The Chicago Bulls announced today that the have resigned Argentinian forward Andres Nocioni to a 5-year deal worth a reported $38 million, with a team option for a 6th year. Nocioni was a restricted free agent, meaning that the Bulls would have had the opportunity to match any offere from another team. The only one with reported interest was Memphis, whose offer was not significantly higher than Chicago's.
With Nocioni now signed to a long term deal, is this a signal that the Bulls are now shopping Luol Deng? Deng has been rumored to be a key piece in the Kevin Garnett sweepstakes, with the Bulls being a frontrunner for the former MVP's services. With extensions expected to be offered Deng and Ben Gordon, who are both heading into the last year of their rookie deals, the Bulls are suddenly looking at a crowded financial situation, given Nocioni's new contract. Starting PG Kirk Hinrich will be paid 11 million for the first season of his own 5-year contract.
The Bulls, who are still looking for offensive firepower, particularly low post scoring, have stayed committed to their young talents just as GM John Paxson said they would. The team, however, is still a player away from being a sure bet in the weak Eastern Conference, after falling to Detroit in 6 in the 2nd round. The team has been rumored to be actively shopping backup PG Chris Duhon, who is slated to make nearly $4 million the next year in the last year of his deal.
While Paxson can count on continued improvement, at least from Deng and Gordon, this latest move is disturbing, given that it would take Nocioni's approval on any sign and trade. His contract, while not over-indulgent, while nontheless be hard to move, unless the Bulls offer young pieces like Tyrus Thomas or Joakim Noah to go with him.
With Nocioni in the fold, now, this does seem like Paxson could be on the verge of making a deal for Garnett or Kobe Bryant, with Deng being the centerpiece. The Bulls simply cannot afford to pay two small forwards upwards of $16 million combined, which is what they are looking at if they want to keep Luol. If this is their plan, they are on the road to becoming the Pistons, a very good team whose starters' high salaries make for a thin bench and playoff meltdowns.
Friday, July 6, 2007
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Mock Draft #1 (Lottery Picks)
With what could be the best NBA draft, top to bottom, in history only two days away, we are looking at monumental reshaping of the league. Kobe and KG are on the trading block, Danny Ainge is trying to figure out how to get his Celtics out of mediocrity, and Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard is about to make the toughest decision of his life. If you're an optimist, Pritchard can't lose with either pick. However, history has shown that even with two greats coming out, one will be better than the other. Hakeem vs. Michael. Lebron vs. Darko vs. Carmelo. Without further ado, here goes; these picks are slated as to how best they would help a team, and the rumors I have heard on the wire, they will not factor in potential trades.
1. Portland--Greg Oden. Pritchard makes the safe choice, and gets the best big man to come through the NBA in 2 decades. Oden, with paired with the duo of Randolph and Aldridge, also leaves Pritchard wiggle room to trade one of his other bigs. Or, he could just keep them all and have the most dominant, deepest front line in the league. Oden is a defensive ace, and while he needs to develop offensively, sheer size and athletic ability make him an immediate force in the paint.
2. Seattle--Kevin Durant. New GM Sam Presti, who was schooled under Spurs gurus R.C. Buford and Greg Popovich, makes the no brainer choice with Durant, who simultaneously opens up the perimeter and frontline for the Sonics. Durant can spread the floor, back his man down, run the offense, and take it to the cup. This allows the Sonics to let Rashard Lewis go if they please, and saves cap space for a franchise in flux.
3. Atlanta--Al Horford. Billy Knight's practice of taking the best player available finally pays off. Though Mike Conley should be in the argument here, Horford gives the Hawks legit low post scoring and defense, and passes well for a big man. Along with Shelden Williams and Pachulia, the Hawks all of the sudden have an intriguing frontcourt.
4. Memphis--Mike Conley. Why take Joakim Noah or Brandan Wright when you already have Pau Gasol? Firesale talks in Memphis will quiet down with the lightning quick PG, who draws immediate comparisons to TJ Ford, but with a better sense of pace, and a semblance of a jumper. Conley is a superb athlete who should be able to break defenses down a la Tony Parker. He might be one of the few players in the league able to stay with Parker on the perimeter, and extremely valuable skill come playoff time.
