Good morning Chicago.
Here’s what I wrote to kick off the newsletter three weeks ago:
Last week was one of the most widely-read newsletters of all time. It’s hard to put into words the gratification that brings. So thank you all for that, and thanks for coming back again.
Here’s the message I received on my newsletter publishing site last night:
Those are the first words I read as I dusted off the old keyboard after a one-week hiatus. It appears that, in fact, that was not the most widely-read newsletter in our history.
… pretty embarrassing heartfelt message in retrospect.
Your boy is a little less close to fame than he once expected. And I have no gratification for anything.
Please… subscribe today:
But here goes another edition anyway.
I was in Phoenix this past week for work. The term “Still Gotta Come Through Chicago” hits a little bit different after three days in 77-degree weather and all blue skies. I turned my headphones up as loud as I possibly could after landing to avoid the “Welcome to Chicago. Current weather is overcast and 26 degrees.”
After a week of sunshine and hot tub-filled nights, I sat in the back of the Uber looking at absolutely disgusting, dirty snow crowding the shitty streets that took me back from that shitty Midway airport to my apartment. Instead of a STILL GOTTA COME THROUGH CHICAGO, it’s more like a well, still gotta come through Chicago, cause that’s where I live, I guess… with a long, deep sigh after it.
This newsletter is going to revert us back to the former version of that saying.
The best way to get over that deep depression that hits you after a sunny trip upon your arrival back into the wintry, gray weather is just to sink further into it. Sad songs, sad thoughts, maybe even the hope that the flight is overbooked — not so you can stay in the sun, but instead so you can absolutely berate some helpless airline employee who is not responsible at all for the mistake.
Instead I just sat like the poor submissive sap that I am, shoveling a rock-hard Panera bread sandwich down my throat that cost $14.36, desperately bringing my mask back up as I chewed the food and smelled the chipotle mayo on my breath being ricocheted back into my nostrils just to avoid a flight attendant yelling at me.
On the way to the airport, still in Phoenix, the Uber driver told me I could take my mask off on the ride. I figured it was a kind gesture at first but should have realized what it meant in the long-term, ideology wise. I made a mistake of telling him I was from Chicago and he launched — and I mean, launched — into a passionate speech about Lori Lightfoot.
I thought a few fake laughs and exactly two “yups”, plus a visible readjusting of my headphones would do the trick to get this guy to shut up. But then the questions came:
She’s one of the ones who put those old people in nursing homes, isn’t she?
I think old people are generally put in nursing homes, so it’s a strange question, but I follow the news enough (much to my detriment) to know what he was talking about. I responded that I think that was the former governor of New York he was thinking of, Andrew Cuomo.
He responded that a few of them did that, as he was sure “that lady” up there in Michigan did too. I told him I wasn’t sure.
It was silent for a second. Then he began talking again.
I say let ‘em all hang.
Annnnnd there it goes. You can’t get the mask-free Uber ride without a little bit of banter suggesting politicians of the opposite party should be hung. You take the good with the bad, I guess.
I honestly don’t know what I said back (it could have even been ‘Yeah, let ‘em all hang!’ for all I know), but at that point it felt like God was saying, ‘Okay buddy, let’s get you back up North. You can deal with the snow.’
Perhaps it was, perhaps it wasn’t. But as always, you end the introduction of Still Gotta Come Through Chicago with a little lesson. You’ve got to take the good with the bad.
And although I’m not sure there’s any “good” to hundreds of less people reading your newsletter than you thought, at least anyone is reading my takes on the Chicago Bulls.
And onward we go.
The trade deadline officially passed at 2 p.m. yesterday. The league looks a lot different than it did last week, but the Chicago Bulls, they look exactly the same.
But that doesn’t mean things haven’t changed for them. First of all, a lot of teams in the Eastern Conference got better.
Here’s a little rundown of the moves that occurred:
The Pacers began dismantling their team, trading big man Damantas Sabonis to the Sacramento Kings and receiving, in return, a young up-and-comer in Tyrese Haliburton. This would arguably be one of the only trades that helped the Bulls from an Eastern-Conference perspective, but ironically, it still hurt them.
Sabonis was averaging 20/14/5 against the Bulls in their three matchups this year. The key word there being “three,” because the Bulls don’t play the downgraded version of the Pacers again. But of course, of course, they do still have both of their games left against the Kings.
