July 1 Predictions

[KCattheStripe]

Bosh to Miami w/ Wade - Still poor defensively but a good 50 win team.

The HEat were one of the better defensive teams last year and they won 45 games,  so adding Bosh only makes them 5 games better?

I didn't consider Miami very good defensively and IMO, Bosh is a slightly better version of David Lee. 

Miami was a rather good defensive team.

They were were 2nd in the league in eFG%, 7th in points per 100 possesions, and 8th best at forcing turnovers.

Thanks for the stats which tend to be misleading.  I think that was more of how they play than good defense but, my main point was adding Bosh is of no great consequence.  It's not like they they would be title contenders with him.  They are still about 5th best in East.

I think you couldn't be more wrong. You give the best player in the NBA 20/10 support and they are instantly in contention.

[Birdbrain]

Bosh to Miami w/ Wade - Still poor defensively but a good 50 win team.

The HEat were one of the better defensive teams last year and they won 45 games,  so adding Bosh only makes them 5 games better?

I didn't consider Miami very good defensively and IMO, Bosh is a slightly better version of David Lee. 

Miami was a rather good defensive team.

They were were 2nd in the league in eFG%, 7th in points per 100 possesions, and 8th best at forcing turnovers.

Thanks for the stats which tend to be misleading.  I think that was more of how they play than good defense but, my main point was adding Bosh is of no great consequence.  It's not like they they would be title contenders with him.  They are still about 5th best in East.

I think you couldn't be more wrong. You give the best player in the NBA 20/10 support and they are instantly in contention.

I won't disagree with your premise about Wade I just consider Bosh an ultra soft skilled offensive player.  Just my opinion though it would be interesting to see how it plays out.  I guess if they could add a Ray Allen type shooter they might be favorites. 

People keep confusing Bosh with KG and he's more like David Lee.

[KCattheStripe]

I think offensive comparisons between Bosh and KG are fine,but defensively I don't think he's KG or David Lee, he's much more of a Pau Gasol. He's got length and and he knows how to use it, he just won't ever be intimidating.

[Fafnir]

Bosh to Miami w/ Wade - Still poor defensively but a good 50 win team.

The HEat were one of the better defensive teams last year and they won 45 games,  so adding Bosh only makes them 5 games better?

I didn't consider Miami very good defensively and IMO, Bosh is a slightly better version of David Lee. 

Miami was a rather good defensive team.

They were were 2nd in the league in eFG%, 7th in points per 100 possesions, and 8th best at forcing turnovers.

Thanks for the stats which tend to be misleading.  I think that was more of how they play than good defense but, my main point was adding Bosh is of no great consequence.  It's not like they they would be title contenders with him.  They are still about 5th best in East.

How can those stats be misleading? Defense is keeping opponents from scoring isn't it? Those stats (and a few others foul rate being a big one and rebounding) tell you exactly how well a team does that.

I think Bosh is a top 5 big man in this league, so adding him to any team is a big deal, especially considering how young he is.

[Fafnir]

I think offensive comparisons between Bosh and KG are fine,but defensively I don't think he's KG or David Lee, he's much more of a Pau Gasol. He's got length and and he knows how to use it, he just won't ever be intimidating.

Pau Gasol is also a top 5 big man in the league, give Wade that kind of support and you could easily have an MVP campaign and Finals run (or win).

[StartOrien]

Here's my early summer predictions:

Tyson Chandler, Nate Robinson and Al Harrington are in line to get ridiculous "runner up" contracts.

[KCattheStripe]

I think offensive comparisons between Bosh and KG are fine,but defensively I don't think he's KG or David Lee, he's much more of a Pau Gasol. He's got length and and he knows how to use it, he just won't ever be intimidating.

Pau Gasol is also a top 5 big man in the league, give Wade that kind of support and you could easily have an MVP campaign and Finals run (or win).

Agreed.

[JSD]

It depends on what the cap is...

