Based on the comments left on yesterday’s post, there’s a reasonably large contingent of Bulls fans who think management should make signing Chris Bosh their first priority.
If you’re in that group, you may get your wish.
John Jackson of the Chicago Sun-Times writes: “According to sources, the Bulls may try to lock up center/power forward Chris Bosh first and use that as a part of their sales pitch to James, the main domino in the NBA’s high-stakes free-agent game. With Bosh on board to go along with point guard Derrick Rose and center Joakim Noah, the Bulls could say they’re the only team James is considering that already has two former All-Stars (Bosh and Rose) and a potential one (Noah). The key to building a championship team, the Bulls would argue, is having multiple All-Stars, and James would be hard-pressed to find such an impressive supporting cast already in place.”
Of course, there are a million things that could go right or wrong with that plan — for starters, the Bulls couldn’t sign Bosh to a max deal and still afford LeBron — and GM Gar Forman knows it.
Said Forman: “There’s no way to know; there really isn’t. When [the free-agent period] hits, we’ll be on the phone, we’ll be aggressive. We’ve obviously looked at a lot of scenarios, how different things could play out, not only in free agency but possible trades or whatever it might be. Our job is to prepare for different scenarios, and that’s what we’ve spent a lot of time doing up to this point, and we’ll spend a lot of time on that [until tonight].”
Meanwhile, the latest in the LeBron Rumor Bonanza has Cleveland — not Chicago, Miami or New York — as the current frontrunner for His Royal Majesty’s basketball services.
According to Brian Windhorst of The Plain Dealer: “James still considers the Cavs to have the edge in re-signing the two-time Most Valuable Player, a source close to James told The Plain Dealer on Tuesday. This is based not only on the fact that the Cavs can pay him $30 million more than another team over the next six years, but also that the team is near James’ home.”
If that’s true, then it provides even more reason for the Bulls to target Bosh as their top priority.
I just don’t see the Bulls getting Bosh without LeBron. It’s either Bosh and LeBron or plan B. However, if they wait around trying to sign both Bosh and LeBron (which they really have to do at this point), it will be interesting to see who would be left for a possible plan B. I wonder if guys like Joe Johnson will wait around, or sign a max deal with a team like the Knicks before letting the dominoes fall. It will be very interesting to see how this all shakes out.
There is no chance the bulls come away empty in this free agency yet the only real question is who they will sign,
there are a number of players out there that can help the bulls .
They are doing the right thing going after bosh first so that if they get him and LbJ does not sign then Joe Johnson will be the next option and I am sure they will be able to sell Bosh on this because the bulls will have a compeditive team that will make a big run at the championship without Lbj if he is not here in chicago.
So it is my hope this is what the bulls do to get Lbj and also make sure they do not over pay for just anyone to join the bulls this year the waiting time is over now its time to get it done Game on Gar and Paxton. Peace
I firmly believe LeBron is staying in Cleveland. I have changed my opinion on Bosh, he would be worth a max deal for the Bulls. I believe he should be the primary target for the Bulls. Then the Bulls need to find 2 guards and a backup center. That eliminates the possibility of a 2nd max contract FA but is necessary if the Bulls are going to move to the next level. Gettig Bosh will be difficult because there is no way Tronto will do a sign and trade with the Bulls without gutting the teams core.
omer asik will be our backup center for noah next year… we need bosh/james or bosh/jjohnson to happen…if we get bosh/james we could sign mike miller or kyle korver for cheap…if we get james/jjohnson we can get carlos boozer or david lee for cheap….anxious to see what will take place in the next 7days
I am so sick of everyone on espn hearing rumors or whispers about something and then they immediately publish it as fact. I am sure that everyone here has noticed that the reporters on espn have publish that Lebron is definitely signing in miami, its a done deal in chicago, he is going to sign and trade to dallas…its all complete speculation and these reporters should be forced to back their stories up with some real facts before they are published. I almost feel like saying screw it and stop reading all the articles and saying i dont care who goes where (but i cant stop haha).
On a completely different note, I think that the bulls should go after bosh and joe johnson. I think that those 2 fit our team better, lebron hogs the ball to much to coexist on a team with rose (and this is rose’s team). Bosh only wants to win, he doesnt care about stats or money…he wants championships. I think lebron wants championships too, but he also really really wants the money and the fame and the big stats.
If lebron truely wants to win championships asap he should come to chicago, and if that is his intent, then i would love to have him on the team…but if he cares more about the other stuff, then let somebody else have him and let somebody else not win anything with him just like the cavs have done for the last 7 years.
