Ironically, the best fit would be Thaddeus Young, but the Bulls are barred from trading for him (or buying him out) until the one-year anniversary of the deal, which would be after the season.
The Pacers' bigs -- Sabonis and Turner -- would both likely cost too much, at least in my mind. There will likely be other suitors able to pay more than the Bulls, and I'm also not sure I'd want to give away any significant young talent for either of them.
You could get close to matching their salaries with guys like White, Williams, and someone like Troy Brown Jr. I'm just not sure if you're the Bulls you want to give up a chance to see what Williams becomes -- especially because this FO drafted him. The Pacers would also likely want a first rounder, which the Bulls don't have many left of.
I think more likely targets are Serge Ibaka and Derrick Favors (the latter being a center). Ibaka is still a good rim protector when he's healthy. Marvin Bagley also likely available, but not sure I'd want him (for a variety of reasons) and he makes a lot of money because he was the no. 2 overall draft pick.
As January comes to a close, though, there will be teams who finally come to grips with the fact that they are not going to compete (either for a championship or the playoffs). There will likely be a buy-out guy that comes out of nowhere that could help the team or someone that would come cheap in a trade deal. That's when we'll really know.
The Bulls will finally be in the market for these guys that will more or less be picking where they go, because Chicago is actually now an attractive place to play.
I personally favor the route of adding a marginal role player as opposed to giving up a lot for a larger playmaker. We've already got four pretty good ones.
Agree with you Andrew. I still watch the Bears game all the way through and take pride in Montgomery, Roquan, Quinn, Foles, Mooney, Byrd and Hicks for that matter playing their asses off even though it is for nothing.
Anyone else notice that Jimmy Graham's touchdown was an ultimate domination catch. He looked like a parent playing ball in the yard with two kids hanging from his arms. Might want to throw the ball up to him more on the goal line.
Lost in the win is the play calling in the red zone?!?!?! Those two straight QB sneaks when you have one of the least mobile QB's in the game AND one of the best short yardage backs?????
Lastly, I am way in on the Bulls. I given Andrew and my son Jack credit for recognizing the value of the role players before the season started. Javonte Green is every where. Derrick Jones Jr. is an absolute Freak and Ayo has developed so quickly! His block of Trae Young was sneakily the play of the game yesterday. It was a veteran play. He kept his distance from Young so Young couldn't use his little push off trick and threw his shot right back at him. Young was not as aggressive after that play!
Re: Jimmy Graham, that's all he can do, though. When he's in there it's almost obvious what they're trying to do, though he is capable of making those plays.
I chose not to dive into the in-game decisions, but they were once again awful. David Montgomery succeeds in spite of the situation, which is one of the reasons why I think his year has been so impressive.
Ayo has smashed expectations and more. If Coby White doesn't step up offensively, I wonder if the front office ends up dealing him. He's a worse defender than Ayo and at least at this point not even better offensively. We'll see though -- I still like what Coby brings to the table.
So awesome to hear that from Lavine. I love the player he's become and love this Bulls team as a whole. But you can't forget some of those dreadful performances he had 2 and 3 seasons ago. Looking back on it, it's tough to blame him while having arguably the worst big 4 sports coach in the 21st century calling the shots. He has always been a talented scorer but now having that late game mindset makes all the difference. As you've eluded to, I never felt I was wrong about my frustration with Lavine. He has just shown the work he's put in to become more efficient, and Demar and Billy have both definitely expedited that growth.
I'm now all in and want the 1 seed. I feel like we can put up a fight with anyone in the league in a 7 game series. LETS GO BULLS.
Chuck Mac, it shows what great coaches can do to develop great players and it reminds me how I really can't judge Pace when Nagy has been the one developing his talent. Gar and Pax were a disaster the likes of which you will never see again. Wait, we are seeing it again and amazingly in Chicago again with Nagy.
I am not giving Pace a pass but I don't want to say players are a failure when they have had to endure Nagy. David Montgomery is a Pro Bowl back in my estimation.
100%. LaVine is not the player he was three years ago, or even two years ago. He undoubtedly was never put in a position to win, but the idea that people always saw this guy coming is nonsense.
Then again, you bet on the guys who are high-character. Thank God the last administration fell into that accidentally, and thank God that a new administration (and coach) took over before the situation could no longer be salvaged.
Who is an attainable PF we can go after at the deadline and what would we have to give up for him?
Ironically, the best fit would be Thaddeus Young, but the Bulls are barred from trading for him (or buying him out) until the one-year anniversary of the deal, which would be after the season.
