Back Soon

Bulls overwhelm Nuggets late

Pointless?

Jon Stockton, Steve Nash, Allen Iverson, Jason Kidd, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Derrick Rose. What do they have in common? Great point guards, no rings. It seems more and more that the best point guards are ring-less. Despite some exceptions: Rondo, Billups, Parker (who besides Billups-which is arguable-were not the best players on their title teams), it seems like PG's don't equal ultimate success. My colleague Aon Hussain wrote an article to fluff out this argument:

What’s Your Point (Guard)?

Conventional wisdom states that there is no position more integral to the success of any franchise than that of point guard. The point guard is the quarterback - the floor general that uses his vision to get his teammates involved. Their dynamic abilities invoke a respect for holding on to the ball, spreading the floor out, and incorporating their teammates. And frankly, in the NBA there is a plethora of point guards that leap over hurdles to make their teams successful. Guys like Chris Paul, Steve Nash, Rajon Rondo, Deron Williams, and Derek Rose are counted on to provide not only basketball skills but leadership also. And for a lot of franchises, point guards like these make or break the team.
But thinking about point guards has me perplexed about a particular conclusion that I’ve recently come to. Even though I may sing praises about point guards, I realized that maybe point guards are not as important as many people think they are. Before I get ridiculed about my opinion, let’s just delve into my thought process. I thought about all the champions throughout my entire lifetime (f.y.i. - I was born in 1990). Of course my first thought was about the dynasty that I grew up watching. The images of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen popping champagne after winning six championships rightfully conjured happy thoughts in my mind. Then I thought about role players on that squad. We had international flavor. There was the best Croation basketball player in NBA history Toni Kukoc and the best Austrailian player in basketball history in Luc Longley (I’m sorry Andrew Bogut, you might be more skilled and will probably end your career as one of the greatest Bucks to ever play, but you never played for the Bulls). Our front-court included the likes of all-star Horace Grant and rebounding machine Dennis Rodman. John Paxon and Steve Kerr were shooters that could light it up any minute. And our point guard happened to be pretty successful too. His name was Ron Harper.
Some will argue that Harper was great before he came to Chicago. He averaged 20 points a game on occasion. Furthermore, people argue that he became an unselfish player and completely changed his game so that he could win a couple championships. He could’ve filled in the stat sheet, but he chose not to out of respect for winning. This is true to an extent. What these believers fail to point out is that Harper was past his prime when he came to the Bulls. He was 31. That might not seem too old considering that Steve Nash is 36 now, but there is no doubt Ron Harper at 23 was far more different of a player than Ron Harper at 31. A clear indication of this is shooting percentage. His shooting percentage dropped substantially as soon as he donned a Bulls uniform. And we shouldn’t forget that he played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Clippers. While the Cavs made the Eastern Conference finals during his stint there, the Clippers were horrendous during his stay there. This is why numbers are deceiving. Ron Harper put up good numbers on a crappy team for a portion of his career.
All this talk is not meant to take away from Ron Harper’s importance to the Bulls. He ran the triangle offense with ease. He was an efficient player, but his numbers were just alright. With the Bulls, the most points he averaged was 11.2 in 1999 (after Jordan retired and after GM Jerry Krause began to disassemble the franchise) and the most assists he averaged was 3.4 in 2000. He was a solid player, but definitely not crucial to the Bulls’ success. He could have been replaced by a bevy of other players and the Bulls still would have won championships.
The notion that a point guard is the most important position is defied by logic if you look into other champions as well. The most clear cut examples are the two different Los Angeles Lakers dynasties. Both teams were spearheaded by Derek Fisher. Fisher is no doubt one of the most efficient point guards in NBA history. He rarely turns the ball over and understands that there are players better than him at doing certain things. He understood that Kobe Bryant/Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant/Paul Gasol were far more important to the success of his franchise as well. His career averages of 9 points and 3 assists are respectable but they don’t jump out of the page either. Just like Harper, the Lakers could’ve had another player run the show and they still probably would have won the championship. While I understand Fisher hit some important shots, who is to say another player would not have made those same shots had Fisher not been on the same squad?
But what about the San Antonio Spurs? They had Tony Parker win the Finals MVP. Nonetheless, Tim Duncan made that team. And did I mention that the Spurs played the Cavs that year in the finals? The Cavs were a team that had no right to be playing at that stage because they played in the NBA Junior Varsity league that was the Eastern Conference. And of course Parker will put up wonderful numbers if he is being guarded by a combination of Damon Jones and Eric Snow. I will give him the benefit of the doubt in the Nets’ series as he was a formidable force in the success of the Spurs. But he wasn’t there for the initial Spurs championship. At that point Avery Johnson was guiding the team to victory. He was a good point guard, but of course he was bound to put up big numbers with guys like Tim Duncan and David Robinson in the paint. And as I’ve reiterated numerous times, he could’ve been replaced with other players and the Spurs still would have won the championship.
Another name that will come up for debate will be that of Rajon Rondo and the Celtics. Granted, right now Rondo is one of the best point guards in the league but if anybody remembers correctly, he was the biggest liability for the Celtics during the playoffs when the Celts won the championship. He wasn’t as developed of a player as he is now nor did he have a grasp on basketball IQ at that stage in his career. Sure he averaged good numbers, but that team relied on Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen more than anything. While Rondo has grown since then and is arguably the best player the Celtics have in present time, he was not the main ingredient on that team in their recipe for success. His impact, while important for any role player, was not the ultimate reason as to why the Celtics won on the big stage.
For all the disagreement that I’m sure to get on this topic, let me bring up another team that has won in my lifetime without a good point guard. Dwayne Wade carried an aging Shaquille O’Neal and an above average team on his back when the Heat came out of nowhere and shocked the Dallas Mavericks in 2006. That team was led by White Chocolate Jason Williams. While known to be a flashy player who had no inhibitions over his temperament, Williams was aged and years from his prime. He could’ve been replaced by me and the Heat would still have won.
Now that isn’t to say point guard weren’t crucial to some championships. There is no doubt in my mind that without Chauncey Billups, the Pistons probably would have never even reached the Finals let alone win the title. And the Rockets’ duo of Kenny Smith and Sam Cassell were instrumental in them winning it all. But looking over all the NBA champions in my lifetime, the point guard was for the most part the third or fourth option on many championship teams. Many times they could’ve been replaced by other players, and that team still would’ve won. I mean there are clouds that exist among players like Tony Parker and Rajon Rondo, but we shouldn’t let their current success taint our objectivity in determining how important they were to their squads early in their career. Nonetheless, they weren’t the reason their teams won the championships, even though they played important roles for their squads. And while guys like Ron Harper and Derek Fisher were dependable players, they weren’t too important to their teams’ success. And as I’ve said time and time again, my point is that maybe the point isn’t as important as people make it out to be.

