Now that the Chicago Bulls have a coach in Vinnie Del Negro, GM John Paxson can focus his time and effort on the 2008 NBA Draft to take place on June 26th.
The wheels of Del Negro’s appointment were greased by the relationship between his former boss and former Bull, Steve Kerr, and Paxson. For Chicago’s sake hopefully Kerr does better with this move than the recent gaffe with the Shaq signing.
Paxson needs to satisfy two needs for the Bulls: post presence and maturity.
Ben Gordon, Luol Deng, and Kirk Hinrich make up a solid nucleus for a team that could, with some post play, challenge for the Eastern title next year.
Hinrich will not have a repeat of last season. Deng is a future all-star. Gordon is instant offense.
The threesome needs support that Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley can’t supply. Put either of those guys in a Bulls’ uniform, and their second contract in the league will be with another team. Both Rose and Beasley need to go somewhere that will allow them to grow.
Chicago is not that place.
With that in mind – Paxson has some alternatives:
Choice A: The Bulls can trade the first pick of the draft to Los Angeles. In return the Lakers would send Ronnie Turiaf, Andrew Bynum, and either their second round pick of this year’s draft (they don’t have a first round pick) or next year’s first round pick.
The Bulls would get some post presence. While Bynum is not exactly mature, he has at least played three years in the league – besides, getting away from Kobe’s ‘motivation techniques’ would feel like a weight from his 20 year-old shoulders. Turiaf could be ready to start on a team like the Bulls. Before you scoff at the second round pick, remember that is when Carlos Boozer was taken.
Mitch Kupchak would be drooling at the chance to either put Beasley opposite Gasol in the post, or have Derek Fisher mentor the young Rose.
Choice B: The Bulls trade the first pick of the draft to Boston. The C’s send Kendrick Perkins, Leon Powe, and their first round pick to the Windy City.
Other than Perkins’s tendency to pick up silly technical fouls because he can’t stop running his mouth, the guy has a mature game. He is ready to play a larger role than what he has behind the Big 3 in Boston. Powe could add some levity to the Bulls lineup. Courtney Lee (this draft’s version of Tayshaun Prince) could still be available with the Celtics’ pick.
Can you imagine Beasley in the lineup with Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce?
Choice C: The Bulls trade the first pick of the draft to San Antonio. The Spurs ship Kurt Thomas, Ime Udoka, and their first round pick north to Chi-town.
Okay so this one isn’t as sexy of a deal as the others. Thomas would add as much maturity as anyone could. Udoka showed some flashes this year. Roy Hibbert could still be available when the Spurs have their pick.
Like David Robinson taught him, Timmy Duncan could pass on his knowledge of the gnomes (you remember the razor commercial don’cha? ‘The gnomes Tim; the gnomes’) to Michael Beasley.
Choice D: The Bulls send the first pick of the draft to Houston. In return the Rockets send Shane Battier, Luis Scola and their first round pick.
Battier would make instant impact on the Bulls. Scola averaged ten points and six rebounds for the Rockets. Hibbert, Lee, and/or JJ Hickson could be available with the Rockets pick.
Beasley might break a whole lotta rookie records playing opposite Yao and grabbing T-Mac’s crumbs.
Time is ticking. What will GM Paxson do?
First – I wouldn’t call the Shaq trade a gaffe. Was it a gamble that didn’t pay off? Yeah, but they weren’t going to get past the Spurs playing the style of ball they were playing pre-Shaq.
Not only did Shaq play well, but I think it put them in a better position to beat the Spurs – just didn’t happen. But I give Kerr credit for be willing to take the chance.
I think the Bulls will end up taking Rose. I don’t see them trading the #1 pick, unless the deal is mind blowing. Any of the deals listed wouldn’t knock me off my seat to give up the #1 pick. Would you give up the #1 pick for a younger player – yes, he is talented – coming off major knee surgery?
I think you are placing too much value with Hinrich and Gordon. Gordon is a nice #6 guy, and is instant offense – but carry you to a championship? No.. Rose is a stud and as we have seen – great point guards are hard to come by. Rose is just that.
I am question is Beasley is going to be the #2 pick in the draft. There have been questions about his athleticism as well as his maturity. The Heat already have the same type of player in Udonis Haslem. I can see Mayo being taken #2 or Miami trading out.
I don’t think any of the deals you had would entice the Bulls to trade the pick.
Gaffe = taking a player in a trade who averaged 13 points and 9 rebounds per game during the regular season and 15 pts./9 bounds in 5 playoff games. Especially when this player has another year left on a contract that owes him$20,000,000. The Suns before Shaq came within game suspensions a year ago of beating the Spurs. This year they managed one win. Call me crazy, but that’s a lot of cash to throw around and get fewer wins.
Dude, are you serious? As a Bulls fan, I think I’d vomit if Pax pulled the trigger on any of those trade scenarios you lay out. Get real.
Scott
Thanks for your input – we always welcome newcomers to the Clipboard.
Here’s a little Pepto-Bismol for your aching stomach: Yeah the scenarios above fall short on flash. As a Bulls’ fan you must wonder what happened to the team that swept the then reigning champs (Miami Heat) in the opening round of the playoffs and followed that by winning two games against the Pistons – who had won the title two years previous.
The core is still there for a solid team.
