Watson is headed to New Jersey, and it appears as though John Lucas III is close to a deal with the Raptors.
What does this mean to Mat?
We'll be seeing a lot of these guys in the coming years.
Both will fill in backup roles for their respective teams in the Eastern Conference, and both will likely be gunning for the Bulls each and every time they visit.
Mat was impressed with the professionalism both showed when they exited, but he knows deep down both guys would have loved to stay, and both were irked a little bit by the Teague pick.
Mat hates when players have vendettas against the Bulls. All these guys are professional athletes, and are incredibly talented, but when you give them a little more to play for, they can become really dangerous.
Both guys will earn a standing O from Mat when they each return, but from then on, Mat hopes the Bulls are able to bottle them up like the Sixers did last May.
Showing posts with label John Lucas III. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John Lucas III. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Monday, July 9, 2012
Bye Bye To The Bench Mob
Mat's thoughts recently have been filled with retrospect and nostalgia regarding his beloved, "Bench Mob." Although, the majority of Bulls fans have known for a while this offseason would introduce much change to the bench at the Madhouse, the closer the change comes to reality, the harder it is for Mat to come to grips with the loss.
Salary constraints are to be blamed in this situation in addition to a few other reasons. With the drafting of Teague and reintroduction of Hinrich to the franchise, C.J. Watson and John Lucas III are going to be left searching for a new franchise. Ronnie Brewer is also said to be gone, with Mat seeing a silver lining in Jimmy Butler gobbling up the majority of his minutes.
Kyle Korver is the player who leaves the most to be questioned. While nothing is certain for any of the previously mentioned Bench Mob, the Bulls seem to be waiting till the last second to make a decision on Korver's $5 million option.
Mat doesn't see him staying either. $5 million is a lot for a one dimensional player; keeping in mind the salary cap shadow that is hovering the franchise as it is.
While Mat is definitely sad seeing some of these key role players go, he is also excited to see what GarPax are made of. He knows you won't see any big moves out of the Bulls this offseason, but sometimes the minor moves are the ones that win you championships.
The pressure is on GarPax to rebuild this new Bench Mob with talent. Hopefully surrounding the Bulls core with enough of it to take them to the promise land.
Salary constraints are to be blamed in this situation in addition to a few other reasons. With the drafting of Teague and reintroduction of Hinrich to the franchise, C.J. Watson and John Lucas III are going to be left searching for a new franchise. Ronnie Brewer is also said to be gone, with Mat seeing a silver lining in Jimmy Butler gobbling up the majority of his minutes.
Kyle Korver is the player who leaves the most to be questioned. While nothing is certain for any of the previously mentioned Bench Mob, the Bulls seem to be waiting till the last second to make a decision on Korver's $5 million option.
Mat doesn't see him staying either. $5 million is a lot for a one dimensional player; keeping in mind the salary cap shadow that is hovering the franchise as it is.
While Mat is definitely sad seeing some of these key role players go, he is also excited to see what GarPax are made of. He knows you won't see any big moves out of the Bulls this offseason, but sometimes the minor moves are the ones that win you championships.
The pressure is on GarPax to rebuild this new Bench Mob with talent. Hopefully surrounding the Bulls core with enough of it to take them to the promise land.
JL3 Talking to the Heat
Mat likes John Lucas and cannot thank him enough for that glorious moment when he nailed that shot over #6 and helped the Bulls win that game over the Heat at the United Center last March.
This being said, Mat would absolutely love to see JL3 in that hideous all black uniform next season.
Why would Mat wish this upon a man he likes? Because John Lucas loves the basketball, and loves to heave shots towards the rim.
Sure he scores from time to time, but there's only one ball, and the more shots JL3 takes for the Heat, the fewer for #6, Wade, Bosh, or Ray Allen.
Mat was shocked that he read that the Heat were even interested. But I guess that goes to show what kind of impression he made on the Miami front office in those couple of meetings.
It's not going to happen, but Mat will let out a cheer mixed with laugh if it does.
This being said, Mat would absolutely love to see JL3 in that hideous all black uniform next season.
Why would Mat wish this upon a man he likes? Because John Lucas loves the basketball, and loves to heave shots towards the rim.
Sure he scores from time to time, but there's only one ball, and the more shots JL3 takes for the Heat, the fewer for #6, Wade, Bosh, or Ray Allen.
Mat was shocked that he read that the Heat were even interested. But I guess that goes to show what kind of impression he made on the Miami front office in those couple of meetings.
It's not going to happen, but Mat will let out a cheer mixed with laugh if it does.
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.
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.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
A (Realistic) Free Agency Preview - Part One
While the Bulls aren't expected to make any radical moves this offseason, Free Agency Eve still represents calm before the storm. The Bulls have a number of holes in their roster, and a seemingly infinite number of solutions exist to help fill those holes.
