[Tdvols123Participant]

Personally, I love this move for Melo and the Bulls for multiple reasons.

-He’ll be the legit #1 option the Bulls so desperately need. And there won’t be any debate who the go-to scorer will be, unlike if Melo joined Kobe in LA.

-He’ll have an excellent coach that gets the most out of his players on the defensive side of the floor, where Melo’s got tons of potential still untapped. Also, will benefit greatly from being on a team that actually plays good team defense.

-He’ll be alongside a top 3 center who consistently makes his teammates better, and will have DRose who despite the multiple knee surgeries still could be one of the more explosive PGs in the league.

-Won’t have to be guarded by Jimmy Butler. In turn, Butler will guard the other teams’ best player allowing Melo to save energy for offense.

-He’ll still be in the Eastern conference which continues to look like a cake walk giving him a great chance to make a Finals run and change his currently poor legacy.

[Moon RiverParticipant]

I love your optimism, but am just not completely buying Melo will buy into his roll and system.  Thibs is very demanding, but just think if he did buy in?  Pretty cool right?

I also noticed that Noah and Melo seemed to be pretty tight during the all star weekend, or at least it seemed like they were talking and near each other a lot.  The Bulls have to do something and signing Melo would be the big splash Bulls fans have been clamoring for, for a long time now.

Two things that hinder the Melo to Chicago thing.  Melo will have to take a pay cut, as the Bulls cannot pay him as much as the Knicks can and the Bulls don’t want to do the sign and trade thing.  There is also the LaLa factor.  Melo’s wife is an actress and wants to be in NY or LA, so not sure  how big of a factor that is, but it is one nonetheless.

[Moon RiverParticipant]

I love your optimism, but am just not completely buying Melo will buy into his roll and system.  Thibs is very demanding, but just think if he did buy in?  Pretty cool right?

I also noticed that Noah and Melo seemed to be pretty tight during the all star weekend, or at least it seemed like they were talking and near each other a lot.  The Bulls have to do something and signing Melo would be the big splash Bulls fans have been clamoring for, for a long time now.

Two things that hinder the Melo to Chicago thing.  Melo will have to take a pay cut, as the Bulls cannot pay him as much as the Knicks can and the Bulls don’t want to do the sign and trade thing.  There is also the LaLa factor.  Melo’s wife is an actress and wants to be in NY or LA, so not sure  how big of a factor that is, but it is one nonetheless.

[The Scare Crow RisesParticipant]

 Makes the Deng trade easier to take. If Rose returns to 90% of his former shelf that Team could really be scary next year. Melo would have to leave some money on the table and the Bulls may have mortgage the future in order to make it all happen ala Boston with the Big 3…I think the Bulls should Amnesty Carlos Boozer if possible and then trade Mike Dunlevy and their 1st round pick to Philly for a couple of second rounders. That would free up 18 million in cap space to sign Melo and retain D.J Augustine, use the 2nd rounders on euros or senior role players. Trade the rights to Mirotic for a 2015 first rounder or 3pt shooter

[The Scare Crow RisesParticipant]

 Makes the Deng trade easier to take. If Rose returns to 90% of his former shelf that Team could really be scary next year. Melo would have to leave some money on the table and the Bulls may have mortgage the future in order to make it all happen ala Boston with the Big 3…I think the Bulls should Amnesty Carlos Boozer if possible and then trade Mike Dunlevy and their 1st round pick to Philly for a couple of second rounders. That would free up 18 million in cap space to sign Melo and retain D.J Augustine, use the 2nd rounders on euros or senior role players. Trade the rights to Mirotic for a 2015 first rounder or 3pt shooter

[Ebown5Participant]

As a Sixers fan I can say that we would love to take the worst of your 2 1st round picks for Dunleavy and a second or two. Taking Dunleavy would probably mean that we wouldn’t give you our own second round pick which will be about number 32, but that shouldn’t matter.

[Ebown5Participant]

As a Sixers fan I can say that we would love to take the worst of your 2 1st round picks for Dunleavy and a second or two. Taking Dunleavy would probably mean that we wouldn’t give you our own second round pick which will be about number 32, but that shouldn’t matter.

[druneave3Participant]

 Melo is the Bulls best option to win a title in the near future even though many people have doubts about his fit with the system and coach. I just don’t think it is financially possible. Scare Crow gives you some options here but the Bulls are in love with Mirotic and don’t see them trading him, especially in an attempt to sign Melo and the type of player he is. Would Melo also be benched by Thibs in the 4th quarter similar to Boozer due to his horrific defense?The front office doesn’t covet the type of player that Melo is and I just don’t see it happening especially when they would be required to give him a huge contract, when you already have one albatross of a contract in which you are not getting full value for. Also, Jimmy Butler will demand 8 million or so in near future as well. 

