SB Nation Blog: your friendly BullsBlogger

Announcement: Teacher's gone through Sunday

your friendly BullsBlogger — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:05:30 -0000

So you kids behave!

(and by that I mean....please please please don't create multiple fanposts/fanshots for the same topic. And use the recommendations and flag buttons liberally.)

If the software's post scheduling feature works, there's a very special post coming Sunday morning.

red-hot audio

your friendly BullsBlogger — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:38:35 -0000

I spoke with long-time guy Ryan from HoopsAddict on his podcast. There's other interviews, but for those impatient ones out there, fret not: I'm first.

Pay the men their money

your friendly BullsBlogger — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 02:32:08 -0000

It'll be happening more and more in a post-Sam Tribune, but I've yet to get over the annoying twinge I feel when KC "who will be shopped" Johnson sneaks his opinions into a report.

Deng and Gordon remain supremely confident players, and declining last year's lucrative offers was their right as restricted free agents. But what their decisions also did was signal a shift from the selfless play that had defined the previous three playoff teams to more individual agendas.

[From KC's ass to your ears. (or something.)]

Beyond the awful leap in logic (honestly, this whole post could be a rant over what he's saying), there's a semantic, yet important, error in that paragraph. Deng and Gordon weren't restricted free agents when they turned down the extensions. They were a year away from restricted free agency (i.e., now).

And that is why, when the extensions were offered, it was under the premise that each deal may not be up to perceived market value, but that was because they weren't on the market. They were still contractually under team control whether they signed extensions or not. Signing the extension would be forfeiting their ability to be on that market, in exchange for long-term security.

(It's also why the Bulls didn't really 'negotiate' with Luol or Ben at that time. They didn't have to, and while the players may not have thought so, I thought that tactic was fair. )

Especially after (but not limited to) the relatively poor season they both had, it's been instead framed (apologies to KC, reading John Jackson is a far worse alternative to your work) that at the time, these extensions were a complete gift on the organization's part, and that both players have since proven to not be worth that initial offer based on a bad year.

But that offer was made with the acknowledgement that it wasn't completely market-based. So it's not a given that the Bulls should offer less, the bad season is just one factor thrown in with the others that have changed from 12 months ago: the players being a year older, the ability to offer 6 years instead of 5, the qualifying offer, the new direction of the team, and the market. Not just the teams with cap room, but anybody with a desire to pay can start the mechanizations of possible sign/trades through agents and their suddenly-disgruntled clients.

What happened last season shouldn't be absolved, but it shouldn't close the book on anything either. I believe, and it's possible that the Bulls believe as well, that both players are worth more than the 5 years and $50m they were offered last season. I wouldn't say too much more (judging by Paxson's pace, there will be plenty of time to get into that), but I'd rather the Bulls be called 'dumb' for coming back with a comparable offer than everyone laughing at the 'dumb' Ben and Luol for turning down the money preseason. While they're playing for another team.

Del Harris expected to sign with Bulls today

your friendly BullsBlogger — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:19:49 -0000

Dallas Morning News:

Del Harris, who served as assistant coach to Don Nelson and Avery Johnson over a nine-year stay with the organization, is expected to sign a contract today to be an assistant in Chicago for new Bulls' coach Vinny Del Negro, a source said.

Harris has spent more than 40 years in coaching at virtually every level. He has 506 wins as an NBA head coach.

He joined the Mavericks in 2000 and was top assistant to Nelson until Nelson gave over the coaching reins to Johnson in 2005. Harris served as a consultant last season.

Harris is one of the top assistants in the league. (Or at least well-compensated...so maybe he's just good at fooling people.)

This is a strange new feeling: I believe the Bulls actually have a good coaching staff.

Antawn Jamison re-signs with Wiz: 4/$50m

your friendly BullsBlogger — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 23:34:37 -0000

Summer League signee: Will Daniels

your friendly BullsBlogger — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:18:23 -0000

Daniels was not selected in last week's draft. He averaged 18.6 points and 6.5 rebounds for URI, and became the first URI player since Tyson Wheeler (1996-97, 1997-98) -- and just the third URI player ever -- to earn First Team All-Atlantic 10 honors in consecutive seasons.

Open Thread: Derrick Rose press conference (UPDATE: VIDEO)

your friendly BullsBlogger — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:31:13 -0000

Starts at 11am CST. Unfortunately, Bulls.com doesn't have a mention of live online video (UPDATE: apparently the site will carry it live). It will be broadcast on Comcast Sports Net, as well as WSCR.

This is almost the antithesis of the VDN presser. I was really interested in what the new coach had to say. I don't think Rose will say anything interesting, especially considering his numerous interviews already. And I don't mind it either.

So it'll be up to Pax to provide any juicy information. Not his, er, specialty.

Full Draft-Night press conference. Bonus link: Pax with Mully&Hanley Friday morning.

your friendly BullsBlogger — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 19:53:44 -0000

Lots of Bulls audio from WSCR

your friendly BullsBlogger — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 06:15:33 -0000

Thabo Sefolosha, Rose's HS coach, Noah-nemesis Ron Adams, Kendall Gill, Rod Strickland, and Pax. I'm tired so I won't listen until tomorrow, but just a heads up.

JamesOn Curry not expected to return

your friendly BullsBlogger — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 06:06:04 -0000

So says Hanley. It says something that Curry was able to gain two BaB nicknames in his short time as a Bull: "The Promise" and "PeeOn"