Plan 2014

Let's for a minute say the Bulls make the deal for Ridnour, sign the Asik offer sheet, and amnesty Boozer in 2 years.

That leaves the team with a very interesting cap situation come 2014.

They would essentially have enough to add another max level player to the mix to compete with Rose, Noah, and Taj.  (Mat leaves Deng's name off this list because he sees the other three as the Bulls true future.)

So, who's out there in 2014?  How about Zach Randolph?  Like the idea of a dominant post man playing along side Noah in the front court with Rose running the show?

What about Kevin Love?  He has an opt out clause in 2014.  Rose and Love in a pick and roll.  Mat's dreams don't even excite him as much as that.

Mat's terrified of the idea of testing the free agent waters again and possibly getting burned, but the thought of giving this team a chance for a year or two more, and then set up nicely for a big off season intrigues Mat quite a bit.

If you could guarantee Mat Z-Bo or Love along with Rose, Noah, and Gibson, he might be willing to do all that's necessary over the next two years, including possibly missing the postseason here or there, to make it happen.

But the fact is, free agency is never a sure thing, so Mat would rather see Gar and Pax keep Plan 2014 on the back burner and more of a fallback plan than the true direction the franchise is heading.

#6 Disrepects Derrick

While speaking about the Team USA Olympic roster, #6 made a comment about the team that Mat believes was a direct shot at Derrick Rose.

"There's nothing that we don't have on this roster."

That was the quote from #6 after being asked about Derrick not being a part of the team.

Mat will never shy away from a chance to attack #6, but this one is almost too ridiculous to even get mad about.

#6 is just an idiot.  He can't say the right thing.  Why would you take a shot at a Chicago player when being questioned by Chicago media?  How stupid is this guy?

If Derrick was asked the same question in a hypothetical world in which #6 was hurt, Derrick would have lauded #6's talents and said how much they miss a player like that.

Exactly what Kobe, Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, and Kevin Durant ALL said about Derrick.

#6 just doesn't get it.  He wants so much to be liked, but he doesn't know how to.  It seems like every week there's another story about how this guy said something or did something (cough, the decision, cough) that alienates him to a collection of fans.

Whether he meant this one or not, which Mat thinks he probably is too dumb to realize what he actually said, he's now hated even more in Chicago than he was before.

Way to go #6, can't wait to see ya on your next visit to the UC.

A Comment From Taj Has Mat Terrified

In an article on ESPN Chicago featuring Taj Gibson talking about his Olympic experience, and the possible addition of Kirk Hinrich, Taj made a comment that, while seemingly harmless, scares Mat.

Here's what Taj said,

"But at the same time you've got to look at the aspect of it's the NBA, it's a business as a whole and I hope they can get it done because I know Kirk is a great player and it would help our team out a lot, especially right now in this season without Derrick."

Season without Derrick.  That came directly out of Taj Gibson's mouth.  What this leads Mat to believe is that the Bulls roster does not expect to have Derrick back at any point this year.  Otherwise, wouldn't he have said, for a potion of the season.

The article goes on to say Rose isn't expected back until "January at the earliest."  But Mat has this funny feeling that the Bulls players don't actually believe it.

Maybe it's a mindset thing that the guys are trying to get in so that it's a bonus when Derrick comes back and not an expectation.  But it scares the mouse poop out of Mat.

Safe Not Sorry

It seemed to make sense to most, and now we know that it made sense to Gar and Pax, Kirk Hinrich will be back in the Bulls back court.  Well, sources say.

Mat sees this as the safe move.  Smart move, but also safe and somewhat easy.

Kirk is a pro, and he has Mat's trust.  He's not going to wow anybody, but he's also not going to make some of the mistakes we saw from C.J. and JL3 while either one of them was running the show.

Hinrich will work hard every day and be an excellent role model to Teague and even Rose.

He'll be able to fill in for Derrick for the time being, and then when Rose does return, Kirk will be a fine fill in when D-Rose needs a breather.

Defensively Hinrich is an upgrade over anything the Bulls have thrown out there since, well, Kirk Hinrich.