Out of the top eight teams in the current standings, arguably every team got better besides the Bulls, who didn’t make a single move.
Let’s start from the bottom and move our way up.
The Nets, who are surprisingly at the bottom of the standings playoff-wise after losing ten! games straight, obviously were involved in the biggest trade of the day. They received Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, and two first-round draft picks in return for James Harden. This is a very rare case in which I think both teams significantly increased their chances of winning an NBA championship this year as a result of completing said trade. The Nets got Ben Simmons (who hasn’t played all year and still has to “ramp up” to play?). People love shitting on Ben Simmons, but when you sift through all the bullshit, you get one of the league’s better passers, better finishers, and an elite defender. Put that skillset on a team that has Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving (half the time for now, though that could change — I think the Uber driver had a Kyrie jersey on), and you’ve got the scariest possible version of him. In that offense, he’ll have zero pressure to shoot, and be incentivized to do what he does best as a multi-time All-Star and all-defensive player. Then you’ve got Seth Curry, who’s averaged 15 and 3 against the Bulls this year on 47% shooting, though it feels like 35 and 8 on 75% shooting. Essentially, the Nets just got one of the best defenders in the league and one of the best shooters in the league for a guy that basically was refusing to play for them anyway in Harden. We’ll see if they can get their guys back (Durant from injury, Kyrie from the mandate) and imbed Simmons in seamlessly enough to look as scary as they could before the playoffs. But man, that feels like a great return for an apathetic guy who wanted to eat more than he wanted to play and who also wanted $200 million this upcoming offseason.
The Celtics, on the other side of the spectrum, have won six games in a row. And they’re humming just enough with two All-Star caliber players that they decided to improve around the margins. They went out and got Derrick White from the Spurs, who is a pretty productive guard, as well as Bulls fan favorite Daniel Theis. They sent out Dennis Schröder, Jason Richardson and Enes Freedom, among others.
The Raptors are some real pieces of shit. Not only do they have an intoxicating roster — a bunch of 6’8 dudes who can defend and switch like no other, plus an All-Star point guard in Fred Van Vleet — but they also just acquired Thad Young. We all know Young was perfect for the Bulls last year, the indisputable second-most valuable player on the team. There was also a small chance he was going to be bought out by the Spurs, which could have given the Bulls a chance to sign him (you aren’t allowed to trade for a player you traded away in the same season).
Despite my glowing report of what the Nets got back for James Harden, the 76ers got better as well. They already have one of the three best players in the league in Joel Embiid, and now they pair him with one of the best perimeter players, a type of player Embiid has never played with before. Plus, despite giving up Curry, they’re essentially just swapping those two, because Simmons refused to play for them.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, just 1.5 games out of 1st place in the East, decided to take a swing. They traded for the Pacers’ Caris LeVert, who is a very talented offensive player. This will all come down to whether LeVert fits well with the Cavs — he likes to shoot a lot and is kind of a guy who likes to get 40 on a bad team. But either way, the Cavs added another talented player to a young, vibrant roster.
The Bulls are currently the third seed, 1.5 games back for first as well.
The Milwaukee Bucks added Serge Ibaka to shore up their big depth. With Brook Lopez out, the move makes a lot of sense. Ibaka has been on a steady decline, and cannot protect the rim like he used to (ex: he’s averaging .7 blocks, the lowest of his career, and three full blocks off from his peak). But they don’t need him to be OKC Serge, and he’ll likely play 15 minutes per game or less. The Bucks did send out Donte DiVincenzo, but that will likely be inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.
I lied. The first place Miami Heat also did not do anything at the deadline. But they, like the Bulls, have had a lot of guys out during the season. They’ve played well consistently despite that, though. The difference with the Heat is, while the Bulls have had freak injuries, they’ve had injuries to guys who tend to be injury prone.
So there you have it. A lot of good teams made a lot of good trades on Thursday. What are we going to do, sit around and sulk about it?
We’re going to sulk about the fact that the Bulls didn’t give up on Patrick Williams, who we were all drooling over last year, who’s 20 years old, and who still hasn’t even had a chance to take a next step — whatever that step may be?
“I just wanted them to do something.”
This isn’t fantasy basketball. To do something, you have to give up something.
And forgive Artūras Karnišovas, who has made our sorry team into a contender in the East in one single year, for not wanting to give up the entire future to go all in on this specific team.
