Sam Smith

It perhaps won’t be remembered that fondly in Bulls franchise history. The Bulls hope it to be a first splash of paint in the more appealing picture to come.

Bulls vice president John Paxson Tuesday told reporters that these last 25 games for the Bulls in clearly what is not a playoffs season will be devoted to further determining which other players will be part of the design for the Bulls future. It’s clear for three of those players, Lauri Markkanen, Kris Dunn and Zach LaVine.

They will play together these last 25 games without playing time limitations for the first time all season after only playing in games together four times. The evaluation continues for the remainder of the roster. The Bulls believe they already can make judgments on most of the players on the current roster. But not all. So those players will move into the regular rotation

Thus Paxson said Felicio Thursday against the 76ers will get his first start of the season in place of Robin Lopez, who was the only Bulls player to start every game this season. Hello, Mr. Embiid. David Nwaba also will start, replacing Justin Holiday, who missed one start all season for the birth of his first child. Lopez and Holiday both have been averaging career highs in scoring. And with Nikola Mirotic traded Holiday leads the Bulls in three-point shooting.

Plus, Cameron Payne will back up Dunn at point guard with Jerian Grant out of the rotation for now. Presumably, Noah Vonleh will play some as well with Lopez and Holiday also out.

It probably was an inevitability given the Bulls stated goal this season to reconfigure the franchise with the trade of Jimmy Butler last June. There were unexpected disruptions along the way with the preseason punch that put Markkanen into the starting lineup unexpectedly. He produced faster than expected, and with the development of Dunn the Bulls became more successful and competitive than expected. Even presumably by them.

There was considerable outside discussion about the best way to conduct this season. Some suggested to lose as many games as possible to secure the highest draft pick with this the last season before the odds of getting the top three picks change for the teams with the poorest records. But the Bulls also needed to find out about their three players from the Butler trade, draft pick Markkanen, Dunn and injured LaVine.

All proved impressive even as Dunn went through a pair of injuries, Markkanen was a rookie and LaVine was returning from serious knee surgery.

“The exciting thing for us is for the first time we’re going to have a healthy Zach, Lauri and Kris,” Paxson pointed out. “They’re obviously the core. Kind of what we’re talking about in terms of getting to know our players is guys like Bobby Portis and Denzel (Valentine), who will continue to have roles; we’ve learned a lot about them. In our position, we have to look at the big picture. And that’s what we’re doing.”

That doesn’t necessarily mean there’s no future with the team for players like Grant, Holiday and Lopez. Paxson said it just means the team knows enough about them. It doesn’t know enough about Felicio, who signed a four-year contract last summer and has been unproductive, and Payne, coming off foot surgery last summer. Nwaba has played more than either of those two, but the Bulls also want to see if he can develop more, especially his shooting.

“This is all going to be very fluid,” Paxson said. “But we need to get these guys on the floor.”

Which doesn’t make it any easier for the players going from being regulars to being regular fans.

But that’s also been the rule around the NBA in recent years during these late season periods. The Suns, for example, last season stopped playing Tyson Chandler for months. The Kings weeks ago started sitting veterans every game and then trading away George Hill. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said it benefits his team to lose.

“Having played, I was out of the rotation several times,” Paxson noted. “I know what it’s like to be asked to take a lesser role. Players have pride; so it’s hard. It’s just the position we’re in as a young team, 20-37 with a lot of young guys and several who we haven’t really had the chance to see play much this year. For us to make the proper evaluation in terms of who fits us moving forward, this is something we have to do.”

There has been a distinction of sorts as teams like the Mavericks and Bulls were seriously competitive for much of the season. Just not that talented. Now with the playoffs out of reach, it’s not so much they are purposely losing. After all, all the players presumably will be trying hard. And the Bulls are playing extended minutes for their three best players. But the agreement apparently also includes not playing the team’s best lineups.

The Bulls picked up an option on Payne for next season. He played poorly after being acquired for Doug McDermott and Taj Gibson last February and then was hurt again. The Bulls especially want to see what he can do. Yes, the Bulls have to experience some Payne.

“We want to see him as a point guard, especially when you’re running with the second unit,” said Paxson. “His role is to get us into offense quickly and efficiently and make the right play with the ball. He hasn’t played in a long time. He got some G-league games in. Cam has to run our team. We saw once Kris Dunn got his confidence and swagger back, he did a great job of running our team. That’s what Cam has to do in a backup role.”

The Bulls currently have the eighth poorest record in the NBA. But they also are just three games from the worst record, a tie at 18-41 between Atlanta and Phoenix. So as there will be jockeying at the top of the standings for home court advantage and seeding, there figures to be at the bottom for those lottery odds. The Bulls have their own draft pick and New Orleans’. The Pelicans currently are eighth, a half game ahead of Clippers and a game and a half ahead of Utah. So it becomes a balance to compete. Because if players don’t play to win, they cannot be evaluated. So the irony, as well, is it’s to the benefit of the new regulars to play to win to show what they can do. Which all continues the curiosity of coaching these Bulls.