Mat took a look first at the players who were on the team last year who either are or could be free agents this summer. This does not necessarily reflect his opinion of these players; he is merely predicting what the Bulls' front office will do. (All contract information sourced from ShamSports.com.)
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Bye-bye, C.J. Watson. The drafting of Marquis Teague almost certainly guaranteed your demise. John Lucas III will probably be gone too, off making too much money for someone else.
The Bulls' shooting guard situation remains a big question mark, and yet, Mat fully expects Ronnie Brewer to be released from the non-guaranteed final year of his contract. Brewer struggled offensively, an area in which the Bulls are lacking, and they could probably call on Jimmy Butler to help replace Brewer's outstanding defense.
Kyle Korver is the most likely to be brought back of the three bench mob players with non-guaranteed contracts (Watson & Brewer being the other two), but he's also the highest-paid. The Bulls can afford to wait and see how free agency goes before making a move on Korver; Watson and Brewer's contracts are fully guaranteed if they're not cut by July 10, but Korver's contract doesn't have a guaranteed-by date.
Ultimately, Mat thinks the Bulls will be forced to keep Korver. His skillset is too unique on the Bulls' roster and there are too many question marks at the positions he's capable of playing. Mat wouldn't be surprised, though, if Korver is gone should the Bulls find a cheaper replacement in Free Agency.
Omer Asik is the most sought-after Bulls free agent (no offense, JL3). He's a restricted free agent, though, so the Bulls have the ability to match any offers made by other teams to keep him. The team has indicated that they'll match him at all costs, and, as a former second-round draft pick, he falls under the Gilbert Arenas rule. This means he can't be offered more than the mid-level exception for the first two years of his contract, which makes him a great value for the Bulls.
There exists the very realistic possibility that a team like Houston, desperate for a center, offers Asik a back-loaded contract that prices him out of the Bulls' range. The Gilbert Arenas rule limits the amount of money Asik can make in his first two years, but a team under the salary cap can offer him a bigger payday after that. Mat can see a scenario in which Asik is offered a contract worth $28 million over 4 years that pays out $5 million in the first two years and $9 million in the last two; the Bulls might (understandably) balk at a backup center making $9 million.
Still, the Bulls seem to understand Asik's value, both as a player and as a trade chip considering his limited salary. Mat sees no reason not to take management at their word when they say Asik will be brought back.
Mat's final verdict: Korver and Asik retained; Watson, Brewer and Lucas let go.
Mat took a look first at the players who were on the team last year who either are or could be free agents this summer. This does not necessarily reflect his opinion of these players; he is merely predicting what the Bulls' front office will do. (All contract information sourced from ShamSports.com.)
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Bye-bye, C.J. Watson. The drafting of Marquis Teague almost certainly guaranteed your demise. John Lucas III will probably be gone too, off making too much money for someone else.
The Bulls' shooting guard situation remains a big question mark, and yet, Mat fully expects Ronnie Brewer to be released from the non-guaranteed final year of his contract. Brewer struggled offensively, an area in which the Bulls are lacking, and they could probably call on Jimmy Butler to help replace Brewer's outstanding defense.
Kyle Korver is the most likely to be brought back of the three bench mob players with non-guaranteed contracts (Watson & Brewer being the other two), but he's also the highest-paid. The Bulls can afford to wait and see how free agency goes before making a move on Korver; Watson and Brewer's contracts are fully guaranteed if they're not cut by July 10, but Korver's contract doesn't have a guaranteed-by date.
Ultimately, Mat thinks the Bulls will be forced to keep Korver. His skillset is too unique on the Bulls' roster and there are too many question marks at the positions he's capable of playing. Mat wouldn't be surprised, though, if Korver is gone should the Bulls find a cheaper replacement in Free Agency.
Omer Asik is the most sought-after Bulls free agent (no offense, JL3). He's a restricted free agent, though, so the Bulls have the ability to match any offers made by other teams to keep him. The team has indicated that they'll match him at all costs, and, as a former second-round draft pick, he falls under the Gilbert Arenas rule. This means he can't be offered more than the mid-level exception for the first two years of his contract, which makes him a great value for the Bulls.
There exists the very realistic possibility that a team like Houston, desperate for a center, offers Asik a back-loaded contract that prices him out of the Bulls' range. The Gilbert Arenas rule limits the amount of money Asik can make in his first two years, but a team under the salary cap can offer him a bigger payday after that. Mat can see a scenario in which Asik is offered a contract worth $28 million over 4 years that pays out $5 million in the first two years and $9 million in the last two; the Bulls might (understandably) balk at a backup center making $9 million.
Still, the Bulls seem to understand Asik's value, both as a player and as a trade chip considering his limited salary. Mat sees no reason not to take management at their word when they say Asik will be brought back.
Mat's final verdict: Korver and Asik retained; Watson, Brewer and Lucas let go.
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