<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">THE RAPTORS want Chris Duhon to fill a hole at point guard, but the Chicago Bulls probably won't allow that to happen. The Raptors have signed Duhon to a free-agent offer sheet, according to numerous sources. However, Duhon is a restricted free agent and Bulls vice-president of basketball operations John Paxson said yesterday Chicago is strongly leaning toward matching the Raptors' offer and keeping the 6-foot-1, 185-pound product of Duke. "It's highly likely we're going to match," Paxson said. "It (the Raptors' offer to Duhon) is not a lengthy deal or more money than we have allocated. But I still have to sit down and look at what this offer means to us moving forward." The Bulls have a week to match the offer and Paxson indicated he will use the full week to ponder his options. The Raptors have only their $5-million US mid-level salary-cap exception to spend, and they've used up about $1.5 million of that on the signing of Jose Calderon and the imminent re-signing of Pape Sow. Sources indicated the Raptors' offer to Duhon is for something between $2.5 million and $3.5 million per season, likely for three years. Of course, the Raptors' courting of Duhon -- whether they get him or not -- is a clear indication they are willing to let forward Matt Bonner go. With Calderon and Sow in tow, the Raptors realistically don't have enough money left to sign both Duhon and Bonner, barring a drastic bottoming out of the market. Raptors general manager Rob Babcock was very careful with his words when asked about Duhon. "I've heard the reports," Babcock said last night. "All I can tell you at this point is, I can't confirm anything." </div> http://torontosun.com/Sports/Basketball/20...165128-sun.html <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">After waiting more than five weeks for something to break with one of their restricted free agents, the Bulls now have seven days to match the offer sheet guard Chris Duhon signed with the Toronto Raptors on Monday. Although terms of the deal were not disclosed, an NBA source said the offer was for three years with a starting salary in the $2.5 million to $3 million range. The Bulls had offered a three-year deal starting at $2 million, and Duhon and agent Bill Duffy were looking for a deal starting at $3 million. Bulls operations chief John Paxson said Monday he will take his time before deciding whether to match the offer.</div> http://www.suntimes.com/output/bulls/cst-spt-bull092.html
Darn, that's not good. I though Chicago didn't want to match anything more than 3 million but I guess not. Not sure if Chicago is saying this just to scare Toronto or that they're actually going to do this. If they sign all their FAs, they won't have room for the likes of Hinrich, Gordon, Deng...
Ah crap.....I wasn't expecting Toronto to get Duhon but still, we had a chance. But this ain't that good for the bulls either. Now they have too many point gaurds in hinrich, Duhon, Pargo and Gordan sometimes. But oh well, the more depth they have, the more likely they will go into the playoffs. And think about it, Raptors could've gotten a better player with the MLE instead of Duhon, I think that was kinda overpaying him for 3.5 million. Earl watson probably doesn't even want that much.......
Bulls won't match if Michael Finley does get waived by the Mavs. Paxson has been looking at him ever since the Michael Jordan era and he is a Chicago product, not to mention that he fills the Bulls' need at the starting SG. But really, this thread should be merged with the other thread on the Duhon situation that Proz4k first reported.
Siging Michael Finly isnt that nessarcary. They already have Ben Gorden, Pike, Eddie Basden, Loul Deng and Andres Nocioni who can all play the SG postion if needed. What they really need is probably a sf to back up Luol and Andres.