Mat just needs to find a way to flush out the memories of Kirk on bad Bulls teams, and see him as an added piece to an already good Bulls team.  This will take time.

Mat likes the move.  Even if it does seem somewhat obvious and safe.

What Mat, Kobe, and Russell Westbrook Have In Common

Until Mat is proven wrong, and that can't be until at least October, he is certain that the Bulls will still be a contender to win the NBA Finals next season.

Hearing this from Mat should not come as a shock to you, as this is about the 5th time he's uttered this phrase.

However, now he has some of the leagues best have Mat's back.

Kobe Bryant and the oddly dressed Russell Westbrook have each said that they expect the Bulls to be in the mix come April and May of next season.

This is no surprise as players will say that about any team you ask them about this far away from the season starting, but Kobe had some words about Tom Thibodeau that showed he wasn's just blowing smoke up ESPN Chicago's ass.

"I felt like Thibs did a great job of putting guys in a position to be successful and they really held it down for as long as they could, man."

Kobe is usually one to tell the truth.  So Mat believes him, man.

Mat also couldn't hold back a smile when he read Westbrook's quote from the piece.

"He's doing well ... Chicago don't got to worry, buddy."

During the regular season the Bulls still have the pieces to win a lot of games.  And come playoff time, when Derrick is back, they'll be right there on everybody's radar just like they were before Rose went down.

Mat just asks that you have some faith... buddy.

Injured Olympians

This Olympic season was shaping up to be a big one for the Bulls.  With Luol representing the home colors, Derrick the PG of the USA, and Joakim representing France, the team with the best record was going to be on full display in London.

Then Luol tore some ligaments in his wrist, Derrick, well, Mat thinks you know, and Jo badly twisted his ankle in Game 3.

There's been much ado about Luol going forward and participating in the games.  Mat wishes he wouldn't, but completely understands the importance and cannot blame Luol.

Oddly enough, Mat is happy that Noah will be sitting out.  

Mat likes the Olympics, especially basketball, but he has his other reasons, like this, this and this. But he'd much rather see Joakim have a full offseason and come back in full form on Opening Night.

This reminds Mat a lot of the World Baseball Classic.  Everyone whines and moans when their players decide to participate, but then the second the tournament starts, we all want our home country to win.

It's a double edged sword of sorts.  Mat would much rather Luol had the surgery the day after the Bulls were ousted, but now that he's playing, Mat would love to see the Brits have some success and Lu show the world what kind of player he is.

Of course in the end though, the Americans need to win to continue showing our dominance.  But Mat wouldn't be totally against seeing something unfortunate occur to #6.

Disclaimer : Mat never wishes ill will on any players, it's merely a figure of speech.  Ok, no it's not. Mat kind of wants #6 to get hurt. Nothing life threatening though, that'd be cruel.  Just career threatening.

Perfect Fish

The Bulls have apparently now set their sites on former Laker and Thunder PG Derek Fisher.

Mat knows that free agency has a lot sexier topics than back-up point guard, but here in Chicago, it's this and the Omer saga.

So since we are stuck in our own world of free agency, our excitement levels are allowed to match the magnitude of the signing.

In other words, Mat would be amped if Derrick Fisher does indeed wear red and black next season.

Fisher could step in right away as the starter, giving the Bulls some security until Rose comes back and also allowing them to take it slow with the new 19 year old Bull, Marquis Teague.

Fisher would also be a perfect fit when Derrick is ready to come back.  Both to play along side him as well as in a backup role.

Fisher would bring a high level of playoff experience along with his insane ability to hit every clutch shot he ever takes.  Ok, Mat may have overblown that skill a little, but it's certainly better than Scal taking the final shot.

The price seems to be right.  The player is certainly right.  Mat's got his fingers crossed.  Make it happen Gar.

Cya, Omer. Hopefully.

In Mat's head, he is already saying goodbye to Omer Asik. Mat couldn't wrap his little head around the news when he hard about the absurd offer the Rockets made to the Bulls back up center. This leaves the Bulls up until July 14th to match the offer the Rockets made or to let Asik walk.