“I understand where we are right now as an organization,” said Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg. “From my standpoint, it doesn't change our approach and that's the important message to our players is we need to go out and have great practices and have great competition and play extremely hard once we step on the floor for the games. So I get where we are and we're going to try to put a game plan together to try to give our team an opportunity to compete to win and that doesn't change.”

bulls-refocus-on-the-future-in-final-25-games

Bulls refocus on the future in final 25 games

In regards to the Warriors and keeping that team together for the long term, how long do you think they can keep the core (Curry, Durant, Thompson, and Green) together and who do you think is the first to go? Steph Curry has said he would like to play for the Hornets - would the Warriors ever consider letting him go for cap reasons and would he ever leave to fulfill that childhood dream?
Timothy Koncel

Do you believe that there's any chance that Dwyane Wade doesn't opt-in for the upcoming year?
John Jenkins

This NBA season should be remembered for the best team in the league having to bring in the leagues best scorer to beat Lebron James.
Michael Burling

The 95-96 Bulls vs this year's Warriors matchup and thought of you right away--specifically, the point you make about how different the officiating was then vs now, with all the hand checking and the sometimes brutal play in the paint. I've never seen a team that shot as well as the Warriors, though maybe the Suns teams in the 90s were close. So I think if the game was played by current officiating standards, the Warriors would have a good chance. If we used 95-96 officiating standards, I'd favor the Bulls. But it would be fun to watch, either way, especially Rodman and Johnson.
Kirk Landers

During a finals game, LeBron threw a dunk to himself off the backboard, a dunk known in streetball as "dinner's served". I wanted to know how dinner's served would be counted in the stat sheet? Is throwing it off the backboard considered a missed shot attempt and a rebound? There's no question about the dunk, but I was wondering about the first part.
Gaurav Garg

If you're going to be a 6 ft 8 wing without much post-up game, you better be a clutch shooter. Lebron doesn't give you enough compared to Larry Bird, Jordan... perhaps Oscar Robertson. We also saw Lebron's defense be underwhelming - and perhaps even a detriment to his team. Did you notice around Game 1 of these 2017 Finals when  Durant was in the middle on a fast break... Lebron jumped out to the 3 point line (thus, highlighting the flaw in many of today's media/fans thinking: The philosophy that 3 pointers are so key to winning NBA Games).

The game hasn't changed THAT much from 20 to 40 years ago: You still need to protect the rim. Lebron leaves the lane wide open because of his defensive decision, and Durant goes straight to the cup for a dunk. Great defensive players at least should contest the shot, take some wind out of the ball handler and force him to hit 2 free throws. Just terrible D from the player some think is the best in the NBA and one of the 3 greatest NBA players ever? Lebron is not the best player ever, let alone best forward. Larry Bird would have contested the shot much better.
LongGiang Le

Lakers looking to rid themselves of 2nd overall pick, not interested in selecting Ball. True?
Tom Plonowski

Enjoyed the season watching a great organization (top to bottom) have so much success! They proved it’s ‘Better Together’.
Rex Doty

What are your thoughts on LeBron saying post game he has never been a part of a superteam? I mean, if he hasn't, who them? To paraphrase himself, he has been a part of not 1, not 2, not 3... ok maybe only 2, but you get the point!

Also, can we finally end the forced debate he's on the same level as Michael? I don't care how many all stars he has faced, the man barely escaped being swept for a 2nd time in the Finals. Regardless of the competition, I really don't Michael letting that happen (maybe it's a delusional inner fan in me, or maybe it's true, but there's no more qualified person to comment on that than you).
Jay Ernani

I share the idea that in the draft you have to select the best available play with the pick 16 but with the number 38 pick I would like the Bulls to take an international player that many know little of their skills, but with a good exploration We could find the next Jokic. There are three players that have caught my attention that at some point they will be in the NBA are: Verners Kohs, Kostja Mushidi and Arnoldas kulboka. With the pleasing results with the selection of Paul Zipser the previous season you think that the Bulls look for some player from abroad in this draft.
Piero Paguaga

From what I hear, ratings for these Finals are up. I don't really get it. It's hard for me to get excited about a 73-win team that added a top-3 player. Watching them is about as exciting as watching the USA Olympic team romp through the Olympics (maybe that's exciting for some people). They even improved their winning percentage without KD during the regular season! So what are your thoughts on how to take this Warriors team that might be doing this for another 2-5 years? I get the "wanting to see stars" thing... but the difference between the Warriors and the rest of the league seems huge. If LeBron joined the Warriors in a year, would people like that? I'm not arguing; I just don't get stacking talent to the point where you don't have a non-competitive league. Oh well; I guess there's Summer League Championships to be won.
Alejandro Yegros

Looking back on the NBA (Finals), how come Harden, Westbrook, and Durant did not stay together? They had their own super-team right in OKC?
Randall Sanders

Transition offense is where GSW shines. The key isn't the shooting, though that's impressive and they bring it off the bench too. The key is how fast they advance the ball and the way they find the best shot. I can't think of too many teams that come down the floor like they do, though Showtime Lakers and mid-80's Celtics, come to mind and also those Steve Nash/Stoudemire Suns teams really attacked great. Both Lakers and Celtics each had a couple of notable rebounders, and that's what's missing from current GSW team. I give 'em credit, they rebound from everywhere on the floor to make up for it. I can imagine if they play a team that boxes out consistently, things change. So, nice team.  Big on intangibles, too, though I do wonder about an important one: resilience. We just have never seen them in a deep hole so we can't see how they go about working out of one. All time great team? Couple of things wrong with saying that now.