Bulls have 22 mil committed...   What's the cap set at?  54?  That would give them 32 mil in cap room...   enough to perfectly offer two max contracts if they sign another team's player.  Bosh gets 16 mil... Johnson gets 16 mil... then they trade Deng, James Johnson and Taj Gibson to Cleveland for LeBron with a starting salary of 17.2 million (James gets extra cash from the sign-and-trade by signing with his own team)

Obviously this would all be worked out in advance... James would commit first, but that's how they would work it out.

Cleveland won't allow Bron the S&T option. Right now being able to offer the most money is their only leverage.

... they are lying.  Like you said... that's their only leverage.   On July 1st when Bron comes to them and says, "hey... either I'm signing with the Bulls for 16 mil... or you can have Luol Deng and give me 17.2 mil", do you really think they'll say no?

Deng is 25 and averages 17 points and 7 while playing solid defense.  He's signed for 4 years with a starting salary of 11.5 million.   Is that really a bad contract?

In what scenario is a market like Atlanta, Cleveland or Toronto going to land a player like Deng for a contract starting at 11.5 million?   What are they holding out for... Kevin Durant?  Come on...   

You're making the mistake of thinking of a sign and trade as a basketball decision. Gilbert isn't going to pay ridiculous amounts of money for a team whose best players are Deng and Antwan Jamison, he'd rather let LeBron walk and save the money.

Fine... he lets Bron walk.   That still leaves the possibility of Toronto or Atlanta willing to take Deng.  Is Toronto the type of team that usually turns down assets?  I think they take what they can get. 

Btw... Dan Gilbert would be some kind of idiot if he actually would rather let Bron walk than take back Deng.  In what magical universe is Cleveland going to land a player of Deng's level for a contract as reasonable as 11.5 mil starting salary?  Rashard Lewis plays in sunny Orlando and makes 20 mil.  I'd rather have Deng than Lewis regardless of contract.  But say he's a fool and would rather get zero assets in return... I'm sure Toronto or Atlanta would run with it.

Deng isn't an albatross.   That guy is solid and young.

Yes but through the Draft Lottery.

Regardless if the Raptors, Cavs or Hawks are willing to take on Deng... I have reason to believe the clippers would.

This was a pre-draft rumor on ESPN:

"The Clippers may trade their No. 8 pick to Chicago for Luol Deng and the Bulls' 17th pick, according to a source that spoke with Chris Broussard.

Broussard later spoke with a rep from one of the clubs and was told it is not going to happen.

RealGM Note: This trade could not be completed on draft night due to the Clippers needing to use their cap space to absorb Deng's contract"

Say Bron, Bosh and Johnson all have a pact to join the Bulls... the Clippers could just absorb the contract of Deng for a 2nd rounder and the Bulls could make it happen.

Btw... Deng on the Clippers makes perfect sense.  They have a hole at SF.   It would give them PG - Baron Davis, SG - Eric Gordon, SF - Deng, PF - Griffin, C - Kaman ... After they do their due diligence in exploring the LeBron-to-Clippers pipe dream... I can totally see them taking on Deng.

Thought of this thread today:

The Toronto Raptors has talked to six to eight teams willing to do sign-and-trades for Chris Bosh, but front office sources says general manager Bryan Colangelo has ruled out bringing back the expensive contract of Bulls forward Luol Deng. Yahoo! Sports

[indeedproceed]

So my nets aren't lookin like such a longshot afterall.

[fairweatherfan06]

I thought I had gone on record before but I can't find it in this thread so I'm going to say it now.   

Lebron to Brooklyn/NJ  They have the flexibility to build a contender.  I was leaning toward Chicago, but I think Lebron's ego is such that playing in the shadow of Jordan's statue is less appealing than having a situation of his own in a big market town.  The Knicks suck...and Cleveland hasn't been able to get him a title thus far and its flexibility to do so is still not great (other than that I think he'd stay)

Followed by Wade to Miami plus Boozer and Miller maybe?

and Amare or Bosh to NJ/Brooklyn with Lebron.  but likely Bosh

And Amare to NY with um...whoever (they will still suck)

We get our big 3 plus some young help and I think we still have a good shot in the East definitely the next year and probably the following year. and LA is still king out west...unfortunately.