Thread: What's next for the Chicago Bulls?

Bulls agree to two-year deal with Kurt Thomas - Chicago Breaking Sports

Bulls agree to two-year deal with Kurt Thomas

When the Bulls traded John Salmons to the Bucks in February, initial indications were that Kurt Thomas might be headed to Chicago.

Instead, Hakim Warrick arrived and Thomas turned in stellar playoff minutes in the Bucks' near upset of the Hawks in the first round.

As much for that performance as the fact Brad Miller left via free agency to Houston, Thomas now is a Bull, agreeing to a two-year deal late Thursday, a league source confirmed. Sam Smith of Bulls.com first reported the agreement. The Tribune previously had reported the Bulls' interest in Thomas.

Thomas, 38, is a 14-year veteran who long has been known as one of the league's top citizens. He can also still play -- as his playoff performance indicated.

The 6-foot-9-inch forward has averaged 8.8 points and 7 rebounds for seven teams, most notably a seven-season run with the Knicks. Thomas will serve as an insurance big man should rookie Omer Asik not pan out.

Thomas, a strong defender and rebounder, brings the Bulls' roster to 11 players. Six of those are new. Management hopes to add one more wing player via free agency.

Rose revels in role as hometown hero :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Bulls

Rose revels in role as hometown hero

LAS VEGAS -- Like many other Chicagoans, Derrick Rose was hoping earlier this month that LeBron James would decide to join the Bulls.
But unlike others who put up billboards to woo James -- or even NBA players from other cities who called James to sweet-talk him -- Rose didn't feel it was his place to make a hard sales pitch.
''I talked to him a little bit, but if a player wants to come, he'll come,'' Rose said Thursday. ''He knew that the organization and the players wanted him, so it was really up to him.
''He's a grown man. He makes his decisions. In the beginning, I did think he was coming. But I guess he made the right decision, and I know the [Eastern Conference] is gonna be fun this year.''
Like James, Rose was drafted with the first pick in the draft by his hometown team, but Rose said that's where the similarities end because he has no interest in leaving Chicago -- even for the glitz of Miami.
''That's something I don't want to deal with,'' he said. ''Why not stay [in Chicago]? It'll be bigger for me to win another championship there than to go somewhere else. The city would love me. It'll be bigger for me to even get to the second round, so imagine a championship?''
Right now, Rose is in the midst of training camp with the U.S. men's national team and is trying to earn a roster spot for the team that will compete in the world championships next month in Turkey.
But after practice Thursday at the Cox Pavilion on the UNLV campus, he took a moment to assess the Bulls' free-agent signings -- Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver, Ronnie Brewer and C.J. Watson -- and the team's prospects for next season.
''We're good; we're good,'' Rose said. ''We can actually go out and fight. The two years I was there, we were just dealing with what we had to deal with until now. Now that we have Boozer, Brewer, Korver and C.J., I think we can actually go out there and compete against some teams.''
What does that mean? How many wins can the Bulls rack up? Rose wouldn't get that specific.
''We can get farther than last year,'' he said. ''Every year, I want to get farther. This year, we stayed the same. Next year, I'm looking for a long year. That means a lot of working out, a lot of lifting weights so that I can endure the season.''
When asked if the Bulls can compete with James and the Miami Heat, all Rose said was ''we will see.''
But before he fully turns his attention to the upcoming NBA season, Rose wants to be a part of the U.S. team.
Even though virtually no one from the team that won the gold medal in the Beijing Olympics is participating, the competition for roster spots is intense, particularly at point guard, where Rose is battling Chauncey Billups, Tyreke Evans, Rajon Rondo and Russell Westbrook.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski wants to trim the roster to 12 to 15 players by the end of the weekend. Exactly how many point guards will be included in that group is anyone's guess, so Rose has no idea how good (or bad) his chances are.
''You really don't know,'' he said. ''If anything, if I don't get picked, it's an honor just to be here right now. But I think I have a good chance to make it. It's not up to me, it's up to the coaches. They've got to make the decision. But I'm going to go out here and try to play good.''

Chicago Bulls Sign Keith Bogans, But Why?

The search for the 12th man is over now that the Bulls have come to terms with veteran shooting guard Keith Bogans on a two year deal worth $2.5 million.

I have read a lot the past few days about how this is a great move for the Bulls and the search for another shooter is over. However, I just don't see it.

