SB Nation User Blog: bull83

Nets thinking about Nocioni

bull83 — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:47:35 -0000

Honestly, if the Nets want so much Lebron James, I don’t understand why they are considering trade for Nocioni. But still, the NJ.com is reporting that the Nets are thinking about getting Noce (please God, make it happen).

The Nets' payroll restrictions are a bit more flexible than agents were led to believe when the free-agent market opened.

For example, the Nets believe they still remain in the running for the likes of Eduardo Najera and Keyon Dooling -- two of the very few players they agree deserve three-year commitments -- but not so much for guys they think are worth only two (Mickael Pietrus, etc.).

"I don't think the two years is a hard and fast rule," one agent said yesterday, remaining anonymous so as not to hurt the Nets' ability to compete in the market. "And that's especially true if they can make a trade."

They are pursuing that as well, with Andres Nocioni being one of their primary targets. The veteran forward is available, GMs throughout the league confirm, for one reason: Chicago needs to slash payroll in order to give Luol Deng the $55-60 million to re-sign.

Though Nocioni has four more years left on his contract, the numbers descend (from $8.0M to $6.6M), and he could be a catalytic practice element the Nets need in their gym.

If it's true, they would make us a favor, because Noce's contract is bad for someone that isn't a starter. So, what could we get from the Nets if they really want to make this trade? Vince Carter, or do you think he’s like McGrady and he’s already OLD (31) for us?

Let’s speculate again…

Last rumour: Hinrich to Denver

bull83 — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:18:33 -0000

Here they come... Now that we draft Rose, the rumours about trades envolving our guards already will to increase. The first one was about Hinrich going to Denver. The Rocky Mountain News don't tell who might be envolved besides Hinrich.

There are rumblings that, with Chicago having drafted point guard Derrick Rose with the top pick, Bulls point guard Kirk Hinrich could be on the move, with Denver a possible landing spot.

It's just a possibility, but, what kind of trade would you guys do? Do you think that that this can really happen?

Gary Forbes Bulls second round pick?

bull83 — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:55:24 -0000

Apparently, Bulls promised Gary Forbes to draft him in the second round. I first hear the rumor on the most recently Bulls Beat . Maybe it’s a little bit early to make this kind of promises, but it seems the bulls liked what Forbes showed in Orlando. And the DraftExpress say great things about him…

No player has done more for their stock in the pre-draft camps than Gary Forbes. The physically imposing swingman rode on the momentum he picked up from the Portsmouth Invitational to an MVP performance at this year’s Orlando Pre-Draft Camp. While he stood out amongst his peers at both venues, he was one of the few players here that showed an ability to carry his team when it mattered. That won’t be a skill that necessarily will need to translate to the NBA for him, but there is something to be said for stepping up and being a leader in a setting like this one where everyone is trying to earn a job.

There is very little that Gary Forbes didn’t do offensively in Orlando, and he provided one of the most impressive scoring performances in the Camp’s history—averaging nearly a point for every minute he played (21.3 in 23 minutes). In his second game, Forbes put up an incredible 30 in 25 minutes. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Forbes’s performance was the sheer volume of free throws that he accumulated throughout the course of the game, and that Camp for that matter (11 attempts per game). Of the 30 points he scored, 15 came at the line in only 16 tries. He has a knack for attacking angles and getting his man on his shoulder to draw fouls or finish with contact.

Forbes may not be known for his jump shot, but the rotation he puts on the ball is immaculate, and if he can learn to shoot the ball with the same touch from the perimeter as he does from the line, he’ll be a tremendous offensive role player. He only hit 29% of his 3-pointers at UMass, but has definitely shown much more potential in that area at Portsmouth and Orlando. Forbes has already proven himself to be a capable slasher, and while he lacks elite athleticism, he’s got tremendous court savvy and is a very solid ball handler for his size. His instincts are really what separates him from the pack, as he has terrific timing and footwork knowing when and how to attack his matchup, which is how he was able to make a living at the free throw line the way he did in Orlando.

On the other end of the floor, things weren’t quite as pretty for Forbes. His lateral quickness is already underwhelming, and he didn’t do himself many favors with lack of intensity he showed on this end, giving his man too much space and not really getting into any kind of low defensive stance at times. For someone who projects as more of an off the bench type in the NBA, this is something he’ll have to shore up if he wants to get minutes in the league.

Though he’s a year older than many of his counterparts in this year’s draft at 23, Forbes has solidified himself as an early second-round selection, and if he continues to improve his defense and perimeter shooting, may surprise a lot of people with his ability to contribute at the NBA level.

So, if this stuff it’s true, what does it mean? That the Bulls aren’t going to sign Gordon? That Hinrich, Hughes and Noce - I surely hope so - are going to be trade? Because, if we draft Rose, for wtf do we need another guard?

Noc says the Bulls are the worst team he had ever played for

bull83 — Wed, 07 May 2008 14:53:46 -0000

I don’t now if he was only talking about the team that ended the last, but Nocioni wasn’t happy the way the team performed this year. And he said in a interview to a newspaper in Argentina that the Bulls were the worst team that he had ever played for...

Despite the guarantees that he’s happy on the Bulls, he wouldn’t mind to be trade and go for… the San Antonio Spurs. I don’t mind trade him plus Gordon for Manu Ginobli. If we could do that, we would get a better player then these two. A player who can decide games…

What are your thoughts about that?????????

p.s. The interview is in Spanish, but I think you could translate that