<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Malik Allen: Could come back due to his late-season contributions and his professional approach to the game. His $1.67 million contract expires. Eddie Basden: The 6-5 rookie guard who went undrafted out of Charlotte last year was mostly a disappointment and likely won't be back. Basden appeared in only 19 games (2.1 points and 1.5 rebounds per game) and was demoted to Tulsa of the National Basketball Development League for almost two months. Tyson Chandler: Paxson told Chandler, the team's 7-1 center and $64 million player, he must hit the weight room. ''He's got to make that commitment,'' Paxson said. ''Tyson entered the year at around 247 and ended the year about 10 pounds lighter. He needs to put [weight] on and keep it on. Those are things that have to change in terms of being able to sustain effort and physical play when you're a big guy in this league. He's 23 now, he's got five years under his belt. He doesn't have to worry about a contract, obviously. I think with better bulk and size, he'll do a better job of holding his ground, defending in the lane, things that are important. ''Tyson, I don't think, is ever going to make his mark as a big offensive player. I would like to see him look at the basket a little bit more when he's within the lane. I always felt a player like Tyson can make a difference on the defensive end and rebounding. I believe Tyson has the athleticism and the energy to potentially be a difference-maker.'' Luol Deng: Paxson said the 6-9, 220-pound second-year forward needs to get stronger, particularly in his hands and upper body. ''Lu can be a very versatile player with his length,'' Paxson said. ''As he gets stronger, he should be able to post up small forwards and two-guards. ''That's for debate, we haven't got into that. That will be talked about, though. Lu will have to get a little quicker. Two-guards in this league are quick and tough to defend. It's worth discussion.'' Chris Duhon: Signed through the 2007-08 season at approximately $3 million per year. Will spend the next week deciding on surgery to repair a herniated disc that bothered him throughout the season. Ben Gordon: The man most likely to draw trade talk. Gordon is set to make $3.86 million next season. The team holds an option of $4.88 million for 2007-08. Gordon hopes to be back. ''But there's never any assurances in this league,'' he said after his talk with Paxson and coach Scott Skiles on Friday. ''It's not what I was looking for. We just talked about how the season went and things to work on over the offseason; my overall game, my ball-handling. But I know anything can happen at any moment. So, I'm just going to take what they said in stride and try to become a better player.'' Othella Harrington: The Bulls will not exercise the team's option on the veteran post man. Kirk Hinrich: About as close a lock to return next season as any. The team likely will talk about a contract extension with Hinrich, who is set to make $3 million next season. ''We're not allowed to approach that until Aug. 1,'' Paxson said. ''Kirk is the type of guy we want in this organization for a long time. We will address that at the right time.'' Hinrich said he loves his situation and Chicago. ''It's a great sports town and treated me well,'' he said. ''I've done a good enough job of taking care of my money where I don't have to worry about it too much. I just have to worry about getting better and that stuff will take care of itself.'' Randy Livingston: Veteran guard signed out of the CBA was a good influence for Gordon but will not be back. Andres Nocioni: The team's most-improved player this season, his second with the Bulls. Nocioni -- who was often asked to play bigger than his 6-7, 225-pound frame -- is under contract for one more season at $3 million. ''I love the way he plays,'' Paxson said. ''I'll do everything I can to have him here as long as possible. Guys like that make my job easier. We can add a bigger guy that makes us that much better because you know you have him there, too. With Noce, you can play a lot of different ways; we started him at small forward the last chunk of the year, if you want to play small and move him to the four, you can do that. I think one of the things that makes teams effective is if they can play different ways. Noce gives you opportunity to play different ways.'' Jannero Pargo: Good kid who works hard, can hit from three-point range, and is well-liked. Made $895,000 and might be re-signed at about the same salary. Eric Piatkowski: The veteran shooting specialist will be 36 and a free agent when training camp opens next fall. He will not be back with the Bulls, but expects to hear from other teams. Piatkowski said another season will be based on whether any such offers come from an organization for which he wants to play. Darius Songaila: The 6-8 forward holds an option for $2.4 million next season, which Paxson believes Songaila will opt out of and become a free agent. As long as the market does not get too crazy, Paxson will bring Songaila back at what likely will be more than $5 million a season. Luke Schenscher: The 7-1, 265-pound center joined the Bulls from Fort Worth of the National Basketball Development League on March 5 on a 10-day contract and impressed enough to stick through the playoff series with Miami. He will likely at least get another look for next season during training camp. Michael Sweetney: After a sluggish start, he ended up as the Bulls starting center and was much better through the final weeks of the season. He is signed through next season ($2.7 million) and likely will be back. Coaches: Paxson said no changes are expected to Skiles' current staff other than the expected retirement of assistant Johnny Bach. The team would then have to decide whether to fill the vacancy.</div> <div align="center"> Source</div>
