On Nate--one source describes the Bulls being in a "wait & see" mode. Nate is still looking for most $$$. Bulls offer still available. https://twitter.com/NBARumorPress/status/356432338969825282
If Bulls offer available, that's all I can I ask. He's a weird dude, but if they want him, there's no denying he can contribute.
The reports I've read are that the Bulls have offered Robinson the vet minimum. They could have offered him 20% above his 2012-13 salary using the "non-Bird exception." That it appears that the Bulls didn't use the non-Bird exception tells me that the Bulls are, at best, pretty indifferent about retaining Robinson and that maybe Marc Stein's report that Thibodeau is less than excited about the prospect of Robinson's return could have some truth to it (source). I won't throw stones at Thibodeau or the front office, but I liked the Hinrich-Robinson guard combo.
I like the LeBron Hunruch backcourt myself. LeBron makes it so it doesn't matter who the other guard is.
From Nate's perspective, if he's only getting 1 year at the vet minimum then being with the Bulls likely isn't the best move career wise for him. Rose is going to gobble up 35 minutes a game. Butler is going to get minutes. Hinrich is going to get minutes. Teague too most likely. Being here would give him a good chance to be on a winning team but a guy like him needs minutes so he can shine and perhaps get a nice contract next off season. That being said, if it didn't happen this off-season, I'm not sure how much better Nate can play or be highlighted more than he was last year. NBA is a crazy place. So many stiffs get paid big $$$ to suck... and he's actually pretty good and can't get more than the minimum.
Too early to tell what they've offered. One things for sure. Once Nate signs, wherever, we'll all hear plenty about it in great detail, although perhaps in indecipherable twitter-ese.
I doubt we'll get anything authoritative about what the Bulls offered unless Robinson re-signs with the Bulls. I recently got an iPhone and finally entered the land of Twitter. I tweeted a question to KC Johnson on the Bulls' offer to Robinson. I'll let you know if I get a response.
Truth is he played great for us last season. I still envision his Gordonesque shooting in the playoffs. Outstanding! And he beat the Heat the first game of the second round. Well, that being said, we didnt have Rose. Rose/Teague is better than Robinson. I highly doubt we resign him, although I would love to see it. Robinson, MDJ, and sometimes Teague pushing the ball would be fun to watch!
At the moment I'd say there's about a 25% chance the Bulls resignt Nate. I imagine some team will come out of the woodwork and give him more than we'd sign him for. If he stays with us he'll be relegated to the JLIII role, which will be good for the Bulls but bad for Nate's next contract. The silver lining is that Nate's already been in the league for quite a while and people know who he is, so it might not make much of a difference. He might be able to get some additional endorsements if he stays here too. Everyone loves the short guy. It seems like he has his heart set here, but still searching for more $$$ since he knows his time in the NBA might be coming to an end. Wherever he ends up I wish him the best of luck.
I think there must be something about Nate's personality also at play. I could envision him helping any number of contenders.
Craig Sager said that Carlos Boozer told him that Nate is looking elsewhere for more playing time and a longer contract, on the ESPN3 broadcast of the summer league. I think we can say good bye to Nate. If so, I'll settle for Goudelock.
Due to his age and size, he's not going to be getting offers from teams in building mode - most of those having the cap space to make a significant offer. He'd be ideal for the Lakers. He'd be ideal for the Bulls if they knew better. He'd be an awesome fit for the Heat, but they may not have the flexibility to offer him more than vet minimum and he wants more.
