Bulls want Bayless

[Denny Crane]

From the local Salt Lake City newspaper, today:

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705315898/Jazz-talking-Boozer-trade.html?pg=2

Utah Jazz: Trade rumors have Jazz discussing Boozer to Bulls


ESPN.com reported Thursday afternoon that the Jazz have spoken with Portland and Chicago about a potential trade that would send two-time All-Star power forward Boozer to the Bulls and bring forward Tyrus Thomas to Utah from the Windy City.

Citing unnamed "NBA front-office sources," ESPN.com reported that the discussed swap also would send guard Kirk Hinrich from Chicago to Portland, that "no deal was imminent Thursday" and that "both Portland and Utah are still evaluating multiple trade scenarios."

From ESPN.com, updated today:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4319607

One source close to the process on Friday identified two main obstacles to the aforementioned three-way deal. Concerned about the quality of its backcourt rotation if it has to surrender Hinrich with Thomas after losing Ben Gordon in free agency, Chicago would insist that the Blazers surrender young guard Jerryd Bayless, which Portland is reluctant to do.

If it can't get Bayless, Chicago might still be willing to substitute Tim Thomas for Tyrus Thomas in the deal, but sources say Utah would likely balk if Tyrus Thomas is not included.

Hinrich, meanwhile, is a lead guard that Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard has been known to covet for some time as a potential backcourt mate for Brandon Roy.

 

[Minstrel]

I spose I'd agree with that, but it seems to me that in order to ensure that happens, you'd really have to move out both Blake and Rudy, wouldn't you? Even if you move Blake, wouldn't Rudy get the lions's share of the backup guard minutes?

The main problem is defending the point guard spot. Roy and Rudy can't do that very effectively for any significant stretches of the game. Blake is weak at it. Bayless has the quickness and defensive effort to do it. Hinrich is also a good defender of point guards. For that reason, I assume that they'd get most, if not all, the point guard minutes.

That does mean no role for Blake, but I was assuming he'd be involved in any Hinrich deal. Blake is paid less (and is worse) than Hinrich, so he'd make a reasonable backup for Rose.

If this happened, Rudy might start to get his minutes squeezed. That's a problem inherent in having a player largely restricted to one position, the same position your franchise player plays. Were I Pritchard, a Hinrich deal means that I'd start looking for deals involving Rudy. Nothing needs to happen immediately, but over the next year, it'd be something of a priority.

 

[ehizzy3]

Let me add I'd much rather have Blake than Bayless.

lol..........

 

[RoyToy]

Let me add I'd much rather have Blake than Bayless.

Muahahaha.

 

[Denny Crane]

Let's see... starting PG for a 54 win team in the west, or... a guy with a PER of 8 who's certainly not ready now.

Our backcourt minus Hinrich is Rose and Pargo. Bayless might be good to play some minutes if one of those other two get hurt or otherwise miss games, because there's nobody else. Blake is ready now to play extended minutes if called on, and he can play PG.

 

[number 10]

Let's see... starting PG for a 54 win team in the west, or... a guy with a PER of 8 who's certainly not ready now.

Our backcourt minus Hinrich is Rose and Pargo. Bayless might be good to play some minutes if one of those other two get hurt or otherwise miss games, because there's nobody else. Blake is ready now to play extended minutes if called on, and he can play PG.

What's Chicago winning next year, anyway? You're a year or two from contention, if it were me I'd take the player with Monta Ellis upside over a fairly average PG.

 

[RoyToy]

Let's see... starting PG for a 54 win team in the west, or... a guy with a PER of 8 who's certainly not ready now.

Our backcourt minus Hinrich is Rose and Pargo. Bayless might be good to play some minutes if one of those other two get hurt or otherwise miss games, because there's nobody else. Blake is ready now to play extended minutes if called on, and he can play PG.

If you want a PG that can't create his own shot, is a bad defender and not a good passer, then by all means, you can have him.

 

[Denny Crane]

What's Chicago winning next year, anyway? You're a year or two from contention, if it were me I'd take the player with Monta Ellis upside over a fairly average PG.

We're never going to contend.

We've been sold the Tyrus Thomas has Michael Jordan upside story already. Didn't buy it then, don't buy it about Bayless.

If you want a PG that can't create his own shot, is a bad defender and not a good passer, then by all means, you can have him.

Our other options are guys like Lindsey Hunter, maybe signing a guy like Linton Johnson III, or playing the 7' 300lb Aaron Gray at SG.

 

[RoyToy]

Take him then. PLEASE take him.

 

[andalusian]

playing the 7' 300lb Aaron Gray at SG.

You got a chuckle out of me, sir.

