[ZouldiersParticipant]

 The Thunder traded Joffrey Lauvergne, Anthony Morrow and Cameron Payne to the Bulls for Doug McDermott, Taj Gibson and a 2nd round pick. OKC gets much needed shooting but boy a head scratcher for Chicago.

[maravich44Participant]

The Bulls front office has puzzled me on an ongoing basis. This is just the latest fiasco. They traded up (2nd, 1st rd pick) to get McDermott. He hasn’t produced, but has potential. Why not keep him and see if he’s the player you thought he was? He has had injuries and hasn’t produced, but he’s still young and can shoot. A good attitude as well. Taj is the ultimate team player/under the radar guy that does all of the little things teams need but go unnoticed.

In return, we receive Cameron Payne, a clone of a younger Taj in many ways as he came into the league as an older player and has a decent skill set, but will never be a superstar. His upside is Taj, and I doubt that he will ever get there.

They botched signing Wade and compounded the misery by getting Rondo and Carter-Williams, as all need the ball and none can shoot. So what do they do? Trade the one guy on the roster that can shoot.

Gar should be traded for Vlade Divac, the only G.M. in the league that can compete in the area of ineptness!

[ChoppyParticipant]

 I respectfully disagree. From what I have read and the little I have seen, Payne looks to be a really good player. Like Reggie Jackson was, he’s stuck behind Westbrook and is unable to show fully what he’s capable of. He’s been able to grow into his game and learn behind Westbrook, but he needs his own team. Rondo is not the future. I didn’t even know they had Carter-Williams, but he’s the future of a team in China somewhere. Cam Payne should be the starter sooner rather than later, and he’ll be doing that for years to come. 

[CynthiaParticipant]

And I respectfully disagree to your respectful disagree. Payne is not very good, he is much worse than Reggie Jackson, and Jackson isn’t even that good. Bulls may give him a shot at starting just because Rondo and MCW aren’t working out, but unfortunately I think it won’t take long before they realize they just made a mistake. I can confidently say MCW is better, and that’s not saying much.

I fully hope he can prove me wrong, and I’ll admit that I was wrong if that day comes, but I just don’t see it.

[ChoppyParticipant]

 And that’s what makes this world a beautiful place, that we can all have different opinions and come together to share them on this forum! 

I guess one of us will be right and only time will tell. I’ve been wrong before and survived to tell the tale. We’ll just have to wait and see!

 

[Scrooge McDuckParticipant]

 That’s crazy. I  thought the thunder should start Payne this year along  with grant. Two really good players right there. Payne is about  to break out. Head scratcher for Okc.

[usfballerParticipant]

So now the Bulls have 5 PG’s on their roster and NONE of them can shoot (Isaiah Cannon was supposed to be able to but certainly hasn’t in Chicago)!  Plus we’re replacing McBuckets, who could shoot and little else, with Anthony Morrow who can shoot and nothing else. Oh, and we thru in an extra 2nd rounder cause we felt generous. If Gar and Pax aren’t done I don’t know what it’s gonna take for them to get fired.

But as a Bulls fan I do need to publicly say Thank You to Taj Gibson. He’s been a true professional since day 1 and I hate seeing him go. Wish he could’ve stayed his whole career, but glad he gets to play for a team with an actual shot at winning sometime soon. 

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

For OKC, it makes a ton of sense. Even in a somewhat down year, McDermott is hitting at a 38% clip from behind the arc. Taj Gibson gives them a veteran to add into the mix up front. In the West (San Antonio, LAC, Utah, Memphis, and now New Orleans), it makes sense to have more support up front than just Domantas for when Kanter does something stupid like break his arm when punching a chair.