Asik is an integral part of the defensive makeup of this team, and Mat has no problem the Bulls paying him anywhere in the 5-8 million dollar range to play that role for the Bulls. However, anything above those figures is ludicrous in Mats opinion. 

For arguments sake, let's say the Rockets offered a third year at 14 million, rather than the 15 million previously mentioned. This is still a backup center we are talking about. Probably one of the best, but still a backup center that is a defensive master. However, you would be paying 14 million to a player who has no offensive skill set whatsoever. 14 million to someone who is as frustrating to watch with the ball in his hands down low as it is to watch Mat get chased unfairly by the janitors at the Madhouse on Madison. 

Mat chose to look at it from a standpoint of what everyone else on the team is getting paid. In 2014/2015, the season Omer would be making around 14 million, Derrick Rose would be pulling in almost 18 million dollars. Is there a 3 million dollar difference in talent there or is the gap larger? Mat would venture to say the gap is larger. Same goes for Boozer, making almost 17 million. How about Joakim Noah? Obviously he would have to be making more than his backup, right? No. $12,200,000. That's right. The Bulls would end up paying a backup more than the person who is in front of him on the depth chart.

Mat understands the argument can be made that the roster will most likely look nothing like that during that season. However, the fact remains that as it stands, the Omer Asik deal would make no financial sense for the Bulls as a whole. Talent wise on the defensive end, Omer has it. But his offensive ineptitude is something that cannot be ignored and Mat believes it would be a costly mistake.

14 million is a lot of money to essentially guarantee someone. Especially knowing their skill set is limited, no matter how well they fit the mold of what you have in place currently. The Bulls cannot be sucked into giving players bad contracts for the sake of familiarity. Mat thoroughly believes the Bulls should let Asik walk at that price, no matter how much it would hurt to see him go. 

Losing Omer Would Hurt

Reports indicate that the Rockets and possibly Blazers or Timberwolves are going to offer Omer heavily backloaded deals in order to woo him away from the Bulls.

As Mat noted before, being a second round pick, no team can offer him more than $5 million for the first two years of a new contract.

This means that the teams pursing him, in a ploy to bring something special to the table, would likely offer Omer deals that would pay him up to $8 million in the final two years of a four year deal.

Mat knows $8 million is a lot for a backup center.  But he also knows what Omer is becoming, and might eventually turn into.

What Omer is right now is a dominant defense center.  He's proven that he can shut down basically anyone (including #6 and that Wade guy) who brings the ball hard to the rack.

But where he struggles is on the other end.  His hands are suspect, which makes for his ability to catch (this is where the hands come in) and score to be limited.

Mat wants to remind the masses, Gar, and Pax, that Omer has only been through one NBA training camp, which was before he had ever played a game in the league.  His ability to learn during the offseason is far greater than it is during a shortened 66 game season which allowed room for very few practices.  Without a lockout this year, Omer will be able to go through a true offseason, and his offensive game should get better.

Where Mat sees the big loss in Omer departing is that finding a replacement will not be easy.  There are some older players out there, but none with the same skill set as Omer.  The Bulls have somewhat of a young core.  Rose 23, Deng 27, Noah 27, Gibson 27, and Teague 19.  And Omer is only 25.

Keeping this young core will not only allow the Bulls to grow as a team, which they have already been doing, but it also will allow them to keep a nucleus, and fit auxiliary pieces in around them.  Mat loves the idea of two good big men on the same roster for years to come.  That's why he thinks losing Omer would hurt both now, but also in the future.

Big guys don't grow on trees and young ones are incredibly difficult to get your hands on.  The Bulls have two of them, they shouldn't let some desperate team take one away.

Thibs' Contract, Not A Problem

Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau still does not have a contract extension on the original one he signed two years ago.

Mat's not worried, and fully expects Thibs to be roaming the Bulls sidelines for years to come.

The reason behind Mat's confidence is simple.  The Bulls are an elite coaching job in the NBA.  This is not some mid major school coach who can get wooed by UK.  Thibs has it made in the Windy City.

