Apparently there are rumors that Atlanta is tired of the headcasedness of Josh Smith....the athletic, talented, versatile Josh Smith (who might be a young Zach Randolph, or might be a guy who just freaking hates Mike Woodson or a little of both--nevertheless he's more talented for upside than Randolph and I don't know if he's had any of the run ins....checks sham...no I don't see any....

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Hey, I have the Dish and thought I'd set up to record game 1....which I though was starting tomorrow at 11:30.....but I cannot find it.

 

Does anyone know what channel it's on on the DISH in chicago?  Comcast in the guide has PAID PROGRAMMING and SLEDHEAD....listed.

 

I did searches and see TBA games at 2CST, which can't be our game....

 

Thanks for the help.  This Bulls fan needs it (75 words there you go).

I couldn't find anything here, but anyone know the results on Salmons's MRI?  All I keep hearing was he had an MRI yesterday....wow that's a great story...

 

Anyone know more about Deng?  Is he comign back? Any update?  I know they were "considering" shutting him down, but then I thought I last heard that he wanted to come back soon.....

 

Any other injury issues?  Tim THomas's back?  Tyrus Thomas?  Joakim Noah?  Derrick Rose's wrist?

 

Bulls are oddly tight lipped right now, even for them....and this much injured team....

 

Thanks.

FROM Today's Daily Dime:http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dime-090331

 

By Brett Hainline | Queen City Hoops/TrueHoop Network

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15
Raptors at Bulls: Playing at the same time as Charlotte, the Bulls go into the game knowing they must win to have a chance. All the Raptors are playing for is pride (and a new contract for Shawn Marion). The battle of '06 lottery picks in Bargnani and Tyrus Thomas is lopsided and the Bulls win. Bulls win (39-43, 0.5 games ahead)
Bobcats at Magic: The Magic have the 3-seed wrapped up and cannot catch the Celtics for 2; Orlando's starters play less than a quarter each and the Bobcats knock off the Magic bench for the playoff-clinching win. Bobcats win (39-43, tied for 8th -- Bobcats own tie-breaker with 2-1 season series edge)

Editor's note: We asked Brett Hainline of Queen City Hoops to spell out exactly how the Charlotte Bobcats, who stand two games behind the Chicago Bulls for 8th place in the Eastern Conference, might make the unlikely leap out of the lottery and into their first playoff berth. Here is their potential path to the playoffs:

 

With nine games remaining, the Bobcats have matched their franchise record for wins and would seem a lock to set a new record that is at least a couple tallies higher. This Charlotte team has beaten the Lakers and the Celtics. They've gone 5-2 in overtime games, showing improvement in clutch time where they used to fade. The Bobcats will have a winning record at home. But the season will still be a bit of a disappointment ...

If they don't make the playoffs. That is what the expectation around the Queen City became when Larry Brown was brought on as coach. Those expectations were ratcheted even higher with the various trades throughout the season that made the Bobcats a more complete (and more Larry Brown-ish) team. Barring Gerald Wallace's midseason rib-adjustment, they have been relatively healthy and improvement has been evident. But it hasn't been enough to draw the city in -- they want Cleveland (or Boston) in CLT for a couple of extra dates after the players would normally be on the golf course. And here is how that happens:

TUESDAY
Lakers at Bobcats: 5-1. The Bobcats' record in their last 6 against the Lakers. Make it 6-1 with a payback game after the last one ended with Gerald Wallace in the hospital. Bobcats win (34-40, 1.5 games back)
Bulls at Pacers: Chicago has but 12 road wins this season and cannot add to it playing in a building where Boston, Atlanta, the Lakers, Houston, Miami, Orlando, Cleveland ... you get the idea ... have lost already this season. Bulls lose (36-40, 1 game ahead)

 

WEDNESDAY
Bobcats at Celtics: What goes up must come down -- the Bobcats do not have enough in the tank to travel to Boston and win following the game against the Lakers the night before. Bobcats lose (34-41, 1.5 games back)