Basketball Stream of Conscioussness

Honestly, I wonder why people pay interns. For those of you who don't know, I'm interning at a boutique investment bank this summer. It's a good experience and the people are savvy and influential to be around, but there is honestly nothing for me to do. Yes, I help put together documents and do some excel spreadsheets, but anything really important will not be left to the intern. There are days where I can honestly surf the web from 8:30 AM till 5:30 PM unnoticed. The good news is the blog benefits from daily articles. What sparked my mind today was the news that Derrick Rose not only made the cut for the final 15 for the USA team, but that he is being a vocal leader and really impressing coach K; he wants to be a leader for the Bulls and the USA team. This leads me to believe that Rose never wanted LeBron. We've heard the rumors that LeBron felt Rose didn't "actively" recruit him. We've also heard Rose indicate he wants to be the man to lead the Bulls back to significance and prominence. Whether or not you agree, this is a good sign. Can Rose be that guy? I'm not sure. Can you win with a score-first point guard? I'm not sure. Can Rose evolve his game by averaging 8-10 assists and hitting threes? I hope and think so, but again, I'm not sure. Either way, I love that he wants to be an alpha dog. Bill Simmons's The Book of Basketball talks all about the alpha dog (guys who are dominant- not just putting up numbers but willing their team to win), and Rose wants to be one. Therefore, to me, Rose did not want any part of being teammates with LeBron. Some might call this selfish, but I prefer guys who want to beat the best than join the best. This train of thought made me wonder where Rose stacks up in the league:

TOP NBA PLAYERS:

* criteria largely emphasizes being the best player on a great team, rings, numbers, 4th quarter play, MVP stature

* a player can be better overall but worse at their positions (ex: some may consider Rondo a better PG than Rose, but think Rose is a better player)-this list is overall not based on position

