Chicago Bulls - which direction should they take?

So here are the Bulls, sitting with the potential to get about 11 million under the cap if they "amnesty" Carlos Boozer.  They had a good draft, getting the guy who many thought would fit best with their roster no matter what - Doug McDermott from Creighton.  They also got a power forward from New Mexico with the second pick (number 49), a senior with decent numbers. 

Here's the key pieces on their current roster:

• Derrick Rose - coming off two seasons off due to injuries to both knees
• Taj Gibson - power forward who really came on in 2013-2014
• Joakim Noah - center who I should have listed one spot higher - double double machine
• Jimmy Butler - swing man who can play big guard or small forward, good defensively
• Mike Dunleavy - swing man who can hit threes and do more
• Carlos Boozer - power forward with below average to average defensive presence
• Kirk Hinrich - may be a free agent at point guard
• D.J. Augustine - another free agent at point guard
• Tony Snell - rookie swing man with promise
• Jimmer Fredette - possible free agent shooting guard who can, well, shoot
• Greg Smith - forward/center who held up the end of the bench at the end of the season
• Cameron Bairstow - power forward rookie second rounder
• Anthony Randolph - power forward obtained in the pick swap with Denver in the draft
• Ronnie Brewer - free agent signed at end of year for playoffs then not used
• Lou Amundsen - forward and that's all I know
• Mike James - another filler player, point guard who Thibs likes
• Nazr Mohammed - center who has to be close to done, not used much last year

I took that info from the Chicago Bulls/NBA.com site.  I wouldn't have included at least a quarter of them as Bulls.  But they're listed as part of the roster for 2014/2015.

So what do they do?  Do they try to trade for Kevin Love, perhaps moving Taj Gibson and Tony Snell or even Jimmy Butler while amnesty-ing Boozer to get under the cap enough to make the deal work? 

Do they try to sign Carmelo Anthony, maybe doing a sign-and-trade with the Knicks and dealing Butler and Dunleavy while amnesty-ing Boozer?

Do they make a move to bring over Nikolai Mirotic, the kid playing in Spain (I think?) who it will cost big money in terms of a buy-out of his European contract and his salary?

What would I do?

I would try my darnedest to sign Anthony.  I thought that they could maybe do a sign-and-trade with Boozer, since his contract is expiring next year and he's not a bad player, just not worth 16+ million a year.  It would seem that if they could do that, they could easily accomodate Anthony's big contract.  Otherwise he's going to have to take a pay cut.

An acquaintance who played pro ball overseas says that, as an observer and someone who understands the game pretty well, he feels Love would be the best move.  He would give them the superstar they need to go with Rose and Noah (assuming Rose comes all the way back).  If they do that, their lineup would be Rose, Noah, Love, maybe Dunleavy, maybe Butler, maybe Ronnie Brewer.  There's a big three but is there anything beyond that?

Another acquaintance who also played pro ball and major college ball suggests that Anthony is the right move.  Assuming they'd have to deal Gibson, their lineup might be Rose, Snell or Butler, Anthony, Randolph (the kid they got from Denver) and Noah.  There's a big three with plenty of scoring but again, is there ENOUGH beyond that?

Tonight's the night.  Free agency opens and Anthony is meeting first with Chicago.  Hope we get him somehow.

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QUANTUM ZOO is live on Amazon!

The SF/Fantasy anthology QUANTUM ZOO is available for purchase at the Amazon Kindle Store for the low low price of $0.99.  It's currently on sale to celebrate its release, but it will go up to regular price soon, so if you're a fan of those genres and enjoy short-form fiction, give it a try! 

My own story in there is called "Playing Man", and it envisions a future where Earth is a wildlife reserve and botanical garden, as well as a source of natural resources for a space-faring human civilization.  But strange things happen when you take humans out of the picture on Earth while leaving the other life forms to their own devices. 

It's one of 12 stories themed around the word "Zoo".  Other excellent authors in the collection include Bridgette McKenna, J.M. Ney-Grimm, D.J. Gelner, John Hindmarsh, and seven more (besides me). 