Oh yeah, I failed to mention Larry Hughes – another guy who is more about substance and less about flash.
Think about guys like Kevin Garnett and Tracy McGrady. Garnett seemed like an obvious choice for the T-Wolves – 5th pick in the draft. After 12 years Garnett’s Wolves managed to win two playoff series.
11 years later and T-Mac still hasn’t played on a team that has won a playoff series.
Others come to mind – Vince Carter, Jalen Rose, and Jerry Stackhouse. Guys who looked like studs coming out of college – who have had very average careers when it comes to accomplishing team success. Actually Derrick Rose reminds me a lot of Jalen Rose, and Beasley reminds me of Carter.
Mix in there the variable presented by hiring an unproven coach in Vinnie Del Negro. Vinnie is going to need some leadership in his locker room.
You will notice that in all but one of the above scenarios, the Bulls still get a first round pick in this year’s draft.
You can go with the flash if you want. Far be it from me to keep you from what you want. All I know is this – put D. Rose or Beasley on this Bulls team, and Paxson will have lottery picks for at least the next two years.
Smitty (I know I am switching sports)
Remember ’04? When the Sox traded Nomar? We both asked: what are they doing? Are they throwing in the towel on the season? Theo got rid of the flashy guy and brought in lunch pail guys – Cabrera and Mientkiewicz. The results speak for themselves.
Winning is not about having the best players; winning is about having the right players.
Buenos dias amigos.
As a Celtic fan, I have no interest in the deal you suggest. I don’t want to see us rid ourselves of our youth while the Big 3 fail to resist the advancement of age. I also see a lot of Len Bias in Michael Beasley, and that is not the best of memories…
This happens every draft for the NFL and NBA. Everyone starts putting waaaaay too much stock into the top two or three prospects. I’ve mentioned a few times on the Clipboard how valuable I thought Rose is, but he can fall into a situation that doesn’t fit him in the NBA and not reach his potential. I think of Reggie Bush when I think of Rose. Everyone thought Bush was a for certain success in the NFL. He’s doing good, but not as good as people thought. Meanwhile, Mario Williams is slowly developing into one of the better DE’s in the league. How many people absolutely ripped the Texans for taking Williams? There are no sure things in sports. All the while Bush is becoming a media darling with his celebrity girlfriend. Just hope he’s smart enough to keep turning down his buddy Matt Leinhart’s invitations.
Bottom line – Rose needs a guy in the post like Dorsey to reach his potential. He needs that role player in the post, that big brute who can finish strong and grab 10-12 boards. If Chicago does not plan on filling this void, they’ll lose in the first round year after year. We are talking about the NBA; you HAVE to have a post presence.
Do any of these trades entice me? No. But I’m also realistic enough to know that Rose simply being plopped on any old team doesn’t mean automatic success for him or the team. If the Lakers had a first round pick, that trade is plausible. Bynum on the Bulls is a better fit than Beasley, knee surgery and all. I just can’t see where all those players fit on the Bulls roster; someone has to go.
Boy … it’d be hard for me to pass up the talents of a Derrick Rose at point guard for me over the next decade plus. Package Heinrich for something you need, but of course not expecting to steal anything. Heinrich has lots of value to the right team. I think the Bulls should keep the pick and take Rose … unless of course somebody offers something ridculously lop-sided in the Bulls favor (ala Cowboys trade of Hershel Walker to the Vikings back in the day).
As for Beasley … I said it before and will do so again … I see another Stacey King. The Bulls should stay away from him.
Casey, How is that bloody nose you must have from taking all of the punches being thrown your way. I personally do not think all of the 4 scenarios are ridiculous.
Of the 4 scenarios I like the first or second the best. In choice A the player that intrigues me the most is Bynum. He was starting to come around this year and if he keeps progressing he could be a 15 point 10 rebound a game guy. That would look pretty good on the Bulls. Add to that a first round pick next year and you could really build around what the Bulls already have. They were a pretty good team last year and adding a couple of players may make them very good. Is everyone convinced that Rose and or Beasley will become a stud? I am not so sure. The same thinking follows for the second option. Perkins could be that post presence that the Bulls lack and having a first round pick provides them the opportunity to add another quality player. In the third and fourth option I just don’t see any of the players that the Bulls would be getting as a true threat in the post. Therefore I would not do those.
JD
Remember when we were kids, and everyone told us to lean our head back to combat a bloody nose. Do you think that has anything to do with my perpetual sinus troubles?
Bloody nose? Now I just pinch it to stop the flow. Needless to say I now have bruises on both nostrils because I have been pinching so much lately. 🙂
Of course I am the guy who proclaimed on the first day of the NCAA tournament: Duke sucks! Hmmmm….wait… was I right? Then I backed it up by saying I could name 20 guys in Duke history better than JJ Reddick. Wait…I wasn’t too far off there.
Didn’t realize I would illicit so many props for Derrick Rose.
Everyone does seem to be ignoring that in each of those deals the Bulls would get a draft pick. Unless Paxson can manage to pull off a trade with his current players that brings in a post player or two, Rose’s talent will be wasted.
Unless of course the goal is to have players on the roster that make the all-star game/team. I just thought the Bulls had higher expectations.
I think the bulls should trade the first pick to the heat and get wade. Then the heat will take beasley and then we get rose. That way we get wade and rose