Post by bankz on Aug 19, 2010 19:58:10 GMT -5
The entire Chicago Bulls Organization is now available for questions. We can cover all topics. The time is yours ..................
1. Do you wish that as an organization you had a little more patients with JO, Tmac, and AI? That was a good collection of talent but just was hurt and didn't get time to jell together. Do you think you overreacted to injuries and inconsistent player?
There is no question that looking back on last season that we made many mistakes. Lucky for us the fans have not torched our homes. We should of allowed those three the opportunity to play together this season. We are not knocking the players we got in return for JO, AI and T-Mac because we feel very confident the Jay Williams and Caron Butler in time can lead this team to great things but it will take time. Jermaine, Allen and Tracy are in the prime of there careers and if we could take the deal’s back its something we do.
Injury’s to JO and AI and the lackluster play of T-Mac were factors into moving them, but not the only reason’s we chose to re-build. We sat back and watched as the teams in the west were just handing studs to the GM’s in the East. And we took a long look in the mirror and asked, can a healthy big three with the roster that surrounds them, can it compete with extremely talented and deep teams like the Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics and we were unsure those three on there own could do it. And with no picks and the FA market looking weak for at least 3 years talk began to maybe see what we could get in return for our stars. I think it is clear that before the season began Tracy McGrady did not put the time and effort into the gym to take this team into the playoffs and it showed during the season. So did we overact? You could say that. But we are confident that in a few years we will be a very strong team and Bulls fans will be rewarded for sticking with us during this time.
2. Who was the other team that you backed out to talk with? Also, what went through your head that night as you were breaking up the Big 3 that you had put together? Did you realize at the time that it was a rebuilding effort that would take several seasons or what?
We originally wanted to package two of the three stars in a deal for multiple 1st round picks. We had a deal on the table with the Sacramento Kings that we felt was a done deal. But before we could move AI we wanted to make sure if we moved AI the deal with the Kings would not be affected. Once we got confirmation that moving AI would not hurt the deal with Sacramento we felt we could make the deal with the Pistons.
Some teams were ok with letting it be known that they were making a move for our former players and other teams did not want to be mentioned. In sim league people love to put there two cents into every deal even before its official. People love to be critics and so we respected the wishes of that GM. We will continue to respect those wishes and if they would like to come out and say they were in the AI sweepstakes then great.
Yes at the time we knew that moving AI would be the beginning of the end for the any title run. We understand it will take some time to build a championship contender. But in the 3 deals we made the Bulls got 7 1st round picks and 5 2nd round picks along with Caron Butler and Jay Wlliams. Some of the other pieces have already been moved for Nene. We still hold the Bucks 1st round pick a likely top 5 pick and we were able to snag both of our original picks in 2004 (likely top 5 pick) and 2005 1st. On top of that we have 20 million in unused cap space we plan on using during the FA market of 2004 when some of our former players along with a ton of mega superstars will possibly be on the market. We feel by the 2005 we will be a title contender.
3. Two seasons ago, Tracy McGrady was a serious candidate for league MVP and earned All NBA 1st team and All NBA Defensive honors. However, after undergoing a hiccup in the off season and being injury plagued, you moved him as quickly as you can, citing rebuilding as the main reason.
One of the key pieces in the trade involving McGrady, Caron Bulter had a somewhat disappointing training camp while McGrady regained his MVP caliber stats. How do you think this trade will affect your franchise moving ahead and had you known before hand that Butler and McGrady would have the types of training camps that they did, would you still do the trade?
Well with all due respect to Tracy, after the 2001 season we sat down with him and explained how important it was to work his butt off in the off-season and be ready to lead what we felt was a title contender in 2002. Well I think we all know that Tracy did not put the effort in and he had a horrible TC. His lack of effort and desire only got worse once Jermanine was hit by the injury bug. I think everyone involved from Bulls management to Tracy himself would tell you it was time for a change.
I think the change of scenery had helped Tracy. He worked his butt of in TC and regained some past form. We wish him the very best. As far as Caron is concerned we are very happy with Caron. Moving to a second team in less then a year is not easy on a NBA rookie. We felt both he and Jay Williams have done a fantastic job settling in to Chicago. If we could get all three big stars back would we do it yes. If we could just take Tracy back would we do it, no. Caron is having a good start to the season, he is our leading scorer at 24ppg and he has improved his 3 point shot. We feel that there is very little drop off from T-Mac to Butler.
4. Besides not being to pry Haywood from Kahn's hands, do you consider Eddy Curry to be one of the better young centers in the league? Why did you trade away JO, who is infinitely better at a similar age, only to show interest in Curry now?
Haywood was not a priority for the Bulls in the T-Mac trade talks. Butler was always the center piece to that deal along with getting our 2004 1st round pick back. We definitely feel like Eddy Curry can be one of the best centers in this league. Its no secret we have made multiple efforts since the Creation Draft ended to get Eddy back in his home town. There was talks with in the organization to keep Jermaine and build around him. But the offer we received from the Kings was something we felt we could not pass up. We have been fortunate to be able to make a deal for Nene a big kid with a huge future. Our quest for Eddy has now officially ended.
5. What will your thought process be going into the draft should someone like Dwight Howard not declare? Will you use all 4 or will you use 2 and then try to get some savvy veterans?
Well we have no idea who will be available be available come draft time. But there are some very special players in the draft that is clear. With three 1st round picks and 6 total picks the scouting department is out as we speak looking at prospects. In a perfect world we would love to land the top 2 picks in the draft. But if the lotto balls don’t fall our way it is possible that we deal some of our picks. We have no interest bringing in aging vets. Leadership is solid with Jay Williams and Caron Butler so we don’t feel a veteran presence is needed on the team. I think I speak for the entire organization and every Bulls fan around the world when I say we rather be lucky then good when the ping pong balls are picked.