Please take a look!  Here's the link:  QUANTUM ZOO for Kindle

Thanks!

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So what's going on?

Maybe a blog titled "Chitown Sports Ramblings" should occasionally have a post expressing an opinion about, oh, I don't know, Chicago sports? 

Well, I did have that one about the Hawks about a month ago.  And one about the Bulls in April.  And then there were the ones about the Bulls in March and January. 

But not too much on any sort of regular basis.  And I don't see that changing (the 'regular basis' thing). 

I thought that maybe I'd put up a couple of thoughts in short form about potential future topics for me to post about, all the while hoping that maybe someone will see and buy the anthology QUANTUM ZOO that my short SF story will be part of, to be released on June 17th.  So here goes:

The Black Hawks need a jolt, perhaps, but no major changes.  Everyone always complains about the lack of a second line center to go with superstar Patrick Kane (and apparently Andrew Shaw is NOT that guy).  They don't appear to have a good candidate in their system, but maybe it will turn out that they DO have someone and we're just not aware of him yet.  Barring that, a trade may make sense - if it brings a quality player and doesn't sacrifice something vital to the Hawks' future.  What's vital to the Hawks' future?  That's another good question. 

The Cubs have shown some signs of life, winning 5 of their last 6 versus the Mets and Marlins.  The promise of Anthony Rizzo is becoming more apparent, and Starlin Castro has looked better this year than last (even if consistency is still a problem).  But the big issue is the pitching, which has been pretty good.  Jeff Samardzija has pitched like an ace most of the time.  He's just about in the prime of his career.  The Cubs have indicated that they'd give big money to players that made sense for the big picture.  So what about Samardzija doesn't fit?  They talk like they want to deal him before the deadline, along with Jason Hamel, who has also been pretty good.  But why?  I'm not sure this makes sense to me.

Sox hit the jackpot with Jose Abreu, or so it seems so far.  Made a good signing with Adam Eaton, and they've improved themselves up the middle.  Their pitching has been up and down, but they're hovering around .500.  Is that what they are, a .500 team?  Or can they be better?  I think they can make a nice run.  I don't know if they're a division champ, but I think they can be a wild card contender.  They may need to acquire a pitcher, however.  Maybe the Cubs have someone that will make sense for them. 

The Bulls have two picks in the first round of the draft, and apparently they've made an offer to Minnesota for Kevin Love.  I'm not sure Love is a HUGE upgrade over Taj Gibson, who is reported to be part of the package offered to Minnesota, along with Jimmy Butler, the rights to Nikolai Mirotich (spelling?) and possible draft picks.  But he's DIFFERENT.  Love, Noah and Rose to go with...who at shooting guard and who at small forward?  A resigned Deng?  Anthony?  A draft pick or a free agent?  I just don't know.

And finally, the Bears:  A nice draft and a nice free agent season put them in the thick of things in their division.  They've improved their defense and not made any significant downgrades (except backup quarterback) to their offense.  Should be a nice year. 

Perhaps I'll get time to write a bit more in depth in the near future on some of these topics.  Thank you for reading!

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In the meantime, feel free to check out my title , Doing Disney: How To Spend A Week At Disney's Florida Resort   It's available on Amazon for $2.99.

Thanks!

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Cover Art for QUANTUM ZOO!!

Here's the cover art for the anthology where my story "Playing Man" (by Scott Dyson) will be appearing with 11 other stories:

More details will be forthcoming!

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In the meantime, feel free to check out my title , Doing Disney: How To Spend A Week At Disney's Florida Resort   It's available on Amazon for $2.99.

Thanks!


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Go Hawks!

So here we are, in the midst of another Stanley Cup run.  The Black Hawks are in the Western Conference finals, and currently are up 1 game to none over the L.A. Kings. 

Two very good teams will go at it, just like last year, where Crawford outplayed Quick by a little bit to take the series.  The winner (the Hawks) went on to win the Cup. 