Personally, I think that Blake for Hinrich in the 3 team scenario makes too much sense to both sides - Bulls are getting a competent backup PG that is paid like a backup PG and can stroke the 3 and play some SG for a one year trial, the Blazers have minutes to help Bayless develop.

 

[number 10]

We're never going to contend.

We've been sold the Tyrus Thomas has Michael Jordan upside story already. Didn't buy it then, don't buy it about Bayless.



Our other options are guys like Lindsey Hunter, maybe signing a guy like Linton Johnson III, or playing the 7' 300lb Aaron Gray at SG.

be honest, everyone wants to see Aaron Gray at SG, that'd be hilarious. [video=youtube;POPMNkSWeNc]

Bayless has insane athleticism, supposedly a great work ethic, and he's 20 years old. That's not worth gambling on? One player not panning out (and as you have said before, TT showed some good potential towards the end of the season) is no reason to give up on prospects in general. For me, there's nothing worse than mediocrity.

But be my guest and take Blake, I'd be pretty happy if Portland's PG rotation is Hinrich and Bayless next season.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Let's see... starting PG for a 54 win team in the west, or... a guy with a PER of 8 who's certainly not ready now.

Our backcourt minus Hinrich is Rose and Pargo. Bayless might be good to play some minutes if one of those other two get hurt or otherwise miss games, because there's nobody else. Blake is ready now to play extended minutes if called on, and he can play PG.

Good call on Blake. He is steady, can knock down the open shot and most importantly is a proven NBA player.

I don't think Blazers would give up Blake in this trade senario . . .basically upgrade some at PG and allow Utah to kill the Milsap offer.

 

[Denny Crane]

You got a chuckle out of me, sir.

Personally, I think that Blake for Hinrich in the 3 team scenario makes too much sense to both sides - Bulls are getting a competent backup PG that is paid like a backup PG and can stroke the 3 and play some SG for a one year trial, the Blazers have minutes to help Bayless develop.

Blake just doesn't fit under the LT threshold in this deal. If he did, I think the deal would be done already.

be honest, everyone wants to see Aaron Gray at SG, that'd be hilarious. Ha Seung-Jin's NBA Live 06 mixtape hilarious.

Bayless has insane athleticism, supposedly a great work ethic, and he's 20 years old. That's not worth gambling on? One player not panning out (and as you have said before, TT showed some good potential towards the end of the season) is no reason to give up on prospects in general. For me, there's nothing worse than mediocrity.

But be my guest and take Blake, I'd be pretty happy if Portland's PG rotation is Hinrich and Bayless next season.

The Bulls gambled all along and they failed miserably. Curry and Chandler, Tyrus, Ben Wallace. Their next gamble seems to be loading up on cap space (Brad Miller is $12.5M expiring, Jerome James is $6.5M expiring, Tim Thomas is $6M expiring, Tyrus is $5M expiring) for 2010.

 

[RoyToy]

Maybe the Blazers are better at judging talent?

 

[Denny Crane]

Maybe the Blazers are better are judging talent?

To be fair, the Bulls were a 49 win team, Hinrich had a 17 PER, Gordon a 17 PER, Deng a 17.5 PER, they had Nocioni and Duhon, too. They played a lot of 3 guards and were successful at it. They were terribly weak at PF and C, but felt it was OK to gamble on Tyrus and his higher ceiling than LMA (in their eyes).

Roy was who many Bulls fans wanted, but we were already really deep at the G positions.

It is generally tough for teams to consistently contend for the championship. I'm not talking about 50+ wins, I'm talking about certain to make the conference finals and really a chance to win it all. You can end up like the Bulls and Memphis (Gasol era), where you win 50 games for a few seasons in a row, don't have what it takes to contend, and you get mediocre position in the drafts to try and add quality guys to your core.

I think Portland is at a critical stage. You guys might be high on that 11th pick in the draft today, but tomorrow you'll have to be high on that 18th pick (if you see the glass half-full).

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

To be fair, the Bulls were a 49 win team, Hinrich had a 17 PER, Gordon a 17 PER, Deng a 17.5 PER, they had Nocioni and Duhon, too. They played a lot of 3 guards and were successful at it. They were terribly weak at PF and C, but felt it was OK to gamble on Tyrus and his higher ceiling than LMA (in their eyes).

Roy was who many Bulls fans wanted, but we were already really deep at the G positions.

It is generally tough for teams to consistently contend for the championship. I'm not talking about 50+ wins, I'm talking about certain to make the conference finals and really a chance to win it all. You can end up like the Bulls and Memphis (Gasol era), where you win 50 games for a few seasons in a row, don't have what it takes to contend, and you get mediocre position in the drafts to try and add quality guys to your core.

I think Portland is at a critical stage. You guys might be high on that 11th pick in the draft today, but tomorrow you'll have to be high on that 18th pick (if you see the glass half-full).