Despite numerous rumors I see the Bulls to continue on with Thibs and the "more than enough" philosophy. Unless Rose goes down again with another season-ending injury, I believe this newer (Deng-less) core will rough it out- Rose, Noah, Mirotic, Butler, Taj, Snell, and even think they might re-sign Kirk. They will have some flexibility with Deng and Boozer (soon- not soon enough) gone to attract some moderate help. If Thibs can get players off the street to play incredible, perhaps he can get better help and this new core back to a championship contender. 

 

[druneave3Participant]

 Melo is the Bulls best option to win a title in the near future even though many people have doubts about his fit with the system and coach. I just don’t think it is financially possible. Scare Crow gives you some options here but the Bulls are in love with Mirotic and don’t see them trading him, especially in an attempt to sign Melo and the type of player he is. Would Melo also be benched by Thibs in the 4th quarter similar to Boozer due to his horrific defense?The front office doesn’t covet the type of player that Melo is and I just don’t see it happening especially when they would be required to give him a huge contract, when you already have one albatross of a contract in which you are not getting full value for. Also, Jimmy Butler will demand 8 million or so in near future as well. 

Despite numerous rumors I see the Bulls to continue on with Thibs and the "more than enough" philosophy. Unless Rose goes down again with another season-ending injury, I believe this newer (Deng-less) core will rough it out- Rose, Noah, Mirotic, Butler, Taj, Snell, and even think they might re-sign Kirk. They will have some flexibility with Deng and Boozer (soon- not soon enough) gone to attract some moderate help. If Thibs can get players off the street to play incredible, perhaps he can get better help and this new core back to a championship contender. 

 

[TyroberParticipant]

 If Melo wants the best chance to win it appears that the Bulls are the favorite, but does he walk away from all that money? He can have a higher starting salary with bigger raises if he stays in New York. 

[TyroberParticipant]

 If Melo wants the best chance to win it appears that the Bulls are the favorite, but does he walk away from all that money? He can have a higher starting salary with bigger raises if he stays in New York. 

[Jester87Participant]

Does Thibs like this? I’m not a Melo hater, I think he has his flaws as pretty much every player in the league, but he’s a great talent and while as much as I don’t like giving superstars all the credit for their teams wins, I dislike even more put all the blame on them when their teams lose. But that being said and granted that Thibs has already dealt very well with an uninterested defender like Boozer, Melo is not an easy piece to integrate in such disciplined team. It will be interesting anyways, I’m not ruling out at all, it could very well be.

[Jester87Participant]

Does Thibs like this? I’m not a Melo hater, I think he has his flaws as pretty much every player in the league, but he’s a great talent and while as much as I don’t like giving superstars all the credit for their teams wins, I dislike even more put all the blame on them when their teams lose. But that being said and granted that Thibs has already dealt very well with an uninterested defender like Boozer, Melo is not an easy piece to integrate in such disciplined team. It will be interesting anyways, I’m not ruling out at all, it could very well be.

[sportspolymathParticipant]

Melo would have to sign for less then 10 million a year, and the Knicks cannot do a sign and trade.  So if the Bulls amnesty Boozer, keep the two number ones and the cap is at say 61 million.  They could offer a contract starting at around 9.5 million a year.  A 50% pay cut.  

[sportspolymathParticipant]

Melo would have to sign for less then 10 million a year, and the Knicks cannot do a sign and trade.  So if the Bulls amnesty Boozer, keep the two number ones and the cap is at say 61 million.  They could offer a contract starting at around 9.5 million a year.  A 50% pay cut.  

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

[juves4783Participant]

don’t get me wrong.  melo is a great talent, but he is a defensive liability and has a lot of miles on the tires.  any deal is going to be a big money deal so i don’t understand why the bulls would do this.  they would be sacrificing their future for the present.  that would be fine and dandy but even with melo, they’d have trouble with beating a team like miami or okc, especially with the uncertainty of rose.

my suggestion would be to continue to build through the draft.  they’ve seemed to have had success in the draft lately and this year shouldn’t be any different given the prospects.  their frontcourt next year will give teams fits with boozer, noah, gibson and mirotic.  mirotic brings that stretch pf they’ve been missing.  boozer is still producing, it’s not like he’s a gerald wallace and sits on the bench for big money.  i’d keep his contract and cross my fingers for an expiring contract trade next year.  their roster next season looks something like this.  definitely a playoff team in the east.  