This is a fun team to watch, with very fast skilled players who rely on their talent rather than being overly physical to win games.  The Kings are a little bit like them.  But so far so good. 

Game 2 is tonight, at the UC in Chicago.  I don't know enough about various players and the nuances of the game to give much analysis.  But I do know an entertaining, enjoyable game when I see one, and the Hawks are giving us plenty of them. 

Go Hawks!

*****

Take a look at my short stories, available on Amazon for $0.99 each...price will go up a bit soon...

Rick's Rules
Night Family
Dead Or Alive

Thank you!

*****

Bulls' Post-season Over...

So another first round exit for our Chicago Bulls, going down 4-1 vs the Washington Wizards.  Yeah, those guys who were laughingstocks of the league not long ago, and for a while, too.  To be fair, the Wizards have talented players like Wall, Ariza, Biel (Beal?), and Nene, and the Bulls couldn't keep up with their scoring ability and their aggressiveness.

But the Bulls looked, well, tired.  They couldn't start well, and they didn't look like they had enough energy to mount the comebacks that they needed in almost every game. 

Why is that?  This team had the best record in the NBA in the second half of the season.  Could it be that Thibs is pushing them too hard?  I think that's a reasonable question.  His rotations are too short by at least two players in the regular season, sometimes only playing 6 or 7 players (maybe 8) when perhaps he should be spreading out minutes between 9 or 10 players.  Not only would it give more rest to the go-to guys, but it would also give those other guys meaningful minutes in game situations and allow the team to find out if they have something (or nothing).  Jimmer Fredette?  Could barely get on the floor.  Ronnie Brewer?  Why even bother? 

He played Hinrich, Dunleavy, Butler, Boozer, Noah, Gibson, and Augustine too much, I think.

They are certainly his best seven players.  But even Boozer was left out in crunch time, those minutes going the Gibson. 

Thibs' biggest problem seems to be his inflexibility.  That may also be his biggest strength.  But if winning every game in the regular season (or playing to win every game, which is virtually the same thing) costs them their legs come playoff time, something's gotta be done.  I'm sure no one wants to tell him how to coach, but someone better make him see that you can't sacrifice offense all the time in order to keep your best defensive unit on the floor for most of the game. 

It will be interesting to see how this off-season plays out.  With Rose coming back and the ability to amnesty Boozer, is there anyone out there who can make the difference between a first round exit and competing for the title?  Besides Carmelo, that is, who apparently would have to take significantly less money to come to Chicago without a sign-and-trade, and I'd guess that New York doesn't want Boozer in such a deal (even though his contract is up after this year). 

*****

Take a look at my short stories, available on Amazon for $0.99 each...price will go up a bit soon...

Rick's Rules
Night Family
Dead Or Alive

Thank you!

*****

Carmelo as a Bull - Good idea?

Okay, I know...this is probably off the table now that Phil Jackson has agreed to run the Knicks as their president and has endorsed the idea of committing to Carmelo Anthony.  Phil knows how to win, and he knows how to work with star players.  He's got 11 rings as a coach, and 2 as a player.  If I had to bet money on the outcome, I'd bet that Anthony will stay with the Knicks, where he can earn the most money in the biggest market, and take a chance on Phil turning things around for that franchise.

But what if Phil is blowing smoke?  What if when Phil says that he believes that Carmelo can help the team, he means that Carmelo can help the team by being dealt in a sign-and-trade?   And who has what it would take to make that sort of a deal?  Who has assets that might just help the Knicks rebuild this year and in the future?  Or what if Carmelo looks at the picture in the short term and says, "There is no way we're going to compete next year...and probably not the year after either.  Not with as bad as the Knicks look and as capped out as they are."

What if either one of those things is the real truth?  I submit that the Bulls are one of, and maybe the only team that makes sense to make a move for Anthony, from both the Bulls' and Knicks' points of view.

For the Bulls, is Anthony a fit?  I don't know...but I do know that this Bulls team as it is currently constituted is not going to win an NBA championship.  So let's say they amnesty Boozer and they have the cap room for a really good player (which should be the case).  Who is that player?  After Anthony, who is the next best free agent?  Well, it looks to me like it is probably...wait for it...

