Who’s the New Guy?: Kyle Korver

When the Bulls traded Kirk Hinrich to the Wizards right before the NBA Draft, nobody knew who would be the guy from beyond the arc, like Captain Kirk was for the Bulls.  Enter Kyle Korver.  There are few guys in the business that are better at draining threes than Korver, and once landing a bigger name failed, getting a shooter like Korver turned into a priority.

Korver comes as one of the trio that the Bulls signed from the Utah Jazz in the offseason, joining Carlos Boozer and Ronnie Brewer.  A Creighton grad, Korver broke into the league with the Sixers, after a draft-day deal that sent him to Philly, following his selection by New Jersey. In just his second season, Korver was tied for the league lead in threes made with fellow sniper Quentin Richardson.

As a rookie, Korver was in the top 25 in the league in three point percentage, shooting 39% from beyond the arc.  Since then, Korver has been steady as rock from behind that line, shooting under 39% from three only once.  His best season came last year, percentage-wise.  Though he only played in 50 games for Utah, he shot 54% for the Jazz.

At this point in his career, there is no doubt what role Korver would be playing, no matter what team he ended up on this offseason.  Korver will be in the rotation with small forward Luol Deng and shooting guard Ronnie Brewer.  With Brewer more of a defensive player, Korver should see his fair share of time at the two, and will be given an opportunity to make it rain for the Bulls this season.

Tags: Carlos Boozer, Chicago Bulls, Kyle Korver, Luol Deng, Ronnie Brewer

Bulls workout McGrady

As if there weren’t enough rumors swirling around a potential Tracy McGrady signing, the Bulls worked out the veteran swingman on Monday.  Depending on which analysts you listen to, Chicago is a sure destination for McGrady, though the Bulls have yet to make a move towards signing him, though they have asked for his medical history.  A source has also said that the two are expected to agree on a deal sometime this week.

McGrady has made his own verbal pitches, but current members of the Bulls are also given their best Mad Men pitches to get T-Mac to the Windy City.  Both new Bulls Kurt Thomas and star Derrick Rose have spoken out in an effort to get McGrady into a Bulls uniform.

“He’s good,” Rose told ESPNChicago, “He’s a player. If he just gives us half of what he’s got, we’ll be all right. But I know a player like him, he’s going to go out there and give us his all, but he’ll definitely help us if we get him on the team.”

Thomas’ words of the former All Star were similar to those of Rose, “If he has taken the time to really let his body heal, that’s the key,” Thomas said on “The Afternoon Saloon” on ESPN 1000. “The problem with me early in my career when I was injured, I was rushing back. I think he’s been able to really rest his body and let his body heal. He has enough talent. He’s shown it over the years, and I’m pretty sure he has enough left in the tank to help us.”

We should know more in the coming days about the Bulls’ intentions with McGrady, but as long as McGrady is okay with the idea of coming off the bench, I can see this signing happening near the end of the week, as can Chris Broussard.

Tags: Chris Broussard, Derrick Rose, Kurt Thomas, Tracy McGrady

Friedell/Thibodeau Chat Transcript

In an effort to get Bulls fans more acquainted with new head coach Tom Thibodeau, I have the chat transcript from ESPNChicago.com’s Nick Friedell, who caught up with Coach Thibodeau during the NBA’s Summer League.

Q: What has been the biggest adjustment for you over the first month since taking the job?

Tom Thibodeau: I think just getting settled in and everything organized and up and running. Getting to know all the players and study the team.

Q: You’ve been asked this question several times over the last few weeks, but why do you think it took so long for you to land that first head coaching job. You’ve been in the league for years and you’ve clearly developed a reputation as one of the hardest workers in the business.

TT: I think part of it is just timing. I’ve had some opportunities along the way that I didn’t think would be good fits for me. I think the fact that I’ve been on some very good teams, so we played late into the season for several years, I think that may have played a part in it as well.

Q: Is there too much made of previous head coaching experience in certain cases?

TT: Experience is always good, I think you could have different types of experiences, so I think the fact that I do have 21 years in the league helps. I think the fact that [I've coached in] over 150 playoff games helps. I think all of your experiences help and I think the fact that I’ve been under great coaches helps as well.