Oh and one last thing
Stephen A Smith and Chris Brussard dont know what they are talking about. They are both functioning retards and you shouldnt listen to a word they say.
I think we can all agree that as long as we don’t sign Ben Wallace again (read: NO AMARE!), we will have a very very good team next season.
I hear ya Dan the Man. After last season, I’ve begun to think someone with a lot of free time should put together a compilation of quotes from ‘sources with knowledge of the team’s thinking’ and ‘a source close to…’ like both Smith and Brussard always use and show how one or maybe two of them were correct and the rest were just yapping their mouths to keep the ear of the press close to them.
This Bulls organization is a totally smart organization if they steal LBJ or not lucky enough if they fail to steal James,it’s has always been both,historically with this Chicago organization.Chicago may land Lebron like how they landed Jordan in 1984 from Portland and like how they stole D’Rose from the draft in 2008.Chicago will still get plenty of other options to sign like Bosh,Johnson,Stoudemire or Boozer even if they are not lucky enough to land LeBron.Chicago has already seen this movie before when they were totally heartbroken in signing Tim Duncan because he chose to stay in San Antonio of course and even we Bulls fans can put zero blame on him for doing that some years back when that free-agent class took place some years back which I still remember even to this day like it was just a day or two ago.It is time for Chicago start attracting free-agent like they have never before since Jordan and Pippen left the Windy City and it’s time for the Bulls to return to that 90’s glory with heirs like LeBron and Bosh joining forces with D’Rose and Noah after Jordan and Pippen. GO BULLS.
I am with you all the way Dan the Man. I found myself today thinking the same exact thing. These writers have taken advantage of this situation by publishing whatever garbage they want to keep their names in the headlines it is such bull (pun intended). I am so sick of all the LBJ talk. I agree 100% with you all that we will get 1 very good player if not 2 and have a very solid team for years to come so that is something to look forward to. I am just getting so fed up with having to hear all these bogus things that are being reported by these no talent ass clowns. They report it like its fact yet their “source”/reasoning goes unexplained, so silly.
Everyone knows what the Bulls need to improve the team and begin building a dynasty, a PF who can score and play defense, a long SG who plays defense and can hit 3’s, a backup center, and a swing guard who can backup Rose and the new 2, improve the depth. If we can land Bosh, there is the PF. It is going to take money to get Asik to leave Europe this year, and Asik is injury prone. No one gets to the finals without a quality bench. The Bulls have none at this time. While it would be nice to have LBJ, the Bulls do not need him to improve. Let him go. Focus on the needs.
I am in COMPLETE agruance with Dan the Man, I have gotten in countless argurments about this LBJ situation. This is DERRICK ROSE’S Team no if’s, and’s, but’s about it, and my biggest fear is that we do get LBJ and he try’s to take over the team. I would love to have LBJ, but at the sametime I would hope that he comes in with the right understanding, knowing that he was brought here to HELP win a chip, NOT take away from our ready franchise player in Derrick Rose, my fear is that we get LBJ and Rose just becomes forgotten because all this hype on LBJ, don’t get me wrong LBJ is a beast, But I think Joe Johnson and Bosh or Boozer fits out team a lot better, because they don’t need the ball as much as LBJ. Lets hope all goe’s well.
I like the Bulls plan..I would want to get Bosh first..then if LeBron wants to join, he can but if not we just simply go after some people that can shoot cause that’s what we’ll need next.
Who says Bosh will only go where James goes? From what I hear Bosh wants to be the man, he wouldn’t be that with James?? He wouldn’t be the man in Chicago either that’s our Rose..but we can let him think it 😉
The report that Atlanta will offer max money to Joe Johnson is a game-changer in my opinion. There is no other team after the playoffs that I believe is anxious to pay JJ max money. If that’s true, then he’s not going anywhere. Max money with the addition al $30 million on the six-year deal; that’s a no brainer.
I like the idea of going after Bosh first, I always have. He is not only a stud, but he fills a need the Bulls have had since they lost Elton Brand (now a corpse) If JJ stays in Atlanta, DWayde stays in Miami, then things start to get interesting. I’m really starting to think that LBJ might resign with Cleveland which is another reason to go after Bosh because he is definitely moving. Bosh S&T for Gibson, first round pick and filler? I still think James Johnson has a lot of untapped potential (not to mention he’s from Wyoming). Get a shooter like JJ Redick and you’d have Rose, Redick, Deng, Bosh and Noah withi Johnson and a re-signed Brad Miller coming off the bench? Pretty tough.