Luol Deng!

Here's one list of free agents for 2014:  Sports Illustrated List

Notice that most of the free agents above #10 (Deng's position) are centers and power forwards.  Also note that many of them (Lebron, Bosh, Wade, Duncan, Nowitski, Kobe, and even Anthony) are likely to resign with their own teams.  Pao Gasol and Zach Randolph make some sense for the Bulls (especially Randolph, if they do indeed amnesty Boozer) but their real need is for a scorer at either shooting guard or small forward.  Anthony is the only one on that list before Deng who fits that role, and might possibly be available in a sign-and-trade.

Does Anthony make the Bulls a championship contender?  I think he does.  But if he doesn't, so what?  No one else, either free agent or draft pick (outside of maybe Parker or Wiggins or a couple of others who will be long gone when the Bulls draft) makes the Bulls a contender.  Anthony provides what the Bulls need - scoring.  With Derrick Rose (even if he isn't as good as he used to be), and a supporting cast including Noah and Gibson, and whatever is left that the Bulls don't trade to the Knicks to get Anthony, it's a Bulls team that can go deeper in the playoffs.  They have their secret weapon as well - coach Thibodeaux.  (I'm probably spelling that wrong.)

So why would it make sense for the Knicks?  The biggest asset they'd get in the deal would be Boozer and his 16 million dollar expiring contract.  Assuming Anthony's max deal with the Knicks is 130 million over 5 years (a figure I heard on the radio this morning, but I'd previously heard 23 million a year over 6 years), that means the Bulls have to match 26 million a year.  Boozer accounts for 16 million of that amount.  10 million to go.

What would the Knicks want?  I'd think they want a young player.  Butler, probably.  Butler's valuable to the Bulls but not indispensable, and Anthony is going to be the starting "3".  I don't know what he makes but it can't be too much.  So what else goes east?  Could they sign-and-trade Hinrich to a team-friendly deal that would make him very attractive to the Knicks, who could use veteran leadership at the point?  Or could they decide that Jimmer Fredette is their three-point shooter and deal Mike Dunleavy?  I think his contract is about 5 million a year.  Let's just guess-timate that Butler is around 3 million.  That brings us to 24 million.  Two to go.  I'm positive that they'd want the Bulls' pick.  I'd rather trade both Bulls' first rounders (2014 and 2015) if that's possible.  I know there's a league rule about dealing successive first round picks, but I don't know if it applies when you also have other teams' first round picks.  If it does, then keep the 2015 pick and send them the pick they got for Deng (the Kings' pick, I believe, protected this year but not next?).  I think all the Bulls have to do is find another million dollars in salary to deal.  I'm sure it could be done.  That's if the Bulls have to match 26 million.  If it's 23 million, it's a little easier.

The key is Boozer.  Does he work for the Knicks, who will also have Stoudamire under contract?  I think it does.  First, Boozer is expiring after next season.  Second, Boozer is a good player (if not a great player, and if not worth the big contract the Bulls gave him), and Stoudamire can swing between center and power forward.  Butler replaces Anthony, and Hinrich gives them veteran leadership for a couple of years.  Or Dunleavy gives them a year of a solid small forward and three point shooter.  And they get some young players  with not-too-low draft picks.  Would that work for someone like Phil Jackson and the Knicks? 

So is this likely?  I doubt it.  Like I said earlier, I'd bet that Anthony will stay in New York and the Bulls will have to find somewhere else to spend the money.  Maybe they don't amnesty Boozer, maybe they bring Mirotic over and draft a couple of more pieces and see what they have in Rose.  Maybe they make a run at Paul Pierce or something like that.  There are options.

But none of those options lead to a Bulls championship next year, in my opinion.  The only scenario where I see a championship in the picture is one where they get Carmelo Anthony.

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You can find my short story NIGHT FAMILY on Amazon!
You can also find another of my short stories   DEAD OR ALIVE on Amazon!

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