Here is some thoughts on this offseason roster of Bulls personnel and players. I think naturally you have to start with a head coach and make sure the players you are placing on the roster FIT the coach's style of play. However, here is where I would begin to assess what to do with this roster of talent/talentless players.
Hinrich: I'm concerned that this season wasn't a fluke, and he's just not that good. If he played like last season (his best season), he's a slightly above league average PG. So while one way to look at it is that the team should only look for someone better...I can also see the case of that if you just put any replacement out there you won't exactly be losing much, especially if that replacement also had a friendlier contract. Don't get me wrong... he's got talent! Just not at top-teir level. Maybe 2nd level.
Gordon: Work out the contract extension. If he's asking too much, instead of increasing the money offer him an early opt-out after 3 years (or just a 3-year contract). A sign/trade will be tough, and the qualifying offer doesn't help anyone. But you can't just let this guy go. I see scoring potential there.
Hughes: Try to move. Don't even bother with him otherwise. He's not going to change as a player, and if you play him a lot of minutes your team will be worse off for it. I'd consider acquiring someone with an equally bad contract without the pretense of entitlement minutes. (A real coach would help in this case too)
Sefolosha: I'd see if he has any value and have him the primary 'sweetner' in a deal, although probably doesn't have much value outside of this very blogging area. He has some skills from the backcourt that the team lacks, but they can be found fairly cheaply in the free-agent market and thus Thabo shouldn't be seen as untouchable.
Duhon: So long.
Brown: Ditto.
Curry: Don't care. Although I'll surely scoff if he's released due to 'character' issues.
Deng: I think his bad season was mainly due to injuries. However, that earns him the label of 'injury-prone'. But not enough of a worry to not re-sign him, you'll be paying for his age-23 to age-28/29. Even if he never makes a 'next step', I don't see how that winds up being some awful mistake.
Nocioni: Try and move for a shorter-term deal. The contract was a mistake for a tax-averse team, his minutes could be given to more promising players, and it'll help eliminate small-ball. At the very least, don't deem Deng expendable because you have Nocioni to take his place, ugh.
Nichols: Don't care.
Simmons: Expiring contract...so just don't short-sightedly buy him out.
Gooden: A Thomas-Noah-Gooden 3-man frontcourt rotation can do some damage, as Gooden's attributes (strength, finishing ability, post play) are those that the younger two could use as a complement. However, Gooden's fat expiring deal is also the team's best trade piece, especially in a Gordon or Deng sign/trade. So if he has to be used (instead of Noc) in a mega-deal, so be it.
Thomas: if he's going to be traded, it better be for somebody good. Like a Gasol-level good. Seriously. Just because we haven't HELPED this dude go to the next level, doesn't mean he is NOT going to be any good. Get the kid some help.
Noah: Ditto. I'm not objected to trading either guy, but it'd have to be for a top-tier player, not in some kind of 'shuffling the deck' lateral move.
Gray: He's signed through next year and he's as fine of an inactive list 3rd center type player as any, I guess. But if someone wants him...
The Bulls must look for a REAL upgrade this offseason and not just a "potential" upgrade. we have enough "potential" players on this roster. Unless its Rose or Beasley, you have to go with a vet with some scoring and leadership ability.
They also got to get rid of some BAD CONTRACTS (Nocioni and Hughes).
But the MAIN and MOST IMPORTANT thing that Paxson needs to do is get a REAL and ESTABLISHED coaching staff in place. Even if it costs a bit more than normal. An established coaching staff with a TRUE big-man coach would help solidify the mindset in the locker room and practice.
Good topic and some nice thoughts, but as usual I disagree with some of it. I'll try to stick to your template though and respond to each.
HInrich: He's average at best and untradeable due to the silly deal that Pax handed him. That said he would be fine on a team with some better players where all he is accountable for is defending the 1 and knocking down a trey every once in a while. I don't like him, but I can (because we have to) live with him.
Gordon: Adios. If we can entice someone to give us something in a sign and trade, I'll take it. If not just let him go. He's a one dimensional 6th man who shouldn't be a number 1 scoring option in the NBA. Unfortunately the Bulls anemic offense often forces him to be just that. If our team was stacked like the Pistons or Spurs he'd look great coming off the bench. Here he's just expensive and overly shooty.
