Miami Heat superstar Dwayne Wade told the Chicago Tribune that he questions the loyalty of the Bulls franchise in terms of former players.
"Anyone who would question our loyalty is obviously misinformed," Forman told ESPNChicago.com. "I think it absolutely ignores our record, which speaks for itself."
Wade, your a ruthless competitor and one of the league's best, but you've been misinformed my friend. I'm not saying the Bulls are the most loyal team in basketball, but more than many, including your Miami Heat. Funny, I don't see Tim Hardaway or Alonzo Mourning holding any positions in Miami.
Wade's only two examples we're the two of the all-time legends; Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. I can't speak for either person, but is he insinuating that's because the Bulls just wan't them gone? Michael wanted to opportunity to start his own system, which he's got a great start to in Charlotte, NC. I guarantee anyone that if Jordan had came to Bulls front office and said, "I want in," managements response would have been when & where. They built the man a statue for god's sake in front of their arena for gods sake.
And since Wade only came up with two examples to back his stance up, I'll give a handful to prove mine.
John Paxson, Bill Cartwright, Randy Brown, Bill Wennington, Stacey King, Pete Myers and B.J. Armstrong are some of the former players who have been employed by the Bulls in roles with the either the front office, coaching or broadcasting. Paxon (who now is general manager), Cartwright and Brown each had head coaching opportunities.
Once again, Bulls news goes in one ear and out the other, unless it involves Lebron James. Wade's comments alone were shown on sportscenter, but never once did espn look to get any reactions from NBA analysts. No love for the Windy City Toros as usual.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Coaching Candidates "Not Appealing" to Bulls Fans
I read a fellow bulls-blogger today on how the Chicago Bulls have/will approach addressing the their head coaching vacancy. I agreed 100% on his stance, and had recently begun spinning some of the same thoughts in my head as well.
The collection of recent Bulls coaches all meet the same general criteria. Youg, in experienced guys coming out of an assistant coaching role who are looking to make a name for themselves. Not all, but many assistant coaches serve no purpose more than a simple marketing scheme to show people how loyal they are to their players. For instance; Brian Shaw. He spent many years with the Lakers franchise and was a part of the team's "3-peat" from 2000-03. But a few years later, he got old and slow and was taking up a space on the roster. Realizing that releasing the well-liked veteran and known "good guy" around the league could be seen as a down-side to free-agents looking for max contracts, Lakers management said heck, give him an offer to be a coach. And I don't blame them; I dig it.
Young coaches are more becoming more popular all over the professional sports world. There's now an appeal for the youthful, eccentric style that young coaches bring. But that's not what the Bulls need right now. Their finally turning the corner in terms of success, and their two biggest problems have been inexperience and inconsistency, two traits that mirror their recent coaching selections. I've like them all, especially Scott Skiles who lifted the Bucks into the fifth seed of the playoffs this season, but it's not the peice the team needs.
The Bulls need a coach that brings significant experience and can weld the foundations together. The talent level is now there, and will be even better after this summer's free agent signing period. A guy like Larry Brown who has made a name by stepping in and putting everything together would be ideal. Unfortunately he's working hand-in-hand with MJ on "the charlotte bobcats project," a team that made their first postseason ever in franchise history this past season. Off the top of the head, guys that could offer the Bulls some of what they're looking for off the top of the head are Avery Johnson, Byron Scott, Jeff VanGundy and Rick Carlisle. Instead the only people we've heard about in reference to the team are guys like Dan Majerle of the Suns, a guy played in the league in the 90's, got an assistant coaching position and wants to make a name for himself. No offense to Mr. Majerle, but I'm hoping the Bulls go in a different direction this time. It could be just as vital a decision as who they land as a free agent.
The collection of recent Bulls coaches all meet the same general criteria. Youg, in experienced guys coming out of an assistant coaching role who are looking to make a name for themselves. Not all, but many assistant coaches serve no purpose more than a simple marketing scheme to show people how loyal they are to their players. For instance; Brian Shaw. He spent many years with the Lakers franchise and was a part of the team's "3-peat" from 2000-03. But a few years later, he got old and slow and was taking up a space on the roster. Realizing that releasing the well-liked veteran and known "good guy" around the league could be seen as a down-side to free-agents looking for max contracts, Lakers management said heck, give him an offer to be a coach. And I don't blame them; I dig it.
