SB Nation User Blog: sap

Assistant Coaches

sap — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:14:54 -0000

Holdovers May Stay
Bulls assistant coaches Ron Adams, Pete Myers and Mike Wilhelm are all holdovers
from last season's staff. Though it is unclear whether Vinny Del Negro will inherit 
the trio, GM John Paxson has promised Myers and Adams they will be part of the 
organization if they want to remain.
The name of Bill Cartwright could resurface. Currently an assistant with the New 
Jersey Nets, Cartwright reportedly was interested in rejoining the Bulls' staff as an 
assistant if Paxson settled on an inexperienced coach. -- Chicago Sun-Times

There has been the rumor that Bob Hill will be the lead assistant. But are there any good assistants out there that would like to be part of a different team? I would like the idea of getting a former great big man as an assistant coach so he could help out our big men, Tyrus in particular with their post of moves and defense. Just like how Kareem Abdul Jabar helped Andrew Bynum out.

I don't know who could be available for this, but I think if the Bulls did something like this it would help Tyrus develop a lot quicker.

Best All Time Starting Lineup

sap — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 04:30:06 -0000

If you had to create an all time starting lineup, who would be in it? I think you have to consider the players situations and such. An example is that as good as Wilt Chamberain many people, including me, think that he would not be anywhere as dominant if he played against better competition.

My starting lineup consists of:

PG: Magic Johnson

SG: Michael Jordan

SF: Larry Bird

PF: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

C: Bill Russell

Magic Johnson was an extremely versatile who could play any position. He could shoot, pass, and play defense.

Michael Jordan. Enough Said.

Larry Bird is an extremely clutch shooter, and had the chance of making or creating a play anywhere on the court.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has a sky hook that is godly and is great defensively.

Bill Russell is the most winningnest player in NBA history. Has incredible defense in rebounding and blocking shots.

Considerations/Reserves

Oscar Robertson, David Robinson, Hakeem Olajuwon, Karl Malone, and Jerry West.

Trade Possibilities?

sap — Thu, 22 May 2008 01:52:31 -0000

I think the Bulls should and will draft Derrick Rose. Since many of the people on BlogaBull including me think Rose is the best choice for Chicago I am curious what we should do with Kirk Hinrich after we draft Derrick Rose.

I still would like to give Tyrus one more year to step it up, plus with Derrick Rose running the point Tyrus could improve greatly. I also think we should give Joakim another year or two before we see if we could upgrade over him. I would also like to sign Luol Deng so the position I think we should look to trade for is a good, big shooting guard.

The main reason why I also exclude from looking to trade for a good big is that their is almost no one the Bulls could get. Elton Brand will resign with the Clippers and Al Jefferson will not be traded by Minnesota. The one big I like a lot and has a pretty low value is Chris Wilcox. I think with increased playing time Wilcox could develop into a pretty good big man down low.

As for trying to get a good shooting guard I would like a tall sg who has average to good defense and can shoot the 3 pretty well. Andre Iguodala would be studly to get in free agency but it is almost impossible for the Bulls to get because of money issues and Philly made the playoffs. Michael Redd is looking to get traded but I do not feel like having a taller version of Ben Gordon. By no means is Redd a bad player, but I want to have a good defensive shooting guard who can make their opponet make mistakes. I really like Mike Dunleavy and Danny Granger. Granger would be harder to get but they would both, in my opinion, fit in the Bulls position well. They both play good defense and our good shooters. Dunleavy is more realistic fit for the Bulls based on who the Pacers would give up. Mike Miller and Ricky Davis are also a decent fit for the Bulls. Miller is a tall rebounding guard who can shoot the three but his defense is questionable. Ricky Davis is just an all around player we we could possibly pick up in free agency.

Timberwolves Willing to Trade Down From #2 Spot

sap — Fri, 16 May 2008 02:25:41 -0000

I do not know how reliable this source is, and I was not able to find the site the guy found this information on, but I though it was interesing. The guy says:

I just read some insider info posted on a Wolves board (not RealGM), by a reliable
 poster, that McHale really dislikes Beasley. He thinks he has severe character 
issues and compares him to J.R. Rider. 
The practical implication of this is that if they get the #2 pick and Rose is gone, 
they may be open to trading down. Several of the posters think the Bulls would be 
a good trading partner, specifically mentioning Noah + the Bulls' pick for the #2 pick.