He's got one of the best players in the league.  He's got a fan base that supports the team by selling out the building night in and night out.  And he has an owner and front office who support his style and what he's trying to do.

Mat wonders what more a coach can ask for?

Usually when people deny being upset about contracts Mat scoffs and writes them off as liars.  But in this case, he truly believes Tom Thibodeau.  There is no rush to sign a deal.

Thibs was the Coach of the Year two years ago and was snubbed the award this year.  He's coming into a season where a lot is expected, but without Rose, he basically has a free pass to have a tough year.

It's a dream scenario for any coach.  Top notch franchise, top notch players, top notch facilities (and getting better), and a city that loves the team.

When they say they haven't had time to sit down and talk contracts.  Mat believes it.  When the time comes that it's truly necessary to re-up, Mat's sure the Bulls and Thibs will reach a fair deal.

Sox Success Could Open Up Doors For Bulls

With the news of Deng's likelihood to skip surgery and be ready for opening night crossing this afternoon, Mat has begun to think about the luxury tax.

With Deng and Rose out for extended periods, much to the chagrin of Mat, many believed the Bulls would somewhat reign it in this year and try to get some money off the books.

But now, with Deng expected at the beginning of the year, and Rose somewhere towards the back half, the Bulls are back in a position where they are contenders to win the NBA title.

Mat wonders how deep the Bulls pockets will be this offseason with the almost certainty that they will find themselves owing into the luxury tax with most moves.

This brought Mat to thinking, can the White Sox actually assist the Bulls?  For those of you who don't know, the Sox and Bulls are owned by the same millionaire, Jerry Reinsdorf.

Reinsdorf is the kind of owner who wants to make money, but is also passionate about his teams, the fans, and most importantly rings.

After a year of being "All In" the Sox used much of the offseason to cut some payroll and were expecting, though they'd never admit it, a down year.  But they are actually playing quite well, and have a shot at making something happen in a bad Central division.

Mat knows that the Sox have attendance issues that the Bulls most certainly do not.  But he also knows that when the Sox have a winning team, usually around August and September, fans start to buy in, literally.

If the Sox make the postseason, they will make a boatload more money than anyone in the front office ever imagined out of this team.  Therefore, the owner will have more money to play around with.

This just might mean that Jerry is more willing to dip into those extra funds and go a bit further into the luxury tax than most might have expected.

Mat knows he's probably reaching on this one by making such a direct comparison, but the fact is, if the Sox are good, the Bulls owner has more money.  Which Mat clearly sees as a positive.

Dissecting Marquis Teague

With the 29th pick of the 2012 NBA Draft the Chicago Bulls selected Marquis Teague point guard out of the University of Kentucky. Mat was hearing plenty of rumors of Tyshawn Taylor and various amounts of small forward prospects, but the drafting of Teague caught this mouse by surprise.

Previous to the pick, Mat was very vocal in his displeasure with the possibility of his Bulls drafting a backup point guard to bridge the gap while Rose was out. He would have much rather seen coverage for Luol Deng's absence be drafted with the 29th pick.

However, the fact that Teague was the starting point guard on essentially a very quality D-League team in college has grown on Mat. His experience running the offense for the national champions falls right in line with what GarPax usually looks for out of their draft picks, which is reputable college and big game experience.

Teague is 6'2" in height and weighs 180 pounds. For his position and height he walks around with a very solid frame. He is a psychical specimen not to be overlooked. His explosiveness while running the point at Kentucky was another of his strong suits. Time and time again defensives couldn't deny him the ability to get to the rim. Similar, in some ways, to how Rose plays the game. Mat believes this will come in handy when speaking to the issue of fluidity without Rose on the floor this season.

His work on the pick and roll at Kentucky was lauded amongst experts. Mat noticed his ability to work with the likes of Anthony Davis and others which turned them into such a success. Imagining running this type of pick and roll with Boozer, Jo, or Taj makes Mat salivate. Hopefully that part of his game can translate well to the Bulls offense.