MANY fans on various message boards rocked this the summer of '06:

Give up the idea of Portland trading Bayless to Chicago. It's not going to happen.

 

[B-Roy]

MANY fans on various message boards rocked this the summer of '06:

Give up the idea of Portland trading Bayless to Chicago. It's not going to happen.

Wow! How do you have that?

 

[Denny Crane]

Give up the idea of Portland trading Bayless to Chicago. It's not going to happen.

Enjoy your cap space!

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Enjoy your cap space!

Indeed I will.

If it means trading for a 28 year old slight upgrade (and VASTLY overrated by Bulls fans, btw) and trading our 20 y/o prospect in Bayless, I'll enjoy our mythical capspace.

 

[Denny Crane]

Indeed I will.

If it means trading for a 28 year old slight upgrade (and VASTLY overrated by Bulls fans, btw) and trading our 20 y/o prospect in Bayless, I'll enjoy our mythical capspace.

Iverson's still available.

At least last time I checked.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

There is slim pickings, I agree, but sometimes the best move is not making a move at all if it means trading some of our young building blocks for overrated players making $9m/per (Kirk).

Btw, these anti-Roy sigs are still posted over at sigdomain. Most fans over at RealGM were rocking these that summer. Keen eye for talent, indeed.


Sorry to burst your bubble.

 

[Denny Crane]

Personally, I wanted LMA. He actually filled our biggest need, and looked like he was most ready to contribute right away.

 

[Tortimer]

We're never going to contend.

We've been sold the Tyrus Thomas has Michael Jordan upside story already. Didn't buy it then, don't buy it about Bayless.



Our other options are guys like Lindsey Hunter, maybe signing a guy like Linton Johnson III, or playing the 7' 300lb Aaron Gray at SG.

Never said Bayless is MJ but you wait and see Bayless will be a star in the NBA. I love Rose and wanted the Blazers to draft him before the season started but Bayless has a chance to be even better then Rose. He has the drive, talent and physical skills to be one hell of a PG in the Parker mode or better. He just needs a chance which will happen for the Blazers or someone else if we trade him.

 

[Denny Crane]

Never said Bayless is MJ but you wait and see Bayless will be a star in the NBA. I love Rose and wanted the Blazers to draft him before the season started but Bayless has a chance to be even better then Rose. He has the drive, talent and physical skills to be one hell of a PG in the Parker mode or better. He just needs a chance which will happen for the Blazers or someone else if we trade him.

I'm not seeing it. Rose is a year younger than Bayless and is clearly too good not to get PT. Bayless on the court produces such bad numbers it's hard to warrant the PT for him except in blowouts.

 

[andalusian]

I love Bayless's potential - but there is no likely chance (other than an injury - something I would never wish on anyone) that he will be better than Rose.

 

[Minstrel]

I love Bayless's potential - but there is no likely chance (other than an injury - something I would never wish on anyone) that he will be better than Rose.

What injury could Bayless suffer that would make him a better prospect? I don't think you understand medicine very well, doctor.

And why would you be so vicious NOT to wish such an injury upon him? You want Bayless to experience elss success?

 

[maxiep]

You know for all you just stated, you know nothing of their financial conditions, and secondly, the Jazz would have been competing for a championship last year had the injury bug not hit them really hard. They are no different on paper than the team from the year before which was rather successful. You seem to have a short memory. Maybe you should try some Ginko or something.

Fully healthy, name the playoff teams in the West the Jazz are better than.

L*kers? No

San Antonio? No

Portland? No

Denver? No

Houston? Yes, but only without Yao

Dallas? Perhaps

New Orleans? If NO is healthy too, it's a battle.

They're an okay team, but they're not competing for a championship as currently constructed.

 

[maxiep]

Enjoy your cap space!

We will when teams with cheap owners realize in December they aren't going to win and are neck deep in luxury tax payments.

 

[hasoos]

Fully healthy, name the playoff teams in the West the Jazz are better than.

L*kers? No

San Antonio? No

Portland? No

Denver? No

Houston? Yes, but only without Yao

Dallas? Perhaps

New Orleans? If NO is healthy too, it's a battle.

They're an okay team, but they're not competing for a championship as currently constructed.

I disagree. They Beat Houston with Tmac and Yao two years ago. When healthy they have an excellent record against the Blazers, and yes I think they can beat Denver when healthy. The problem is, they haven't been healthy. Dallas is a for sure. Technically you could say that none of those teams can beat LA so none of them are contenders. But it is a matter of opinion.

I say they are a contender because they would go to the playoffs and have a shot at going to the WCF, where anything can happen. That makes them a contender. As in "To contend for".