CHICAGO (AP) -- There were no bold proclamations or promises for sweeping changes from Chicago Bulls management on Wednesday for a team that barely made the playoffs. They gave no clarity on Jimmy Butler's future with the team and had no real answers when it came to Dwyane Wade's. Rajon Rondo looks like he will be welcomed back. The front office won't be getting a major makeover, and coach Fred Hoiberg will return for a third season. "We've got a lot of guys under contract," said John Paxson, the executive vice president of basketball operations who was joined by general manager Gar Forman. "The landscape is such that to make significant change right now will be difficult." The Bulls tried to operate on two fronts last year, trying to get younger while bringing in veterans, and it added up to more mediocrity for a franchise that missed the postseason in 2016. Chicago won 41 games and got back to the playoffs this year as an eighth seed. After bowing out against Boston in the first round, there are some big issues facing the organization. The list starts with Butler. The question is whether the Bulls try to build around the three-time All-Star or trade one of the league's best two-way players. Paxson didn't commit either way "You always have to keep things open," he said. Butler's name has circulated in trade rumors for a year, with Boston mentioned prominently as a landing spot. The lottery could help bring the picture into focus, with the Celtics owning the right to swap first-round picks with Brooklyn in this year's draft. Keeping Butler could go a long way toward Wade exercising his $23.8 million option to return for a second season with his hometown team. Paxson said the Bulls plan to meet with Butler again to discuss the organization's direction, and the same goes for Wade. Rondo, meanwhile, looks like he has a place in Chicago with Paxson saying there's "a really good chance" he returns. The team holds an option for next season on the contract he signed to join the Bulls last summer. http://www.nba.com/article/2017/05/03/bulls-management-gives-no-clarity-jimmy-butler-future
Crabbe and our 3 picks for the Butler. Granted they will hold out for a higher lottery pick, but if they truly want to start over that offer is fair. Then we trade some of our other players for a couple 2nd round picks.
Hard to read. Keeping Rondo doesn't sound like blowing it up and he doesn't really seem like a stabilizing force for a young team? So what's the purpose?
Actually I am not sure how it works when calculating the 3 picks into the trade. Crabbe and Butler match up salary wise. How much is assigned to each draft pick if done before the draft?
The Bulls put Butler in a spot where he had to sign or risk injury playing for the QO. The Bulls used the designated player rule on him. He seriously didn't want to stay with the team... He wanted to go to the L*kers (the fool!). Now they're unhappy with him?
It sounds counter-productive to keep Rondo, yet with him, they were up 2-0 against the Celtics....on the road. As soon as he got hurt, they were swept.
Everyone give half the team away to get a all star even though the salary's don't match up. Do I like Bulter yes but what other players beside Bulter we are going get back with him.
Looks to me like the Bulls have quite a bit of cap space to absorb a lopsided salary deal. Plus even more cap space if Wade opts out. Cap is $102M or thereabouts. These figures below do not consider cap holds and the like.
Not holding my breath. When was the last time the Blazers did an earth shattering trade that got them a star player in return? Seems like we're always trying to find them in the draft.
Much rather go after PG13 than Butler. Butlers a good player, but my gut feeling is that he has somewhat of an Aldridge complex.
We need to take advantage of some other teams chaos and bring a veteran presence to jump up the competative chances of this team. We can't just let George and Butler head off the the sunny climbs of LA without even trying. Because then any chance of building a championship team is gone for the next decade. I'm sure Olshey is thinking that way as well. At some point you stop getting younger and you throw the chips in. That is coming for the Blazers.
The only way he goes is Celtics if they offer them the Nets pick (and probably some more). Makes sense for both teams if Celtics want to built on IT which kind of starts making sense after these playoffs. We don't have the assets to go for him. Even offering CJ makes no sense for Bulls as it would be a sideways move for them.