Hughes: God. When did NBA garbage get this expensive? Having said that I foresee Larry starting at the 2 next year and riding out his deal until Pax can cut ties with him. Rebuilding is tough, but sometimes riding out bad contracts is part of the deal.
Sefolosha: I like the kid. He has a decent mid-range jumper and can flat out guard when he feels like it. Hopefully ditching Gordon will open up consistent minutes for the young man. I want to see some more before we let him go.
Duhon: I agree completely with you ChicagoMarine. If he's smart he's already got his bags packed.
Brown: Who is Shannon Brown again? He can just go away.
Curry: How does a future in the D-League sound?
Deng: I hope to God the rest of the league still thinks Luol will one day be a star. Let someone else make the really expensive mistake of signing him long-term. He has sign and trade written all over him. He's an average player who I frankly believe has peaked at the ripe age of 23. Ciao.
Nocioni: My stop-gap starting small forward. Enjoy rebuilding young man, and stop it with all the stupid whining already. Oh, and also, stop shooting the 3 like you're Dale frickin' Ellis.
Nichols: I wouldn't know Demetris Nichols if he walked up to me and kicked me in the nuts.
Simmons: I hope his family owns the Simmons mattress company. This NBA thing doesn't seem to be working.
Gooden: My starting PF. He'll look great some nights and invisible on others. LIve with it. He's better offensively than any big we have and I like his weird beard.
Thomas: Trade him NOW! For anything. He is basketball dumb. He has no respect for the game or his teammates. Oh, and he sucks at basketball. Good trade Pax. Tyrus Thomas is the definition of a basketball turd. Get him off of my team now.
Noah: My starting center next year. I like the kids attitude. I just wish he could score in the post. He's an energy guy willing to play D and capable of blocking shots. I'd like to see him on a better team soon as our new version of Tyson Chandler.
Gray: Welcome to the D-League. If we can't find one tall guy better than this stiff I don't know what I'll do. I just know I don't want to see any more of him in the Bulls lineup ever again. Go away. Please.
Nichols: I wouldn't know Demetris Nichols if he walked up to me and kicked me in the nuts.
Yeah, but you'd remember his arse forever more if that was to happen.
So, Scoreface is going with a starting 5 of Noah, Gooden, Nocioni, Hughes, and Hinrich. It will be interesting to see Hughes and Nocioni trade bad shots.
The trades need to yield something of value. You are talking about trading Deng, Thomas and Gordon. Despite our opinions of their worth, they represent a lot of assets.
It's a sad situation and, honestly, I cannot offer anything more. Nor, can I offer any worthy debate to either of your assessments.
i agree Jazz,,,, its hard to disagree with either one of your assesment.. i do like gray though, i think he can be a decent no.2 center.. hes more of a half court slow the pace down type of center, which would compliment noah perfectly..
sad but true though, paxson made a mess these last 2 yrs of this roster.. with noone that he can really build around.. it looks like it could be heinrich,noah, and gooden being the main course of this team for paxson to fill in the pieces around..sad,,really sad..
My evaluation of this team if i were to grade the team as a whole would be a D+.
On defense, this team regressed. They spent too much time chasing the ball around. Teams quickly figured out that the way to beat them was to pass the ball around and put them on the chase, then find the open man for a close wide open jumper or easy layup or dunk.
On offense, they, well nevermind, i don't want to raise my blood pressure. We all know how offensive the offense was.
I will say that a good part of the blame goes to Pax. (I was one of his biggest defenders), but now i have to give him some credit for the demise.
Now my biggest worry with Pax is that he will interview candidates untill he finds one that shares the same views that he has with his current roster. In other words, he will find someone that wants to coach his team, instead of someone who is willing (and bold enough) to tell him that he must make some changes to his current core of babies (that Pax is soo in love with).
I used to be a Deng defender, but no longer am.
Trade Deng and Gordon for the #2 pick in the draft, and draft Beasley, play him at SF, then somehow aquire another decent PG to replace Gordon. Westbrook, Eric Gordon or whoever the best available at #9.
your right on ginney.. whoever he hires as a coach is going to be the guy that says he can win with this current roster and lets say bring deng back and thats what paxson is going to want to hear so he doesnt have to do a complete overhaul..
paxson messed up by not getting the right players he needed via free agency / trade / or draft last off season.. and he stock piled on small 2-gaurds, instead of finding a true point...