For starters, they've been together for a couple of years.  Give or take, Celtics were great for almost 16 years. Showtime Lakers had three #1 overall draft picks and each of 'em played like it. Jordan Bulls teams showed that resilience, trying and trying and finally getting over the top. That's the sign of greatness, that irrepressibility.  What did GSW do when they lost? Went out and got an MVP? That's honestly a little disappointing. They were a team that had CLE 3-1 and just screwed it up. Does the GM not
trust the team he put together? One sorta wonders about what sort of message it sends. I guess lots of teams would have gladly taken Durant, so on that basis it's hard to fault them, but does a great team need to sign someone to get over the top? Does signing this top player make them great? I'd say no. I give Kerr props for mixing them.

Does this make them as impressive as the '77 Sixers (or in a somewhat different dimension, the '82 Sixers)? Are they really a remix of the '88 Suns that didn't have the Lakers to deal with or the '88 Cavs with a different set of rules and no Jordan? Is Curry better than Mark Price or is it that there's no hand checking any more? I like Daugherty's game more than Durant's, but maybe that's just me even as I acknowledge Durant's superior productivity. How much of that is the system Durant's played in? Green has a super game, but he's not nearly as athletic or as scary as Nance was on that team. And GSW team
has no one on their second unit like Hot Rod.

If you found yourself nodding thoughtfully once or twice there, how can GSW be "all time great" and there be any discussion at all like the last paragraph? That '88 Cavs team didn't make it out of the first round. These things tend to be subjective and that's the fun of them. But, it's only fun if it's legitimately arguable. And if one can
arguably compare a team that got bum rushed to this GSW bunch, sorta
makes you question "all time great" huh? Can we say they were both fine
teams and leave it there?

On my end, talks about super teams begin with the '70-'72 Knicks only
because the 60's Celtics were a little before my time. That team impressed
the crap out of you in all three phases, plus they had a pretty
eye-popping roster, were led by a great coach, played at an extremely
high level against Hall of Fame players. Of course, I'm
personally partial to the '71-'75 Bulls, but that's fan's privilege.
Pete Zievers

ask-sam-mailbag-06-16-17

Ask Sam Mailbag: 06.16.17

There is no comparison between the 90s Bulls and the Warriors. The 90's Bulls went on a 3 championship run, while Warriors won a title, lost a title, and on the verge of winning yet another title with the help of somebody who they didn't need. You can't compare the two teams. Okay yes, back then we had a highly defensive squad/this season's Warriors are very similar, but overall considered we're the only team so far to do a 3peat in terms of winning a NBA title, there's no comparison. Had the Warriors won last season, and were on the verge of winning their 3rd title, then you could truly compare the two teams. All they are this season, is the Western version of the LeBron James' Miami Heat team. A whole bunch of 'stars', with people left wondering if the MVPS will be Curry/Durant in a tie (cause technically it's still Curry's team, despite how many points Durant has scored so far).
Kieron Smith

Bad coaching also costs you playoff games. How is it that Tyron Lue doesn't call a time out with over 30 seconds left down by one? He stood there and watched Irving play hero ball for 15 seconds, wasting any chance at getting a two for one. As Michael and Kobe found out, you need a coach at the end of close games, someone you can trust. Not LeBron's caddy.
Jim Harlan

I really don't understand Lebron James in this series. I get that the Cavs are overmatched, but Lebron has yet to score even 40 points in this series (just missed it by 1 point in game 3).

Why isn't he being more aggressive? He should really be aiming for 45-50. And where are the post-ups? JR Smith and Iman Shumpert clearly don't have it, so why does Lebron keep giving them opportunities to prove as much (I can almost see why Phil let them go for a bag of chips and a second rounder). It seems like he's forcing his game of unselfish play and "smart" basketball at the expense of playing a different type of basketball for the sake of winning. I thought he finally understood this in the 2015 Finals. Triple doubles are nice, but constantly looking for an open Smith, Shumpert, or Jefferson isn't ideal when you're the best player in the world -- not  exactly Paxson, Hodges, and Armstrong on the perimeter. Take the shot when in the paint instead of passing to an open Smith/Shumpert/Jefferson, make the shot or get fouled and go to the line (has Lebron ever been one to not get calls?). There will be misses that don't result in free throws, but 5' from the basket is still closer than 20.
Terrell Bryant