His defense is something of a project. Coach Thibs is the perfect person to take on this project as well. Teague has the psychical tools to matchup well with NBA PGs, but the question is how much will his size hinder his performance on that end of the court.

Mat believes his consistency is a huge question mark. His jump shot has been a cause for concern all through out his college career. A PG playing Thibs' system is usually asked to handle a portion of the scoring for the offense, and Mat believes this will be a key to the Bulls success without Rose on the floor. Considering Teague will most likely see plenty of minutes without the starting PG on the floor, this will be a huge issue as to whether or not he can adapt to a much longer schedule against much better competition night in and night out. If he can stay consistent, we may see something of a prodigy being molded right in front of our eyes.

Overall, Mat believes Teague is a project. A project that will see an increased amount of NBA time so he will literally be growing right before our eyes this upcoming season. As previously stated, a better pick could have been made at that position. Mat believes a small forward in that spot would have aided the Bulls in coping with the loss of a integral portion of their minutes and defense in reference to Deng. Signing a veteran point guard in the offseason made more sense from a stand point that PG means a lot more to the Bulls offensively.

Mat congratulates Marquis Teague and wishes him well on his endeavors with the Bulls, just as he would with any new member of the team. He looks forward to seeing him running the point hiding amidst the shadows of the Madhouse. Truth be told, he misses seeing his beloved Bulls play in general.

Go Bulls.

What it Takes to Move Joakim

A "headline grabbing move" is the only way to get Noah out of Chicago.  So says Bill Ingram, @TheRocketGuy.

In other words, it's Dwight Howard to the Bulls, or Noah isn't going anywhere.

Mat used to love the idea of Dwight to the Bulls.  Then he began to sour on Howard as Dwight's childish behaviors became more and more apparent as his time in Orlando appeared to be running out.

But now that the Bulls situation has changed a bit, Mat's back on board for the Howard/Rose combo. 

As mentioned in the article by Ingram, Howard could keep the Bulls afloat until Rose gets back, and then they work together to bring home rings.  Seems very simple to Mat.

But there's more to the deal than just Howard and Rose playing together.  It also takes a number of other possible destinations out of the picture for Dwight.  Right now Mat doesn't think the Magic can win, with or without Howard.  But he does think if Dwight ends up in Dallas or Brooklyn, there is another power team the Bulls would have to contend with to win a title.

Mat knows that Deng, Noah, and maybe more is a huge price, but there's nothing more valuable in the NBA than a dominant big man, especially when you have a dominant point guard.

As Mat understands, it's a long shot.  And may be getting longer as free agency grows nearer and nearer.  But Mat does believe it's worth a look.  A nice long look. One that might even result in the biggest blockbuster in Bulls history.

What To Do With #29?

With the NBA Draft taking place tomorrow night, much has been made about what the Bulls will do with the 29th pick. Mat previously entertained the thrones of trade ideas that came about involving various scenarios that probably won’t happen anyways.

This provoked Mat to begin to think about the possibilities of who the Bulls might actually take in that 29th spot and how they would translate to the Bulls roster immediately. After perusing various mock drafts and reading copious amounts of scouting reports, Mat feels these players would be good options to take at 29 tomorrow night:

Jeff Taylor SF Vanderbilt

Mat believes his game at Vanderbilt would translate well to the Bulls over time in many positive ways. He is an athletic small forward whose size at 6’7” translates well to the NBA game. Mat believes his most important asset he brings to the floor is his defensive ability. A noted lockdown defender that would bring a much needed bridge between the gap of missing Luol Deng. Mat has seen him use his athletic ability well while running the floor for Vandy

His 3 point shooting is nothing to scoff at either, shooting a very good 42% for Vandy last year. Where he struggles is with his ball handling. Mat has noticed his ability to create his own shot is somewhat concerning.

His consistency at the NBA level would come into question as well. For Mat, this prospect would be good to take a shot on at 29. He has shown incredible defensive and 3 point prowess. Thibs could do some work on this kid.

Will Barton SF Memphis

Mat has seen this small forwards ability to score and it has intrigued him. His instinct to get to the basket and create his own shot is something that is NBA ready right now. Mat believes it is an intangible the Bulls are looking for immediately. Helping out Rose with the scoring is never a bad thing, and Barton would certainly be able to do that.