The Bulls, in a way are admitting their vision for the past year and a half was wrong. When they transitioned from Thibodeau to Hoiberg, it was because they thought they could be an explosive offensive team. Doug McDermott and Nikola Mirotic were vital to that belief. Now, McDermott is gone, and Mirotic has been so bad that they could not move him. They lost their defensive identity, and whiffed on the two guys they thought could elevate them on the other end. All that said, going from McDermott as the first sub off the bench to Morrow is not really a drop off. He is 40 percent from three over a decade. As for Payne, the perception of him changed from where he was thought to be coming off his rookie season to now. It does not seem fair. He broke his foot, and is only now getting into regular season form. He could be a breakout player in the second half. Prior to the season, I thought he could have been a notable player in OKC. Joffrey Lauvergne has been a guy with decent moments, though even in a weak front court I don’t know where he checks out with Lopez, Felicio, Portis, and Mirotic. He doesn’t offer the pure size of Lopez or Felicio inside. He has been a better shooter this season than Mirotic, but doesn’t have the same shooting pedigree. Portis has the best potential to impact games on both ends.

[OhCanada-Participant]

I guess they want to spread out thier depth  into different positions.

Trying my hardest to understand this deal for the Bulls. I guess McDermott for Payne makes sense but I’d rather have McDermott.  They need shooting but just gave up arguably thier best shooter although they likely prefer Butler and Mirotic as thier Forwards. Gibson is a UFA right? They add much needed wing shooting with Morrow but I’d much rather give minutes to Valentine. They also have Portis and Lopez so they aren’t losing much losing Gibson. How did OKC get a 2nd round pick out of this? Lauverne can be decent if utilized right.

Alight I guess. Lets see how Payne develops in this role. I think McDermott is gonna blossom in OKC. OKC does great here grabbing Gibson who could become a very valuable role player for them immediately.

 

[XYRYXParticipant]

 Man I like this trade for the Thunder on first sight. They addressed two things in one trade with Kanter out for a while and i like both players who come in. But don’t underestimate the loss of Cam Payne. He for sure could or even should be a better player by now and 5 pg on this team doesn’t help much but he is a very nice player overall who only will grow barring injuries and the Thunder have who exactly as pg backups now? 

Westbrook was as close as you can get to Russ personally and this is a new era around the new veteran core. 

[HitsterParticipant]

 Taj Gibson will be a FA in the summer so to get a return on him makes sense, I don’t know if the Bulls had considered extending him as he was a good team player but Payne gives a younger version of him. Taj will likely get a fair few offers in the summer, a lot will depend on what sort of deal he will be after.

With Nick Collinson coming to the end of his career, the Thunder could have added a good replacement in Taj if they look to retain him. Taj is considered a good veteran and could give the Thunder decent minutes around the younger guys and gives a defensive option to compliment Kanter.

McDermott is a good shooter and will help Westbrook spread the play more. 

I don’t see the logic in Chicago taking on another PG in Morrow but they have added a couple of younger bigs and if Gibson had moved on at least got a return on him.

 

[jacobkeyParticipant]

 Cameron Payne isn’t a PF and Anthony Morrow isn’t a PG

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Your thinking of Adrien Payne from Michigan St. This is Cameron Payne gaurd from small school Murray St. Left handed shot with a bit of a hitch, crafty player, not too quick or athletic was a good scorer went late lottery. Never understood the Lillard comparisons. And Morrow is a wing.

[IknoBall12Participant]

do you even watch basketball. What are u talking about? 

[ThenilonatorParticipant]

 Wow that’s a bad post! Taj Gibson will replace nick "Collinson". Nick collison hasn’t played meaningful minutes regularly for years. You need league pass brother!

[timinator1Participant]

I’m intrigued by this…can Westbrook utilize McDermott in pick/pop scenarios, or find him on the wing? Will Portis move into the starting 4 spot for Chicago? Will Payne supplant Rondo for good, with MCW as the backup? Will Sabonis be more effective with the 2nd unit (assuming Taj becomes the starter) or does OKC go with Taj as the primary option on the 2nd unit and let him eat up lesser bigs?

It also means (IMHO) that Chicago is in full tank mode. 

                                                 

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