Young coaches are more becoming more popular all over the professional sports world. There's now an appeal for the youthful, eccentric style that young coaches bring. But that's not what the Bulls need right now. Their finally turning the corner in terms of success, and their two biggest problems have been inexperience and inconsistency, two traits that mirror their recent coaching selections. I've like them all, especially Scott Skiles who lifted the Bucks into the fifth seed of the playoffs this season, but it's not the peice the team needs.
The Bulls need a coach that brings significant experience and can weld the foundations together. The talent level is now there, and will be even better after this summer's free agent signing period. A guy like Larry Brown who has made a name by stepping in and putting everything together would be ideal. Unfortunately he's working hand-in-hand with MJ on "the charlotte bobcats project," a team that made their first postseason ever in franchise history this past season. Off the top of the head, guys that could offer the Bulls some of what they're looking for off the top of the head are Avery Johnson, Byron Scott, Jeff VanGundy and Rick Carlisle. Instead the only people we've heard about in reference to the team are guys like Dan Majerle of the Suns, a guy played in the league in the 90's, got an assistant coaching position and wants to make a name for himself. No offense to Mr. Majerle, but I'm hoping the Bulls go in a different direction this time. It could be just as vital a decision as who they land as a free agent.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Cease the Chatter....For Now
Nick Friedell, Bulls blogger for espnchicago.com , reports that Phoenix Suns assistant coach Dan Majerle has not dicussed the Bulls head coaching vacancy with team general manager Gar Forman or executive vice president John Paxon, but that he would be willing to listen if they call.
"Of course," he said to ESPNChicago.com before Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals on Sunday night. "Yeah, I'm willing to listen to anybody."
First off, I don't know anything aout him besides he played for the Suns in the 90's. What has he done for Suns that credits him the opportunity to be a head coach? I'm not saying he's uncapable of managing a team, but I don't think I'm alone in questioning what Dan Majerle has done as an assistant coach that places him at the fore-front. With that said; what makes this news? Did the Bulls reach out to Majerle first? No.... The report itself says Majerle has had no communication whatsoever with Bulls managagement. With that said; why is this even news? Is there anybody out there that wouldn't listen to the Bulls offer?
What is newsworthy about these "sources" and the different rumors/talks around the league is the fact that people like Phil Jackson and Dan Majerle have to be subjected to all this nonsense while their teams are fighting to win a conference championship. It's merely a distraction. No deal is going down for several weeks, no matter who says what in the time-being. I want to hear what Phil Jackson has to say about the Phoenix Suns and what his team needs to do not blow the once 2-0 lead. What he's doing next year is entirely irrelevant, at the moment at least, and he should be able to focus on what is.
"Of course," he said to ESPNChicago.com before Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals on Sunday night. "Yeah, I'm willing to listen to anybody."
First off, I don't know anything aout him besides he played for the Suns in the 90's. What has he done for Suns that credits him the opportunity to be a head coach? I'm not saying he's uncapable of managing a team, but I don't think I'm alone in questioning what Dan Majerle has done as an assistant coach that places him at the fore-front. With that said; what makes this news? Did the Bulls reach out to Majerle first? No.... The report itself says Majerle has had no communication whatsoever with Bulls managagement. With that said; why is this even news? Is there anybody out there that wouldn't listen to the Bulls offer?
What is newsworthy about these "sources" and the different rumors/talks around the league is the fact that people like Phil Jackson and Dan Majerle have to be subjected to all this nonsense while their teams are fighting to win a conference championship. It's merely a distraction. No deal is going down for several weeks, no matter who says what in the time-being. I want to hear what Phil Jackson has to say about the Phoenix Suns and what his team needs to do not blow the once 2-0 lead. What he's doing next year is entirely irrelevant, at the moment at least, and he should be able to focus on what is.
Bulls Eye Former Coach
Sources close to both parties (the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers) have been talking a lot lately about the possibility of current Lakers coach, Phil Jackson returning to the city where he won six rings with the most iconic player of all time.
http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nba/news/story?id=5216961
What Bulls fan could possibly oppose this idea? Not many. Personally, I would be thrilled to know that Phil Jackson was returning to Chicago if I didn't know the real underlying reason. Yes, Jackson is the best coach in the NBA but the Bulls are doing this to further gage the interest of one Lebron James. Since I don't want to root for Lebron James next season, I don't know how I would feel if the Bulls inked "The Zen Master" (top 5 nicknames in sports).