If today is any indication, I think the home-town teams are going to step things up a notch in trying to keep these guys
Lebron James takes trash teams deep into the playoffs year after year. (Larry Hughes anyone?)
Chris Bosh couldn’t lift a pretty descent team into the 8th seed during a contract year while HAVING HIS BEST SEASON EVER!!!!!
yeah lets get that guy
LOL the fact that Atlanta is offering the max just shows where they are as an organization. They will never be better than they are right now and are happy being on the brink of making the playoffs every year. They also probably think it is unlikely they will draw good free agents to go there so they figure why not. He likely would get near max money from other desperate teams but I did not think Atlanta was that desperate until now.
All due respect to Toronto (great city), but Bosh playing in a balls-deep basketball town will make a difference. If Bosh joins this roster and we reach the playoffs, we will see a difference.
Guys will sign for max Money. I can’t see them leaving a penny on the tabe and signing for less.
James, Bosh, Wade. I say let them go to the Miami Heat if Pat can clear the cap space. He can use the remaining cap space to sign Arron Gray at C and Pargo as PG.
Really! The Heat with three all stars and nothing else.
Inky don’t get me wrong, Bosh would be an excellent addition. All I’m saying is that if you have to choose between THE best player in the league (my opinion) and a really good PF, it’s a no brainer.
I agree with most of you guys, the Bulls should target 1st Chris Bosh as their top priority! Not only that the Bulls ready need Chris Bosh more then Lebron James, since we don’t have a good low post scorer ever since we traded away Elton Brand for Tyson Chandler.
If Chris Bosh is smart, he would sign with the Bulls since we have a great PG passer like: D. Rose that can help him keep his scoring average up and a great wing man Center like J. Noah to back him up inside the painted area to help him score more easily and help him on the defensive end.
Then hopefully Lebron James will join us when he see the Bulls signing Chris Bosh by completing our monster lineup of D.Rose, J. Noah, L. Deng, Taj Gibson, James Johnson, C. Bosh and other solid players.
If Lebron James does not leave Cleveland it is not the end of the world, we still have a chance to win a championship title if we sign the right guys that fix well with D. Rose and Tom Thibodeau defensive system.
The only problem I’m seeing with Bosh is that Toronto is ready to offer him a max deal..which is what Bosh wants, the problem is that if we try and do a sign and trade we have to match the contracts. So. Outside of Deng who else we gonna offer to match the contract??..we’ll be gutting our team up. We traded Hinrich so we could free more money up and sign the guy outright. I guess this is where a 3rd team comes into play…
I guess we’ll see how this shapes out…LeBron said he wants to make his decision by July 5th. So while he’s doing that..we should take care of ourselves.
I agree, we have to handle our business 1st with Chris Bosh and then worry about Lebron James. Hopefully Chris Bosh is willing to leave Toronto and leave them nothing in return by signing with us.
Why not:
Timberwolves sign David Lee, trade Al Jefferson in a three team trade.
Al Jefferson to Toronto, Deng to Minnesota and Bosh to Chicago.
It makes sense for all 3 teams. MN needs an SF, Toronto gets a young big man and the Bulls get who they really should want. Or, just trade Deng for Al Jefferson and sign Lebron and a bunch of shooters.
Bulls then sign Lebron to max money and the Bulls still have cap space to go after a few shooters.
Well now it’s plan A (Lebron/Bosh) or pretty much a bust, seeing how our plan B (Johnson and Dirk/Boozer) is pretty much out the window…
Yahoo.com reported that the Hawks offered a six-year, $119 million contract to Johnson in their meeting and that Johnson was prepared to accept the offer.
Johnson’s representatives were also scheduled to meet with the Knicks and Heat as well, but Johnson’s first choice is to stay in Atlanta, a source told ESPN.
Not a bad idea Aaron, expect I don’t like your idea of us getting Al Jefferson. He does not fit well with D.Rose up tempo system. He plays more of a slow pace tempo and he does not run the floor well compare to Bosh and Lee.
Sorry, I forgot to cite my source for my previous post…
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5344459
Aaron that is a pretty good scenario!! @Jason in Aaron’s proposal we would get Bosh not Jefferson. I think that could work for all teams except now we need to find someone to play SF next season.
I have a perfect one in mind…maybe you guys have heard of him. His name is LeBron James
I can’t believe that the Grizzlies Gave Rudy Gay Gay a Max contract…….
Hey what can I say Rudy Gay is a good player and he deserve it.
