Derrick Rose, John Salmons, Kirk Hirich, Jannero Pargo and (rarely) Lindsey Hunter in the backcourt. Luol Deng (assuming he’s healthy), Tyrus Thomas, James Johnson and Taj Gibson at the forward positions. Joakim Noah and Brad Miller playing center. Aaron Gray and Jerome James watching silently from the end of the bench.
Barring the inexplicable and unforseen, those are your 2009-10 Chicago Bulls.
According to Bulls GM Gar Forman: “The roster (is set) as of now. We talk to a lot of teams to see if we can make ourselves better. Outside of a major type trade, I really don’t see us doing anything. We would anticipate we will carry 13 players.?We have a qualifying offer out to Aaron Gray and all indications are that he will sign it and return.? I like our roster. We like our young core and where we’re at. We feel pretty good going into the season.”
In other words, don’t expect Carlos Boozer or David Lee to come walking through that door anytime soon. Bulls management has assembled what it feels is a solid core group of players and manipulated the salary situation so that the team will be $12 million or more under the cap going into next summer. They feel their job is done…for now.
The players just have to play. Rose has to improve — and there’s every indication that he has improved and will continue to do so. Deng must not only be healthy, but he’ll also need to return to his 2006-07 “almost an All-Star” form. Thomas has to play like it’s a contract year (and it is). Salmons needs to prove he can play shooting guard full-time (and stay on fire from downtown). Noah and Miller has to rebound and bang bodies (and an occasional inside score wouldn’t hurt). Hinrich and Pargo must provide scoring and steady play off the bench. The rookies need to contribute when called upon. Gray and James have to work on waving towels and handing out Gatorade.
On paper, these Bulls look like a solid 40-win team, unless one or more key players get hurt or the team mysteriously takes a step backward (ala the 2007-08 season). That won’t necessarily thrill a fan base that wants at least a small glimmer of hope for banner number seven…but it’s what we’ve got.
Wow, Deng just turn 24 year old, I guess u r a bulls fan for knowing that lol, so I guess your still right mike, he is already develop at that young age and won’t improve at all. I don’t have to twist any of your words, your the 1 saying it.
Who r u calling mentally challenge??? wait i am mentally challenge, remember son it runs in our family white power brother WOW!!!! lol
you people are set in you lil world stay in it please i did not say he wont get better you are puting words in my mouth i didnt say he is already developed either so he we go again you are mentally challenged
here
wow you guys are realy set in that small lil world of yours its going to hurt when reality smacks you in the face
isn’t this what you said: “oh my god you people are stupid deng is young and develp but durant is youger and already better.” You c, i guess your right again mike i should stay in my mentally challenged world lol
Your Right again mike, b-cuz in my small world your a god lol
Mike, your one of the 1st people that I mate as a Bulls fan that thinks he knows it all and that your never wrong. But your right since your god when it come to knowing things about basketball, I am just mentally challenge so i would not know nothing about basketball. lol
WOW white power!!! what was that brother mike??? reality will smacks us in the face??? o0o, like that one time when the doctor slap your mom when you were born lol
Thats right mike, shut-up and don’t talk be a good lil boy lol
Lets just wait and c if your right about the bulls which your totally wrong. We all agree they are not a championship team yet, but we all think the Bulls are a playoffs again for sure. Get ready to punch yourself in face and feel stupid when the get into the playoffs again this year! GO BULLS!!!
it’s been a couple days for me so forgive guys for going back a little, but mike you are truly an idoit, your acting like fucking elton brand is a savior to an nba franchise! what the hell has Elton brand ever done? 6’8 6’9, power forward that really hasn’t done anything with his career, yeah i said the brand for chandler deal was a wash and it was, at least with chandler we made the bleepin playoffs, not because of him! but he was on playoff team while in chicago, brand is ok and overpaid, whats your deal with power forwards short pwer forwards that don’t play greate D, you keepin saying how the bulls don’t play d, but yet you wand Brandless and fuckin LOOZER, dude
mike i know your probaly pissed because everyone here is ripping everything you say, but dude if your a bulls fan than be a fan your acting more like celtics or piston fan someone who dosen’t support the Chi-town BULLs,
please mike stop sucking dick
You c mike, I just made my point of how much of a lil punk you are. You talk a lot of trash against the bulls and you can’t even back up it with true facts and statements. U c, I am a true die hard Bulls fan unlike you b-cuz I answer all of your questions with true facts and statements unlike you that is alway lost for word when I treat your ass. GO BULLS!!!
Yah mike, GO BULLS NOT U lol
bobbinbob, you seem like a cool old guy but mike is honestly the one provoking all the profanity on this comment board, he’s just the little bitch caught sucking dick now trying to blame others, mike i really hope you brighten up cock sucker lol sry i like pissing this kid off
whats up with racial slures? i don’t understand how someone who is a racist can also be a fan a pro sports thats retarded, all mnajor sports are made up of diffrent races and cultures, it’s fuckin 2009 not 1709 grow with the times mike, it’s not hispainics that make you stupid, possibly your parents for allowing to grow up making comments like that, but you oughta grow out that if plan on being a succesfull person, lets just talk about our bulls on this comment board, not dissin your mom and pops but that just not kool man
Yah chris! tell that punk mike-(Mr. knows it all) lol Don’t worry chris, I think garcia, mike killer & myself made mike cry & made him feel stupid for all those comments we left him lol So we wont be hearing from mike in a long time. THANK GOD!!!