FRIDAY
Heat at Bobcats: Dwyane Wade nearly comes up with a triple-double, falling just short in ... turnovers. Wade has a season high of 8 against the Kings had a 5 turnover game against Charlotte earlier this season. Bobcats win (35-41, 1 game back)

SATURDAY
Nets at Bulls: Brook Lopez goes for 30 and 15 in his late rush at the ROY trophy. Bulls lose (36-41, 0.5 games ahead)

SUNDAY
Bobcats at Pistons: Rasheed Wallace sees Larry Brown on the sideline and reverts back to championship form, leading the Pistons to victory. After the game, he also goes back in time, only answering "Both teams played hard." Bobcats lose (35-42, 1 game back)

TUESDAY, APRIL 7
76ers at Bobcats: The Cats won in Philly a week and a half prior by out-rebounding the Sixers by 18. This time they do it by winning the battle of the boards by 10 and matching Philly in turnovers -- a problem for Charlotte against Philly, as they have averaged over 17 a game against them this season. Bobcats win (37-41, 0.5 games back)
Knicks at Bulls: Derrick Rose shows Mike D'Antoni what he missed out on by not waiting for the lottery results. His 25 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds carry the Bulls over the Knicks. Ben Gordon is seen crying at his locker after the game, mumbling something about seven seconds or less and a big payday. Bulls win (37-41, 1 game ahead)

THURSDAY, ARPIL 9
76ers at Bulls: The 76ers' pressure defense gives Rose fits (he has averaged 4 turnovers against Philly this season) and the Bulls cannot overcome all the fast break opportunities for Philadelphia. Bulls lose (37-42, 0.5 games ahead)

FRIDAY, APRIL 10
Bobcats at Thunder: With Kevin Durant on the court, the Thunder have a defensive efficiency of about 110. Even the Bobcats can score against defense like that. On the other end, Gerald Wallace make life tough on the league's future scoring leader and shows the kind of all-around game Durantula should learn to emulate. Bobcats win (37-42, tied for 8th)

SATURDAY, APRIL 11
Bobcats at Bulls: The Bobcats will have to contend with a late-night flight from a cornfield in the middle of Oklahoma while the Bulls have been sleeping at home after their Thursday game in the Windy City. Bobcats lose (37-43, 1 game back)

MONDAY, APRIL 13
Bulls at Pistons: Detroit remains in a precarious spot at 7th in the East, rarely more than a game or 2 ahead of the Bulls/Bobcats in 8th. For the two teams, all 3 games this year have gone to the home team -- the Pistons make it all 4. Bulls lose (38-43, 0.5 games ahead)
Bobcats at Nets: Through his UNC connections, Michael Jordan gets the Tar Heels to honor Vince Carter at halftime of this game ... in Chapel Hill. Vince is at the airport for the duration of the game, and the Bobcats capitalize. Bobcats win (38-43, tied for 8th)

 

Let's use this as motivation.  I mean surely we'er better than 2-5 through our last remaining games.  I know we laid an egg through 3 qtrs last game, but I swear they didn't watch us again.  The Pistons should be most afraid of losing the 8th spot, not the Bulls.

 

 

Ok, so the way we're set right now, presuming no trades will happen until at least next year's deadline (because let's say it, we're Chicago and we don't trade when we can trade), who would you like to see a Bull next year coming into the year?

 

I presume we won't be able to afford Ben Gordon....and while I think BG's our best player, I think the addition of Salmons has at least allowed us to weather that storm.

 

So presuming we have to get 2 #1 draftee, I guess we can presume whoever he is (Stephen Curry most likely as I think we'll nip into the playoffs for teh first one and then I don't know another SG who won't play much in year 1, maybe an international pick for the Thabo part), his cost will be between $1.5-2M to the cap.  We may have one more 2nd rounder on the team at $800K, and before doing anything else and the loss of BG we'll have 67.4M....locked up (hopefully we can get under Jerome James's contract....but I don't think it's happening)

Who should we try to add to this team?

Rotation

Rose/Kirk/Curry

Salmons/Kirk/Curry

Deng/Salmons/Tim THomas

Thomas/Noah/Tim Thomas

Noah/Miller.