5. Boston--Yi Jianlian. This is where things get interesting. Ainge will likely be drafting for someone else, and Yi gives him some options there. Yi is also a better complement to Al Jefferson than Brandan Wright or Jeff Green, should the Celtics choose to keep the pick. Wright has been slipping, after being outplayed in workouts by Green and Corey Brewer.
6. Milwaukee--Brandan Wright. The Bucks roll the dice on Wright instead of taking Jeff Green. Wright has better longterm potential, and in an East that is beginning to get crowded, there is no immediate future with Green--short term, he doesn't raise them to a second round team. Wright is an athletic complement to the bruising Andrew Bogut, and also benefits from Bogut's passing ability.
7. Minnesota--Cory Brewer. With a KG trade imminent, possibly with Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum coming in from the Lakers, Brewer shores up the 2 and 3 spots for Minne. Paired with Randy Foye, he can provide an athletic backcourt, and be a defensive thorn.
8. Charlotte--Nick Young. With a frontcourt already filled with young solid players Okafor and Sean May, MJ turns to the backcourt and drafts someone who reminds him of himself, athletically. Young is a smooth 6-6 who can do it all, back down, shoot the 3, take it to the rim and finish. He and Ray Felton give the Bobcats a quick backcourt to offset their deliberate frontcourt. And if the team can retain Gerald Wallace at the 3, we're talking playoffs next year.
9. Chicago--Spencer Hawes. While Jeff Green and Joakim Noah intrigue, the Bulls go for sheer size and low post scoring, drafting for need in the conservative Paxson way. Hawes speed and defensive deficiencies can be masked by Ben Wallace and a long Luol Deng. The Bulls get a proven back to the basket player who has a creative arsenal of moves, and who should be able to pass out of the post to their perimeter shooters.
10. Sacramento--Jeff Green. Green has the more polished offensive game than Noah, which is what this pick comes down to, as Sactown is forced to hang onto Bibby. Green can play either the 3 or 4 along Brad Miller and even Ron Artest, because he is an unselfish player who can be effective as a focal point, or not.
11. Atlanta--Acie Law. Atlanta finally shores up their PG spot, though Mike Conley might have been a better pick at #3 strictly based on team need. Law and Joe Johnson both can shoot it, and Law and the moxie and closer mentality that the Hawks sorely lack. He can step right in, contribute, and be a captain for the future.
12. Philadelphia--Joakim Noah. The slide is over for Noah as he falls into the Sixers--who need a power forward--lap. Noah is never going to be a great scorer in the league, but at 12 he's too good to pass up. He can be a double double energy guy a la Marcus Camby, and delivers defense to any 3, 4, or 5. Noah can be a matchup nightmare and gives Philly some needed star power.
13. New Orleans--Julian Wright. The Hornets get another initiator in Wright, who can take some of the pressure off Chris Paul. Wright can run the floor and be a matchup nightmare defensively, offsetting the plodding D of Peja Stojakovic. He makes the Hornets make the jump to playoff team in the West.
14. LA Clippers--Thaddeus Young. The clippers got hosed, watching Law and Wright fall off the board, their two best fits. So they go future with Thaddeus Young, who is a better fit than Elton Brand than Al Thornton. Young is athletic, and does it all for this team, allowing them to move Maggete.
1. Portland--Greg Oden. Pritchard makes the safe choice, and gets the best big man to come through the NBA in 2 decades. Oden, with paired with the duo of Randolph and Aldridge, also leaves Pritchard wiggle room to trade one of his other bigs. Or, he could just keep them all and have the most dominant, deepest front line in the league. Oden is a defensive ace, and while he needs to develop offensively, sheer size and athletic ability make him an immediate force in the paint.
