Chicago Bulls 2009-10 Thread

[omaha_red]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jmiiR4h ... r_embedded][/youtube]

[Socnorb11]

I'm reading a lot of buzz latley about the Bulls possibly trading Hinrich and another player or players to Boston for Ray Allen. If that deal's available, Forman should be falling all over himself to get it done. It would make them better this season and clear more cap room for free agency.

Unless it's Hinrich and Derrick Rose, I can't fathom why the Celtics would be interested in that deal. I'm exaggerating, of course........ but the Bulls would have to sweeten the pot an awful lot to make that happen.

[Rieges]

I'm reading a lot of buzz latley about the Bulls possibly trading Hinrich and another player or players to Boston for Ray Allen. If that deal's available, Forman should be falling all over himself to get it done. It would make them better this season and clear more cap room for free agency.

Unless it's Hinrich and Derrick Rose, I can't fathom why the Celtics would be interested in that deal. I'm exaggerating, of course........ but the Bulls would have to sweeten the pot an awful lot to make that happen.

From the blurbs I've read, the thought-process is that the C's want to get younger and less expensive at guard and do not want to take the chance of losing Allen for nothing after the season. In one of the same blurbs, Ainge is quoted as laughing at the rumors of Allen being available so as with all rumors, take it with a grain of salt. At any rate, here are the quotes I read:

Ken Berger from CBSports.com:

• Rumblings about Ray Allen being on his way out of Boston are accurate, but only if the Celtics can get back a player who’d crack the top eight in their rotation. One scenario that has been discussed would have Allen going to Chicago for Kirk Hinrich and another piece – John Salmons? – to satisfy the salary requirements. If it came to fruition, what an intriguing swap it would be for teams that waged such a thrilling postseason battle only eight months ago. Since Allen’s $19.7 million contract expires after the season, acquiring him would leave Chicago flush with cap space for a 2010 free-agent binge centered around Chicago native Dwyane Wade and an additional superstar.

ESPN rumors article:

UPDATE: Ken Berger of CBS Sports reports today that "rumblings about Ray Allen being on his way out of Boston are accurate, but only if the Celtics can get back a player who'd crack the top eight in their rotation."

--
With Ray Allen's contract expiring after the season, he's publicly stated he'd love to come back to the team next season and re-sign for less money.

But might his expiring contract be better served on the trade market before Feb. 18's deadline? According to Adrian Wojnarowksi of Yahoo! Sports, that appears to be the case.

"The Celtics have initiated trade proposals on Allen, multiple league sources say, and Boston is searching for a younger, less expensive guard and an expiring contract," he writes. "This way they can find a replacement for the 34-year-old Allen without losing him and his $20 million expiring contract for nothing in free agency this summer. Only, there isn't a shooting guard available who's Allen's peer. This threatens a perilous choice between transitioning for the future and refusing to compromise a chance to win a title now."

For what it's worth, The Boston Herald reported yesterday that Danny Ainge "laughed at" and "seemed genuinely perplexed" when asked about Allen trade rumors.

After watching the Celtics-Lakers game on Sunday, ESPN.com's Chris Sheridan wonders if Allen will still be in Boston after the trade deadline, and proposed a purely speculative deal with the Bulls.



Chris Sheridan
Bulls and C's have what what each other need

"Would both teams be happy with a trade (and we're merely speculating here) that sent Allen and a minor player to Chicago for Kirk Hinrich, Tyrus Thomas and Jerome James (a 3-for-2 would work, because Boston has left a roster spot open since Lester Hudson was claimed off waivers by Memphis)? Or for Hinrich and Brad Miller? Either of those deals would clear $9 million off the Bulls' cap for next summer, when they?ll be going after a max free agent, and would allow Chicago to remain a viable playoff contender with a shooter who can provide what Hinrich and John Salmons haven't. The Celtics would get another guard who can't quite shoot as well (Hinrich is making only 38 percent of his shots while Allen is at 45 percent) but would gain a far more capable ballhandler and defender. Moreover, if the Celtics could get a shot-blocker and rebounder like Thomas, it could go a long way toward getting them out of the NBA cellar in offensive boards (where they rank 30th) and restore some of their customary defensive prowess."



John Hollinger
Allen's shooting is struggling, yet C's should upgrade supporting cast first

"He's shooting only 34.1 percent on 3-pointers, well off his career mark of 39.8 percent entering the season. The probability of this happening by random chance is only 4.6 percent, so we have to consider the possibility that there's been a loss of ability here for the 34-year-old guard. Even if his 3-point shooting numbers bounce back, his overall body of work is worrisome. Allen's other numbers are slightly worse across the board, too, and his splits are those of a tired vet -- instead of ramping up his numbers when Garnett went out earlier this month, for instance, he averaged fewer points and assists per minute in January than in the first two months and shot 31.9 percent on 3s ... Because of Boston's struggles, a lot of fans are wondering whether the team will consider a major trade, with Allen -- who has an expiring contract worth nearly $20 million -- drawing particular attention. But it seems to me a team that has gone all in as far as Boston would seek to upgrade the supporting cast first. With $10 million in expiring contracts not including Allen's, it would be fairly easy for the Celtics to concoct a deal that shipped out secondary assets (Brian Scalabrine, J.R. Giddens, Eddie House, etc.) for a quality role player with a longer contract, like Chicago's Kirk Hinrich. "

[Hungary Jack]

Well, the only way the Bulls could have a shot at LeBron or Wade or Bosh is to move Hinrich's contract, right?

[thrill]

Well, the only way the Bulls could have a shot at LeBron or Wade or Bosh is to move Hinrich's contract, right?

Not really, its just the most direct and most likely option.

Hinrich gets a bad rap. He's really versatile and very smart. I wouldn't be crazy about the deal if it weren't for the finances and free agents potentially involved.

[Hungary Jack]

Well, the only way the Bulls could have a shot at LeBron or Wade or Bosh is to move Hinrich's contract, right?

Not really, its just the most direct and most likely option.

Hinrich gets a bad rap. He's really versatile and very smart. I wouldn't be crazy about the deal if it weren't for the finances and free agents potentially involved.

I don't think most people are down on Hinrich, but his contract is a bit of an albatross, especially with D Rose around. The acquisition of Devin Brown seems to spell the end of Hinrich's tenure here, and it's probably necessary for the Bulls to get from mediocre to good.

[thrill]

His contract isn't prohibitive if the bulls can deal thomas & salmons or deng.

Brown sucks. He can only replace hinrich if they chuck this season by limiting their starters minutes and trade hinrich. The only way trading kirk make sense from a purely basketball stand point is if you get a shooting guard in return, like Allen.

I'd do the deal, I was just pointing out it isn't lopsided like socnorb said.

[Hungary Jack]

Looks like Noah will sit through the ASB to rest and get treatment for plantar fasciaitis. This could torpedo their season, not that they would advance beyond the first round anyways.

[jim]

OH STOP IT! OH JAMAL CRAWFORD. WHATCHA' ... DID YOU NOT GET THE MEMO? HE PLAYS ABOVE THE RIM!

[jim]

Looks like Noah will sit through the ASB to rest and get treatment for plantar fasciaitis. This could torpedo their season, not that they would advance beyond the first round anyways.

Granted I let mine go for a long time before I got treatment, but that is one of those really stubborn injuries. And debilitating. No fun.