 

I think the following could be good, inexpensive free agents:

Chris Birdman Anderson....give us solid off the bench contributions, ensure that with Tyrus out we always have a shot blocker.  I know he's had the drug issue, but the dude can play and is dirt cheap....might be a nice bargain.  He's athletic, he's played well in basically every year he's been eligible to play, and if one of our bigs go down for any spell, his athleticism should allow him to step in and at least perform.  I'd offer him 2 yrs $3M in the hopes of snatching him away, on play he's worth more than that, but given the checkered past, that might be a good offer.

Matt Barnes.  He could give us some scoring punch at the 2/3 off the bench.  He's played a bit better of late, but is still a bit inconsistent (hench a definite depth/bench guy), I'd prefer Andersen, but Barnes might help space the floor if Gordon's gone, in a surefire bench role.

Linas Kleiza.....he's picked a strange time to have a mediocre year and might lose his qualifying offer in the cheap land of the Nuggets, perhaps we can make an offer at him, so long as it's cheap.  He has proven he can play really well in the past and he isn't very old....

Wally Szcerbiak.  The pretty boy should come very cheap at or near veteran's minimum, and he might really help space the floor in the 2nd unit, he and Tim THomas could give some fits, so long as Rose is at the helm with them....

 

Anyone else you think?

I mean perhaps we use all the money and luck into Ben Gordon....I still think he's getting mroe than the just under I believe $8M we can offer him....

And frankly, while BG's been our best player, I think now might be the time to change some of the old regime...the nice thing with the guys above is that they can play and should be tradable and won't cost us a ton of money....

 

I know Matt hates Polls but screw it, who do you think will be the 2nd half of this year and next year's new Duhon or Nocioni (most irrationally hated, and unfortunately sometimes rationally hated (poor Noc) Bulls player post trade).  I guess you'd have to think they'll be here for the rest of this year AND at least next year....

Here's my takes of the top 5 and why (not in any order really):

1) Kirk Hinrich--easy, makes too much cha-ch$ng, while he's been a good soldier for us in the past, he was pretty damn bad last year, and now has been replaced by a far better (especially with future projections) Rose, whom he's stealing time from.  Will he be here after this summer?  I guess he can since he's still inexplicably here after last summer... I like Kirk though, he's too $$.

2) Luol Deng--with Nocioni and Duhon (God I hate Duh still) out of the picture to hate on, and Hinrich perhaps one foot out the door this summer (speculative), not to mention the injury woes, the new competition at the SF spot from Salmons, the money tied into him and the fact that that money seems to cause the can't sign Gordon blues.....will folks start hating Deng?  Me I don't know, I'm upset with the injuries, but hate?  I am not sure, Deng's decent, not great....

3) Ben Gordon.  Folks irrationally hate him anyway, so why not put him up here....especially if he gets trigger happy if say VDN cuts his time going forward in favor of Salmons....BG has to have his eyes on the prize (new contract) and this is his final audition.....who knows.

4) John Salmons.....he's having a career year, but was it the system, or did he just finally get it?  Might folks get on him for playing in lieu of Lu-yawn? What if he reverts?  Me, I like him though I haven't watched him more than a handful of games, and I thought he looked nice on the court at Indy, esp not knowing the teammates or system....

5) Brad Miller.  I loved him as a player in 2000-2002 or whenver he was here last.  I like his passing and D and just smart play, but if he starts playing and cutting into Noah's time and plays like the slow white Oaf he is, who knows....I like the signing though.

6) Aaron Gray.  Seriously if he plays, he wins this for me.  I just presume his Bulls playing days are pretty much over with with Noah and Tyrus and Miller on board....but I'm not VDN.

7) Joakim Noah.  Irrationally hated accross the globe thanks to the bad stint to start this year, the winning in college, the crazy hair, and well the clown outfit on draft night.....wonder if something leaks that he was the vital piece of the puzzle included in a failed Amar'e package (Pax didn't want to part, hoping he'd add the D to the team) and folks hate him for it?

8) Tyrus Thomas.....if he reverts back to his early season woes, I guess there's a chance of it, but folks would be dumb to hate on him, our best pure athlete with upside as high as Rose (though Rose has a far better IQ and likelihood of reaching those highs).  Still....like Noah he might be seen as a clog in either the Amare or Bosh failed trades...

