NBA Offseason Thread.

[PujolJunkie]

If LeBron goes to Chicago, count me in as a basketball fan again. Maybe that makes me a really [expletive] Bulls fan, which I am already, but man I would jump on that bandwagon in a heartbeat.

[Socnorb11]

Quality, established stars are much more important in the NBA compared to non-lottery draft picks, compared to MLB. It's partially just a result of such a smaller roster - baseball has 25 guys in the majors, multiple minor league teams for development. NBA, you draft a guy 18th hoping he does well, he sits on your bench or immediately gets minutes. the Developmental League is nothing near as important as baseball's minor league system.

Basically, I'm saying that signing two major free agents is much, much, much, much more important to the Bulls winning both immediately and over the next couple years than keeping Heinrich and hoping a tall French dude becomes a 15 minute a game guy.

Look at the Finals. Those two teams were there directly due to the acquisition of seasoned All-Star Vets through free agency or absurdly lopsided trades like Gasol's. Teams developing young talent are exciting - the Thunder and Portland come to mind - but neither is nearly as likely to win a final as a team with three major stars, which is what Chicago most likely will be next season.

tldr: I'm excited as hell, dudes

Right, but they haven't signed anybody yet. I'm well aware that Lebron James is going to help the team more than the 17th pick in this year's draft, but they'd better be darned sure that Lebron is coming....... or they just threw away 2 pretty good resources for building a team.

[stlouie_lipp]

Quality, established stars are much more important in the NBA compared to non-lottery draft picks, compared to MLB. It's partially just a result of such a smaller roster - baseball has 25 guys in the majors, multiple minor league teams for development. NBA, you draft a guy 18th hoping he does well, he sits on your bench or immediately gets minutes. the Developmental League is nothing near as important as baseball's minor league system.

Basically, I'm saying that signing two major free agents is much, much, much, much more important to the Bulls winning both immediately and over the next couple years than keeping Heinrich and hoping a tall French dude becomes a 15 minute a game guy.

Look at the Finals. Those two teams were there directly due to the acquisition of seasoned All-Star Vets through free agency or absurdly lopsided trades like Gasol's. Teams developing young talent are exciting - the Thunder and Portland come to mind - but neither is nearly as likely to win a final as a team with three major stars, which is what Chicago most likely will be next season.

tldr: I'm excited as hell, dudes

Right, but they haven't signed anybody yet. I'm well aware that Lebron James is going to help the team more than the 17th pick in this year's draft, but they'd better be darned sure that Lebron is coming....... or they just threw away 2 pretty good resources for building a team.

What resources? Face it, without a superstar like Lebron they will continue to be a first, or at best, second round out of the playoffs. They would never truly contend for a championship with mid round picks and Kirk Hinrich. Teams with superstars win championships in the NBA, and I'm glad the Bulls are going "all in" in trying to get one.

[MrSaigon]

If LeBron goes to Chicago, count me in as a basketball fan again. Maybe that makes me a really [expletive] Bulls fan, which I am already, but man I would jump on that bandwagon in a heartbeat.

That doesn't make you a bad Bulls fan, that makes you a bad person.

Just kidding. But I'd be far too jealous, bitter and spiteful if the Bulls got LeBron and another guy to feel good for anyone. Though, I suppose you guys did just suffer a whole decade without 6 championships. And while it would be very good for the NBA from a business standpoint, I think it will be bad for basketball and overwhelming majority of fans if this happens.

Though this situation is magnified by the presence of James, this type of thing happens every once in a while and could happen far more often. Teams would start punting two or three seasons at a time to clear cap space and score cheap talent in the draft. Whatever loss they took in attendance would be more than made up for if they were successful. Also, do you really think these players would be conspiring if it was Memphis, Oklahoma City and Milwaukee rather than New York, Chicago and Miami? Not to mention the competitive balance issues.

[Maclowery]

Soc, obviously we didn't get James yet. The bulls aren't going to go out and sign John Salmons or something as their big splash. This is the biggest offseason of all time, dude. We are the frontrunners for James now, and have a terrific chance to also get one of Bosh Boozer Stoudemire Lee to compliment him.

If we miss James we'll still get one of those, and then a second premier back court guy. Oh no ! Wade! Its a disaster!

You're arguing that the bulls are somehow not going to vastly improve this off season. We will. I promise. 17th picks are comparitively meaningless for winning postseason games.

[JL21]

I get the feeling that the world is about to get an influx of really annoying, insufferable, entitled Bulls fans.

[thrill]

I get the feeling that the world is about to get an influx of really annoying, insufferable, entitled Bulls fans.

And for a guy who once owned an Elton Brand Bulls jersey and knows who Dalibar Bagaric is, it will be bittersweet.

[Socnorb11]

Quality, established stars are much more important in the NBA compared to non-lottery draft picks, compared to MLB. It's partially just a result of such a smaller roster - baseball has 25 guys in the majors, multiple minor league teams for development. NBA, you draft a guy 18th hoping he does well, he sits on your bench or immediately gets minutes. the Developmental League is nothing near as important as baseball's minor league system.