pg – rose, draft pick (clarkson, christon, payton, maybe ennis)

sg – butler, snell

sf – dunleavy, draft pick (anderson, saric, warren, young)

pf – boozer, gibson, mirotic

c – noah

 

 

 

 

 

 

[juves4783Participant]

don’t get me wrong.  melo is a great talent, but he is a defensive liability and has a lot of miles on the tires.  any deal is going to be a big money deal so i don’t understand why the bulls would do this.  they would be sacrificing their future for the present.  that would be fine and dandy but even with melo, they’d have trouble with beating a team like miami or okc, especially with the uncertainty of rose.

my suggestion would be to continue to build through the draft.  they’ve seemed to have had success in the draft lately and this year shouldn’t be any different given the prospects.  their frontcourt next year will give teams fits with boozer, noah, gibson and mirotic.  mirotic brings that stretch pf they’ve been missing.  boozer is still producing, it’s not like he’s a gerald wallace and sits on the bench for big money.  i’d keep his contract and cross my fingers for an expiring contract trade next year.  their roster next season looks something like this.  definitely a playoff team in the east.  

pg – rose, draft pick (clarkson, christon, payton, maybe ennis)

sg – butler, snell

sf – dunleavy, draft pick (anderson, saric, warren, young)

pf – boozer, gibson, mirotic

c – noah

 

 

 

 

 

 

[rileymcshea3Participant]

 This would be an amazing for the Bulls. I truly see no negatives about it. Melo already said he would take a paycut. The Knicks suck and are waisting his prime years as a basketball player. I’m sure Thibs would love this, he is a defensive Coach but is isn’t blind bias by it. He knows you need the best players out there to win… Not just defensive players, guys like Boozer and Dunkeavye still get there PT while not being good defensive players. As long as you comit to playing hard at all times, they play. Melo isn’t a completely defensive liability.

If Melo was on the Bulls right now they would easily be the third best team in the East, even without D-Rose. To me Melo on the Bulls this year would be as good as that 2011 bulls team that got to the Eastern Conference Finals.

[rileymcshea3Participant]

 This would be an amazing for the Bulls. I truly see no negatives about it. Melo already said he would take a paycut. The Knicks suck and are waisting his prime years as a basketball player. I’m sure Thibs would love this, he is a defensive Coach but is isn’t blind bias by it. He knows you need the best players out there to win… Not just defensive players, guys like Boozer and Dunkeavye still get there PT while not being good defensive players. As long as you comit to playing hard at all times, they play. Melo isn’t a completely defensive liability.

If Melo was on the Bulls right now they would easily be the third best team in the East, even without D-Rose. To me Melo on the Bulls this year would be as good as that 2011 bulls team that got to the Eastern Conference Finals.

[Ghost01Participant]

 As far as the Deng trade goes, the Bulls have been substantially better since it happened so I don’t think anyone in Chicago is still mourning that loss. He’s a nice player, but clearly not a major difference maker.

I "like" but don’t "love" Melo to the Bulls. It makes sense for a number of reasons, it still depends on where Melo’s mind is, does he really need the extra New York $$$, does he want to buy into a coach like Thibs, etc. 

I honestly think he would. But that’s a thought, not a fact.

The biggest point is how bad the East currently is. LeBron is LeBron, but that team around him continues to deteriorate, which has lead to his recent stretch of "Cleveland esque" games. And Indiana has had a great year, but has tailed off a bit. For all they do right defensively, they are still beatable because of that offense. West is getting older, Hibbert is 7’2 but struggles to shoot 40% from the field, and I still believe some team will overpay Lance this summer. 

So overall, due to the East being so damn winnable, I think it’s a good move for both sides. 

[Ghost01Participant]

 As far as the Deng trade goes, the Bulls have been substantially better since it happened so I don’t think anyone in Chicago is still mourning that loss. He’s a nice player, but clearly not a major difference maker.

I "like" but don’t "love" Melo to the Bulls. It makes sense for a number of reasons, it still depends on where Melo’s mind is, does he really need the extra New York $$$, does he want to buy into a coach like Thibs, etc. 

I honestly think he would. But that’s a thought, not a fact.

The biggest point is how bad the East currently is. LeBron is LeBron, but that team around him continues to deteriorate, which has lead to his recent stretch of "Cleveland esque" games. And Indiana has had a great year, but has tailed off a bit. For all they do right defensively, they are still beatable because of that offense. West is getting older, Hibbert is 7’2 but struggles to shoot 40% from the field, and I still believe some team will overpay Lance this summer. 

So overall, due to the East being so damn winnable, I think it’s a good move for both sides. 