9) Other.  And if anyone says D. Rose they are morons.  I guess you could put VDN here, but I was trying to focus on the players.....

 

The site is slow today....thought this would be a nice bitching session...

Poll

Who will be our new Duhon or Nocioni type hated player?

47%

Kirk Hinrich

113 votes

16%

Luol Deng

39 votes

5%

Ben Gordon

14 votes

3%

John Salmons

9 votes

0%

Brad Miller

2 votes

13%

Aaron Gray

31 votes

4%

Joakim Noah

10 votes

2%

Tyrus Thomas

6 votes

5%

Other

14 votes

238 votes | Poll has closed

Why don't we try this as a blow it up proposal....a pure development move and one that allows us to be major players in the 2010 sweepstakes and given that we're giving up more talent, is actually likely plausible if the Bulls were risky enough to take it.

"Why don't the Cavs and Bulls make a trade":http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/traderesult?players=2429~2456~3437~831&teams=5~5~4~4&te=&cash=

Sczerbiak and JJ Hickson plus this year's upcoming draft pick (likely 27th-30th) and next year's upcoming draft pick (likely in the same) both unprotected for

Luol Deng and Andres Nocioni

We throw in the towel and start over, getting some cap money to play with next year and/or retain for the following year.

Bulls lineup the rest of this year:

• Rose at PG (backed with Hinrich)
• Gordon at SG (backed with Hinrich and Thabo Sefalosha)
• Sefalosha at SF (backed with Szcerbiak)
• Tyrus Thomas at PF (backed with Gooden and JJ Hickson)
• Joakim Noa at C backed with Gooden.
• Bulls have 30.9M locked up in salaries for next season (or likely more like $36-38M with the 1st round draft picks).  Hughes and Hinrich are still available in trades.

Cavs Lineup is awesome.  Really and truly awesome.

• Mo at PG
• West (when he's back) at SG backed with Pavlovic
• Deng at SF backed with Noc
• James at PF backed with Noc, Wallace
• Big Z at C backed with Varejao and Wallace
• Wallace and Deng are very friendly too, which is nice for them.  The Cavs are the deepest team in the league and will win a championship barring a LeBron James injury.  They definitely make out in the talent department, but in the long haul perhaps this is the "Starting over" the Bulls need to make.  Luol Deng will never be a top 5 SF, but he's perenially nipping on top 10, and Nocioni's a great to have for a contender and would definately give the Cavs some bite.

Bulls can either make a Boozer (or more likely since I don't think Boozer's opting out given the injuries and player option) the Millsap run, or choose to just wait one mor eyear, develop the new core of Rose-Tyrus Thomas-Joakim Noah and be real players in 2010.

If the Cavs win it all there's very little chance Lebron leaves his hometown, and I'd be really surprised with that lineup if they didn't.

 

The Bulls really get the chance to start over.....develop these young players, and be major players in 1.5 years.

 

As a Bulls fan I can live with us being horribly bad perhaps (and seemingly so) even if the Cavs get a title out of it (someone's going to win anyway, and try as we might there is no chance we're getting Lebron James either way (it's Lebron to the Cavs, Heat or Knicks, and I bet he stays with the Cavs for the hometown thing)....

How's this one:

Bulls trade: Tyrus Thomas, expiring and very good Drew Gooden and a lottery protected first round pick in next years draft.

Bulls receive: Luis Scola and Shane Battier from the Rockets.

Why this works for the Bulls--obviously Scola is a starting quality big who'll stay on the books, play very well and be cheap for the next 2 years.  Battier is a very smart player, an all league defender and a Paxson kind of guy (winning program, etc).