2. Seattle--Kevin Durant. New GM Sam Presti, who was schooled under Spurs gurus R.C. Buford and Greg Popovich, makes the no brainer choice with Durant, who simultaneously opens up the perimeter and frontline for the Sonics. Durant can spread the floor, back his man down, run the offense, and take it to the cup. This allows the Sonics to let Rashard Lewis go if they please, and saves cap space for a franchise in flux.
3. Atlanta--Al Horford. Billy Knight's practice of taking the best player available finally pays off. Though Mike Conley should be in the argument here, Horford gives the Hawks legit low post scoring and defense, and passes well for a big man. Along with Shelden Williams and Pachulia, the Hawks all of the sudden have an intriguing frontcourt.
4. Memphis--Mike Conley. Why take Joakim Noah or Brandan Wright when you already have Pau Gasol? Firesale talks in Memphis will quiet down with the lightning quick PG, who draws immediate comparisons to TJ Ford, but with a better sense of pace, and a semblance of a jumper. Conley is a superb athlete who should be able to break defenses down a la Tony Parker. He might be one of the few players in the league able to stay with Parker on the perimeter, and extremely valuable skill come playoff time.
5. Boston--Yi Jianlian. This is where things get interesting. Ainge will likely be drafting for someone else, and Yi gives him some options there. Yi is also a better complement to Al Jefferson than Brandan Wright or Jeff Green, should the Celtics choose to keep the pick. Wright has been slipping, after being outplayed in workouts by Green and Corey Brewer.
6. Milwaukee--Brandan Wright. The Bucks roll the dice on Wright instead of taking Jeff Green. Wright has better longterm potential, and in an East that is beginning to get crowded, there is no immediate future with Green--short term, he doesn't raise them to a second round team. Wright is an athletic complement to the bruising Andrew Bogut, and also benefits from Bogut's passing ability.
7. Minnesota--Cory Brewer. With a KG trade imminent, possibly with Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum coming in from the Lakers, Brewer shores up the 2 and 3 spots for Minne. Paired with Randy Foye, he can provide an athletic backcourt, and be a defensive thorn.
8. Charlotte--Nick Young. With a frontcourt already filled with young solid players Okafor and Sean May, MJ turns to the backcourt and drafts someone who reminds him of himself, athletically. Young is a smooth 6-6 who can do it all, back down, shoot the 3, take it to the rim and finish. He and Ray Felton give the Bobcats a quick backcourt to offset their deliberate frontcourt. And if the team can retain Gerald Wallace at the 3, we're talking playoffs next year.
9. Chicago--Spencer Hawes. While Jeff Green and Joakim Noah intrigue, the Bulls go for sheer size and low post scoring, drafting for need in the conservative Paxson way. Hawes speed and defensive deficiencies can be masked by Ben Wallace and a long Luol Deng. The Bulls get a proven back to the basket player who has a creative arsenal of moves, and who should be able to pass out of the post to their perimeter shooters.
10. Sacramento--Jeff Green. Green has the more polished offensive game than Noah, which is what this pick comes down to, as Sactown is forced to hang onto Bibby. Green can play either the 3 or 4 along Brad Miller and even Ron Artest, because he is an unselfish player who can be effective as a focal point, or not.
11. Atlanta--Acie Law. Atlanta finally shores up their PG spot, though Mike Conley might have been a better pick at #3 strictly based on team need. Law and Joe Johnson both can shoot it, and Law and the moxie and closer mentality that the Hawks sorely lack. He can step right in, contribute, and be a captain for the future.
12. Philadelphia--Joakim Noah. The slide is over for Noah as he falls into the Sixers--who need a power forward--lap. Noah is never going to be a great scorer in the league, but at 12 he's too good to pass up. He can be a double double energy guy a la Marcus Camby, and delivers defense to any 3, 4, or 5. Noah can be a matchup nightmare and gives Philly some needed star power.
13. New Orleans--Julian Wright. The Hornets get another initiator in Wright, who can take some of the pressure off Chris Paul. Wright can run the floor and be a matchup nightmare defensively, offsetting the plodding D of Peja Stojakovic. He makes the Hornets make the jump to playoff team in the West.