There are two basic criteria Lebron will be looking for come time to explore the free agent market:
1. Supporting cast- young, talented promising. Lebron got a first-hand look at the up-and-coming Bulls in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
2. Coach- established, proven, respected. Unfortunately enough, Jackson to the Bulls offers LBJ the perfect package. It would be undoubtedly his first choice.
The Bulls were already heading the list of Lebron landing spots along with New York and New Jersey. If they somehow lured Jackson away from L.A., I don't think it would even be a decision for James. A 'must try' for the Bulls front office, but a 'hope not' for this fan......TO BE CONTINUED
http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nba/news/story?id=5216961
What Bulls fan could possibly oppose this idea? Not many. Personally, I would be thrilled to know that Phil Jackson was returning to Chicago if I didn't know the real underlying reason. Yes, Jackson is the best coach in the NBA but the Bulls are doing this to further gage the interest of one Lebron James. Since I don't want to root for Lebron James next season, I don't know how I would feel if the Bulls inked "The Zen Master" (top 5 nicknames in sports).
There are two basic criteria Lebron will be looking for come time to explore the free agent market:
1. Supporting cast- young, talented promising. Lebron got a first-hand look at the up-and-coming Bulls in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
2. Coach- established, proven, respected. Unfortunately enough, Jackson to the Bulls offers LBJ the perfect package. It would be undoubtedly his first choice.
The Bulls were already heading the list of Lebron landing spots along with New York and New Jersey. If they somehow lured Jackson away from L.A., I don't think it would even be a decision for James. A 'must try' for the Bulls front office, but a 'hope not' for this fan......TO BE CONTINUED
Monday, May 24, 2010
The Un-Wanted 'Germ'
Word on the street is that Dallas Mavericks F/C Dirk Nowitzki will opt out of his contract and test the free agent waters this summer. Ehhhemm.......I repeat......Dirk Nowitzki WILL OPT OUT OF HIS CONTRACT THIS SUMMER. This isn't breaking news people, so why is this getting absolutely NO publicitity?
Hell, the guy has only been a 1st or 2nd All-NBA Team selection this whole decade. The only other two guys that can say that are Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan. Besides his accolades, which rank top 5 in nearly every statistical offensive category, the guy is a winner. Since he took over the franchise in 1999, the team has won 50 games every season.
Even if he's not Lebron James (even though their resumes are identical) he's the next best available. But nobody is even giving it a second thought which floors me. Who couldn't use a 7'0 forward that can do merely everything on the offensive end? Can't think of anyone. But someone who could, would be the Bulls.
The Bulls to me are the best fit for Nowitzki and they need to give it great consideration. They have as strong of a core group as any, and have needed a low-post scorer since forever. Seriously. Nowitzki brings the uber-scorer mentality, and although his downside is defense, the guy standing next to him in the front-court, Joakim Noah, specializes in it.
This isn't just about the Bulls. This guy is an elite, top 5 player in the league. Names like Joe Johnson, Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade, and Amare Stoudemire are well-deserving of the off-season hype, but 'The Germ' out of Dallas is probably sitting there saying, "What about me?" And I sure don't blame him.
Hell, the guy has only been a 1st or 2nd All-NBA Team selection this whole decade. The only other two guys that can say that are Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan. Besides his accolades, which rank top 5 in nearly every statistical offensive category, the guy is a winner. Since he took over the franchise in 1999, the team has won 50 games every season.
Even if he's not Lebron James (even though their resumes are identical) he's the next best available. But nobody is even giving it a second thought which floors me. Who couldn't use a 7'0 forward that can do merely everything on the offensive end? Can't think of anyone. But someone who could, would be the Bulls.
The Bulls to me are the best fit for Nowitzki and they need to give it great consideration. They have as strong of a core group as any, and have needed a low-post scorer since forever. Seriously. Nowitzki brings the uber-scorer mentality, and although his downside is defense, the guy standing next to him in the front-court, Joakim Noah, specializes in it.