Q: You mentioned the coaches you’ve worked for in the past, are guys like Doc Rivers and Jeff Van Gundy the types of people you’re going to bounce stuff off of throughout the season?

TT: The thing is, I have my own philosophy. It’s not going to be exactly like theirs. Obviously, I will take things from being with them. And also a lot of things I’ve learned from other teams and coaches that I’ve worked with that were assistant coaches, so I think you take all of those things and you make your own system. You study what your team’s strengths are and what your team’s weaknesses are and you build your plan around that. But, obviously, having them as a resource is great.

Q: Tom Thibodeau’s team is going to be what …

TT: I think the big thing is we’re going to defend, rebound, be low turnover, inside-out and unselfish. We’re going to build around that and I think, obviously, we want to be a well-balanced team. Those are the teams that have the most success in the playoffs and we want to build around what it’s going to take to be a championship caliber team.

Q: You guys were obviously very active in free agency. Specifically with Ronnie Brewer, what does he bring to the team going forward?

TT: I think his length, athleticism, defensive mindset, a slasher, a cutter, a guy who’s terrific on the break. His energy, those are all things we’re looking for him to bring to our team.

Q: You also added Kyle Korver and Carlos Boozer, do you think Carlos will be able to fit in instantly with Joakim [Noah], given that they don’t play the exact type of game down low?

TT: Yeah, I think they’re going to complement each other very well. I think Carlos, because of his versatility, he can play away from the basket. He can play on the block, he can play a pick and roll game, runs the floor. And I think Joakim, sometimes people overlook that he’s a pretty good offensive player. I think he’s developed a nice jump hook game with both hands, runs the floor very well, very unselfish passer, very good decision maker, and his shot continues to improve.

Q: You have this reputation as being a defensive guru, but clear Gar and Pax wouldn’t have hired you if you hadn’t shown them the things you wanted to do offensively. What are some of things on offense that you look to do this year with Derrick, Joakim and Boozer?

TT: I think the big thing is you study your team. In pro ball, you’re obviously playing to your strengths and trying to cover up your weaknesses. And the fact that we have Derrick at the point and we have athleticism, obviously we’ll build around our defense and rebounding and try to get into the open floor as much as possible. But then I think you have to be well-rounded. You have to be able to execute in the half-court. Obviously, we’ll build around a pick and roll game, Carlos in the post. I think Kyle Korver gives us a catch and shoot game. Luol [Deng] is terrific moving without the ball and a mid range game. His slashing, cutting is similar to Ronnie Brewer. So we’ll incorporate all those things into our offense.

Q: Luol’s a guy who has taken a little bit of a beating publicly because his durability hasn’t been there. You can out at your introductory press conference and said that he was one of the guys you were looking forward to coaching the most. What is it that you see from him that maybe people miss?

TT: In the past, from competing against the Bulls, he was a guy that, if you’re not paying attention to him, he could really hurt you. Obviously, his ability to run the floor, his slashing, cutting, if you lose vision of him he knows how to find open seams, and I think that’s his strength. I love his length. He can challenge shots and he’s a very solid rebounder, so I think he’s a complete player and those are the type of guys that you want.

Q: Speaking of complete players, Derrick has obviously been working on his game. He’s been working on his shooting, he’s in the gym all the time. As a coach that’s got to be something you love to see and I have no doubt you’ve already had a couple late night film sessions already.

TT: I think his commitment to the game, to his team, is really special. The way he works at it, obviously, that’s what will allow him to continue to develop. Again, I think when Derrick Rose has a head of steam and he’s coming at you that’s not something that you want to see if you’re an opponent. I think his ability to break defenses down off the dribble, his pick and roll game is terrific and as his shot continues to improve he’s just going to get better and better. You’re going to have to come up on him more and more and once you do that, obviously his quickness and his athleticism are really special.

Q: How important do you think the coming week is, and if he makes the World Championship team that plays in Turkey, is going to be in his development?

TT: I think it’s all part of the process of him being an elite player. More than anything, I think when you’re competing against players of that caliber it brings out the best in you and I think that that’s helped him. The big thing for Derrick will be not only his own development, but to also help lead our team and I think as he continues to gain experience his leadership will continue to develop and he’ll be able to help sell the vision for how we want our team to play.

