My Chicago Friend Thinks The Bulls Will Be Sellers Real Soon...

[SHAQATTACK]

I'm still all in for Butler. Hard to imagine that we're winning a championship with Crowder as our starting 3, especially without major upgrades elsewhere.

Trade Smart and Crowder for Butler in lue of picking Fultz

[hpantazo]

They should keep Ronda ...I mean Rondo

A coach firing is inevitable

They should make Rondo player/coach like Bill Russell was back in the day. That would be interesting.

[Phantom255x]

I'm still all in for Butler. Hard to imagine that we're winning a championship with Crowder as our starting 3, especially without major upgrades elsewhere.

Trade Smart and Crowder for Butler in lue of picking Fultz

I think the Bulls would trade Butler to rebuild.. and they'd want picks (aka. 2017 Nets Pick)..

[spikelovetheCelts]

Hoilberg did not know how good he had it at Iowa State. I am sad to see him be the scapegoat in all this. Rondo is a not his type of player. How did their front office help him this summer. Wade was just a PR move. i feel for Wade but he should have stayed in Miami Riley is a winner. This is not Holiberg's fault. Maybe they can win some games with MCW.  they give Hoilberg another year and some players for his system he will win.IMO there are not to many better basketball minds than him.

[tarheelsxxiii]

Taj Gibson is an absolute stud.  I'd gladly accept him on the Celtics, a fantasy team, etc.  Apparently he's a heck of a guy, too. 

[Phantom255x]

Bulls actually playing really well against Charlotte, but only up 58-57 at the half.

Jimmy Butler: 20 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists (20 minutes) - WOW

Robin Lopez: 3 points, 2 blocks, 3 rebounds (14 minutes)

Taj Gibson: 6 points, 3 rebounds (14 minutes)

*Playing well without Wade and Rondo... no surprise there*

[jpotter33]

Taj Gibson is an absolute stud.  I'd gladly accept him on the Celtics, a fantasy team, etc.  Apparently he's a heck of a guy, too.

Would dramatically help our offensive rebounding and toughness. I'm not giving up anything of value for him, though, and I doubt we want to pay him the contract he'll get this summer.

[jpotter33]

Bulls actually playing really well against Charlotte, but only up 58-57 at the half.

Jimmy Butler: 20 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists (20 minutes) - WOW

Robin Lopez: 3 points, 2 blocks, 3 rebounds (14 minutes)

Taj Gibson: 6 points, 3 rebounds (14 minutes)

*Playing well without Wade and Rondo... no surprise there*

That's what I'm saying, man. He'd cost a pretty penny, but he definitely fits the character and needs of this team. His shooting could be better, but he'd give us that second reliable scorer to go alongside IT. He's also one of the few people in the NBA who can actually slow down Lebron, too.

[Phantom255x]

Bulls actually playing really well against Charlotte, but only up 58-57 at the half.

Jimmy Butler: 20 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists (20 minutes) - WOW

Robin Lopez: 3 points, 2 blocks, 3 rebounds (14 minutes)

Taj Gibson: 6 points, 3 rebounds (14 minutes)

*Playing well without Wade and Rondo... no surprise there*

That's what I'm saying, man. He'd cost a pretty penny, but he definitely fits the character and needs of this team. His shooting could be better, but he'd give us that second reliable scorer to go alongside IT. He's also one of the few people in the NBA who can actually slow down Lebron, too.

I'm just not sure he's that much better than Bradley to warrant giving up the 2017 Nets Pick (likely Top-2), one of Smart/Crowder/Bradley, Rozier and some future picks. That's a steep price but that's what they'll ask for (or maybe even BOTH BKN picks)...

That's why out of all the Bulls players/targets, I'd target Gibson (cheap, and could help us in the playoffs - also fills a need temporarily - better PF than Olynyk).

UPDATE: BUT WOW, Butler at 29 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals.

[spikelovetheCelts]

Bulls actually playing really well against Charlotte, but only up 58-57 at the half.

Jimmy Butler: 20 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists (20 minutes) - WOW

Robin Lopez: 3 points, 2 blocks, 3 rebounds (14 minutes)

Taj Gibson: 6 points, 3 rebounds (14 minutes)

*Playing well without Wade and Rondo... no surprise there*

That's what I'm saying, man. He'd cost a pretty penny, but he definitely fits the character and needs of this team. His shooting could be better, but he'd give us that second reliable scorer to go alongside IT. He's also one of the few people in the NBA who can actually slow down Lebron, too.