This isn't just about the Bulls. This guy is an elite, top 5 player in the league. Names like Joe Johnson, Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade, and Amare Stoudemire are well-deserving of the off-season hype, but 'The Germ' out of Dallas is probably sitting there saying, "What about me?" And I sure don't blame him.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Bosh's Wish List, and Mine
Finally, an original plan that I liked very very much. Remember when the Bulls had Chris Bosh on the radar last off-season? And during the heat of the trade deadline this a couple months ago, it was almost certain a last-second deal involving Bosh, Salmons and Luol Deng would go down. But it never did, which not to mention could have GREATLY affected the rest of their season because they wouldn't have had to play Cleveland in the first round. And they would have had a low-post presence since.....well, ever. Seriously the guy is an annual all-star. When was the last time ever the Bulls had a dominant low post scorer? It's funny to me this issue is never brought up. During the 90's, the most relevant names were Horace Grant, Bill Cartwright, Bill Wennington and Luke Longley. For an interesting "now-and-then" comparison, Bulls back-up C/F Scott Williams salary was $150,000. Nobody in the league in a long time has less than doubled that. Easily.
I have said for a long time I would love to see Bosh come to Chicago and feel the same way despite the Lebron nonsense. I would much rather take a player who doesn't have to have the spotlight and attention and meshes well with the style of a play than someone who could disrupt the chemistry and offensive flow. Not to mention I have a strong dislike (lightly put due to blogspot's adult content feature) for the man, but people who have been following me for a while are already scholars as to why so I won't go there (shoutout to all my COMM 410 classmates who have to suffer through my ranting and raving).
The Bulls are one of the few teams that have a starting lineup drafted by the franchise. Paxson and Reinsdorf have done a great job and are good at what they do. They also apparently know what they're doing. The point to this is that they have been building this team and it's style of playfor a while. They finally got the star they needed in Derrick Rose, who surrounds a bunch of solid guys, each with a repetoire that contributes in a different way. They are one peice away from being true contenders in the Eastern Conference, and the answer doesn't have to be Lebron James; that's all I'm saying.
Bosh alone transforms the team from decent to good, but the Bulls have the capability of signing two attractive free agents. If they got Joe Johnson along with Bosh, I can say in all honesty and no bias, that is more appealing as a fan and a basketball critic.
I understand that when a player of James' caliber becomes available, it's going to be the focal point of every team. But this whole hands-down go for Lebron campaign is too much. What happened to teams having criterias and agendas, and different systems to meet the goal of winning a championship?How can it be that when one guy gets on the market (besides a select few whom LBJ is not), it becomes the best fit hands down for every single team??
I for one do not have the answer. If you do, please, leave a comment on this post.
I have said for a long time I would love to see Bosh come to Chicago and feel the same way despite the Lebron nonsense. I would much rather take a player who doesn't have to have the spotlight and attention and meshes well with the style of a play than someone who could disrupt the chemistry and offensive flow. Not to mention I have a strong dislike (lightly put due to blogspot's adult content feature) for the man, but people who have been following me for a while are already scholars as to why so I won't go there (shoutout to all my COMM 410 classmates who have to suffer through my ranting and raving).
The Bulls are one of the few teams that have a starting lineup drafted by the franchise. Paxson and Reinsdorf have done a great job and are good at what they do. They also apparently know what they're doing. The point to this is that they have been building this team and it's style of playfor a while. They finally got the star they needed in Derrick Rose, who surrounds a bunch of solid guys, each with a repetoire that contributes in a different way. They are one peice away from being true contenders in the Eastern Conference, and the answer doesn't have to be Lebron James; that's all I'm saying.
Bosh alone transforms the team from decent to good, but the Bulls have the capability of signing two attractive free agents. If they got Joe Johnson along with Bosh, I can say in all honesty and no bias, that is more appealing as a fan and a basketball critic.
I understand that when a player of James' caliber becomes available, it's going to be the focal point of every team. But this whole hands-down go for Lebron campaign is too much. What happened to teams having criterias and agendas, and different systems to meet the goal of winning a championship?How can it be that when one guy gets on the market (besides a select few whom LBJ is not), it becomes the best fit hands down for every single team??
I for one do not have the answer. If you do, please, leave a comment on this post.
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