Q: Do you have doubt that he can become the “alpha dog” on this team?

TT: The thing for me, the challenge for all of us is to build a great team and that’s what we’re aiming to do. Obviously, the ball’s in his hands a lot so it’s going to start with him and not only offensively, but defensively. He’s got to set the tone for our defense. Joakim has to anchor it and we have to tie everyone together and be committed to it.

Q: Obviously, you’ve talked to Derrick a couple times, have you been to sit down and talk with the other guys on the roster and what have you seen from the core group that’s already in place?

TT: It just seems like it’s a great group of guys. They’re obviously very hungry to win and they’re committed to winning. So I think when you can get a core group of guys committed it helps move your team forward at a quick pace. And that’s what we’re going to try and do, we’re going to put the work in each and every day and strive for improvement and play to best our ability.

Q: I asked Gar this question last week, when you look back, do you think LeBron, Wade and Bosh seriously considered Chicago, or do you think them playing together was in the making a long time ago, wherever the city may have been [that had enough cap space]?

TT: No, I think that obviously all three came up for free agency at the same time and I think they looked at all the possibilities, so I think they did look at us and I think they wanted to play together and ultimately they did.

Q: To the people who say the Bulls failed because they didn’t land one of those three, and you guys got the pieces that you got, what would be your response?

TT: Well, I certainly don’t look at it as a failure. Obviously, getting Carlos Boozer is terrific for us. And then adding Kyle Korver and Ronnie Brewer to go along with the core of young players that we have. I think we’ve done very well.

Q: What were those meetings like with those three guys because there was so much speculation going into them? LeBron was very complimentary of you — did you sit there and diagram plays with him? What were the selling point that you guys were trying to get across there?

TT: Obviously, we’re familiar with each other because of all the playoff games that we had against both Miami and Cleveland from this past season, so we talked about those games. And also just trying to get a feel for what they were looking for, and Chris Bosh as well. And try to sell them on all we had to offer. We felt we had a lot to offer. We pointed out those things. All three of them were great, they had great questions, they were engaged. I think they were all intrigued by our team, and our organization and our city. It just didn’t work out where they joined us.

Q: Are you guys confident with the pieces you already have in place now that you can start contending in that upper echelon for a title next season and beyond?

TT: For us, we’re still a work in progress in terms of filling out the roster [The interview took place before the Bulls added C.J. Watson and Kurt Thomas]. But everything we do we have to strive to be a championship caliber team. So from our preparation, to how we practice, to how we play, we want to make sure that we’re building the right habits that could give us the best chance to be successful in the playoffs.

Q: From everything everyone’s told me about you, I would assume that you’re excited to play the Heat given all that’s happened over the last three or four weeks here.

TT: It will be a great challenge. Obviously, they’re going to be a top team, an elite team, but you can’t overlook how strong the east has gotten. Obviously, Miami’s loaded and Boston’s the defending Eastern Conference champion and you have to have Orlando [up there] that’s very, very tough. And then there’s a number of teams that have made great improvements so when look at the Milwaukee’s, a Washington, a Philadelphia, they’ve all gotten a lot better so … we feel like we’ve improved, but the challenge is going to continually improve as the season goes along.

Q: Have you talked to Derrick at all about recruiting some of the guys here, since [Team USA functions] seem to be the basis of [the Heat's acquisitions]?

TT: I don’t know. I think a lot gets made out of that, but these guys, it’s a lot different today. I think these guys know each other well from when they start playing high school basketball, they’re all in AAU basketball together and then some in college, and then obviously in the pros. I think friendships develop along the way and I always think that’s been part of it.

Q: Brad Miller obviously signed with Houston. How big of a loss will that be for you guys and were you surprised he got such a big deal?

TT: I’m not surprised because Brad has been a very good player in this league for a long time. I think he got a great deal for himself. He certainly can help any team that he joins. I think he’s a smart player and he’s had a lot of success over a long period of time.

Q: Are you confident that Omer Asik can come in and be that second center off the bench to give Noah a break?

TT: I haven’t seen a lot of him. What I have seen I’ve really liked. He’s been an extremely hard worker, very bright, athletic, and I think those types of players continue to improve. How much he plays this season I’m not quite sure yet.