I'm just not sure he's that much better than Bradley to warrant giving up the 2017 Nets Pick (likely Top-2), one of Smart/Crowder/Bradley, Rozier and some future picks. That's a steep price but that's what they'll ask for (or maybe even BOTH BKN picks)...

That's why out of all the Bulls players/targets, I'd target Gibson (cheap, and could help us in the playoffs - also fills a need temporarily - better PF than Olynyk).

UPDATE: BUT WOW, Butler at 29 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals.

I would take Gibson on the cheap. He can still switch on Guards and rebound. The only players I would give up good picks for is Boogie or PG. I would stick with the Draft Great players in 2017 coming out.

[Evantime34]

Probably not anything new to everyone here, but the Bulls are currently 16-18, which is 10th in the East, and after a great start to the season, they seem to be going nowhere again, just like last season.

My friend (a Bulls fan also) and even a lot of Chicago websites/reports think Fred Hoiberg will get fired sometime in the next 1-2 months. Even if his job is safe now, the Bulls have a BRUTAL 20-game stretch coming up (which includes a West Coast Trip facing teams such as @OKC, @GSW, @HOU, etc.).

Good chance the Bulls are something like 8-12 or 7-13 in that stretch, which would put them 5+ games below .500 and likely well out of the 8 seed in the East. Add to the fact the issues Rondo is having with the team, and it's likely the Bulls will decide to start rebuilding soon.

So while Jimmy Butler is the name that will pop up most in trade rumors from the Bulls, I think he is a pipe dream in Boston because the price will be STEEP (2017 Nets Pick + Smart OR Bradley + Filler/Future Non-Brooklyn Picks). I also don't see Butler as the guy who threads the needle for us (makes us legit contenders). Butler NOT worth the price.

How about Taj Gibson though? Any interest in him? He can be had for a very reasonable, somewhat cheap price. He would be a rental, but would help a ton in helping the team progress and hopefully help us win 1-2 playoff series this time around. High energy rebounder (huge need), and can score some points as well. And if we whiff in FA and/or the trade market, maybe Taj Gibson can be re-signed by Ainge as a Plan C or D.

What do you guys think?

I don't think the Bulls move Butler.

Taj would be a good fit for Zeller and a pick. He's a good finisher and rebounder. I bet he would look a lot better on offense than he does in the clogged Bulls offense.

Gibson is a perfect fit because he's a free agent at the end of the season. That means that he won't cut into our future cap space.

[Phantom255x]

Probably not anything new to everyone here, but the Bulls are currently 16-18, which is 10th in the East, and after a great start to the season, they seem to be going nowhere again, just like last season.

My friend (a Bulls fan also) and even a lot of Chicago websites/reports think Fred Hoiberg will get fired sometime in the next 1-2 months. Even if his job is safe now, the Bulls have a BRUTAL 20-game stretch coming up (which includes a West Coast Trip facing teams such as @OKC, @GSW, @HOU, etc.).

Good chance the Bulls are something like 8-12 or 7-13 in that stretch, which would put them 5+ games below .500 and likely well out of the 8 seed in the East. Add to the fact the issues Rondo is having with the team, and it's likely the Bulls will decide to start rebuilding soon.

So while Jimmy Butler is the name that will pop up most in trade rumors from the Bulls, I think he is a pipe dream in Boston because the price will be STEEP (2017 Nets Pick + Smart OR Bradley + Filler/Future Non-Brooklyn Picks). I also don't see Butler as the guy who threads the needle for us (makes us legit contenders). Butler NOT worth the price.

How about Taj Gibson though? Any interest in him? He can be had for a very reasonable, somewhat cheap price. He would be a rental, but would help a ton in helping the team progress and hopefully help us win 1-2 playoff series this time around. High energy rebounder (huge need), and can score some points as well. And if we whiff in FA and/or the trade market, maybe Taj Gibson can be re-signed by Ainge as a Plan C or D.

What do you guys think?

I don't think the Bulls move Butler.

Taj would be a good fit for Zeller and a pick. He's a good finisher and rebounder. I bet he would look a lot better on offense than he does in the clogged Bulls offense.

Gibson is a perfect fit because he's a free agent at the end of the season. That means that he won't cut into our future cap space.

If the Bulls keep playing themselves out of a playoff spot, I think they will SHOP Butler hard.. but ultimately they will keep him around, and I don't think Boston pays the price for him either.

Taj Gibson, as I said in the original post, is the guy I would zero in on, especially if the price is reasonably cheap.

[oldtype]

Can't imagine a scenario in which the Bulls decide to trade Butler for anything reasonable (i.e. not both Brooklyn Picks + Crowder + Brown).  I think most teams would rather take their chances and see stars leave for nothing now than trade them.