Although the Bulls season came to a sad end Saturday night, their future is very bright (cue sunshine lollipops music).
The following is the list of what I would do if I was John Paxson:
- Offer Ben Gordon a 4 year deal for 30 million, knowing the highest you can offer him is 32 million. Gordon has made about 6 million a year the last two seasons so this would be a pretty good raise with some long term security. Anything more than 8 million a year for a guy who scores 25 points a game but gives up 20 points is too much. Now some may think that Gordon can get more than that and I would normally agree with the them. However in this economy there are only four teams that could throw 5 years and 50 million at him and the Lakers, Celtics, Knicks, and Mavericks aren't going to do that.
- With the #16 pick in the draft take BJ Mullens from Ohio St. I wasn't very high on Mullens early in the season but then I read a few stories that said Matta basically went Jerry Sloan on him and he didn't respond well to that. Mullens in my mind is basically a taller, more fluid, and more skilled Aaron Gray.
- With the #26 pick in the draft take Dionte Christmas from Temple. First of all he has an awesome name but more importantly he is a pure shooter with some size. When you have Derrick Rose it's always a good idea to stock up on good perimeter shooters. Christmas is also tall enough that he won't be a defensive liability when he is in the game.
- Give John Salmons an extension that kicks in after the 2010/2011 season for 3 years and 30 million. Besides getting you 18 to 20 a game Salmons can lefitimately guard the elite perimeter players in the NBA. Now he isn't a Bruce Bowen or Ron Artest but he also isn't offensively challenged or a nutcase.
- In the summer of 2010 throw everything you have at Chris Bosh, 6 years for 115 million. Now is Bosh absolutely worth a max offer? No, but you will have to overpay when signing a superstar. Bosh is not one of the top 10 players in the league nor is he capable of carrying a team on his back, but he won't have to on the Bulls. Derrick Rose is the face of the Bulls and will be for quite some time. Only Kobe, Lebron, or D-Wade could come in and steal his thunder right now. Bosh gives you low post scoring along with a very good face up game. Could you imagine Rose running the pick and roll with Bosh? It would be unstoppable.
- If Tyrus Thomas can consistently knock down an 18 footer by the summer of 2011 than I would sign him to a mid level exception otherwise I let him move on.
To summarize, here is what I envision the Bulls roster looking like in 2010:
Starters -
PG Derrick Rose
SG John Salmons
SF Loul Deng
PF Chris Bosh
C Joakim Noah
Bench -
Kirk Hinrich
Ben Gordon
Tyrus Thomas
BJ Mullens
Assuming you sign Gordon for around 8 million a year and Bosh for the max of 19 million a year that would leave the Bulls with a team salary of 70 million. Which is 1.5 million more than it is this year.
2011 and beyond -
- I would trade our 2010 first round pick for a future 2011 pick in order to try and get both Jereme Richmond and Crandall Head.
3 comments:
besides your last comment about Richmond and Head, I think you have some good point (although you're probably paying too much for Bosh). But I guess there's no price on a championship (especially in Chicago). All in all, not that terrible of a post.
I was with you all the way until I saw that you had the thief as the starting small forward. For shame tommy.
Pete you know my hatred for Luol Deng runs deep. However, I just can't see a situation in which a team takes Luol and his contract.
Post a Comment