Q: On a completely different note, if I’ve been asked one question about you more than any other it’s been this: What does coach do in his spare time? Because everybody has this image of you, as you well know, as this guy who sits in the film room til four or five in the morning, then wakes up and goes right back in there. What do you do during the off time?

TT: (Laughs) I like to hang in Vegas. No, no, I like to work out. I like to go to the beach and relax and hang out with my family and my friends.

Q: I think people are worried, who don’t know you at all, that you may burnout, especially after taking the step from being an assistant to a head coach. Are you concerned about that at all?

TT: Well, I haven’t burned out yet so … I don’t look at it that way. I love the game, but I do do things to get away from it too. I like to go to the movies and read and do stuff like that so it’s not all basketball all the time.

Q: Are you going to allow Joakim to take you out on the town at some point in the couple months and give you a tour?

TT: I don’t think I’m ready for that. (Laughs)

Q: Is there any part of the job that’s surprised you up to this point?

TT: No, I think maybe the biggest thing was maybe the free agent frenzy with everything that was going on that was … you were on the move constantly. That was probably the biggest thing, but everything else I had probably anticipated.

Q: Clearly that free agency period was unlike anything anyone has seen, but you’ve been in basketball for your whole life. Was that entire experience just surreal in some regard because of all the hoopla surrounding it?

TT: I think because of the magnitude of the players involved and all the things that we’re going on around it — it was a lot of fun and it was very challenging and I do think it was good for the league. It brought a lot of attention to the league and when you look back to how the playoffs transpired and all the things that went on there. Obviously, the Finals, I thought it was a great Finals, and unfortunately for the Celtics we didn’t come out on top. But I thought it was a great series and then right from the Finals into free agency I thought it was great for the league.

Q: Have you stayed in touch with guys like Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnettduring this past month?

TT: Not yet, but I will be reaching out to them. Rajon, obviously he’ll be out here with Team USA so hopefully I’ll catch up with him there.

Q: Were you surprised that Lawrence Frank got the job [with the Celtics] essentially replacing you?

TT: No, not all. I think it’s a terrific hire. I think he’ll do a great job, and obviously Boston is a great situation. If they’re healthy, they’ll be right there at the top again and they’re all great guys. It’s a great coaching staff and a great organization.

Q: Do you like the way your staff is coming together with Pete [Myers], Ron [Adams] and Andy [Greer]?

TT: I do. I think we have very good teachers and guys who are committed to the game and I think they’ll fit in well with our players.

Q: Do you foresee making any moving in the next week or so to fill it out or are you confident with what you have right now?

TT: It’s still a work in progress. We’ll continue to look and fill all the spots that we have.

Q: I know you and [Secretary of Education] Arne Duncan are close friends. [Thibodeau coached Duncan at Harvard]. Have you gotten a chance to talk to him yet since taking the job and if so what did he say?

TT: We do talk occasionally. Obviously, he’s pretty busy, but he’s very excited about or team and he’s looking forward to the upcoming season.

Q: Have you talked to the President?

TT: (Laughs) No, I haven’t.

Q: What did Arne tell you about Chicago when you were going through the process?

TT: Obviously, he loves Chicago and he’s been a big Bulls fan and he’s followed the team a long, long time. He’s been around Derrick Rose and thought he was such a quality person. And he thought the future here was terrific and he knows [Bulls owner] Mr. [Jerry] Reinsdorf well and thinks he’s a great owner, a great management team, so he thought this would be a great spot for me.

Q: What are you looking forward to most about Chicago as a city and being there?

TT: I think just the passionate sports fans, every time I came in here with an opposing team you always felt the energy in the building and to me, it’s great when you have fans like that. Of course, the organization, the rich tradition of the organization, it’s a great feeling.

Q: What’s the one thing you would want people in Chicago to know about you that may not be out there.

TT: (Pauses) I don’t know. We’re going to do every thing we can to build a winning team. Every night we’re going to give everything we have.

Bulls sign Kurt Thomas

Thought it hasn’t been the marquee offseason that the Bulls and their fans were hoping for, it certainly has been a busy one.  The Bulls made another move over the weekend when they brought in veteran center Kurt Thomas.  The two sides agreed to a deal on Thursday, and made it official today, once Thomas passed his physical.