Why this works for the Rockets.....folks expected the Rockets to go basically 70-12 this year and so far they're 6-4 in the tough West and after getting creamed by the Lakers a week ago and losing to the injured Spurs,etc they might need a change and the going in this trade would be good for them....I know Battier's been hurt and I believe will be back shortly if he is not back.  Battier is a similarly skilled, more sane but infinitely less talented version of Ron Artest.  Having Artest has made Battier to some extent even more of a premium player to them than Nocioni, and if they cut Artests minutes to give Battier time, that could cause locker room issues.  The Rockets add a lot of talent in this deal with Gooden manning the Post alongside Yao (Gooden's jump shooting outside game, and ability to grab boards will work well with a player who is as awesome as Yao Ming can be.  Rockets also benefit in that they can slowly build and train Tyrus Thomas (look what they've done to Carl Landry).....

Bulls lineup post trade:

Rose-Gordon-Deng-Scola-Noah, with Battier and Nocioni filling in at the 3-4 spots entirely and Thabo still having a role.

I don't think this trade makes the Bulls moves done, as I think when Kirk is back the next trade to be made is now Kirk and very likely Nocioni out the door for another piece.....maybe we hold off on making a trade for Scola and Battier once Hinrich is healthy too, but I think this works considering really the Rockets don't have any bad contracts, they have 2 superstars who are paid accordingly, 2 mid level contracts (expiring Artest and 3 yrs left with Battier) and from the Rockets perspective, while Kirk is an upgrade over Rafer, Kirk's contract is looong, and them having Artest and Gooden up expring (witht he little odds and ends players) that might be nice for them to get another missing piece if this tandem didn't work (and I think it might work).

The Rockets lineup is scary:

Alston-TMAC-Artest-Gooden-Ming is a solid top 5 with Landry, Hayes, Brooks and the upside that is Tyrus on their bench, and add to that a possible 15th pick from the Bulls in next year's draft....(we don't need to get younger and get 2 starter quality players--one of whom is actually better (Scola) than he's shown given the amount of players around him in Houston)....Houston also has about $20M in expiring deals this offseason to maybe resign Artest or go a different direction with maybe Shawn Marion and Boozer and or Lamar Odom and still get a veteran's minimum.

Bulls lineup of the future then would have a lock at the 1-3-4 spots (Rose-Deng-Scola) I think Gordon is gone (I think he's gone either way :( ) but I think he's gone, but in his place we get a legit PF, something we haven't had in forever.  I understand we maybe could have done better to get Scola last year for far far less, but we didn't.......plus Battier can be a real Adrian Griffin, a veteran player who is supposed to be a great team leader, but one who can actually play and can play very well)....

As I've said before, I really do hate the idea of giving up on Tyrus, he is just 22.....but at the same time we have to start investing to keep Rose, and much as I like Tyrus's upside he's not looking to ever be a back to the basket post player and while Tyrus might end up being a billion times better than Scola when Tyrus is 28, he also likely will do so not as a Bull either way, and might even never amount to anything and be the thorn in our cap that causes us to never be an elite team.....

I think this would be a nice trade for both clubs.  What do you think?

Here's my trade of the day (first trade for me in a few months I think too):

 

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/traderesult?players=1711~530&teams=7~4&te=&cash=

 

Bulls: trade 27 year old Drew Gooden to the Nuggets for old, unhappy Antonio McDyess....

What the Nuggets get: a solid PF and spot minutes Center who can give them more future cap relief flexibility if they desire, otherwise who can be a good PF to pair with Nene for the future.  Billups-Smith-Melo-Gooden-Nene is a very good starting 5....they part with the unhappy Dice and don't have to buy him out to watch him go back to Detroit or make the Celtics better on the Nuggets dime.

 

What the Bulls get:

Well we get a decent body, a tireless worker, and a good citizen to teach our guys.  But let's cut to the chase, why this trade to me is good is that it prepares us for teh Wade/Bosh free agent year when Hughes and Dice come off the books, leaving us $20M in those two alone of free agent money.  I think D. Wade would love to come our way and might be an option more so than Bosh even given the hometown thing, and mostly given Derrick Rose....

What do you think?  Makes us worse this year definately, but forces us to play Tyrus and Noah more....and might in 2 years be viewed as a huge win for us if we land a major free agent (it's very very doubtful we'd get Lebron even with our market unless Derrick Rose moves up to a Chris Paul stratosphere after next season--possible but might be too early still....