His size at 6’6” and overall body is something of a concern. He has above average defense in college, but the question arises as to whether he would be able to guard the bigger SF’s and/or SG’s he would encounter in the NBA.

Mat believes a player of his capabilities would adapt well on the offensive end in the Bulls scheme, however the overall readiness of his NBA defense leaves something to be desired.

Quincy Miller SF Baylor

Mat noticed this kids size and was immediately impressed. 6’10” at the 3? Yes please. Quincy has a noted knack for creating his own shot. Give him the ball and his handles come into play. Above average 3 point shooter, but where Quincy comes in handy is when he is asked to shoot from mid range.

His height makes him a nuisance in the post. Noted at Baylor for his ability to post up down low and create a shot. Mat can only imagine Rose bringing the ball up and already seeing Quincy establishing a presence down low with his 7’4” wingspan.

His defense is above average as well, but his size makes him that much more of a presence guarding across a multitude of positions. Mat has noticed however his jumper leaves a little more to be desired, in addition to his lanky frame causing him to not be as strong as he should be. Quincy is also young. At just 19, Mat has to question his ability to come into a mature league and show what he is made of.



Mat obviously has a preference of the Bulls drafting a small forward to cover for Luol’s early season absence. However, regardless of what the Bulls do, everyone knows Mat cannot wait. All this talk of trades and draft picks is making this mouse a tad bit anxious.

The Brandon Roy Scratch and Win Lotto Ticket

The Bulls are reportedly interested in the services, and knees, of once "retired" Brandon Roy.

Brandon Roy used to be a superstar.  Then his knees started to deteriorate due to a rare condition in which he lacks cartilage between some of his bones.

Mat's not so sure that compiling knee injuries is the ticket to the top, but that being said, if Brandon Roy is the right price, he's certainly worth a flier.

Roy is a guy who used to give you 20 points a game.  Odds are he won't be able to return to that form, but if the knees can hold up, he's certainly an answer to the "who else can create a shot" syndrome the Bulls have been facing.

Mat usually prefers known commodities.  Say a Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, or Tyreke Evans, as opposed to draft picks or injury rehab projects, but this one strikes him differently.

Brandon Roy retired.  Done with basketball forever.  Now he suddenly wants back in?  Sounds like a guy who not only has something to prove, but who might not be opposed to proving it for a fraction of the cost he used to make.

Mat salivates over the idea of a healthy Rose, Deng, and Roy on the court at the same time.  He knows it's a pipe dream here on the 26th of June, but what else is the offseason for?

Derrick on NBA 2K13 Cover

Despite likely being out for a portion of the season, Derrick Rose it has been announced that D-Rose will grace the cover of the newest version of 2K Sports NBA video game.

Derrick will join fellow young studs/Kevins, Kevin Love and Kevin Durant.

Mat has trouble playing video games due to his lack of opposable thumb and incredibly small phalanges.

This being said, Mat will likely attempt to barter his extra cheese bits for a copy at the local GameStop.

This marks the third straight year in which a Bull will be on the cover.

Lu-mors

The two teams who's names continue to surface when talking about Lu-mors (Luol Deng Rumors), are the Warriors and the Kings.

The Warriors (#7) apparently had a scout in London watching Luol, and the Kings are looking for a small forward and may feel as though Deng is a better option than whatever they can find at pick #5.

Mat was pleased when he read that the Bulls have assured Luol that he is not headed to Golden State.

Sam Smith brought up the intriguing (as he coined it) idea of moving Luol to Sacramento.

Mat likes the idea of Tyreke Evans as the replacement for Derrick during the injury.  He also loves the idea of Tyreke and Derrick playing together.

Mat also has high regards for a number of players towards the top 5 of Thursday's draft.  Among them, Kidd-Gilchrist, Barnes, Lamb and Rivers.

This being said, Mat's not so sure that there's a package out there that includes both Tyreke and #5.