A 15-year veteran, Thomas’ impact will go beyond the numbers, as he is expected to assume Brad Miller’s role, playing both as a backup to Joakim Noah, but also serving as a mentor to Noah, as well as rookie center Omer Asik.  His career numbers aren’t spectacular (9 points, 7 boards), he’s a smart player and knows how to win, playing on 10 playoff teams in his career.

Part of the appeal for Thomas was playing under coach Tom Thibodeau, who was an assistant with New York when Thomas played with the Knicks.  “He has a tremendous knowledge of the game,” Thomas told Bulls.com’s Adam Fluck of Tom Thibodeau. “He’s a very hard worker—it seems like he eats and sleeps in the gym because he never leaves. He puts in the time to make sure his team is prepared.”

The Bulls will be Thomas’ seventh NBA team, the most recent being Milwaukee.  With Milwaukee in 2009-10, Thomas averaged three points and four rebounds in just 15 minutes a game, for a team that almost upset heavily-favored Atlanta in the postseason.  The Bulls are hoping his veteran leadership and scrappy defense will hope them like it helped the Bucks last season.  Thomas has also been a member of the Heat, Mavericks, Suns, Sonics, and Spurs.

“It starts at the very beginning of training camp,” Thomas said. “I’ll show up as a solid veteran who is going to bring it each and every day. When the playoffs hit and everyone sees that I’m still going strong, hopefully that will push some of the younger players who might still be trying to find their niche in this league.”

Tags: Brad Miller, Chicago Bulls, Joakim Noah, Kurt Thomas, Omer Asik, Tom Thibodeau

Brown a fit for Bulls

Notice this one comes without a question mark.  If the Bulls are looking to a guy to split some time with Ronnie Brewer, or even start at the two, Shannon Brown certainly makes more sense than a guy like Tracy McGrady.

Some may remember that Brown is a former Bull.  He was traded to the Bulls along with Larry Hughes and Drew Gooden in the trade that sent Ben Wallace to Cleveland.  Brown only appeared in six games for the Bulls, playing in just three minutes per in those six.  He’s a much different player now.  He’s won two NBA titles while playing with the game’s best in Kobe Bryant.  I’m sure he learned a thing or two while he was there.

His minutes have been limited, but last season Brown played 20 minutes per for the champion Lakers.  He averaged 8.1 points and 2.2 boards, but his real breakout came against Golden State, late in the season, when Brown dropped 27 and grabbed 10 rebounds on the Warriors, his first career double-double.  He has one of the best verticals in the league and really showed us what he’s capable of in the playoffs, setting the NBA world abuzz with his high-flying antics against Boston.

One reason the Bulls could look elsewhere for talent is Brown’s lack of threes.  Last year, Brown set a career high for attempts from beyond the arc, shooting about 33 percent.  However, that’s a much more impressive percentage than current shooting guard Ronnie Brewer.  However, the two as a combo could be dangerous.  We already know Brewer will be more useful on the defensive side, and Brown could fill in the other half of that and add the scoring.

Whether or not Brown remains with the Lakers would obviously impact whether the Bulls would be interested.  However, the Lakers’ recent pursuit of Theo Ratliff and Matt Barnes have Brown looking more like he’s going to leave Los Angeles.  He’s young and he’s a Chicago boy.  We always take care of our own in the Windy City.  I think Brown would be a much more effective, and probably cheaper, option than McGrady.

McGrady a fit for Bulls?

Now that the big free agents have signed, talk now shifts to the other guys.  There’s been a lot of talk about Tracy McGrady and his destination in recent days.  The Bulls found themselves listed as a possible landing spot for ol’ T-Mac.  Other possible suitors include the Lakers, Celtics, Clippers, and, of course, the Heat, among others.

How likely it is that McGrady will be sporting the Bulls red and black this season remains to be seen.  But this isn’t the first time McGrady has had connections to the Bulls.  McGrady does live in Chicago, and the Bulls did try to sign him about 10 years ago when he was a free agent, before that blew up in their faces and McGrady signed with Orlando.  I can’t see the Heat adding another name, especially with the little money they have.  The Celtics have already paid a washed up star when they signed Jermaine O’Neal.  I think as it stands right now, the Bulls and Clips are the front runners, and how much can a guy like McGrady really help a team as sorry as the Clippers?