what! i just found out about this! wow, if the raps get him what an offseason accomplishment for babs! didn't the bulls just recently sign a guy named basden?? eddie basden? he is a G. so i don't know what to think right now. they are gonna be stacked with G. and when Duhon started for them, they had success. when he didnt start and gordon did they lost a lot of games. im kinda baffled at this is if the bulls don't match the offer. but i'd be more than happy to get duhon. i think babcock might waive alvin, cuz it might be too much of a longshot for him to comeback! but i'd wanna stick with him right now.Hinrich,Gordon,Basden, Pargo are all guys that can play the PG position. Chicago! is that enough to let go of your duhon??? c'mon. lol
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting the_rap:</div><div class="quote_post">Siging Michael Finly isnt that nessarcary. They already have Ben Gorden, Pike, Eddie Basden, Loul Deng and Andres Nocioni who can all play the SG postion if needed. What they really need is probably a sf to back up Luol and Andres.</div> Ben Gordon is not a SG. Sure he can play the position but he excelled at being the 6th man off the bench, so why not keep him there? Eddie Basden is not a starter, he is a backup SG who can defend, but is very raw on offense to say the least. Luol Deng and Andres Nocioni aren't SGs either, they're natural SFs and lack the ballhandling abilities and three point range to be effective at the 2-guard spot.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting VinKanaddy:</div><div class="quote_post">Ben Gordon is not a SG. Sure he can play the position but he excelled at being the 6th man off the bench, so why not keep him there? Eddie Basden is not a starter, he is a backup SG who can defend, but is very raw on offense to say the least. Luol Deng and Andres Nocioni aren't SGs either, they're natural SFs and lack the ballhandling abilities and three point range to be effective at the 2-guard spot.</div> Ben Gordon IS a shooting guard. He may be underzsized but he still is a SG not a PG.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MiamiBalla12:</div><div class="quote_post">Ben Gordon IS a shooting guard. He may be underzsized but he still is a SG not a PG.</div> So,, was that a ghost playing the point for the UConn team that won the NCAA cup last year?
Actually, Gorden is a PG and a SG. Thats why when Gorden started instead of Duhon, I think he was PG at that time. He can play both positions but I think of him more as a Shooting guard stuck in a point gaurd's body because he is only 6-2 which makes him unable to match up against other SGs' in the league.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting VinKanaddy:</div><div class="quote_post">So,, was that a ghost playing the point for the UConn team that won the NCAA cup last year? </div> Nope, it was Taliek Brown Please check your facts before posting
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting the_rap:</div><div class="quote_post">Actually, Gorden is a PG and a SG. Thats why when Gorden started instead of Duhon, I think he was PG at that time. He can play both positions but I think of him more as a Shooting guard stuck in a point gaurd's body because he is only 6-2 which makes him unable to match up against other SGs' in the league.</div> Nope, When Gordon started instead of Duhon, Hinrich played PG.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MiamiBalla12:</div><div class="quote_post">Nope, it was Taliek Brown Please check your facts before posting </div> Oh snap, I totally forgot about Brown! But it doesn't change the fact that Gordon is undersized to play the 2 among the likes of Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting VinKanaddy:</div><div class="quote_post">Oh snap, I totally forgot about Brown! But it doesn't change the fact that Gordon is undersized to play the 2 among the likes of Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady.</div> I agree he is undersized to play the two. But Gordon showed last season that he is very strong for his size and that he can keep most taller guards from posting up on him. Although his height is a still a problem but i guess it is something the Bulls are going to have to live with. Another short SG such as Joe Dumars had sucess in the league despite being only 6-3 at shooting guard. There is a possibility Gordon can become a PG later in his career if he works on cutting down his turnovers and his playmaking skills.
I heard Dallas isn't going to waive Finley. They're only looking to get rid of him in a trade. If that's true our chances of getting Duhon are even lower.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Chutney:</div><div class="quote_post">I heard Dallas isn't going to waive Finley. They're only looking to get rid of him in a trade. If that's true our chances of getting Duhon are even lower.</div> I think if Finley were to get waived he was going to go to Phoenix or Denver. So I don't think that would have had much impact.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Chutney:</div><div class="quote_post">I heard Dallas isn't going to waive Finley. They're only looking to get rid of him in a trade. If that's true our chances of getting Duhon are even lower.</div> They will explore all trade possibilities, but in the end of the day, I still believe Mark Cuban will waive Finley at the last minute.
I really hope Chicago doesn't match...It'll be an improvement over Rafer for sure. I still think we should take a chance on Jay Williams and sign him cheap. Either way...after the Rafer situ last year...anyone will be an improvement over rafer...including Caledon. What are the possiblities of a sign and trade for Duhon if Chicago matches?
If Chicago matchs the offer, Toronto can improve their offer to Duhon and the Bulls will need to match the offer again ?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Proz4k:</div><div class="quote_post">If Chicago matchs the offer, Toronto can improve their offer to Duhon and the Bulls will need to match the offer again ?</div> No, if the offer is matched, he can't recieve another contract offer.