14. LA Clippers--Thaddeus Young. The clippers got hosed, watching Law and Wright fall off the board, their two best fits. So they go future with Thaddeus Young, who is a better fit than Elton Brand than Al Thornton. Young is athletic, and does it all for this team, allowing them to move Maggete.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Spurs Stomp Cavs into Ground
Cleveland's best game of the 2007 NBA Finals wasn't good enough. The San Antonio Spurs, the class of the NBA, won game 4 83-82 in what was the only remotely compelling game of the series. The game wasn't as close as the score indicated, not with Tony Parker attacking the paint relentlessly, and Tim Duncan crashing the boards (he finished with 15 rebs) to overcome a poor shooting night. The Spurs, as they have done every opponent this year and in years past, ground the Cavs down clinically and once again made LeBron James look human.
While questions of a Dynasty, in my opinion, should be reserved for teams who have pulled off back-to-back titles, the Spurs have a longevity that some great teams like the Rockets, Pistons, and Shaq-Kobe-lead Lakers did not. And don't even begin to think this team is finished. Tim Duncan is a young 31, and his game, premised on defense, rebounding, and footwork , should age well. Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili are just entering their primes, and you can bet the Spurs will find somebody worth keeping--my bet's some Euro--with their 28th pick in this year's draft.
The Spurs got it done--as always--with stifling perimeter and interior defense. LeBron's epic drives were met by 2 or 3 of the best defenders in league, and his teammates couldn't hit a jump shot to save their respective lives. Donyell Marshall and Damon Jones, formerly solid contributors, showed their age and as much as I like Daniel Gibson, he's not a true point and still has a long way to go. It seems that every Cavs player--maybe LeBron included, even--has some flaw that prevents them from working cohesively with their teammates. Whereas the Spurs are built perfectly: their talents accentuate and feed of each other's. Duncan's passing breeds good drives for Parker and Ginobili, for example. Oberto and Horry's rebounding give second chances that end up in the hands of lights out shooters like Michael Finley and Brent Barry.
Speaking of Finley, his acceptance speech was muddled and hilarious: he let out a King Kong growl and that game ball was glued to his hands, which doubtless, are huge and lend themselves to good shooting, unlike certain Cavs players, probably Larry Hughes, whose jumper makes me grimace.
The Cavs were worse finals opponents for the Spurs than either the Pistons--proven history-- and the Bulls, whose peak performance ability could probably have taken at least a game or two. Cleveland needs many a band-aid, but they have untradeable contracts and a plethora of decent parts that fail to add up to a good whole. It is worth noting, again, the greatness of the West; I am convinced that the Suns, Mavs, Jazz, and Rockets even would have beaten the Cavs in a 7 game series. That doesn't take away from Cleveland's excellent play against Detroit, but the Cavs would have been a 4 or a 5 out West and might not have escaped the first round. Last year's finals was better by a mile.
The Cavs need a good distributor not named Hughes to take the pressure off the Chosen one. The need 1 or 2 shooters who can do what Damon Jones did the past two years. Drew Gooden was solid, but they need more upfront, a slasher who can crash the boards. Would Phoenix take Gibson and Gooden--or another package-- for Marion? Marion and Lebron would get it done, and Marion could be a clear cut #2 in Cleveland. Phoenix could unload cap.
That would never happen, unless it were in the Cavs dreams. Just like an NBA title is only a dream with this flawed roster.
As for the Spurs? The most efficient and boring NBA team needs no further explanations. They are the best, and they will be the best, or among them, for the next 5 years.
While questions of a Dynasty, in my opinion, should be reserved for teams who have pulled off back-to-back titles, the Spurs have a longevity that some great teams like the Rockets, Pistons, and Shaq-Kobe-lead Lakers did not. And don't even begin to think this team is finished. Tim Duncan is a young 31, and his game, premised on defense, rebounding, and footwork , should age well. Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili are just entering their primes, and you can bet the Spurs will find somebody worth keeping--my bet's some Euro--with their 28th pick in this year's draft.