That leaves the Bulls.  It’s already been a busy offseason for a team still looking to add a couple more pieces.  Like I said, Chicago is where McGrady lives and trains, and it’s worth noting that he works out with Michael Jordan’s trainer, Tim Grover.  The Bulls front office does have a strong relationship with McGrady’s agent, Arn Tellem.  He’d also be re-united with Tom Thibodeau, who was an assistant with Houston for a good portion of McGrady’s tenure with the Rockets.  T-Mac would provide a nice offensive boost of the bench, as well as bring in veteran leadership.

Despite the positives that bringing in McGrady could have, the negatives might outweigh them.  The biggest one: injury.  McGrady has a nice reputation as one of the most brittle guys in the league.  He’s played a combined 65 games in the last two seasons, 30 last year, 24 of those coming with the Knicks.  McGrady’s ego is also a big question.  Can he suck it up and accept a smaller role on a winning team?  If he can’t, he’s probably better suited to play for Los Angeles (Clippers, of course).

Another problem is where to fit him in the rotation.  The starting five will most likely look like Derrick Rose, Ronnie Brewer, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer, and Joakim Noah.  Newly-acquired C.J. Watson will back up Rose.  That leaves Kyle Korver and James Johnson to rotate in at the two and three.  Now Johnson was a big disappointment after he was drafted in the first round last year, but he reported to Summer League much thinner and looks ready to perform.  In the event that he plays like last season, McGrady could end up being a very good pick up.  Though, many of us quiver at the thought of a shaky knee backing up an already injury-prone Deng.

Any McGrady-to-Bulls talk is all speculation at this point.  There are a few teams in on him, but nobody’s really certain as to who has the inside track to sign the former All Star.  Do I think the Bulls should sign McGrady?  No.  I think if they’re looking for another guy who can play the two and three to fit in the rotation, give Chicago boy Shannon Brown a look.  He started to break out with the Lakers this season and could be a nice scoring threat off the bench, given the right about of minutes. We should know more about McGrady’s intentions in the coming days, and I will be keeping a close watch on the situation.

Tags: Boston Celtics, Carlos Boozer, Chicago Bulls, Derrick Rose, Houston Rockets, James Johnson, Joakim Noah, Kyle Korver, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Ronnie Brewer, Shannon Brown, Tom Thibodeau, Tracy McGrady

Who’s the New Guy?: Tom Thibodeau

In what promises to be many features on new acquisitions, why not start with the guy in charge? It may be old news, but Tom Thibodeau was hired last month to replace the controversial Vinny Del Negro.  Bulls fans were pleased with the new hire, despite the fact that he has yet to be a head coach in the NBA, after serving for several years as an assistant for various teams.

So who is the man that fans hope will coach the Bulls to postseason glory?  Well, he’s not Del Negro, which pleases a lot of fans to begin with, and he has more experience than Vinny did even without holding the “head” title.  Thibs has worked with several teams, mostly as an assistant, but also as a scout, including Seattle, San Antonio, Philadelphia, New York, Houston, and Boston, with whom he won a championship with in 2008.

Thibodeau brings a defensive philosophy to a team already on the rise defensively.  A front court that included Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson led a Bulls team that was in the top half of the league in almost every defensive category, and number one in boards.  The Bulls financial flexibility must have also been attractive to Thibodeau as they were able to add more defense with Carlos Boozer and Ronnie Brewer.

The defense of star point guard Derrick Rose also has Thibs excited for his gig with the Bulls.  After watching Rose at the Team USA camp, Thibodeau said, “I thought his defense was terrific,” he told Bulls writer Nick Freidell.  ”I thought he was great on the ball, and I also thought his team defense was excellent, so I was obviously pleased with that. And offensively, he’s into the paint very easily, so I thought he was terrific at getting the ball up the floor, running the team, getting the ball into the paint, making plays, and he knocked a couple shots down.”

While scoring may be a question mark right now, there’s no doubt that defense will be a heavy focus with Tom Thibodeau at the helm.  He has the personnel he wants and certainly has experience working with contending teams, after being with the Celtics the last few years, as well as the Knicks in 1999.  It’s important to note that in Thibodeau’s career, he has helped his teams rank in the Top 10 in defensive categories 15 times.  It’s that reason, as well as the other offseason additions, that have Bulls fans as excited for this team, as they did when Chicago signed Ben Wallace.  Hopefully this result is better.