If you look down the road Jimmy's next contract would be a bad one for the Bulls - a supermax which takes him well into his 30s - considering the minutes Butler has played already and that players at his position not aging well. So how about, after recent reports that 76ers are open about trading their No. 3 pick, trading Butler for No. 3 (Josh Jackson) + a player from the 76ers (Saric) + letting Mirotic walk in free agency.
Jerry Becker

What’s with the meeting with Butler &amp; Bulls management? Is this management's way of saying, “We really want the build around you but if we are offered a deal we feel we can’t turn down, be open minded to a trade” According to the media, the meeting was to discuss the future direction for the team. Reports say both parties left very satisfied (whatever that means or amounts to).
Randall Sanders

Would you trade Jimmy to Minnesota for Z LaVine and a swap of draft picks?
Michael Freeman

As fans, we often forget that winning a title often involves luck, which means lucking into a Lebron or Duncan or Curry. Even Curry didn't manifest to how he is today without Kerr. Plus as GMs you have to appease your boss - as in the owner. Trading a high pick in a "surefire" draft, trading / letting a popular player go, etc. will not endear you to the owner - even if you're right in the long run. After all, acting against popular demands often result in mock and ridicule - and you may not get to keep your job because of it. Even if you're proven right down the road, you will not be able to enjoy the fruit of your labor - the new GM will. Also is it blasphemous to say that (unfortunately) the Bucks will be better than us in the near future based on their current core?
Abram Bachtiar

I checked back in with a dozen mock drafts today. The consensus picks for the Bulls are Jarrett Allen &amp; Donovan Mitchell, with 3 each. Nobody was picked twice. Others mentioned were John Collins (Wake Forest), Justin Jackson (UNC), Terrance Ferguson (Aus.), Juwan Evans (OK. St.), OG Anunoby (Ind.) &amp; Anzejs Pasecniks.

When you first mentioned Donovan Mitchell, I wrote, "Not sure how I feel about a 6’1” shooting guard (Donovan Mitchell). I think we already have one (Canaan). I have visions of guys 6’4” and up shooting many 3’s right over him.” I’ve learned since then that he is 6’3” and very athletic, also did very well filling in at the point for six games last season. Shooting stats are mediocre, but he is supposedly improving there. Sounds better than he did to me at first.

Jarrett Allen strikes me as a project and a gamble. He’s long &amp; athletic with huge hands. But I’ve heard there are questions about his motor, his D &amp; his IQ. Only 19, so there’s room for growth, but no guarantee he has the brains and the drive to improve. If he DOES though… well, that’s a helluva a body. Ferguson is another gamble. The one thing he can do right now is spot up (39% from the arc), and his motor looks fine. But he’s very young and needs to learn a lot. Both he and Allen need to add at least 20 lbs, of course.

Don’t know anything about the others.  OG Anunoby?  Anzejs Pasecniks??  (Gesundheit!)
Art Alenik

I know this won't happen, but here's a doozy of an 4-team NBA blockbuster trade I came up with...

Bulls get: No.2 pick (Ball), Ingram, Mozgov, Brewer and Black

Lakers get: Butler, George, Anthony, Lopez and Rondo

Pacers get: Clarkson and Randle, No. 28 pick
Mike Kay

Who is LBJ going to beg to come to the Cavs via free agency this summer at a vast discount? Does he beg Gordon Hayward? Chris Paul? Or will LBJ be the new 6th man for the Warriors?
Mike Sutera

Does the new CBA allow for amnesties as was the case with its predecessor?
David Thompson

Can you please explain the delay in announcing the Bulls picking up the Rondo option? By waiting until after the June 22nd draft they would be implying that they could draft a point guard that would make Rondo unnecessary. If they feel he has trade value don’t they need to exercise the option? Pax said it was almost certain they would pick up the option. It’s nice to retain your flexibility and options but Wade or not, why wait?
John Petersen

Portland is said to be shopping all 3 1st rounders; want to shed some bad salaries with them (Leonard/Harkless/Crabbe). So we take 15 and Harkless for a future pick and someone like Payne. We get a shooter athlete in Harkless and have 15 and 16 to get a PG and an athletic big.
Bob Ding

LeBron will be 33 years old next season as will Deron Williams. Richard Jefferson will be 37 as will Kyle Korver. Channing Frye will be 35. J.R. Smith will be 32. Kevin Love 29, Tristan Thompson 26, and Kyrie Irving 26. James Jones 36. Shumpert 27. Derrick Williams 27. Do you see these teams continue to add pieces like a Korver, R.J., Andrew Bogut, Deron Williams to their teams in order to deepen their roster? Also are you in favor of these superteams? I am not. Also, rumor has it Dwight Howard is looking to prolong his career by expanding his range to the three point line. Thoughts?
Tom Plonowski

ask-sam-mailbag-06-09-17

Ask Sam Mailbag: 06.09.17

You’re not about to get Jim Paxson into that debate.

