Seeing as how I haven't talked about the Bulls in awhile I figured now would be as good a time as any to reveal my thoughts on what needs to happen with this team in order to get them back in shape to hang another one of those guys, and some things that might happen but probably shouldn't.
- First thing's first, we need to trade away talent while we still have it. Luol Deng is more than likely going to walk after the season anyways and because of the minutes he's played from day one he'll more than likely decline sooner rather than later. But with Derrick out and the scoring bench from last year nowhere in sight, he's going to have yet another career year. His price tag in the offseason will be way too big to be anywhere near worth it and his trade value right now can help to snag us a young, developing player in addition to a much needed salary dump. Boozer needs to go too, even if to just get him and his hot-and-cold game off the court. We could always trade for draft picks, but if we lose enough games we can luck into one just as easily. With Boozer on the team we'll still keep winning every once in awhile. No bueno. And sadly, I think Joakim should go too. I hate, hate, hate saying it because he's one of those guys that gives you every fucking thing that he has and lays it out there on the court for everyone to see. He's crazy loyal, his motor doesn't stop, and away from the court he's a character and fun to watch. But I want to trade him, Kirk, and maybe a third player to Detroit for Andre Drummond or Greg Monroe. Drummond is already unbelievable and still one of the rawest young players in the league with a crazy ceiling. Unfortunately that also makes the Pistons parting ways with him a long shot, but Monroe they would be more open to and is still a solid center despite his forced position change. He's also still really young with a lot of years left. Not a bad pickup.
- Next up is the Derrick Rose question. Is he still the guy? Can he still hold up? My gut tells me he can still come back and play, but he absolutely has to take a much less aggressive, more traditional approach to the point guard position. His shooting has already improved and will only continue to do so, but he'll need to manage the offense rather than spearhead it. We need to add pieces around him and Jimmy Butler that can score consistently. The defense is irrelevant because Tom Thibodeau doesn't have bad defenses, it just doesn't happen. He will coach any team into good defense. The only concern this team should have is offense.
- The rebuilding only happens is Forman spends money in the offseason. We can't just sit here and hope D-Rose comes back as an MVP candidate and Nikola Mirotic is going to come over from Bumfuck, Europe and save the franchise from another depressing decade of basketball.* We know LaMarcus Aldridge is interested in Chicago. We could bring in him or Kevin Love, but Taj might already be enough once we give him the starter's minutes. The money might be better spent on a scoring wing or DeMarcus Cousins if we don't end up getting that big man from Detroit. Don't let the Heat fool you. Rebounding and post presence is a proven key to a championship team. Miami just happened to stack the deck with crazy scoring ability and speed, but even they have trouble with the big teams.
- The Bench Mob has to come back. That money needs to be spent on everything, not just the superstars. Dump all the extra weight in contracts and buy talent to compliment talent. Draft smart, maybe even get a steal in the lottery. The Bulls could be a contender next year, but we need to change the focus from Derrick. He can still be the face of the franchise, but if we try to make him be everything for us again then we'll be in serious trouble.
- Tom Thibodeau has to stay. He just has to. Easily one of the best coaches in the league, creates a stifling defense that's top 1 year in and year out. Sure some of his players play big minutes but that's only because of the limited number of options the shortsighted front office has provided him with. Gar, provide the pieces and Thibs will provide results. What he has done to this point is nothing less than exceptional, but his bad report with Forman and some of the front office might point towards the door for Thibodeau. If that happens, then general management will have fucked up colossally. No other way to describe it.
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