I’m all for capitalizing on the years when you even have a slight chance to win a championship. And the Bulls don’t have all the time in the world, especially if you’re considering this team’s timeline specifically solely based on its three stars. But keeping Patrick Williams and Coby White gives the Bulls a cheap way to get better organically in the next couple of years. And trust me, if the Bulls were going to make any sort of splash, Williams was going to have to be a part of that deal.
And by the way, he’s coming back! There's a reason, first of all, why every team was asking for Williams in any trade with the Bulls. Because he has the potential to be a low-level star in this league, guarding multiple positions with an above-average offensive game. And there’s a reason the Bulls weren’t granted a disabled player exception — because he’s coming back!
You don’t just hastily give that up to make a deadline move so a Sox fan who started watching the Bulls three months ago can be a part of the Twitter party that takes place every deadline.
Here are three inalienable truths about what just happened:
The Bulls like their team. And they have reason to like their team. Here are the Bulls best four-man lineups this season:
Each of these lineups, which contain players that are out for extended periods of time, yield incredible results. The net rating of these lineups alone shows the Bulls can compete with anyone in the playoffs, if healthy.
The timeline isn’t as short as you’d imagine. Again, Patrick Williams’ potential alone is alone a reason to suggest the Bulls are fine in the near- and long-term. As is Ayo Dosunmu. As is a 26-year-old Zach LaVine. A 27-year-old Alex Caruso is locked down for three years, as is a 24-year old Lonzo Ball. As is DeMar DeRozan. And hear me out here: DeRozan is 32 years old, but his game does not rely on athleticism anymore. In terms of his production, he arguably entered his prime just last year. That’s when he really figured out the game, and why he’s having a career year. He’s also durable. There’s reason to believe this is the beginning for DeRozan as a true star, and not the end.
Not trading away anyone with reinvigorate this team. Trades sometimes invigorate teams that feel like they need help. This will be the opposite. Every player, from the front-end to the back-end, that thought there was even a chance they’d be traded, now has rid themselves of that anxiety. This team will grow closer because of this, and will re-focus harder than they ever have before on the rest of the season. Bank on it.
This is not an unalienable truth, but a speculation. The Bulls may not have wanted to add another sizable salary moving forward. That’s likely because Zach LaVine is due for a max contract after this season, one the Bulls undoubtedly will offer him. LaVine is the Bulls best piece moving forward, so keeping him is a sensible top priority.
The only concern is whether AK felt the pressure to not enter the luxury tax during the trade deadline because of the Reinsdorfs — a very real possibility. Do not put it past those dunces to say, ‘Woah, woah, woah. We’re good again. There’s fans in the stands again. Let’s not go spending a bunch of money for no reason!’
AK neither confirmed nor denied ownership played a part in standing pat. But then again, he never confirms or denies anything.
The only report that seems indisputable is that the Bulls never really considered trading Williams. And, again, why would they? If they believed in him enough to draft him no. 4 overall — as one of their first moves ever — why would they give him up for a guy another team is willing to give away?
Plus, from a sentimental perspective, did you want to get rid of any of these guys that have brought us so much joy this season? Sure, that may be a loser mentality, but I felt a sense of relief when the trade deadline passed and I didn’t have to say goodbye to anyone. And I’m sure the locker room felt the same way.
Now, we turn to the buyout market. Here are some targets the Bulls should be looking at. The no. 1 priority is another big not named Tony Bradley.
— Goran Dragic. Adding Dragic makes sense mostly because of Ball and Caruso’s absences. But also because he’s just a good, veteran player. He also got yammed on by Derrick Rose in one of the most famous Bulls highlights of all time, so his pick up would mark a weird, full circle.
— Dennis Schroeder. There were rumors he may become a Bull at the deadline, but he was instead traded for Theis. He would do the same as Dragic, but I also doubt the Bulls go down this path.
— Gary Harris. He’s had a good year with the Magic, and could shore up the Bulls perimeter play, but I also doubt he’d make enough sense for the Bulls for them to pull the trigger.
— Robin Lopez. If we get Robin Lopez, I’ll go more ballistic for a buyout guy than any one man or woman should. One of the bright spots of the Bulls down years, I’d go to war for this man. He’s not playing for the Magic right now, and it’s unlikely the Bucks will sign him now that they have Ibaka. Go get our guy!
— Tristan Thompson. He’s a moron but fits the profile.