“Everyone will be compared to Michael because he transcended things when all this wasn’t possible,” the Bulls’ Director of Basketball Operations and older brother of John Paxson was saying this week. “But Lebron in his own way has taken it to another level for the way he’s grown into it as a person and as a man. He’s grown into not only one of best players who ever played the game, but you never hear anything off the court, married with a good family and kids. I have so much respect with the way he handles the day to day exposure and then impacting the game.

“He’s very particular in his business ventures and these guys who are around him, they aren’t just there because they are his friends; they all bring something to the table,” said Paxson. “LeBron’s loyal, but he’s a smart businessman. I think we did some things beneficial, but he had things in place.

“My boys are his age and you tell your kids it’s about choices in life, and for the most part LeBron has made a lot of really good choices. Did I have any part of that? I don’t know,” Paxson says, “but I respect the way he’s handled those choices and grown with so much media attention and the whole comparison with Michael and championships. Watching (these last two games), you see the way he after 14 years with probably two years of playoff games him still impacting the game like that on a nightly basis. It may not be enough to win in this series, but it’s still incredible. I always say you can put him on any team in the East and he would get that team to the Finals. You don’t have to say anything else.

“We should embrace that we’ve seen greatness over a  period of time like with Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods,” Jim adds. “We got to see Tiger Woods play unbelievable and we’ve gotten to see LeBron and whether he wins more than three (titles), five, four whatever, he’s made the impact on our game for the better and we’ve seen greatness.”

It sounds like a valedictory speech, though LeBron isn’t going anywhere.

But that he came to Cleveland in the first place and was in the Finals within four years was thanks, in large part, to the work of Jim Paxson. And you wonder why you don’t hear Paxson’s name mentioned more in all these personnel searches.

No, Paxson didn’t manipulate the ping pong balls that enabled the Cavaliers to get the No.1 draft pick in 2003 when Paxson was Cavs general manager. But Paxson cleverly and quietly without the overt failure route some teams have taken and eased the Cavs in place for what became the rebirth of the franchise.

Yes, LeBron left Cleveland to win titles. But he did return and Cleveland finally got that championship last season. That streak surely is over now with the Cavaliers trailing the Golden State Warriors 3-0 in this season’s Finals. But they can’t take that title away from Cleveland, and Jim Paxson was there to help start it all.

“When Cleveland won last year, (former owner) Gordon Gund, he still owns a percentage of the team,” noted Paxson. “He contacted me—I never said anything--and he said, ‘I hope you feel good because this whole foundation, even though it is to been so far removed, started with you.’

“I’m from Ohio and always wish Cleveland well,” Paxson noted. “I was asked back when they retired Zydrunas’ (Ilgauskas) number. I wish I would have had a chance to finish what I started, but at the same time I know the business side of this. Dan (Gilbert) and (new) ownership had every right to come in and say they wanted to put their stamp on it. And even though they lost LeBron, they got him back and got a championship. So I’m happy for the organization and the city of Cleveland.”

Paxson wasn’t looking for any credit or, really, missing it. He’s enjoyed his work with the Bulls and with his brother, often scouting out west where he lives now and consulting with the organization, a rare former all-NBA player who also was a leading executive.

Paxson was a two-time All-Star player with the Portland Trailblazers, one of the leading scorers in Portland history and probably one of the other reasons the Trailblazers didn’t draft Jordan. Paxson never saw it that way, though he did outscore Jordan the first time he faced him in Portland. Paxson said it was the last time he outscored Jordan. But with Paxson a 1983 and 1984 All-Star and coming off averaging more than 21 points in consecutive seasons and also with Clyde Drexler, the Trailblazers figured they were well set at shooting guard.

And then Paxson went on to be an executive with the Trailblazers and rebuild the Cavs.

Which is why I asked Jim why I never hear his name come up in all these executive situations. He isn’t the pushy type, and very much enjoys his work with the Bulls. Still, he said he would like another chance to help build a franchise as he did with the Cavs.

“I feel valued and the Reinsdorf family and Bulls organization has treated me great,” Jim says. “I really appreciate and respect the opportunity I’ve had with the Bulls for the last 10 years and the chance to work with my brother and what I do has been great. If I had the opportunity to be a strong second to a young GM getting in the league, I do feel I have a lot left to give and a lot of knowledge about the game and how things are done, and if I had that opportunity I’d embrace it.

“Personal things happened back then,” Paxson admitted alluding to his wife’s death from cancer in 2007.  “I did a stretch consulting with Bulls, wasn’t out pushing myself.  You know: Out of sight, out of mind.”

Paxson isn’t looking to leave the Bulls and hardly unhappy. I was the one who began asking him about it because he’s always impressed as an excellent executive. And that Cavs team that went to the Finals so quickly in 2007 effectively was the one he built even if he was fired after the 2004-05 season when the franchise was sold.

Would LeBron even have returned to Cleveland if he didn’t start there?