The Pacers' bigs -- Sabonis and Turner -- would both likely cost too much, at least in my mind. There will likely be other suitors able to pay more than the Bulls, and I'm also not sure I'd want to give away any significant young talent for either of them.
You could get close to matching their salaries with guys like White, Williams, and someone like Troy Brown Jr. I'm just not sure if you're the Bulls you want to give up a chance to see what Williams becomes -- especially because this FO drafted him. The Pacers would also likely want a first rounder, which the Bulls don't have many left of.
I think more likely targets are Serge Ibaka and Derrick Favors (the latter being a center). Ibaka is still a good rim protector when he's healthy. Marvin Bagley also likely available, but not sure I'd want him (for a variety of reasons) and he makes a lot of money because he was the no. 2 overall draft pick.
As January comes to a close, though, there will be teams who finally come to grips with the fact that they are not going to compete (either for a championship or the playoffs). There will likely be a buy-out guy that comes out of nowhere that could help the team or someone that would come cheap in a trade deal. That's when we'll really know.
The Bulls will finally be in the market for these guys that will more or less be picking where they go, because Chicago is actually now an attractive place to play.
I personally favor the route of adding a marginal role player as opposed to giving up a lot for a larger playmaker. We've already got four pretty good ones.
Very insightful Andrew, I like the depth of our bench right now
As do I, and that'd likely lessen if we went after a bigger trade target, though rotations will shrink in the playoffs. LETS GO BULLS
Agree with you Andrew. I still watch the Bears game all the way through and take pride in Montgomery, Roquan, Quinn, Foles, Mooney, Byrd and Hicks for that matter playing their asses off even though it is for nothing.
Anyone else notice that Jimmy Graham's touchdown was an ultimate domination catch. He looked like a parent playing ball in the yard with two kids hanging from his arms. Might want to throw the ball up to him more on the goal line.
Lost in the win is the play calling in the red zone?!?!?! Those two straight QB sneaks when you have one of the least mobile QB's in the game AND one of the best short yardage backs?????
Lastly, I am way in on the Bulls. I given Andrew and my son Jack credit for recognizing the value of the role players before the season started. Javonte Green is every where. Derrick Jones Jr. is an absolute Freak and Ayo has developed so quickly! His block of Trae Young was sneakily the play of the game yesterday. It was a veteran play. He kept his distance from Young so Young couldn't use his little push off trick and threw his shot right back at him. Young was not as aggressive after that play!
Re: Jimmy Graham, that's all he can do, though. When he's in there it's almost obvious what they're trying to do, though he is capable of making those plays.
I chose not to dive into the in-game decisions, but they were once again awful. David Montgomery succeeds in spite of the situation, which is one of the reasons why I think his year has been so impressive.
Ayo has smashed expectations and more. If Coby White doesn't step up offensively, I wonder if the front office ends up dealing him. He's a worse defender than Ayo and at least at this point not even better offensively. We'll see though -- I still like what Coby brings to the table.
He shoots better than Ayo. Ayo is still erratic shooting. Sometimes a swish, sometimes the side of the backboard.
So awesome to hear that from Lavine. I love the player he's become and love this Bulls team as a whole. But you can't forget some of those dreadful performances he had 2 and 3 seasons ago. Looking back on it, it's tough to blame him while having arguably the worst big 4 sports coach in the 21st century calling the shots. He has always been a talented scorer but now having that late game mindset makes all the difference. As you've eluded to, I never felt I was wrong about my frustration with Lavine. He has just shown the work he's put in to become more efficient, and Demar and Billy have both definitely expedited that growth.
I'm now all in and want the 1 seed. I feel like we can put up a fight with anyone in the league in a 7 game series. LETS GO BULLS.
Chuck Mac, it shows what great coaches can do to develop great players and it reminds me how I really can't judge Pace when Nagy has been the one developing his talent. Gar and Pax were a disaster the likes of which you will never see again. Wait, we are seeing it again and amazingly in Chicago again with Nagy.
When one door closes, another one opens.
To be fair, Pace hired Nagy, however.
I am not giving Pace a pass but I don't want to say players are a failure when they have had to endure Nagy. David Montgomery is a Pro Bowl back in my estimation.
100%. LaVine is not the player he was three years ago, or even two years ago. He undoubtedly was never put in a position to win, but the idea that people always saw this guy coming is nonsense.
Then again, you bet on the guys who are high-character. Thank God the last administration fell into that accidentally, and thank God that a new administration (and coach) took over before the situation could no longer be salvaged.