The Spurs got it done--as always--with stifling perimeter and interior defense. LeBron's epic drives were met by 2 or 3 of the best defenders in league, and his teammates couldn't hit a jump shot to save their respective lives. Donyell Marshall and Damon Jones, formerly solid contributors, showed their age and as much as I like Daniel Gibson, he's not a true point and still has a long way to go. It seems that every Cavs player--maybe LeBron included, even--has some flaw that prevents them from working cohesively with their teammates. Whereas the Spurs are built perfectly: their talents accentuate and feed of each other's. Duncan's passing breeds good drives for Parker and Ginobili, for example. Oberto and Horry's rebounding give second chances that end up in the hands of lights out shooters like Michael Finley and Brent Barry.
Speaking of Finley, his acceptance speech was muddled and hilarious: he let out a King Kong growl and that game ball was glued to his hands, which doubtless, are huge and lend themselves to good shooting, unlike certain Cavs players, probably Larry Hughes, whose jumper makes me grimace.
The Cavs were worse finals opponents for the Spurs than either the Pistons--proven history-- and the Bulls, whose peak performance ability could probably have taken at least a game or two. Cleveland needs many a band-aid, but they have untradeable contracts and a plethora of decent parts that fail to add up to a good whole. It is worth noting, again, the greatness of the West; I am convinced that the Suns, Mavs, Jazz, and Rockets even would have beaten the Cavs in a 7 game series. That doesn't take away from Cleveland's excellent play against Detroit, but the Cavs would have been a 4 or a 5 out West and might not have escaped the first round. Last year's finals was better by a mile.
The Cavs need a good distributor not named Hughes to take the pressure off the Chosen one. The need 1 or 2 shooters who can do what Damon Jones did the past two years. Drew Gooden was solid, but they need more upfront, a slasher who can crash the boards. Would Phoenix take Gibson and Gooden--or another package-- for Marion? Marion and Lebron would get it done, and Marion could be a clear cut #2 in Cleveland. Phoenix could unload cap.
That would never happen, unless it were in the Cavs dreams. Just like an NBA title is only a dream with this flawed roster.
As for the Spurs? The most efficient and boring NBA team needs no further explanations. They are the best, and they will be the best, or among them, for the next 5 years.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
UW's Tucker a Winner, but is He Good Enough?
Alando Tucker has the labels of Big 10 Player of the Year, 1st All American, Wisconsin's All-Time scoring leader. Unfortunately for him, all of those accolades are not enough to give him a most coveted label this time of the year: first round lock. In this years loaded draft, Tucker will have to sweat out the draft process while guys he outperformed in college go above him. There's a strong possibility he won't hear his name until Round 2. Whats wrong with the guy? Lets take a look at his game.
At 6'5'' 210lb, Tucker has good size for an NBA 2 guard. The problem is his best position is power-forward. Excellent athleticism; great leaper, fast running the floor, agile laterally. Good strength in the legs and upper body. Strong defender who consistently neutrlizes his man. Rebounding a bit dissapointing considering size and athleticism; earlier in his career he was a ferocious offensive rebounder but he seems to have cooled his feistiness there. Good on slashes to the hoop and can finish difficult shots in the paint. Charecter and attitude may be the best in the whole draft; charimatic leader on and off the court (he doesn't drink or smoke and has earned his college degree). With all that being, Tuckers offensive game is far too raw for a 23 year old 5th year senior prospect. Not a distributor. Handle is poor; he handles on par with the average NBA 4-man but remember he is 6'5''! Don't be misled by his FG%, his shooting mechanics are poor (trust the lousy FT%). He has a bit of a two-handed release and his ball is very flat. Has some deep range on his jumper, but is an NBA team really going to want this guy shooting from the perimeter? Gets his points on shots that generally won't be there in the NBA. Ultimately, the problem with Tucker is that he is a 4 in a 2's body.