But it was Paxson’s manipulations without the taint of quitting that put the Cavs in the best position in what was shaping up as the draft of the decade. Plus, Paxson had already stolen a nice piece with Carlos Boozer a second round pick the year before. Paxson in 1999 took over a .500 Cavs team reviled for its boringly slow play, As general manager his first priority was getting rid of the ever expanding Shawn Kemp and his also bloated salary. Paxson quickly succeeded, picking up some spare parts, cash and draft picks to hit the restart. Cleveland was ready after all the years of Jordan heartbreak.

The Cavs were rolling along winning about 30 games each season, which wasn’t quite bad enough.

“That season before (in 2002) we traded Andre Miller to the Clippers because he was up for that rookie extension for Darius Miles and some parts,” Paxson recalled. “I told ownership even though there is no guarantee (for the top pick), we need to take one more step back because this (2003) draft is going to be special (Paxson said their draft order was LeBron, Carmelo and then Bosh). Andre was good enough to keep us in the 27 to 31-win range, which would take you out of that top three to four picks. We tied with Denver (for the most lottery balls) when we won the last game of the season. Then we got lucky to get the No. 1.”

Paxson had been watching James for a few years because James was from nearby Akron and he saw it, too.

“To me with great players, the thing that always jumps out is their vision and he had incredible vision, played the right way,” Paxson said. “Could have scored 60 to 70 points a game and didn’t. Other than one person on the board room asking, ‘Should we consider Carmelo Anthony over LeBron,’ and before I had the chance to answer the owner, Gordon Gund, said we never would consider anyone else.

“The biggest thing was you knew he had a chance to be a great player and special, but it was more what kind of environment were we going to put around him,” said Paxson. “I talked to Kevin McHale, who had Kevin Garnett as a young player; what did he do well? What did he wish he had not done? We tried to do things to keep things the same as much as we could. For example, everyone had four passes to the family lounge; LeBron didn’t get eight, he got four. We hired Paul Silas as coach, former player who could be a good mentor.”

Though much of that egalitarian theory evolved when ownership changed and Paxson and Silas were out.

“I said at the time I thought LeBron would be a combination of Magic and Michael,” said Paxson. “The size of Magic, the vision and passing ability of Magic and the athletic ability of Michael. I didn’t think he would come in and score at the clip right away he did; but I always felt as he emerged as a player he’d figure it out, what the team needed for it to win. If it needed him to get 40, he could get 40; if it needed a rebound, assist, defend, he would do what the team needed to do to win.”

Then the plan became salary cap room for 2005. Though Boozer pulled the alltime fast one.

He’d gotten close with owner Gund, who decided to trust Boozer when Boozer’s agent asked for a reprieve from the cap rules to become a free agent so Boozer could then resign with the Cavs for more. Gund agreed because he knew Boozer was worth more than his second round salary. But Boozer used the sleight of mouth to bolt for the Jazz as a free agent. So Paxson went out and got Drew Gooden, Anderson Verajao and Sasha Pavlovic and they were, essentially, the core of that 2007 Eastern Conference championship team with Larry Hughes coming with the salary cap space.

Paxson knows there were downs as well, draft picks like Dajuan Wagner and Luke Jackson that didn’t work out with injuries. He said right from the beginning they were thinking of getting shooters around LeBron, as the Cavs have today, because of the way James played. So later in that 2003 draft, the Cavs went for Jason Kapono.

“We were just trying to build early on to help maximize his gifts as player, thinking about shooters right away,” said Paxson. “I learned a lot through the process. I feel good about it knowing people still are there from when I was there and an owner I worked for still had a chance to be involved in that championship. Hey, and Quicken Loans treated me great on my mortgage after that. I have no regrets.”

jim-paxson-on-lebron-james

Jim Paxson on LeBron James

Kevin Durant going to the Warriors ruined the season. The Warriors would be tough to handle even for Team USA.
Alex Gray

Klay Thompson MIA? What’s up?
Mike Metz

Is this true? Larry Bird has better stats than Lebron? Maybe just for one season? I'd have to watch Larry's games again to know who was better.I think Bird today would still stand out as an MVP candidate: I have Bird in my top 5 all time. Lebron probably is top 5: Between Jordan, Magic, Bird, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Lebron... I'm not sure who I'd leave out of the top 5. Does Oscar Robertson belong up there?
LongGiang Le

I don’t want to get into the whole Michael vs. LeBron thing in terms of basketball - - for the record, I’m a Michael person - - but I wonder if you could comment on the two from a citizenship perspective. I have admired LeBron’s willingness to speak out on social and political issues and his community commitments as exemplified by his financing of a new school in Akron and his contribution to the African-American History museum in DC. I am sure that Michael has done some of these things privately, but the public impression, exemplified by his famous “Republicans also buy sneakers” comment, is that he has little to any concern with these issues. Is that accurate, and, in your view, is it fair to have such expectations of professional athletes?
Michael Mezey

