Anthony.
Read on and enjoy.
Truly, I think Isaiah may be certifiable and I stand by my prediction that the Knicks will not improve more than 5-8 wins over last year.
'Nuff Said.
Well, except this.
Nocioni!!!!!!

Jackie Butler

CookDing — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 14:01:05 -0000

I forget which poster it was, but this link is likely to make him/her cream.

It's doubtful it will happen (since the Knicks could match what little we can offer-unless we trade. shhhh, don't say any more, we don't want to jinx what little chance there is of that)....

No, really, we don't want to trade with the Knicks

Hinrich Manuever

CookDing — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 14:13:23 -0000

Looks like the class of 2003 is about to have another extension.

I've seen this reported in a couple sites but posted Matt's Man Sam in deference to our website configurator. The Captain Stays Here

From the Article:

Kirk Hinrich will get a contract extension next month, and Ben Gordon, Luol Deng and Andres Nocioni are due for extensions next year.

An off-season "loss"

CookDing — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 13:44:28 -0000

Just because there seemed to be some heated debate about this last year, I thought I'd relate a little something I saw last night. Despite the title, this is not a real basketball topic.

Maybe some other readers were watching the riveting television that is "America's Got Talent" last night. If you weren't, then you missed out. Between the yodelers, the 7-foot oddity that balanced a sword on a knife held in his mouth and the ass bag that thought his yoga schtick was entertaining were the glorious "artists" Quick Change. I can comfortably say that Matt will be happy to know that they were voted on to the next round. Perhaps, they will become a worldwide sensation and never grace a Bull's halftime again.