For Alando Tucker to stick in the NBA, he will have to play dogged defense, crash the offensive glass, become a loose ball kamikaze, and stick the occasional jump shot. He has the athleticism and the intangibles to make it but does he have the skills? He must learn to play the role of specialist (his speciality being energy guy off the bench) after playing the role of college superstar at UW. He might be worth a gamble late in the 1st round, but my guess is he'll be an early 2nd round pick come draft night.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
USC's Young Rising up Draft Boards
Nick Young HAD been something of an under appreciated talent at USC. Yeah he was All-Pac 10 twice, led his team to the Sweet 16 this year and showed enough talent to be on the NBA radar screen the last 2 years. But he was tucked away on the West Coast on an underrated team and his game could be best described as smooth, not flashy or fiery enough to make the national headlines or Sports Center highlights. So why has he gone from "bubble first rounder" to lottery-projected in many mock drafts the last month? The simple answer is that pure talent always seems to rise this time of the year (and Young certainly is a "pure talent"), but taking a deeper look at Young's NBA ready game provides the more comprehensive answer.
The 6'6'' 205 lb Young has very good size for an NBA 2 guard and has enough size to swing to 3 for a smaller lineup: long arms, wide hips, big hands. He is not the most explosive athlete but he is a very good one (think Josh Howard type athleticism); blessed with great body control, Young is one of those players who looks smoother than everyone else on the floor. Offensively he plays as a pure wing and he stays on the wing, he doesn't over dribble or bog down the offense. He likes the mid range jumper and can get the shot off with ease because of a smooth handle, nice elevation and a wide frame which creates separation (he has a nice turnaround jump shot from the right side of the floor that is pure butter). Defensive ability is good; he is not shutdown but he will be able to neutralize his man in the NBA with his size, strong hand usage and good lateral agility. Don't confuse him with a point guard or even a combo guard; he's not a great distributor and though he can handle the ball, he doesn't operate much at the top of circle. Rebounding is average at best and will probably never be a strength of his. Intangibles are very good; he is a confident, unselfish player who plays within the team system. Intensity and focus are questionable as he has been inconsistent during his career (Aaron Afflalo he is not). Young projects as a legitimate starter and 15 plus point scorer in the NBA for many years.
Nick Young should be able to fit in on just about any team in the league. He is a pure wingman who can get his shots in the flow of the offense, play solid defense and bring solid character. I would personally rate Young as a top 10 or maybe Top 7 player in the draft, ahead of some more prominent names like Julian Wright, Joakim Noah and Jeff Green. He may need to toughen up a little bit and he certainly cannot be a teams #1 option, but I really think Nick Young could be a championship type player, a 3rd or 4th guy on a great team. Charlotte would be wise to consider the late-rising Young at 8, as they could use a throwback wing who plays the right way (unlike a certain mustached showboat we all know too well).
Bulls Eye East Crown Next Year...What Will it Take?
It's taken almost two weeks for the Bulls second round exit to sink in, and I finally feel ready to go back to the drawing board for my team. Tonight's Detroit-Cleveland game and the rest of the series should provide a good barometer for the Bulls, who took the Pistons to 6, and could've taken them to 7 had they not melted down in the second half of game 3.
The Pistons exploited the Bulls weaknesses, most glaringly in the size department. Chicago had no answer for Detroit's arsenal of skilled bigs, and while Ben Wallace was doing his darnedest to pose as an offensive threat, let's be real, Wallace's hands belong in one of the city's meat packing plants. PJ Brown played a stellar series, highlighted by a 20-point first half outburst in game 6, along with his usual solid post defense, but the elder statesman's star is dwindling. Malik Allen, for once, stayed where he belonged on the bench and was a non-factor. Ditto for Michael Sweetney. Tyrus Thomas, as is his way, showed brilliant flashes followed by knuckleheaded traveling violations, turnovers, and post defense. This is the Bulls front line crew, and it ain't gonna get it done next year either. So what should Paxson do?