NBA Draft scuttle: Media reports are Detroit is open to discussing trades for its No. 12 overall pick in hopes of acquiring more of a win-now veteran.
Mike Sutera

I was at the Bulls playoffs game and saw Ben Gordon there not once but twice. Does he still live in Chicago? How is it that he still has not hook up with any NBA teams? Even though he's older he can still shoot the lights out especially on the 3s. Would the Bulls be interested in bringing him back or has that bridge has been burned beyond point of no return?
David Kim

Boston was a #1 seed heading into the playoffs, while Chicago just about got in with a 41-41 record. This means each/every one of those players, should've been ready to step up to the plate so to speak, the moment Isaiah got injured and yet they only managed to do that once. Bulls never capitalized once Rondo got injured, and it cost us the rest of the series.
Kieron Smith

The Celtics are taking Fultz, with Ball going to L.A. Philadelphia will take either Fox or Jackson. If they take Fox, then Phoenix will certainly look to select and keep Jackson. If Philadelphia takes Jackson, that's when Phoenix may look to trade the draft pick. Sacramento acquired a very promising shooting guard and they'll look to build around Hield with those two lottery picks. I doubt they trade them unless they are trying to move up in the draft by dealing those two draft picks. As much as I would like for Chicago to consider Orlando because of Elfrid Payton who I think is a quality point guard, I think they paid a lot of money to guys like Biyombo, Fournier who are all 23-24 and will look to build around that group along with Gordon, Henizoja, the pick, and Payton. I think the T-Wolves are in a similar position as Towns, LaVine, Wiggins, and Dunn are all under 23 years of age. They just extended Dieng to a major contract to be their starting power forward. In theory, they could look to improve by dealing for Butler and keeping LaVine and Rubio. The Mavericks are looking to rebuild, while the Hornets will likely not deal with the Bulls. Detroit has never been a trading partner for Chicago and doesn't have many pieces neither does Denver and Miami. Another team that is out there is Portland which features three first round picks, however with established young players in Lillard and McCollum they will likely want to add to that.
Tom Plonowski

I am looking forward to the draft but am not at all sure what the Bulls should do. I like keeping Butler, Rondo, and Lopez (who is a steal) and seeing what else they can add.  They do need to fix the 2 guard but have no one on the roster that appears to be starter material. I would take a flyer on a 2 guard and see what happens.
Greg Young

I like the roster okay, little short of tall guys with talent, though. No offense, Lopez. Hope Rondo is the guy we saw this year. Really great to see him working out the youngsters before games. In game love the push. So easy way to trash Butler; I like/appreciate him. I just don't confuse him with someone he's not. He's a really nice finisher you want running the lanes. He also creates turnovers and a lot of bad shots (might as well be turnovers). You don't find guys like that easy.

With this mix what do you draft? I always like long-limbed guys that have decent feet and can catch a less than perfect pass (in traffic?). I have to tell you, the second unit far more intriguing than the starters (despite Rondo moving to the first unit), particularly if Payne contributes. He's a low-to-the-ground slithery/slinky type. If he can deliver off the bounce that's a nice way to initiate with these other fellows. If second unit gets an active big they have some really interesting defensive possibilities. Not expecting anyone to understand s/r defense; just looking for a guy that's got decent body control, good hand/eye, some timing, and runs with his hands/eyes up. I hate to say this (yes, I do) but honestly I don't want Wade on the second unit. There'd be more ups and downs, but he monkey-wrenches their various games/potentially seriously cramps the second unit's style. Plus I don't know if he'd practice enough with the second unit. These guys are still pretty young and aren't exactly plug'n'play at this stage. They need to practice together.
Pete Zievers

Will be the 20th anniversary of the last dance next season. How time flies. I am hoping the Bulls do something special like they did in 2011 for the 91 team. Would be cool to get the gang all back.
Bob Ding

ask-sam-mailbag-06-02-17

Ask Sam Mailbag: 06.02.17

Finally, the Finals, and perhaps finally a competitive series in these NBA playoffs.

It’s been a mostly disappointing NBA Spring. But now it’s seven of the last eight league Most Valuable Player award winners in one series. It’s the last two defending champions coming into the Finals an unprecedented combined 24-1 in these playoffs. It’s LeBron James, regarded as the best player of this generation, against perhaps the most popular in Stephen Curry and James’ closest rival in Kevin Durant. It’s arguably the best shooting team ever in the NBA against a darned good shooting team with the player some say will end his career the best ever to play basketball.

With the teams playing in the Finals for the third consecutive time, it’s a series that is being compared to the biggest alltime rivalries, Ali and Frazier, Federer and Nadal, Evert and Navratilova, Burr and Hamilton, the Hatfields and McCoys, Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner.

I’m looking forward to it even if I don’t believe it’s going to be all that close. I’d love seven games; I don’t expect to be a witness.

No team ever came into the Finals 12-0, and the Warriors are impressive. But also really lucky so far in these playoffs. That would be two of the top three San Antonio Spurs players out injured after Portland’s center was injured after the Utah Jazz center was injured and the Jazz pretty much were just happy to win a first round playoff series.

