Chicago Bulls Previews

by Jeff Clark on Oct 12, 2009 6:28 PM EDT in NBA Previews

They were the prototypical "scrappy young team" that gave the Celtics fits last year. They could be on their way up. Then again, reading the tea leaves around letting Ben Gordon walk could mean something different.

NBA Blog Previews - Chicago Bulls - Blog a Bull

The loss of Gordon was truly significant in signalling a change of direction of the franchise. Where the winning of the 2008 draft lottery could've been seen as the most significant piece of an already talented team ready to contend soon, letting Gordon go meant that in the name of avoiding the luxury tax, the Bulls were instead going to try and get under the cap and re-build around Rose and a 2010 free agent.

And with a declining cap and some decisions to be made on several key players (Hinrich, Salmons, and Thomas) before getting far enough under in that summer, the Bulls may not be able to pull it off. A better plan would've been to use a decade of record profits as justification for a luxury tax bill (even for a non-elite team), and using their expiring contracts to obtain even more talent. The elite teams in the league stockpile good players and get even more, not let them walk in the name of flexibility. And Gordon was the best player ever to have played through his entire rookie deal only to let walk for nothing, a truly spectacular failure from the Bulls standpoint. Things could certainly work out ultimately, but it's a huge risk and the Bulls will need to perform this season as well as get lucky in free agency to make the gamble worthwhile.

Give Me The Rock " Blog Archive " Chicago Bulls Team Preview

What are the team’s biggest strengths? Derrick Rose.

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Comments

I really think the Bulls let Ben Gordon walk because they are going to go hard after Dwayne Wade...

If that happens watch out in the 2010-2011 season.

by Mike-Dub on Oct 12, 2009 6:31 PM EDT reply actions

Ben Gordon's not that good.

Sure, when he gets hot, he can’t be stopped, but what else does he give you? He’s overpaid now, and the Bulls were right to let him walk. I’d like to see them go after Boozer or someone else who both helps them this year and helps their cap situation in 2010.

I think Rose will take a step forward this year, and the Bulls management should be able to create enough cap room to add at least one of the top free agents. It’ll be interesting how Deng fits in as well. Chicago has a chance to be the best non-elite team in the East.

by PJ Martinez on Oct 12, 2009 7:09 PM EDT reply actions