The Bulls own the 9th pick in the draft, and likely will be able to get a serviceable big like Washington's Spencer Hawes, a slightly stiff but surprisingly polished post presence. Along with Wallace's bruising and Thomas's athleticism, Hawes could be a real fit here. The trio could help mask each other's weaknesses. Draft-wise, the other option would be to trade into the top six, and guarantee that Al Horford, Brandan Wright (whose offense is arguably better than Thomas's), or Yi Jianlin would be available. Rumor has it that Pax is into Yi, who scouts have described along the lines of a Dirk or Bargnani. But Yi is more of a 3/4 and while he has the size to be a back to the basket player, he certainly isn't yet, and may never be. Horford has the passing, defense, and grit that Skiles would love, and would fill the gap in the paint. The next question is what will it take for the Bulls to move up those 3 or 4 spots. My money says Nocioni and the #9 pick would get it done. A team like Boston, with so much youth and unproven talent should be dying to get their hands on a proven commodity like Noce. His game is not perfect, but you're getting someone who can shoot the 3, post up smaller forwards, and harass other teams scorers. Noce's contract is up so the Bulls would have to do a sign and trade and possibly take back some salary to make the #s work.
A free agent option that has to be revisited is Pau Gasol, although he's recently backed off his trade demands and said he wants to remain in Memphis, which I actually find surprising. If I'm Memphis a combination of Nocioni, #9, and maybe Tyrus gets it done. Memphis gets younger, tougher, and deeper and saves some money in the process. For the Bulls, a Gasol deal would vault them to the top of the East with a 1a to Ben Gordon's 1b.
The Bulls have the wings and backcourt of the future, which Pax has repeatedly said is untouchable. Nocioni is not and given the contract situation, we can expect him to be used as bait in any trades before Luol, Kirk, or BG. With Sefalosha waiting in the wings the Bulls 1-3 positions are already set. PJ Brown should be brought back, if he wants, for the veteran's minimum, while Sweets should be let go--to the donut shoppe. Gordon and Deng are up for extensions this summer and expect them both to get around $11 million/year, hopefully with as much up front money as possible.
Either way, the Bulls have an opportunity (thank you Isiah) to take another leap next year. Our young guys are not done improving, and with more size and an aging Detroit, you could be looking at next year's eastern conference champs, which would look like this.
1--Kirk Hinrich, Chris Duhon
2--Ben Gordon, Thabo Sefalosha
3--Luol Deng, Tyrus Thomas
4--(Yi/Horford/Wright/Gasol/Hawes), PJ Brown
5--Ben Wallace
The Pistons exploited the Bulls weaknesses, most glaringly in the size department. Chicago had no answer for Detroit's arsenal of skilled bigs, and while Ben Wallace was doing his darnedest to pose as an offensive threat, let's be real, Wallace's hands belong in one of the city's meat packing plants. PJ Brown played a stellar series, highlighted by a 20-point first half outburst in game 6, along with his usual solid post defense, but the elder statesman's star is dwindling. Malik Allen, for once, stayed where he belonged on the bench and was a non-factor. Ditto for Michael Sweetney. Tyrus Thomas, as is his way, showed brilliant flashes followed by knuckleheaded traveling violations, turnovers, and post defense. This is the Bulls front line crew, and it ain't gonna get it done next year either. So what should Paxson do?
The Bulls own the 9th pick in the draft, and likely will be able to get a serviceable big like Washington's Spencer Hawes, a slightly stiff but surprisingly polished post presence. Along with Wallace's bruising and Thomas's athleticism, Hawes could be a real fit here. The trio could help mask each other's weaknesses. Draft-wise, the other option would be to trade into the top six, and guarantee that Al Horford, Brandan Wright (whose offense is arguably better than Thomas's), or Yi Jianlin would be available. Rumor has it that Pax is into Yi, who scouts have described along the lines of a Dirk or Bargnani. But Yi is more of a 3/4 and while he has the size to be a back to the basket player, he certainly isn't yet, and may never be. Horford has the passing, defense, and grit that Skiles would love, and would fill the gap in the paint. The next question is what will it take for the Bulls to move up those 3 or 4 spots. My money says Nocioni and the #9 pick would get it done. A team like Boston, with so much youth and unproven talent should be dying to get their hands on a proven commodity like Noce. His game is not perfect, but you're getting someone who can shoot the 3, post up smaller forwards, and harass other teams scorers. Noce's contract is up so the Bulls would have to do a sign and trade and possibly take back some salary to make the #s work.