If the Wolves actually think Beasly is too much trouble for their team the Bulls should definitely trade Joakim and our pick. I know the odds of the Wolves getting the #2 pick is not fantastic. But it could very well happen and if it does and the Wolves want to trade down, the Bulls should definitely try to get Michael Beasley. Another positive is that most of the teams having a legit shot at the 1st pick like Derrick Rose a lot, so that makes the chances of the Wolves trading their pick even more likely.

Jose Calderon

sap — Sat, 10 May 2008 14:27:07 -0000

Calderon Wants To Start
Jose Calderon | Raptors
All year long, Toronto Raptors point guard Jose Calderon insisted whether he started 
or not did not matter. With T.J. Ford in and out of Toronto's lineup at point guard, and 
struggling in a reserve role, it was the media-friendly line to take.

With the season over, however, and restricted free agency pending, Calderon has 
changed his tone.

"I want to be a starter and [on] a team that aspires for everything," Calderon said 
on his Web site (www.josemanuelcalderon.com). -- The National Post

Bryan Colangelo said he has yet to have any serious contract discussions with 
Calderon's agents and he hasn't reached out to Ford to see if the issue can be 
resolved.

"I've always said I found it a positive that T.J. felt he was a starter in the NBA," 
Colangelo said yesterday. "Jose has obviously displayed he's capable of having 
that attitude as well as being willing to make sacrifices." -- Toronto Star

Calderon does not want to return to Toronto unless he is guranteed to start, so maybe the Bulls could try to get him. I think Calderon would be a great pickup and would help out the team even if we don't get D'Antoni and would fit great in D'Antoni's system if we do get him.

We Need a True PG

sap — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 16:36:53 -0000

If you look at the playoff teams this year, you will see that a large majority of them have good point guards, and that the better teams in the west and the east have a true pg on their team. Examples: Detroit: Billups, Toronto: Ford and Calderon, NO: Chris Paul, Dallas: Kidd, Utah: Williams, and Phoenix: Nash. These players in my opinion are all really good and get their teammates involved. The only elite point guard who is not in the playoffs is Baron Davis who didn't get in because the west is so dominate and barely missed the playoffs. I don't think we should look for a big man for a few reasons. First of all I think Tyrus and Joakim will pan out into good nba players, especially Tyrus. If they have a good coach and a point guard that can make the game easier for them ala Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire.

Unless we have a horseshoe up our asses and are able to draft Derrick Rose, I think we should look into trying to get Jose Calderon. I know Toronto has this combining the point guards thing going on, but I wonder if Calderon would want to lead his own team, especially if the Raptors lose in the first round. Calderon is a free agent, and I think if we got him it would help out the Bulls a lot. If the Bulls do get Calderon, then you ask yourself, "What are we going to do with Kirk Hinrich?" I say we trade him along with some other players, maybe even a draft pick, for an allstar/superstar shooting guard.

The best player i think the Bulls could get a would be a perfect fit would be Tracy McGrady. I know that McGrady is injury prone, but i just watch him play and he is able to takeover a game unlike anyone on the Bulls. He is a headsup player and is able to make good passes to open players when double teamed.

Despite his "backspasms" he is a great player and if he plays 65- 75 games

he will be a great help to the Bulls. McGrady could say that he is done with the Rockets because they can't get pass the first round and Yao always gets injured for them. And if you don't think McGrady is good and/or clutch just watch this video(especially the ending when it is the playoff series against San Antonio)"http://youtube.com/watch?v=A9qHL7lvrlY&feature=related. I think the trade should be Hinrich, either Goodon or Gordon, and our Draft Pick for Tracy McGrady. Our lineup would look like this:

PG: Jose Calderon backup: Chris Duhon

SG: Tracy McGrady backup: Thabo Sefolosha

SF: Luol Deng backup: Andres Nocioni

PF: Tyrus Thomas backup: Cedric Simmons/Andres Nocioni

C: Joakim Noah backup: Aaron Gray

I think this would be a very good team, the only problem is that we still have Larry Hughes giant contract and no reason to have him on the team, if we could trade him for some smaller contracts it would be great.

Has anyone else noticed the soda whatever thing that says vote for the MVP and Derrick Rose is in the advertisment even though he isnt in the NBA yet.