Tags: Carlos Boozer, Chicago Bulls, Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Ronnie Brewer, Taj Gibson, Tom Thibodeau

Under New Management

Just like the Chicago Bulls will be in 2010, The Blog That Jordan Built will be run by a new face this season.  I’ve been running the Twins (MinnyTwinkies.com) pretty much all season and recently took over the Dolphins (BlogwithaPorpoise.com), but I jumped at the chance to take over one of my hometown teams.  I’m very much looking forward to running this and bringing you guys all the haps from the Madhouse on Madison.

We’ll break the ice with my take on the LeBron decision.  It seems like every sports writer and analyst in the world, from actual NBA analysts like Mike Wilbon, to even Adam Schefter (?), have offered up their two cents on LeBron James‘ decision to bolt for South Beach.  Here’s mine: LeBron is a scumbag.  That’s the nicest possible way I can put it.  I’m not an Ohio fan by any means.  I’ll root for the Indians against the White Sox and that’s about it.  But suffering as a Cubs fan, I can sympathize with Cleveland, as that whole city seems to have a curse on it.

Now I have no problem with LeBron leaving.  The way he did it, however, was classless.  ”Hey guys, let’s schedule a nationally televised special to break every heart in the city of Cleveland, and most in the state of Ohio.  I’m sure they won’t mind.”  Not even the kids from the Boys & Girls Club could save his image.  You could even hear their gasps as when he said where he was going, as even the kids wondered what in the world he was doing.

He also destroyed any chance of a legacy.  Sure, maybe he stayed away from Chicago to avoid all the Michael Jordan comparisons.  Those certainly aren’t an issue now.  He could win 10 rings and he won’t even be on Kobe Bryant’s level.  It’s Dwayne Wade’s team.  We all know it.  Even when Wade ingeniously screwed over his hometown and gave the Bulls the slightest idea he was interested, we knew he was staying in Miami.  He’s so clever.  We also knew Chris Bosh wasn’t capable of leading a team, so it was easy to predict he’d end up with one of them.

But great work LeBron.  You’ve managed to destroy the hopes of dreams of an entire state, while obliterating any chance you had a potential legacy, all with one sentence.  Personally, I found Steve Carell’s decision at the ESPY’s to be more appealing and had me more interested.

That’s the end of one of what will be plenty of rants come basketball season.  Now we can focus on the Bulls as they look primed for a playoff run.  They already look much like an eight-seed and more like a threat than they did just a couple of weeks ago.  I’ll be taking a look at each move from Tom Thibodeau to Ronnie Brewer this week, starting later on today, as well as a Summer League update.  Stay tuned folks.

Tags: Chicago Bulls, Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Ronnie Brewer, Tom Thibodeau

Vinny is Out, The Search Is In Part 1

Monday, May 3rd marked the day the Chicago Bulls officially relieved Vinny Del Negro of his duties as Head Coach. The man who was hired with no head coaching experience was not only fired for this reason but for an obvious clash with President of Basketball Ops John Paxson and General Manager Gar Forman.

Regardless of what happened between John Paxson and VDN, it was no doubt unprofessional. What kind of good can come out of this situation while the team is in a first round playoff series?

So as the search begins, not only should the ideal candidate vibe with the personality of the team, but he must see eye to eye with the Bulls’ brass. For John Paxson, this is so important because his job may ultimately hinge on the decision he makes.

Start The Search (Part 1)

Avery Johnson-One of the top candidates for consideration because of his reputation around the league. If the Bulls want to make “that splash” for free agency, the strong play for head coach would be Avery Johnson. The Bulls would no doubt have enough talent in Rose and Joakim Noah to lure Johnson to Chi-Town.

Downside? Johnson demands a lot from his pointguards. Problem? Not a certainty, but Derrick Rose is not Devin Harris. He’s a much more established player so in my opinion the relationship between Rose and Avery would be interesting to watch.

