http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago-bulls/print?id=24204 Butler quote: Will the Bulls have a new coach next summer?
I have never seen a playoff team(before the game last night) play 12 players the first quarter against a very good team. That tells me two things. 1. We are not interested in making the playoffs now. 2. Get the young players experience now so we will not rebuild with all new young players after we trade Butler and let Wade go(or sign and trade).
At the moment I don't see Wade using his player option this summer. A let go. If they want to trade Butler then hopefully a Celtics trade isn't off the table to get the Brooklyn picks.
Let's be clear. When the Bulls traded Gibson, they knowingly and willingly went from a probable playoff team to an unlikely playoff team. The remainder of this season is an audition for the younger players, particularly Payne, Zipser, Portis and Lauvergne. Wade will have to do a self-gutcheck with regard to his player option. Does he want to compete for a title or does he want the money? He won't get $20+mil from anyone else 'cause he ain't worth it. The big question this offseason is whether the Bulls can get what they want for Butler. If so, the Bulls will have one of the youngest teams in the league and will suck. If not, they'll probably project to be a .500 team again.
I agree. A mini-tank development move. And if we do trade Jimmy, which I think will happen, the young players they have now will have a little bit of experience. And we will have some money to throw at some more young and upcoming players as well. A lot of Bulls fans don't like Portis. I do. The kid is just 21! I think he will be a nice stretch four for us over time. Lauvergne, a cheaper player than Mirotic will be next summer. He can play 3rd center if need be. Zipser was a nice find! Nothing spectacular, but he is no Murphy or Bairstow either. Can play pf and sf. Payne? Believe it or not, he is shooting the 3 ball better than Doug is after the trade. He is not shy in shooting, but he needs to work on his frail body and learn to take it to the hoop more. Right now, I really don't know what we have in him. Let me clear about Jimmy. I don't want the Bulls to trade him, but I don't trust them to build around him either! So for once, we need to win a trade.
I assume that you don't have confidence that the Bulls front office can win a trade. Kind of a tough spot you're in there, TBF.