1. Do you wish that as an organization you had a little more patients with JO, Tmac, and AI? That was a good collection of talent but just was hurt and didn't get time to jell together. Do you think you overreacted to injuries and inconsistent player?
There is no question that looking back on last season that we made many mistakes. Lucky for us the fans have not torched our homes. We should of allowed those three the opportunity to play together this season. We are not knocking the players we got in return for JO, AI and T-Mac because we feel very confident the Jay Williams and Caron Butler in time can lead this team to great things but it will take time. Jermaine, Allen and Tracy are in the prime of there careers and if we could take the deal’s back its something we do.
Injury’s to JO and AI and the lackluster play of T-Mac were factors into moving them, but not the only reason’s we chose to re-build. We sat back and watched as the teams in the west were just handing studs to the GM’s in the East. And we took a long look in the mirror and asked, can a healthy big three with the roster that surrounds them, can it compete with extremely talented and deep teams like the Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics and we were unsure those three on there own could do it. And with no picks and the FA market looking weak for at least 3 years talk began to maybe see what we could get in return for our stars. I think it is clear that before the season began Tracy McGrady did not put the time and effort into the gym to take this team into the playoffs and it showed during the season. So did we overact? You could say that. But we are confident that in a few years we will be a very strong team and Bulls fans will be rewarded for sticking with us during this time.
2. Who was the other team that you backed out to talk with? Also, what went through your head that night as you were breaking up the Big 3 that you had put together? Did you realize at the time that it was a rebuilding effort that would take several seasons or what?
We originally wanted to package two of the three stars in a deal for multiple 1st round picks. We had a deal on the table with the Sacramento Kings that we felt was a done deal. But before we could move AI we wanted to make sure if we moved AI the deal with the Kings would not be affected. Once we got confirmation that moving AI would not hurt the deal with Sacramento we felt we could make the deal with the Pistons.
Some teams were ok with letting it be known that they were making a move for our former players and other teams did not want to be mentioned. In sim league people love to put there two cents into every deal even before its official. People love to be critics and so we respected the wishes of that GM. We will continue to respect those wishes and if they would like to come out and say they were in the AI sweepstakes then great.
Yes at the time we knew that moving AI would be the beginning of the end for the any title run. We understand it will take some time to build a championship contender. But in the 3 deals we made the Bulls got 7 1st round picks and 5 2nd round picks along with Caron Butler and Jay Wlliams. Some of the other pieces have already been moved for Nene. We still hold the Bucks 1st round pick a likely top 5 pick and we were able to snag both of our original picks in 2004 (likely top 5 pick) and 2005 1st. On top of that we have 20 million in unused cap space we plan on using during the FA market of 2004 when some of our former players along with a ton of mega superstars will possibly be on the market. We feel by the 2005 we will be a title contender.
3. Two seasons ago, Tracy McGrady was a serious candidate for league MVP and earned All NBA 1st team and All NBA Defensive honors. However, after undergoing a hiccup in the off season and being injury plagued, you moved him as quickly as you can, citing rebuilding as the main reason.
One of the key pieces in the trade involving McGrady, Caron Bulter had a somewhat disappointing training camp while McGrady regained his MVP caliber stats. How do you think this trade will affect your franchise moving ahead and had you known before hand that Butler and McGrady would have the types of training camps that they did, would you still do the trade?
Well with all due respect to Tracy, after the 2001 season we sat down with him and explained how important it was to work his butt off in the off-season and be ready to lead what we felt was a title contender in 2002. Well I think we all know that Tracy did not put the effort in and he had a horrible TC. His lack of effort and desire only got worse once Jermanine was hit by the injury bug. I think everyone involved from Bulls management to Tracy himself would tell you it was time for a change.
I think the change of scenery had helped Tracy. He worked his butt of in TC and regained some past form. We wish him the very best. As far as Caron is concerned we are very happy with Caron. Moving to a second team in less then a year is not easy on a NBA rookie. We felt both he and Jay Williams have done a fantastic job settling in to Chicago. If we could get all three big stars back would we do it yes. If we could just take Tracy back would we do it, no. Caron is having a good start to the season, he is our leading scorer at 24ppg and he has improved his 3 point shot. We feel that there is very little drop off from T-Mac to Butler.
4. Besides not being to pry Haywood from Kahn's hands, do you consider Eddy Curry to be one of the better young centers in the league? Why did you trade away JO, who is infinitely better at a similar age, only to show interest in Curry now?
Haywood was not a priority for the Bulls in the T-Mac trade talks. Butler was always the center piece to that deal along with getting our 2004 1st round pick back. We definitely feel like Eddy Curry can be one of the best centers in this league. Its no secret we have made multiple efforts since the Creation Draft ended to get Eddy back in his home town. There was talks with in the organization to keep Jermaine and build around him. But the offer we received from the Kings was something we felt we could not pass up. We have been fortunate to be able to make a deal for Nene a big kid with a huge future. Our quest for Eddy has now officially ended.
5. What will your thought process be going into the draft should someone like Dwight Howard not declare? Will you use all 4 or will you use 2 and then try to get some savvy veterans?
Well we have no idea who will be available be available come draft time. But there are some very special players in the draft that is clear. With three 1st round picks and 6 total picks the scouting department is out as we speak looking at prospects. In a perfect world we would love to land the top 2 picks in the draft. But if the lotto balls don’t fall our way it is possible that we deal some of our picks. We have no interest bringing in aging vets. Leadership is solid with Jay Williams and Caron Butler so we don’t feel a veteran presence is needed on the team. I think I speak for the entire organization and every Bulls fan around the world when I say we rather be lucky then good when the ping pong balls are picked.