1. Kobe Bryant

2. Dwyane Wade

3. LeBron James

4. Kevin Durant

5. Dirk Nowitzki

6. Carmelo Anthony

7. Dwight Howard

8. Deron Williams

9. Chris Paul

10. Steve Nash

11. Pau Gasol

12. Brandon Roy

13. Tim Duncan

14. Derrick Rose

15. Rajon Rondo

16. Carlos Boozer

17. Amare Stoudemire

18. Chris Bosh

19. Paul Pierce

20. Joe Johnson

Honorable Mentions: Danny Granger, Al Jefferson (really should be top 20 currently, but out of respect guys like Pierce and Duncan who still have a big impact get spots)

Will Power Takes Over, Bulls Shift Gears to House, Bogans, Mason

I've always been terrible with analogies but I'll try anyway. If you compare the NBA to bodybuilding, the Miami Heat were the team that landed the best steroids in the gym. Everyone had been talking about these rare steroids that would make you an instant machine. If you take these once in a lifetime opportunity LeBron James performance enhancement drugs, you will be the biggest guy in the gym. On the other hand, the Bulls were that guy who couldn't get the pills. For whatever reason, they didn't have the inside information to gain access, or the connections to make the deal work. Instead, they decided to go the old-fashioned way: 4 days of lifting per week, 2 days of cardio, protein shakes, and a great diet. That's not the recipe to become the biggest guy in the gym overnight, but with hard work it is attainable in the future. Thus, with the signing of Boozer and other strategic, yet not flashy moves such as acquiring Brewer, Korver, Thomas, and Watson, the Bulls have put themselves in position to be good now and be great in the future, building piece by piece, slowly but surely.

Yet, mondays workout of Tracy McGrady made them seem like the guy who's been eating healthy and doing things the right way for two weeks but then hears about these muscle max pills that will make him ripped. Evidence is inconclusive, but the advertisement is enticing. While T-Mac is not even in the same ballpark as LeBron, the thought of a guy who can pour in 20 points on a given night makes you wonder what could be, even makes you consider suddenly dropping your strategy of building through role players to surround Rose and Boozer. Yet, unlike a kid at a candy store, the Bulls seem to have resisted signing T-Mac, according to sources. It wasn't the workout itself, but his comments that made it clear he is eyeing a starting role and saw the team as potentially his and Boozer's, not even mentioning Rose or Noah in his analysis of the Bulls future. It immediately became clear that signing T-Mac was a hail mary move, a last ditch attempt to bulk up in a week instead of naturally progressing over the course of months. While I did go on record to say that T-Mac would be worth the risk, that is because I am impulsive and constantly looking for instant, quick fixes. However, the reality is that at this point in free agency there are no overnight solutions left. There are no players that take you from where you fit in the current NBA landscape and make you a contender. So while the idea of T-Mac giving the Bulls some scoring seemed nice in theory, that move still leaves us looking up at Miami, Boston, and Orlando. For that reason alone, the risk of a team cancer did not seem worth it to Bulls leadership. Agree or not, after Rose and Boozer this is a team of gutsy, tough role players who contribute through specialities such as defense (Brewer), rebounding (Thomas), toughness (Noah, Gibson), and shooting (Korver, Watson), and well roundedness (Deng). Even Booze and Rose are not your "Hollywood-esque" stars, as Boozer is known for grittyness and Rose is soft-spoken. Whether it's due to pride or legitimate belief, the Bulls management believes Rose is bound to be a top 5 NBA player, and after missing on LeBron, I believe they want to build around him and Boozer for the lang haul (that is why they are ok signing so many players and foregoing cap room despite Carmelo Anothony being available next offseason). Thus, rather than gambling on T-Mac they have decided to add another piece, eyeing Eddie House, Roger Mason, and Keith Bogans.

These three guys are all solid choices as backup guards having played for winning teams in Boston, San Antonio, and Orlando. To me, Eddie House is the choice. He's that guy with swagger who can come in and give you 15 gut-wrenching points off the bench in a huge playoff game, but also won't bicker when he only plays 7 minutes the next game (when I say gut-wrenching I really mean it: think Bulls-Celtics round 1 in the '09 playoffs). This guy hits that three in your face that makes opposing fans livid and genuinely sick to their stomach. He's that guy who everyone hates till he's on their side. Moreover, he's a veteran to go alongside Kurt Thomas. I think House fits in with the tough-minded players the Bulls already have (Rose, Brewer, Boozer, Noah, Thomas, Gibson, etc.). Mason and Bogans would not be terrible choices, but I could see them being insignificant and riding the bench as there is not much they can do that a current player lacks. While the pain from House's knockout punches against the Bulls in the '09 playoffs still lingers, I think he's the right man to finalize the 12 man active roster.