Bogans, 6'5", a 30 year old guard and seven year veteran out of the University of Kentucky is not an accomplished shooter. A career 39.4 field goal shooter with a 35.1 three point shooter and 72.1 free throw percentage doesn't sound like a great shooter to me. He has never shot higher then 41 percent from the field and never higher than 39 percent from three point land and while he shot 91.2 percent from the free throw line during the 2008-2009 season, his six other seasons show that it was a fluke.

During Bogans' seven seasons he has played for five teams including San Antonio, Milwaukee, Charlotte, Houston and two stints with the Orlando Magic.

Some have looked at the amount of games he has started and think that it means something. The Spurs started him in 50 games last season but he only played in 19.7 minutes a night.

As an end of the bench guy, I guess Bogans is an ok pickup but the way people have thrown the praise around I just don't get it. He doesn't have a lot of playoff experience only playing in 18 games, all in two seasons (10 with Magic in 07-08 and eight with Spurs last season). As I showed earlier he is not a great shooter. The only thing he brings is being a tough defender and has a tie to new head coach Tim Thibodeau during their time in Houston.

In no way does this move provide the same upside as if the Bulls had signed Tracy McGrady but it also doesn't come with the potential headache that may come up.

Reportedly the Bulls are still very much a live in trade talks with the Blazers for guard Rudy Fernandez. who would provide exactly the type of all around offensive punch the team has been looking for to put alongside Derrick Rose. Rumor has it the Bulls offering a future first round pick while the Blazers have been asking for Taj Gibson, which will not happen. Fernandez has made it very well known he is unhappy with his playing time in Portland and has even talked about returning to Spain.

With the Bulls addition of Bogans the team is still one player short of the NBA minimum of 13 players and with cap space still available they are still very much alive in free agency (T-mac) or possible trades (Fernandez) or they may end up going cheap and signing someone from their summer league.

One thing is for sure the Bulls continue to add depth and thanks to all the big names the Celtics and Heat have added they will stay under the radar and may surprise many once the season kicks off.

Denver Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony say he's undecided on contract extension - ESPN

Carmelo Anthony unsure on extension

HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. -- Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony says he has no timetable on when he'll decide whether to sign the team's $65 million, three-year extension that's been on the table all summer.
During his annual basketball camp at ThunderRidge High School, Anthony said he's displayed his loyalty to Denver and the Nuggets over the last seven seasons, but "I'm just taking my time, figuring out if I want to take that extension or not."
The Nuggets are searching for a new general manager but Anthony said that person won't factor into his decision.
"I think my decision is my decision," Anthony said, according to The Denver Post. "I don't think it's based on who is in the front office or anything like that. I'm going to make my decision based on my feelings."
Anthony could become the headliner of the 2011 free agent class if he decides not to sign the extension or exercise the option on his current contract, which would pay him $18.5 million in 2011-12.
"I could wake up tomorrow and they could snatch it off the table," Anthony said, according to the Denver newspaper. "I don't know. I don't know what their mind-set is."
Anthony said his loyalty to the Nuggets' fanbase and organization has never wavered.
"I've shown that over my seven-year stint here," he said, according to The Denver Post. "I don't think anybody can question that. But at this point in time, I have to do what's best for me and my family. I'm just taking my time, figuring out if I want to take that extension or not."
Anthony has plenty of financial incentives to sign the deal because the league will have a new collective bargaining agreement after next season that is expected to be far less lucrative for players.
So by declining Denver's offer, Anthony could be leaving tens of millions of dollars on the table.
That's a major reason the Nuggets are confident that Anthony will sign their extension offer. Many executives around the league believe he will sign it as well. Under league rules, Anthony has until July 1, 2011 to accept the offer. A Nuggets official told ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard recently that Denver will not impose its own earlier deadline on Anthony.
If Anthony doesn't accept the offer, it would seemingly be a sign that he doesn't want to continue his career in Denver.
"We want to come to an agreement," Anthony said, according to The Denver Post. "We just want to go about it the right way. There's a little bit of a light at the end of the tunnel now."
Anthony spoke of the urgency for the Nuggets to contend for an NBA championship.
"We still have the same guys on our team that we went to the Western Conference finals with two years ago," Anthony said, according to The Denver Post. "Whatever happened last year -- whether people say it was George Karl's sickness, injuries, whatever it may be -- we didn't get there.
"Now everybody panics. The panic button is on, GMs get fired, it's just a lot that goes on with losing. Hopefully we get back on the right track. Kenyon [Martin] is rehabbing right now, [Chris Andersen] is rehabbing. . . . But everybody seems like they are trying to do what's right to get back."
Nuggets teammate Chauncey Billups, attending a Team USA practice at the New York Knicks' practice facility in Westchester County, said he wouldn't divulge details of Anthony's plans regarding the extension -- or if he knew them at all.
"I'm 100 percent hopeful," Billups said, according to the New York Post. "It's between me and my guy. If y'all have a close personal friend and they're going through something and the media asks, you're not going to expose that. Y'all find out when he wants y'all to know."