@ Savage
no Aaron also said “Or, just trade Deng for Al Jefferson and sign Lebron and a bunch of shooters.” or Chris Bosh
I am going on record right here right now , I am gonna say it I finally think and truly feel that LBJ is coming to chicago that decision was made long time ago we just had o get to this free agency and yes bosh is coming with him wade on the other hand has to fend for himself he tried to get them all together and convince them to come to his house and play,*his house) key words not only that but then there is the pay thing a few dollars maybe they might have came but this is alot of mooney and no way bosh makes more than LBj and he has to be on wades team to double slap in the face,
Bosh is gonna be the first to sign with the bulls they will do a sign and trade and Lbj will sign for the max money, say good bye to deng the writting is on the wall and there will be a big party going on in chi next week end for the annoucements of this all via trade with the wiz b4 the draft
nothing has said much about that since it happened and yet that is totally in effect and it has some implications on this sign and trade thing, its all coming together I hope cleavland forgives him and I also hope they understand it is his choice and his right to go where he wants to play this is gonna get ugly for most b4 it gets pretty but the bulls will come out of this free agency smelling like rose.
cause if it is about winning then this is the place bosh and LBJ comes no questions eeven steve wonder could see this is the best place and the best chance for them to win now so if its about money then this free agency thing was a big joke so lets just cut to the chase either yr in or out no need to drag this out anymore its been too long already I am ok with the tema we have now even without either we will get some good players and will help our team reguardless , Besides LBJ might just stop D Rose and his progress to be one of the best in the league that is a fact he is a true star and still growing and he is soo young yet still so all is not lost if they dont sign with us so if they want to win then they will be in with us enough said . Peace
No DJ, it’s just another team overvaluing a player..we did it with Deng. We thought Deng was the second coming, lol
Kinda like the Hawks throwing max money at Joe Johnson. He is not worth the max and they’ll regret that in 2 years when he posts another whooping 29% shooting in the playoffs again.
@ Trm3
Yah but, the difference between L. Deng and R. Gay is that we pay Deng more money then what the Grizzles did with Rudy Gay.
Plus, me personally I think Gay is a better player then L. Deng.
Chicago Needs a outside shooter and a low post presense it would b nice to add james or wade to tha mix with tha core of guys they have but who would they get the ball to for wide open jumpers or three pointers. A shooter and a big man is what tha bulls need and i hope they get it. Az we all saw during the playoffs and tha regular season not having a three point threat out there hurt them alot.Tha bulls dnt hv to really make a splash this year it would be nice to c but we all knw it wnt happen. Offer Bosh a Max contract team him with Boozer and Noah and u hv a frontcourt the can get u atleast 30 boards a nite. then add a mike miller to play along side rose in the backcourt and and why not bring back chris duhon as a back up for rose at the point. Shot even tha a chance on Tracy Mcgrady again mayb this time he would say yes. Roger Mason would also b a good fit coming off tha bench along with deng,johnson,and gibson. LIne up with Rose, Mcgrady, Bosh,Boozer,And Noah sounds like a winner to me.
OK all this talk bout James and Wade. The Bulls Need a Low Post Scorer (Bosh) and a Outsider shooter. Lets be Real Here Chicago doesnt have to make a splash here. U can offer Bosh tha Max Contract that takes care of our Low post. Then go after Boozer and play him at ur small forward spot. a frontcourt of Bosh,Noah,and Boozer That can Match any frontcourt in tha NBA. Then u go after guys like Mcgrady yea he getting older but u wnt have to pay him much money to come. theres ur backcourt. If u cnt trade Deng u still hv him on ur bench along with Gibson and Johnson. U see if Chris Duhon would come back to town as ur back up for Rose add a Mike Miller or Roger Mason to tha mix and theres ur outside shooters. And u still go ahead and see if u can re-sign Brad Miller. The Bulls Drafted Derrick Rose to be tha Face of the francise Two Years ago so keep it that way and build around that. Az history has shown us Recently u need A Point Guard and Center to win Championships. If all that doesnt work out u sign Wade and Bosh. Rose and Wade Backcourt Bosh,Noah and Deng ur frontcourt and add some pieces to the bench the bulls HAVE to Get A Outsider shooter and I see that work.
I rarely create responses, however i did a few searching and wound up here Free Agent
Watch: Chicago?s first target may not be you-know-who
?. And I do have 2 questions for you if it’s allright. Is it only me or does it seem like a few of these responses come across like coming from brain dead visitors? 😛 And, if you are writing at other places, I would like to follow everything fresh you have to post. Would you list of all of all your shared pages like your twitter feed, Facebook page or linkedin profile?