Chris Paul News While We Wait on McGrady

Hope everyone had a great weekend, I played in a 3 on 3 basketball tournament that lasted 5 hours, losing in the elite eight by 2 points to the eventual champions. Nevertheless, the tournament did give me more respect for T-Mac's back problems since I currently cannot bend over due to extreme back soreness. Anyway, speaking of McGrady, over the weekend the Bulls stated they would sign T-Mac pending he's healthy. The team is working him out today, and if they like what they see they will offer him a deal. What they're looking for is no glaring back issues, his ability to convince the team he'd happily come off the bench, as well as player approval, which they received from Derrick Rose. I am working on a piece about him, but waiting for more news to come in. For the record I will say that after much thought over the weekend I think we should sign him. As high school basketball star Michael Brunwasser said, "he's little risk, high reward." What the Bulls lack is wing scoring, and T-Mac can hopefully provide that. If he cannot, luckily the Bulls are a no-bullshit organization and would not allow a me-first, struggling player to overtake the team. The new poll allows you guys to state how you feel.

Moving on, I thought while we wait my buddy Aon Hussain from New Orleans (the guy who posted the Western Conference Power Rankings) could give us some insight on the Chris Paul situation, from Aon:

I’ve been a Bulls fan my entire life and it’s the only team I have complete allegiance to. But I go to school in New Orleans and I follow the Hornets as much as I can. So when I heard the news about Hornets guard Chris Paul, I felt that I could weigh in on the subject with some sort of objectivity.

As a part-time resident of New Orleans, I can tell you that it’s a mysterious place. The Mardi Gras culture has enabled the state to garner its acumen as an easy-going city where fun happens. Bourbon St. is known more for the flashing of skin for beads more than the five star restaurants or hotels that operate there. The French Quarter is reminiscent of a wide array of European architecture, from French to Spanish. Its cuisine is a mixture of Cajun, Creole, and everything in between. Even its politicians are different. Rather than being public servants, they are known for being crooked and entertaining. Who can forget the old adage that Louisiana’s former governor Edwin Edwards presented us with a long time ago. Edwards, who is presently in prison had once notoriously declared the only way he could be banished from his career were if he were “caught in bed with either a dead girl or a live boy.”

So it’s not surprising that this culture has transcended towards one of the state’s premiere professional sports franchises. While the Saints have accomplished so much with the support of the entire city and state, it seems as if the Hornets are just stagnating towards mediocrity and potentially the bottom cellar of the NBA. Let’s not underestimate just how big of a bind this franchise is in. Owner George Shinn has tried to sell the team for months now, but the finalization of the deal has stalled. The team fired a player-friendly coach in Byron Scott to the chagrin of many players early on in the season and replaced him with the GM who would be tossed out after the season ended. It then couldn’t haul in any of its top choices for head coaches which included Tom Thibadeu and instead settled for a novice in Monty Williams. And financially, this team is one of the most horrendous operating teams in the league. It can’t sell seats and this team is loaded with torturous contracts. It is 3 million dollars away from the luxury tax, yet is one of the worst assembled teams in the league.

But all these problems pale in comparison to the reports that came out recently about franchise player Chris Paul. The 25 year old Paul has been the backbone of this franchise for so long and represents the biggest bright spot on the team. But now Paul, disappointed with the direction the team is going has asked to be traded. This news is no surprise considering the players that Paul has around him. David West is arguably the second best player on the team, but he is soft. He’s afraid to play in the post and is a defensive liability. He would be a great third or fourth option on any team, but he’s not meant to be anybody’s Robin, even with somebody as great as Chris Paul playing the role of Batman. Emeka Okafor has been a productive player his entire career, but he’s not worth the 11 million dollar salary he is getting as he is an offensive liability. Peja Stojacovic is getting paid 12 million dollars to average 8 points a game. His age has caught up to him and frankly he has lost confidence in his shot and thankfully he’s off the books at the end of the year. The only bright spot on this team is Darren Collison, but he plays the same position as Paul.