Who I want next year to stay: Duhon, Gordon, Chandler, Hinrich, Deng, and Nocioni are wanted locks for me. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> I think with better bulk and size, he'll do a better job of holding his ground, defending in the lane, things that are important. ''Tyson, I don't think, is ever going to make his mark as a big offensive player. I would like to see him look at the basket a little bit more when he's within the lane. I always felt a player like Tyson can make a difference on the defensive end and rebounding. I believe Tyson has the athleticism and the energy to potentially be a difference-maker.''</div> Couldn't agree more. Tyson at the most can achieve to be is a slightly better/worse (in certain areas) Ben Wallace. I know for sure that if Tyson works on it his post play will be pretty good.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Franchise4Ever:</div><div class="quote_post">Who I want next year to stay: Duhon, Gordon, Chandler, Hinrich, Deng, and Nocioni are wanted locks for me.</div> Completely agree those players, barring some blockbuster trade, should be the core of this team for years to come. We can also add Aldridge to that group of core players assuming we will take him this year in the draft. The future is looking bright. I would also resign Songaila if the market is not too crazy for him, in other words if he gets an offer over 5 million let him walk. I really hope Chandler makes a commitment to getting bigger this off season. Last summer he had the crutch of being able to say he took it easy to avoid injury during the summer. This off season he has no excuse. He should show the organization that he is committed to getting bigger by hiring strength and conditioning trainers to work with him during the summer. Another guy who I really want to see work on his conditioning is Michael Sweetney. He showed the potential during the Heat/Bulls series to be a factor in the future for this team if he gets into shape, and works on his conditioning. He is a tough player who can post up and get to the basket on a majority of the big men in the league with the size he poses. This will be a huge off season that will make, or break this organization.
I agree with all the guys both of you guys said. I also want to see Malik back. I love how he usually makes all his jumpshots.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I really hope Chandler makes a commitment to getting bigger this off season. Last summer he had the crutch of being able to say he took it easy to avoid injury during the summer. This off season he has no excuse. He should show the organization that he is committed to getting bigger by hiring strength and conditioning trainers to work with him during the summer. Another guy who I really want to see work on his conditioning is Michael Sweetney. He showed the potential during the Heat/Bulls series to be a factor in the future for this team if he gets into shape, and works on his conditioning. He is a tough player who can post up and get to the basket on a majority of the big men in the league with the size he poses. This will be a huge off season that will make, or break this organization.</div> Spoken like a true prophet. I completely agree, especially on the Tyson comment. He brings such intensity and heart on the floor. He played great defense on Shaq in game 3 or 4(can't remember) and it showed a sign of what this kid can be. I truly hope he works on his game and tries to bulk up. Sweetney showed he can be good as well. He just needs to lose weight and gain muscle
the players that will be back are luol deng, ben gordon, kirk hinrich, andres nocioni, chris duhon, tyson chandler, darius songaila, and malik allen. the other players i c gone are randy livingston, luke, pike, othella harrington, jannero pargo, eddie basden, and michael sweetney i like sweetney and i know he will have a good career but i think he needs to lose weight and he is so undersized i think we might use him in a sign and trade to get Nene. i know i have changed my offseason prediction so many times but this is my final one here is our roster paxson will get over the offseason Starters Kirk Hinrich 6'3 Corey Maggette 6'6 Luol Deng 6'9 Tyson Chandler 7'1 Nene 6'11 Bench Ben Gordon 6'3 Tyrus Thomas 6'11 Andres Nocioni 6'7 Darius Songaila 6'9 Chris Duhon 6'1 AD 6'9 Malik Allen 6'10 Inactive Jay Williams (he will return lol).
But back to improvement: He went from this.... To this..... So Tyson has improved but he still needs to improve more. I can see them keeping Sweetney, I don't think they will just drop him. Losing weight is easy especially with all the practice, nutrition coaches, workouts, and etc. So Sweetney's weight isn't a problem. I also don't see them getting rid of Luke Schencher because he is like an Anderson Verejao, he does all the dirty stuff.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Flava23:</div><div class="quote_post">I hope we don't do that Ben Gordon for Garnett trade</div> Why not Flava? I mean, the thing this team lacks is a big man. Garnett would be a great fit for these team. Somehow, get a shooter or even put Deng at the two and this team would look really nice. PG- Kirk SG- FA or Deng SF- Noci or Deng PF- Kevin Garnett C- Tyson I wouldn't mind taking that team to the playoffs if I was Scott.
They would never do Garnett for Gordon and a couple of picks, they would probably want Deng with him, maybe even more.
good point... I admit that I'm a little biased being that Gordon is one of my favorite players.... However, I think he's got the potential to become one of the NBA's superstars (with the LeBrons and DWades). I'd just hate to see him go and blossom in Minnesota. EDIT: If we have to do Gordon, Deng, and a couple of picks NO F'ing WAY