Maybe the Bulls could make something happen. Trade Deng and two draft picks? Who knows? Carmelo would be a great addition because he's one of the best small forwards in the league. Let's be honest, Luol Deng isn't that good.

Originally Posted by motownbear

if he isnt that good why would they kill their cap to add him and two non lottery picks to their cap?

Because you said:

Originally Posted by motownbear

we can play clean the cap space for this or that as much as we want but the team will always be stuck in limbo. I think it is time to move on from doing all that. If we want someone trade for them.

If we want Anthony offer Deng and two first and a 2 to get him. Otherwise we arent getting him. And I really think he will be a Knick

^^

we had cap space to work with at that time. To fit Anthony now you need more then Deng contract and Denver isnt going to be taking that on. We are pretty much at the cap so anthony's 18mil a year minus deng 11mil we need to free up another 7 without giving it to Denver who doesnt want it. The rumors at that time had it that there were takers for Deng's contract which apparantly were all false rumors

Sources: Split between Carmelo Anthony and Denver Nuggets likely - ESPN

Sources: Carmelo Anthony likely to go

All signs continue to point toward the eventual divorce between Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets.
League sources say it is now a matter of when, not if, Anthony and the Nuggets will go their separate ways.

Anthony is weighing whether to sign a three-year, $65 million extension offered by the Nuggets. His dilemma, league sources say, is what affords him the best chance of continuing his career elsewhere. Anthony could sign with Denver and convince the team to then trade him. His other option would be to not sign the extension, thereby forcing the team to move him rather than risk losing him next summer as a free agent.
During his annual basketball camp in Colorado on Saturday, Anthony said he had no timetable on when he'll decide whether to sign the extension.
In either case, "he's going to make it real clear that he's not coming back," said one league source.
But both Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke and Anthony already are well aware that they don't have a future together, sources say. That became clear to Kroenke at a reception after Anthony's July 11 nuptials to La La Vasquez in Manhattan.
A series of toasts at the wedding reception, initiated by New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul, suggested Anthony leave Denver for the New York Knicks. Paul suggested it playfully, one source said, but subsequent guests -- including Knicks power forward Amare Stoudemire and Anthony's brother, Robert -- made the point more forcefully.
Then Kroenke stood up to give a toast and the room was filled with an awkward silence, one wedding guest said. Kroenke tried to make light of the situation by suggesting Paul could come to Denver but that elicited no response.
While Anthony stood and applauded Kroenke when he was recognized, he apparently did nothing to discourage or dismiss the suggestions that he should leave the Nuggets.
"There were other people saying, 'We're going to get you guys together,' but it doesn't become a runaway train if Melo says something," said one source. "Maybe he didn't perpetuate it, but tell people to stop or say, 'Stan, I'm sorry.' He didn't do any of that."
Paul has since met with Hornets management and appears less eager to leave New Orleans, but all the signals from Anthony are that he would like to be in a different uniform this season.
Wedding signals included.
Anthony's agent, Leon Rose, could not be reached for comment and the Nuggets declined to comment.

It could be a little tricky with their cap space, but the Bulls can certainly still land Carmelo Anthony.
Gar Foreman has shown he is intent on building a winner and has done so in his short time in Chicago.
The roster is loaded with talent and are already a formidable contender in the East. Adding a player of Carmelo's caliber would only strengthen them.
The inside game of the Heat is one of their biggest weaknesses. If you add Carmelo to Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah, the Bulls might have the upper hand. Especially when Derrick Rose is running your offense.
Yes, 'Melo struggles defensively, but he is a big body and possibly the most clutch shooter in the league.
If I'm Chicago, I am doing everything I possibly can to get Carmelo. He could be the difference between contending and winning.