All this leaves new GM Dell Demps in a curious position. No management would want to give up a talent as great as Paul, but if any player requests a trade then it might not be beneficial to keep him – regardless of how talented he is. But regardless of what Dell gets in return, it will not make up for the loss of Paul. Demps is in a position where he will only get cents on the dollar and frankly he will have to determine what the best value he will get in return. But the market for Paul is razor thin as he would only want to go to possible contenders, and out of this criterion many teams won’t be able to afford him or they’re already set at the point guard. So we can count out team like the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder, Chicago Bulls, Phoenix Suns, Milwaukee Bucks, or any of the bottom barrel non-contenders who aren’t even worth mentioning. But after further scrutiny, these are possible scenarios of where Paul could end up and what the Hornets would probably get in return.

1) New York Knicks – At buddy Carmelo Anthony’s wedding, Paul raised eyebrows when he said that he, Amare Stoudemire, and Carmelo Anthony should establish their own Big 3 in New York. Aside from Stoudemire (who the Knicks won’t trade), the Knicks don’t have much to offer. That is unless the Hornets want any combination of Raymond Felton, Wilson Chandler, Danilo Galinari, or Eddy Curry’s expiring contract.
2) Orlando Magic – CP3 combined with Dwight Howard and Vince Carter would be a menacing combination to in-state rival Miami Heat. Any move that the Magic would make would include the trade of current point guard Jameer Nelson, but with the Collison in place already the Hornets might balk with Nelson as a cornerstone of the deal. And it wouldn’t make sense for the Magic to acquire Paul and not trade away Nelson.
3) Portland Trailblazers – There have been rumors of Paul going to Portland for Andre Miller and any combination of Blazers so long as their names aren’t Brandon Roy or Lamarcus Aldridge. Regardless, the Hornets won’t get anything substantive for Paul.
4) Dallas Mavericks – Rodrique Boubois and Caron Butler for Chris Paul has been thrown around as well. Nonetheless, the value of the trade still isn’t equal.
5) Los Angeles Lakers – Obviously Kobe Bryant or Paul Gasol won’t be in the deal. But would the Lakers be willing to give up 24 year old center Andrew Bynum? It’s a puzzling question.
6) Memphis Grizzlies – This team has for so long yearned for a point guard. They probably wouldn’t give up Rudy Gay. Would they be willing to give up Marc Gasol or OJ Mayo? GM Chris Wallace is bound to take any risks and I wouldn’t put this past him.
7) Charlotte Bobcats – Any deal for Paul would include any combination of D.J. Augustine, Gerald Henderson, Steven Jackson, or Gerald Wallace. This is another option, but no Chris Paul type player would be attained in return.
8) Houston Rockets – Any combination of Kyle Lowry, Aaron Brooks, Kevin Martin, Trevor Ariza or Shane Battier would suffice. Granted the pool of players from this team is substantially more talented than other team, but no equal value can be produced.

We’ve exhausted over all the scenarios and teams that Paul could end up on and honestly, none of the teams have anything of substance to offer in return. We’ve come to a crossroads where Paul is one of the best players in the league and producing anything of equal value will be offered makes things far more difficult. And I highly doubt that the organization will trade him away for scraps and pieces. Thus we’re left with a difficult marriage. A marriage where one partner wants out, but the other partner still isn’t ready to part ways. And frankly, the only way Paul might be granted a ticket out of New Orleans is if he does what Governor Edwards proclaimed decades ago and is found with “a live boy or dead girl”.

- Aon Hussain


Fittingly enough, today's ESPN headline reads, "Hornets turning away calls on Paul."

Ladies & Gentleman: Mr. Kurt Thomas

The Bulls added their fifth piece off the offseason, 15 year veteran Kurt Thomas. To sum him up just read a quote from him:

“Basically, I’m a good person out there until you tick me off,” Thomas told the Times. ”If you mess with me, I’ll mess with you. If you want to push and shove and throw elbows, I can do that, too. I’m not Charles Oakley. I’m Kurt Thomas. I believe I can do some of the things he did on the floor. He could hit the 18-foot jumper, and I believe I can fill that role. He was a great rebounder, and I feel I can rebound the ball. When I first got here, the question was: With Charles Oakley being gone, are the Knicks a different type of team? My job is to be physical on the floor. If that means knocking a person coming down the lane, I’ll have to bop them.”