— Others will likely emerge, as that is the nature of the NBA. I really have no doubt the Bulls will end up with another big by the end of the season. Frankly, it’s not a want, it’s a need. Anyone who watched Joel Embiid brutalize Nikola Vucevic the other day knows this.
For now, everyone take a deep breath. The Bulls team we love is still here, they’re just hard to see right now. And as we enter the All-Star break, we’ll be that much closer to getting all of our guys back. Until then, damage control.
The Bulls got a desperately needed, definitive win over Charlotte the other night. Here’s DeRozan’s last four point totals: 31, 45, 38, 36.
What’s gone unnoticed is just how fantastic LaVine has been, too.
We’ve got a big one tonight against the Timberwolves. Your boy will be in attendance, so adjust your bets accordingly.
Final schedule before the break: T-Wolves tonight, OKC Saturday, San Antonio Monday, Sacramento Wednesday. Let’s take all four and head into the break without half our team, still on an upward trajectory.
LETS GO BULLS!
The Bears have been rounding out their coaching staff over the last few weeks, and if there’s one thing I know, it’s that you can’t draw much from this part of the process.
We don’t know if Ryan Poles or Matt Eberflus will be good in their roles based on press conferences. For one, football guys generally just spew jargon in these interviews. Winning the press conference is certainly not of concern for us.
Nagy won press conferences with football and life jargon, so much so that it took a full year or so for us to collectively listen to them and think, ‘Wait, what the fuck did he just say? That made no sense.’ I would only be torturing myself if I evaluated these guys based on pressers.
Having said that, a few discernible things can be extracted. For instance, Poles talked about building from the trenches, outward.
Luke Getsy — the ex-Packer coach and new Bears offensive coordinator — may have said the most attention-grabbing thing, however. At least from my perspective.
Here was his response, in part, to a question about his offensive philosophy.
When we try to establish an identity, that’s going to be driven by the personnel… there’s not one specific answer to that right now. We have to dive into what everybody does best. And that starts with the quarterback. This is a quarterback-driven offense. The things that the quarterback does well, that’s going to be the driver of who we are. And then we’re going to marry that with what the other guys on the field do well. I mean, that’s the purpose of the offensive coordinator.
My god. I could not have asked for a better answer from the new offensive leader after four years of Matt Nagy. Everything Getsy said above are things that Nagy fundamentally did not understand.
And it’s worth listening to because Getsy will not have Eberflus toying with his play calls. That’s another takeaway — Eberflus is content on coaching the team as a whole, which Nagy never was. He wants to be the CEO, and leave the rest to his coordinators. That allows him to focus on the little things — or the “WHY” if you will — and keeps the vision of the offense and defense from changing, or from being incoherent.
Alan Williams, the defensive coordinator who was formerly the Colts defensive backs coach, will likely experience more oversight from Eberflus. And we have no reason to believe their philosophies are much different.
Richard Hightower was named the special teams coordinator. I don’t know shit about him.
Thank you, my mere few readers, for reading another edition of SGCTC. Have a great weekend… STILL GOTTA COME THROUGH CHICAGO… and LETS GO BULLS #LOCKIN
Need to see this Bulls team fully healthy. I think Robin Lopez makes a lot of sense actually, taking some defensive pressure off of Vuc. So many trade hypotheticals thrown out there just didn't make any sense without seeing this team healthy. Like you said, I think the vote of confidence AK gave this team will go a long way in the locker room. I'm too emotionally attached at this point to see anyone leave. Huge 5 game stretch here for the Bulls.
Where to start? I, too, am absolutely scared to death of Simmons and Curry on the Nets. I can only hope that the biggest(?) POS in the NBA, Kyrie Irving, will mess that up. I think KD is the best in the league and his pairing alone with Simmons and Curry scares me.
Harden will mess up the Philadelphia offense like he does every teams offense. I hated watching the Bulls play Philly because Embid killed us and when we doubled him, Curry and those no-names moved and killed us. Fat ass will clog up their offense.
I am content with who we have at full strength with Billy Donovan at the helm.
I was not happy with the Bears Offensive Coordinator hire simply because when Aaron Rodgers is your QB things are MUCH easier. Run game is easier because every one is afraid of Rodgers passing. Passing is easier because your QB can drop literally on a dime 40 yards downfield. But!!!!, I feel much better reading that quote. As you said, that was the opposite of Nagy.