Byron Scott-Another name the Bulls can’t let slip through the cracks. If nothing else, Scott should at least get multiple interviews for the job. Let’s face it, this guy has won everywhere with top-notch point guards.

Downside? Scott seems to win early then lose his teams because of problems with his franchise point guards. In New Jersey, the relationship between Scott and Jason Kidd eroded to such a point where ultimately the two were communicating through go-betweens. And a similar story has come out of New Orleans. Scott reportedly is waiting for the Lakers job to open, but if the Bulls give him a look they must do their homework.

Phil Jackson-If he’s going anywhere, it will be to Idaho where Phil makes his off-season home. His girlfriend can say what she wants, but the truth is if Phil isn’t coaching the Lakers then he won’t be coaching anywhere else. Dose of Reality:Dr. Buss won’t let Phil go anywhere. Yes, he may not want to pay him anymore, but this is Phil Jackson and team’s don’t let championship aura walk out the door.

Downside? Wake up I just told you.

Doug Collins-Not Happening. Collins has been interviewed for the 76ers job and from all accounts should be hired anyday now.

Downside? Collins has stated on multiple occasions that his relationship with Bulls’ management would prevent him from seeking their head coaching position. Collins has a lot of strong relationships through the years starting when he coached the Bulls shortly before Phil Jackson’s tenure began.

Lawrence Frank-He may have never played in the NBA, but you’ll hear an outpouring of good things when you ask an NBA executive about Lawrence Frank. Larry Frank succeeds at drawing up defensive gameplans to stop ‘elite’ assignments. His nature as a strategist would be welcome after watching some of VDN’s brain-blunders.

Downside? Offensively, there are question marks about what Frank will give you. A strong offensive-assistant may be necessary. In Jersey, Lawrence Frank never asserted himself as an offensive coach, even with significant offensive talent. It was more predictability than anything. It was either a Jason Kidd pick & roll, or side isolations with Vince Carter.

(Part 2 of this article will be available in the coming days)

Tags: Avery Johnson, Byron Scott, Doug Collins, Gar Forman, John Paxson, Lawrence Frank, Phil Jackson, Vinny Del Negro, Vinny Del Negro Fired

Front Office Mess Could Play A Hand In Free Agency

After watching the Chi-town Bulls show some heart against arguably the best team in the NBA, you might be looking forward to next season.

Your point guard slot is occupied by a player that most think will be in ’elite’ status within the next 2-3 years.

The frontcourt, though hopefully incomplete, features the modern version of a Ben Wallace in Joakim Noah, who like Big Ben, personifies the identity of his team by doing everything else but scoring.

You can even throw in Luol Deng and his long sudanese arms who are so useful for defense. But honestly it feels as if ever sing Luol signed that contract the Bulls have tried to pawn him off on somebody else.(good luck moving that contract)

Regardless, I just gave three reasons why Chicago should be attractive when it comes to enticing a big free agent.

However, all of this may have gone out the window and around the corner once President of Basketball Ops John Paxson pushed head coach Vinny Del Negro.

So if a Bulls fan has suddenly forgot about Paxson’s game winning three pointer in Game 6 of the 1993 NBA Finals, I can’t blame you.

Aside from the large bundle of cash and a winning record, a big ticket free agent will be looking for stability whereever he signs. And let’s be honest, once Paxson lost his cool and his professionalism, it made the Bulls look very bad at exactly the worst time.

With V.D.N. all but officially fired, you would think Jerry Reinsdorf and Gar Forman would think quickly and get this matter settled before it leaves an even bigger stench for free agency. But that would make too much sense. What the Bulls will ultimately do is prolong the firing, disrespect Vinny in some way, and eventually he’ll be speaking in a negative light about the Bulls’ organization to the point where they realize they completely mis-handled the situation.

The Only Solution Is…

To fire Vinny as quick as possible and hire a big name coach. I’m talking Avery Johnson. Nothing else could serve as better window dressing than this move i’m talking about. There’s also the thinking of AJ being a great fit. The team’s identity fits with Avery’s personality to go with the solid point guard he could help mentor.

It also helps in that Derrick Rose has established himself on the NBA level. It wouldn’t be like Avery’s relationship with Devin Harris, who at the time was learning the nuances of the position. Like I said, Avery gets a more ‘ready-made’ point guard.

Make sense?