[HitsterParticipant]

The sums for them getting a $20 million guy in don’t add up even if they amnesty Boozer as any FA signings have to keep the salary below the cap level I thought. Plus DRose when he hopefully returns has always been a scoring PG so do him and Melo really mix well together I wonder. It’s a better mix than Kobe and Melo I’ll admit.

I’d love to see Melo playing with a really elite pass first PG to see how they could spread the floor.

If the Phil Jackson to Knicks as Team President story has any legs then I think Melo’s chances of staying in NY have increased. But it is a huge decision for Melo to make, he turns 30 in May, lets forget about the money, he’ll get a huge contract wherever he goes and is already a multi millionaire, he needs to seriously consider where he’ll have the best chance of being on a genuine contender. I mean a legit chance of going to the finals or at least the Conference Finals each year. 

Melo has to look at the options and consider can I take this team deep into the play offs, what could I add to this team etc. Also I wonder if he might look to go to a place wityh younger star team mates like CP3 in tandem with Blake Griffin, D12 going with James Harden. A lot of teams with stars in their 30’s will chase Melo but he might see someone of DRose’s age and think I could have a much bigger window with them. 

 

 

  

[HitsterParticipant]

The sums for them getting a $20 million guy in don’t add up even if they amnesty Boozer as any FA signings have to keep the salary below the cap level I thought. Plus DRose when he hopefully returns has always been a scoring PG so do him and Melo really mix well together I wonder. It’s a better mix than Kobe and Melo I’ll admit.

I’d love to see Melo playing with a really elite pass first PG to see how they could spread the floor.

If the Phil Jackson to Knicks as Team President story has any legs then I think Melo’s chances of staying in NY have increased. But it is a huge decision for Melo to make, he turns 30 in May, lets forget about the money, he’ll get a huge contract wherever he goes and is already a multi millionaire, he needs to seriously consider where he’ll have the best chance of being on a genuine contender. I mean a legit chance of going to the finals or at least the Conference Finals each year. 

Melo has to look at the options and consider can I take this team deep into the play offs, what could I add to this team etc. Also I wonder if he might look to go to a place wityh younger star team mates like CP3 in tandem with Blake Griffin, D12 going with James Harden. A lot of teams with stars in their 30’s will chase Melo but he might see someone of DRose’s age and think I could have a much bigger window with them. 

 

 

  

[HitsterParticipant]

The sums for them getting a $20 million guy in don’t add up even if they amnesty Boozer as any FA signings have to keep the salary below the cap level I thought. Plus DRose when he hopefully returns has always been a scoring PG so do him and Melo really mix well together I wonder. It’s a better mix than Kobe and Melo I’ll admit.

I’d love to see Melo playing with a really elite pass first PG to see how they could spread the floor.

If the Phil Jackson to Knicks as Team President story has any legs then I think Melo’s chances of staying in NY have increased. But it is a huge decision for Melo to make, he turns 30 in May, lets forget about the money, he’ll get a huge contract wherever he goes and is already a multi millionaire, he needs to seriously consider where he’ll have the best chance of being on a genuine contender. I mean a legit chance of going to the finals or at least the Conference Finals each year. 

Melo has to look at the options and consider can I take this team deep into the play offs, what could I add to this team etc. Also I wonder if he might look to go to a place wityh younger star team mates like CP3 in tandem with Blake Griffin, D12 going with James Harden. A lot of teams with stars in their 30’s will chase Melo but he might see someone of DRose’s age and think I could have a much bigger window with them. 

 

 

  

[HitsterParticipant]

The sums for them getting a $20 million guy in don’t add up even if they amnesty Boozer as any FA signings have to keep the salary below the cap level I thought. Plus DRose when he hopefully returns has always been a scoring PG so do him and Melo really mix well together I wonder. It’s a better mix than Kobe and Melo I’ll admit.

I’d love to see Melo playing with a really elite pass first PG to see how they could spread the floor.

If the Phil Jackson to Knicks as Team President story has any legs then I think Melo’s chances of staying in NY have increased. But it is a huge decision for Melo to make, he turns 30 in May, lets forget about the money, he’ll get a huge contract wherever he goes and is already a multi millionaire, he needs to seriously consider where he’ll have the best chance of being on a genuine contender. I mean a legit chance of going to the finals or at least the Conference Finals each year. 

Melo has to look at the options and consider can I take this team deep into the play offs, what could I add to this team etc. Also I wonder if he might look to go to a place wityh younger star team mates like CP3 in tandem with Blake Griffin, D12 going with James Harden. A lot of teams with stars in their 30’s will chase Melo but he might see someone of DRose’s age and think I could have a much bigger window with them. 

 

 

  

[Author]

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