Interesting stuff.

Miami really is in a great position.....wouldn't a guy like amare or boozer want to go join dwade? Given that they can still get a max contract.

NY has loads of space...but its interesting to note how few roster spots they have filled for next season. they may have no problem signing one max guy....if they signed two max guys, you have to wonder if they fill that roster with ANY more quality pieces. You would think this lack of a supporting cast would dissuade a second Max guy from signing there.

For us - this article encourages me as far as our chances of landing a big name. Let's say a guy like Amare signs with Miami and joins wade. There go the two max contracts miami can sign. That leaves ny, njn, us, and wash (i guess) as the teams who can comfortably land a max player.

Hands down - we have the best pieces of any of those teams. So thats good. NY is a huge market....albeit horrible pieces....but lets give them the benefit of the doubt and say they can swing bosh to land with them. after landing say bosh - and their poor pieces - what's a more attractive destination for a FA? Us or NY? It sure looks like us.

So that leaves us as the next most attractive destination for free agents. We have more room than WAS.....and really would they be willing to throw max money at someone after their recent struggles....and the arenas situation. And NJ - okay we're more attractive than the worst team in the league.

That would leave as a very desirable option for a boozer or joe johnson....and they would be cheaper than the big 4 to where we may have room enough to add some more decent pieces. That wouldn't be a bad offseason for us. And I would see that as somewhat of a worse case scenario - best case being luring chris bosh (fingers crossed dwade).

Joakim Noah (Chicago)
Why am I playing so well? Who's a good player comparison for me?

David Thorpe

Your size and athleticism combined with your motor give you huge advantages. You are a very unique player.

Gary (Atlanta, GA)
Thorpe, I've always kind of disliked you, mostly because I remember you and Chad Ford talking draft, he liked Al Horford best and you liked Noah. I love Big Al, oh yes I do, but Noah now appears to me to be the better player. How did you see that coming?

David Thorpe

Noah is just so unique, and always has been. He's had an unreal motor since I first saw him in practice his freshman year. Imagine how good he could have been had he been given chances his rookie year.

BENEDICT (Annecy, France)
Could Joakim Noah strong start definitly convince his doubters he will be one face of the Bulls for a decade? Out of Shaq, Howard and Bogut, which center is above in the East? ASG material?

David Thorpe

I think Noah should be an all-star, if the game was scheduled for next week. Let's see if he keeps it up, but only D12 is outplaying him right now.

omri (NYC)
who do you think will be better by the end of their careers, Derrick Rose or Tyreke Evans

David Thorpe

Lean to Rose, but it's close either way. I can see an argument for Evans for sure.

Bernard (Chicago)
The Bulls seem more committed on the defensive end this year and Rose seems at least mildly interested in playing D. I like waiting 20 games or so to make any real judgments but What have you seen thus far on that end?

David Thorpe

I agree totally. And I thought Deng was terrific on Melo last night.

Harrison (Chicago)
If Noah keeps playing like this...is he a top 10 center in the NBA?

David Thorpe

Name 5 that are better.

Jay (Chicago)
Did the Bulls get screwed by the officials last night? Or was it the right call?

David Thorpe

I thought it was the right call once I saw the roof cam.

Brad Miller, worth it?

SportsNation John Hollinger: (3:12 PM ET ) i like what the Bulls did a lot -- they needed bigs who could space the floor and now they have Miller and Thomas. They needed a true 2 who would defend and knock down some shots and now they have Salmons. I think they're poised for a strong finish here and will make the playoffs.

Interesting read.

For those who believe Rose is a bad defensive player - though with his athleticism he could be at the top of this list soon.

Ben Gordon

A former Sixth Man Award winner and the Bulls' leading scorer each of the past three seasons, Gordon said recently that he would not take the team's one-year qualifying offer ($6.4 million), even though it would enable him to become an unrestricted free agent next year. He also said he thinks he has played his last game for the Bulls.

Gordon can hope for a sign-and-trade, but it's going to be tough to pull off. Any team would have to have players (and contracts) that Chicago is willing to take back in return, and there are base-year compensation issues. The consensus among front-office types seems to be that Gordon will change his mind and end up taking the one-year qualifier.

Tim (Chicago): Where does Ben Gordon end up when everything is said and done?

SportsNation John Hollinger: Somehow, some way, I think there's a sign and trade in his future. But he'd be a base-year compensation player, and that creates issues -- somebody like Memphis would probably need to get involved to facilitate a deal.

Forget about Ben Gordon as a Heat option, even as he stands at a free-agent impasse with the Bulls. For Shawn Marion? How would that make sense for a team that already has Dwyane Wade at shooting guard and made a considerable investment in James Jones as its designated shooter?

The only answer would be if Gordon could be viewed as a point guard, which he is not. -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel

[From the FanShots. No real new information, unfortunately. -ed.]

"His best deal might be to take the qualifying offer," one GM said. "He could still re-sign with the Bulls next year. He'd just have more leverage."