Luol, #29, and a future pick for Tyreke and #5?  Luol and Noah for Tyreke, #5, and a future pick?  What about just moving Noah?  Noah and #29 for Tyreke and #5?

Mat's done making up rumors.

Bulls get Tyreke and #5, Mat will likely be happy.  Bulls get just #5, Mat's most likely sad, unless a high level free agent PG comes with.

Mat's Getting Mad

Mat has already sounded off once about media types saying the Bulls may not make the playoffs next year, but now he's hearing it again and is starting to get really frustrated.

The little birdie on Mat's computer screen alerted him that a well respected Bull beat writer says the Bulls "know they will struggle this season."

Mat highly doubts Tom Thibodeau thinks the Bulls are going to "struggle."  He also doesn't believe Jo Noah, Taj Gibson, or Carlos Boozer feel that way either.

Will they win 70+% of their games?  Mat doesn't think so.  But Mat knows that Gar and Pax will work diligently to make this team better.  Be it through the draft and/or free agency.

Heck, there are enough trade rumors floating around they this team may look completely different by Thursday.

One way or the other Mat knows it will not be a cake walk in 2012-13 until Rose returns.  But struggle?  Mat begs to differ.

How About Jason Kidd?

After coming up with a few options of his own regarding the new Bulls point guard, Mat ran across another idea that he really likes.

Bryan Crawford of NBC Chicago recently penned the possibility of Jason Kidd joining the Bulls roster this offseason.

Mat believes the addition of a veteran point guard is not only smart for coverage purposes, but also for the mentoring role Kidd could bring to Rose and his teammates alike.

Mat, whilst discussing with his other mouse friends the future of the Bulls backup point guard position, came to the conclusion that where Kidd's influence would really shine is actually after the return of Rose from his knee injury. The thought of Kidd coming off the bench for Rose and changing the pace of the game would provide the Bulls a much needed new dimension to their overall basketball repertoire.

Mat also salivates at the thought of Coach Thibs drawing up late game sets in which both Kidd and Rose are on the floor together. Adding something like that late in the game would be a game-changer.

The next question that arises is one to do with the Bulls dwindling availability with salary cap space. Could they even pull off a Kidd signing? Mat's answer to that is simple; yes. Kidd has openly stated he is willing to fill in for Rose during the injury time, and as Mat mentioned when talking about Dragic, if Kidd wants another ring there is no better place to look than Chicago.

Mat expects the Bulls to make a valiant effort for the services of Kidd. Overall, his control of a basketball game will play off of the high tempo and electrifying abilities of Rose. Mat knows for certain this type of move will cause plenty of regular season match up constraints for opponents of the Red and Black, and those should continue well into the 2013 postseason.

So Long C.J.

Bulls backup/de facto starting point guard C.J. Watson's contract requires the Bulls to pick up a team option worth $3.2 million in order for him to remain in Chicago. 

Watson has been heard saying that he would like to remain a Bull, but isn't sure the team has the cap room to make such a thing possible.

Mat likes C.J. Watson and doesn't want Bulls fans' final memory of him being his ill advised pass to Omer in Game 6.

That being said, Mat believes the Bulls would be better served to explore other options.  Watson is a solid backup, but the $3.2 million he's owed could probably be spent in a wiser way.

Mat would love for Steve Nash to take a "slight" pay cut and fill in for D-Rose, but he knows this is about as likely as one of the Luvabulls saying yes to his date invitations.

Mat would love to see the Bulls pursue Goran Dragic.  He will certainly have a number of suitors, but the Bulls offer an attractive package.  Aside from the financial, Dragic would be guaranteed the starting role until D-Rose returns, and then would be an integral piece in what would certainly be a contending team.  Seeing as Dragic has not been in the post season in the past few years, and only once in his career, it makes quite a bit of sense for him to consider the Bulls.

There are certain other options out there.  Jeremy Lin? Kirk Hinrich? Chauncey Billups and his bum achilles?

Mat wouldn't be sad if C.J. returns to the Bulls, but he believes the Bulls front office brain trust can find a more suitable option at PG until the MVP returns.