A free agent option that has to be revisited is Pau Gasol, although he's recently backed off his trade demands and said he wants to remain in Memphis, which I actually find surprising. If I'm Memphis a combination of Nocioni, #9, and maybe Tyrus gets it done. Memphis gets younger, tougher, and deeper and saves some money in the process. For the Bulls, a Gasol deal would vault them to the top of the East with a 1a to Ben Gordon's 1b.
The Bulls have the wings and backcourt of the future, which Pax has repeatedly said is untouchable. Nocioni is not and given the contract situation, we can expect him to be used as bait in any trades before Luol, Kirk, or BG. With Sefalosha waiting in the wings the Bulls 1-3 positions are already set. PJ Brown should be brought back, if he wants, for the veteran's minimum, while Sweets should be let go--to the donut shoppe. Gordon and Deng are up for extensions this summer and expect them both to get around $11 million/year, hopefully with as much up front money as possible.
Either way, the Bulls have an opportunity (thank you Isiah) to take another leap next year. Our young guys are not done improving, and with more size and an aging Detroit, you could be looking at next year's eastern conference champs, which would look like this.
1--Kirk Hinrich, Chris Duhon
2--Ben Gordon, Thabo Sefalosha
3--Luol Deng, Tyrus Thomas
4--(Yi/Horford/Wright/Gasol/Hawes), PJ Brown
5--Ben Wallace
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Here Comes Portland
1) Portland wins lottery. 2) Portland uses #1 pick draft Greg Oden. 3)Therefore, Portland is now a title contender waiting to happen. That's how great of a player Greg Oden is going to be (and already is). One truly great player (particularly Center) can change a teams fortunes immediately, particularly when the player is as unselfish as Greg Oden. With him and their existing core, the Blazers have the foundation to go deep into the playoffs, maybe as soon as next season.
Greg Oden is 7'1'' 260lb but seems even bigger on the court, if that's possible. And he possess many other attributes on top of the size: Explosive hops and flexible legs, great hands (soft and strong on offense and for rebounding, hammer-like usage on defense), high shoulders and long arms, speed of a small forward, quality and improving post moves, soft touch in the paint and at the line, giant court presence at all times, unselfish, quiet fire to win, likable personality. Bottom line: the best NBA prospect since Tim Duncan (with the potential to be better than TD, he's a better athlete).
The Portland cupboard was looking well-stocked even before the addition of Oden. Now it is simply overflowing. Brandon Roy looks like a 10 year rock in the backcourt. Not a true PG, but similar to Deron Williams and the late Dennis Johnson with his bulldozer strength to get in the paint, rock solid defense and winning court presence. LaMarcus Aldridge is tremendously springy for a 7 footer, with a nice touch and a fundamentally sound defensive and rebounding game. Winning court demeanor is a positive, but heart condition makes him a tainted prospect. Zach Randolph had better REALLY shape up now or the Blazers will look to ship him out. Though improved last season, Randolph must now realize it his not his show and learn to fit in around Oden and Roy. Still, his bruising frame, quick feet and immaculate hands make him a rare NBA commodity: 20 points, 10 rebounds. Don't disregard their other pieces either. Jarret Jack can be a low-level starting PG in the NBA (whether that's actually a compliment is another story). Martell Webster has a big time stroke and a solid frame, but he needs to learn the other phases of the game. Joel Pryzbilla is a serviceable big man off the bench and Travis Outlaw can change a game with his shot blocking and free-throw inducing drives to the hoop.
Their mojo lost after the infamous Game 7 loss to the Lakers in West Finals back in 2000, the Blazers are back with a vengeance. They should be a title contender by 2009 or 2010.
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