Basically, I'm saying that signing two major free agents is much, much, much, much more important to the Bulls winning both immediately and over the next couple years than keeping Heinrich and hoping a tall French dude becomes a 15 minute a game guy.

Look at the Finals. Those two teams were there directly due to the acquisition of seasoned All-Star Vets through free agency or absurdly lopsided trades like Gasol's. Teams developing young talent are exciting - the Thunder and Portland come to mind - but neither is nearly as likely to win a final as a team with three major stars, which is what Chicago most likely will be next season.

tldr: I'm excited as hell, dudes

Right, but they haven't signed anybody yet. I'm well aware that Lebron James is going to help the team more than the 17th pick in this year's draft, but they'd better be darned sure that Lebron is coming....... or they just threw away 2 pretty good resources for building a team.

What resources? Face it, without a superstar like Lebron they will continue to be a first, or at best, second round out of the playoffs. They would never truly contend for a championship with mid round picks and Kirk Hinrich. Teams with superstars win championships in the NBA, and I'm glad the Bulls are going "all in" in trying to get one.

I thought Rose was supposed to be "the superstar".

The Lakers don't really have more than one "superstar". They have Kobe, surrounded by a lot of middle-of-the-first-round-draft talent.

[stlouie_lipp]

Quality, established stars are much more important in the NBA compared to non-lottery draft picks, compared to MLB. It's partially just a result of such a smaller roster - baseball has 25 guys in the majors, multiple minor league teams for development. NBA, you draft a guy 18th hoping he does well, he sits on your bench or immediately gets minutes. the Developmental League is nothing near as important as baseball's minor league system.

Basically, I'm saying that signing two major free agents is much, much, much, much more important to the Bulls winning both immediately and over the next couple years than keeping Heinrich and hoping a tall French dude becomes a 15 minute a game guy.

Look at the Finals. Those two teams were there directly due to the acquisition of seasoned All-Star Vets through free agency or absurdly lopsided trades like Gasol's. Teams developing young talent are exciting - the Thunder and Portland come to mind - but neither is nearly as likely to win a final as a team with three major stars, which is what Chicago most likely will be next season.

tldr: I'm excited as hell, dudes

Right, but they haven't signed anybody yet. I'm well aware that Lebron James is going to help the team more than the 17th pick in this year's draft, but they'd better be darned sure that Lebron is coming....... or they just threw away 2 pretty good resources for building a team.

What resources? Face it, without a superstar like Lebron they will continue to be a first, or at best, second round out of the playoffs. They would never truly contend for a championship with mid round picks and Kirk Hinrich. Teams with superstars win championships in the NBA, and I'm glad the Bulls are going "all in" in trying to get one.

I thought Rose was supposed to be "the superstar".

The Lakers don't really have more than one "superstar". They have Kobe, surrounded by a lot of middle-of-the-first-round-draft talent.

Rose is great and will be a perennial all-star, but it's highly unlikely that he'll be the best player on a championship team. And you're wrong, Kobe is surrounded by a lot more than "middle-of-the-first-round-draft talent".

[redbirdjazzz]

Quality, established stars are much more important in the NBA compared to non-lottery draft picks, compared to MLB. It's partially just a result of such a smaller roster - baseball has 25 guys in the majors, multiple minor league teams for development. NBA, you draft a guy 18th hoping he does well, he sits on your bench or immediately gets minutes. the Developmental League is nothing near as important as baseball's minor league system.

Basically, I'm saying that signing two major free agents is much, much, much, much more important to the Bulls winning both immediately and over the next couple years than keeping Heinrich and hoping a tall French dude becomes a 15 minute a game guy.

Look at the Finals. Those two teams were there directly due to the acquisition of seasoned All-Star Vets through free agency or absurdly lopsided trades like Gasol's. Teams developing young talent are exciting - the Thunder and Portland come to mind - but neither is nearly as likely to win a final as a team with three major stars, which is what Chicago most likely will be next season.

tldr: I'm excited as hell, dudes

Right, but they haven't signed anybody yet. I'm well aware that Lebron James is going to help the team more than the 17th pick in this year's draft, but they'd better be darned sure that Lebron is coming....... or they just threw away 2 pretty good resources for building a team.

What resources? Face it, without a superstar like Lebron they will continue to be a first, or at best, second round out of the playoffs. They would never truly contend for a championship with mid round picks and Kirk Hinrich. Teams with superstars win championships in the NBA, and I'm glad the Bulls are going "all in" in trying to get one.

I thought Rose was supposed to be "the superstar".

The Lakers don't really have more than one "superstar". They have Kobe, surrounded by a lot of middle-of-the-first-round-draft talent.

Middle-of-the-first round talent like lottery picks Odom, Bynum, Morrison, and Gasol?