Thus, the Bulls added a banger who can hit the open jump shot. Moreover, he serves as the experienced presence the Bulls lost when Brad Miller signed with the Rockets for 3 years $15mm. His career numbers are 8.8 ppg and 7 rpg in 25.7 mpg, with his demeanor as an enforcer (in the hockey sense) providing intangibles not seen in the box score (except for leading the league in fouls two straight years). Additionally, Thomas has played in 89 playoffs games including in the Finals with the Knicks in the late 1990's. All in all, a good move as the Bulls continue to fill out their roster.

Bulls consider McGrady, a Reality Check for Deng?

As sources are indicating, the Bulls are evaluating Tracy McGrady via workouts and talks with his agent. Yes, this is the same Tracy McGrady that wowed the NBA before being plagued with chronic back problems. T-Mac's time in both Orlando and Houston were filled with both extreme highs and lows. At his best, T-Mac was considered one of, if not the best player in the league. However, as time went on and he never made it past the first round of the playoffs, that status quickly diminished. Nevertheless, after a decent effort for the Knicks last season (averaging 9.4 ppg and 3.9 apg in 26.1 mpg), and considering how cheap he would be given his age and injury problems, it is not unthinkable that he could be of some value to a team (he does average 21.5 ppg for his career including 32.1 ppg in 2003). Personally, without seeing him workout, I cannot make any conclusive judgments. Say what you want about T-Mac, but this guy can tear up any defender when he's on. Moreover, although he's been criticized for being a ball-hog, teammates speak highly of him and he averages close to 5 assists for his career. From watching him, I do think he gets others involved and is not the "give me the ball now" type as much as a Kobe, Dirk, Melo, etc. The Bulls are intrigued because they lack "create your own shot" scoring. While Rose and Boozer can create their own shot, Rose is a PG and Boozer is a post player; they need someone who can take people off the dribble and hit tough jumpers from the wing. Nevertheless, I also think the Bulls are slowly building a juggernaut through young, hard-working players, and I would hate to see a washed up scorer like McGrady mess up the chemistry in place. Rather than overanalyze the pros and cons of signing T-Mac when this is all still in the early stages, I'm asking why are the Bulls even considering him?

The answer: My feeling all along is that the Bulls look great at the 1,4, and 5 spots. Our weakness: the wing. Yes, Brewer and Deng can defend. Yes, they are both solid players who can contribute. But can you be a genuine contender with these players at the wing? I think both of these players could start on a championship team, but not next to each other. Brewer is mostly a defender, and although Deng averaged 17.6 ppg and 7.3 rpg in 37.9 mpg (15.8, 6.5, 34.2 respectively for his career), he is not a go to guy scorer. Deng's game involves a lot of slashing, puts backs, and his specialty: the 20 footer. Having both watched a plethora of games and talking to many fans, most people share a similar sentiment: Deng gives you great minutes, but he's not clutch. How many times have we seen Deng score 10 points in the first quarter and than dissapear. I have never seen Deng take over a game in the fourth quarter and will the team to win. Now, I am not saying I dislike Deng as a player, I just don't think the Bulls can bank on Deng as their 3 to win a title if they don't have an all star scorer at the shooting guard position. The good news is Deng is still young and has only played in the league 5 years. The bad news is Deng is being paid around $13mm through 2014, seriously comprising his trade value given current NBA economics. Thus, while the ideal move is to use Deng, a great role player and potential star as trade bait for a guy like Anthony, the reality is we may be stuck with Deng. Again, when I say "stuck" it is not that I do not like a 18 and 7 guy, it is that I believe to win a title you need a great wing player and a great big man. I love Rose, but he is a PG. The Lakers have won the last two without a great PG. The Celtics won before Rondo was a great PG. The Heat won with Wade without a great PG. Additionally, Nash, DWill, Kidd, Chris Paul, and Stockton have a total of zero rings, just to name a few. Thus, while I'm hoping the Bulls are the exception, I believe we need more than Rose and Boozer in terms of offense fire-power, and I don't think Luol is that guy. As my colleague Ari Schwartz said (unbiasedly as a Wizards fan), "Luol Deng is a fourth option on a contender, he's run of the mill as a third option." This is how I feel and this is why I cannot fault the Bulls for considering guys like T-Mac and Iverson, who may have 1-2 20 points per game season's left in the tank. Finally, I will say that it is not simply your scoring average but how and when those points come. To me, Deng hits his open shot and scores hustle points, but his 18 points are typically quiet and rarely come in the clutch.

Maybe you guys disagree: Lets get a debate going both via the poll and comments, I think the Deng situation is central to the Bulls future, and I know others feel the same way about that.