Consider, first round opponent Portland, a .500 team without its starting center and a year since losing it’s best player, LaMarcus Aldridge, had been out of the first round twice in the previous 16 years and not past the second round in that time. The Jazz had missed the playoffs five of the previous six seasons. And then the 61-win Spurs were without former Finals MVP Tony Parker and current MVP candidate Kawhi Leonard. But only after trailing the Spurs by more than 20 points when Leonard was hurt in Game 1.

Leonard’s very good, and perhaps will be in the Basketball Hall of Fame one day. Same with Parker. Surely the Spurs Pau Gasol, too, though he’s now at the end of his career. It’s difficult to find other than Leonard a potential Hall of Famer in his prime on any of the three teams the Warriors defeated. While the Warriors likely have at least two and perhaps three or even four depending on the rest of Draymond Green’s career.

Though the Warriors probably had the more difficult path compared with Cleveland’s. Did the Cavs face even one potential Hall of Fame player in their 12-1 run? Perhaps Paul George, but he’ll have to do a lot more. DeMar DeRozan? Isaiah Thomas? C’mon. And if Rajon Rondo doesn’t get hurt with the Celtics just having lost two straight at home who believes they’re in the conference finals?

OK, perhaps that’s a good reason these playoffs were so one sided. But now we get the Greatest Series Ever?

You mean better than the 1961 Finals with 11 future Hall of Famers? Or ’62 with Russell, Cousy and Sam Jones against West and Baylor. Five of the top 25? And having to beat Wilt to get there. Or the next year to beat a team with three Hall of Famers led by Oscar. Heck, you’d have trouble finding a Finals in the 1960s without at least eight Hall of Famers on the two teams. Or in the 1980s; like in 1985 with nine future Hall of Famers in the Finals and perhaps three of the top six players of alltime. Or maybe 1987 with eight future Hall of Famers. And I still haven’t mentioned Jordan.

Look, this should be a terrific Finals for drama and story, the Greatest Guy against the Greatest Team. And a welcome relief after almost two months with some excellent performances, very good games, but not much in the competitive series category other than the occasional Eastern undercard contested series. But let’s not forget greatness just because you didn’t see it.

Though perhaps one of the best things about this Finals is also how the loser explains it.

LeBron, we know, is scrutinized like few players ever. If the Cavs lose, who knows if he’ll come out of his basement before August for all the commentary that he really is no Jordan. Or maybe Magic or Kareem. If the Warriors lose, it means LeBron gets to replace Teddy Roosevelt on Mount Rushmore. After all, Teddy wasn’t even the most famous Roosevelt. What’s he doing up there? And the once and future dynasty just becomes another Silicon Valley overhyped startup.

The curiosity about this matchup is both seem to have become villains. LeBron, of course, has long been the Great Ambivalence, dividing the basketball world like the nation’s political parties. The Warriors, though seemingly a nice bunch, have taken on a somewhat unlikeable quality because of Kevin Durant’s signing. And really, who isn’t tired of Curry with all that mouth guard chewing and celebrating every time he makes a three. Look, San Francisco already is the nation’s capital of smug with the views, the technology and the hybrid cars. They also need their basketball team to act like that?

So at least whoever loses, a lot of people will feel good.

It’s almost like the Dallas Cowboys playing the New York Yankees.

So let’s get it on starting 8 p.m. Central Thursday

Here’s a look at the matchups is what will be one of the most intriguing series for individual battles. Which, everyone knows, we are told is what the playoffs are all about.

Point Guard: Stephen Curry vs Kyrie Irving

One of the great rarities of this series is two of the league’s best players, perennial all-pro players and perhaps both eventual Hall of Famers, will not win their individual matchup. Irving is one. He was great in the Eastern Conference playoffs and actually has outscored Curry in the Finals. And made that winner in Game 7 last year. But, like Curry, he’s not much of a defender and could have issues in this series. Both teams, like basically all NBA teams these days with defense not so much a priority any more, do a lot of switching. So matchups will change, though Golden State has by far the better defenders. Other than Curry, that is. He’s their defensive Achilles. So Curry will probably guard J.R. Smith, who is basically just a jump shooter. Klay Thompson, who is one of the best perimeter defenders in the league, likely defend Irving. Irving is amazing with the dribble, but doesn’t much give up the ball much. He’ll get to the basket, but everyone often stops to watch while the ball whirls all over with the Warriors constant motion game. Irving will likely have to defend Curry as Smith probably is not quick enough. And generally due for two or three goofy things every game or two, though quiet lately. The Warriors also have this tendency to relax and act overconfident and then turn over the ball. It’s almost like kids trying to make a game more competitive against the little kids in the neighborhood. Forget that after the embarrassment of losing last year with the 3-1 lead. You get the feeling the Warriors aren’t messing around this time. Now they just need the shots to go in.

Shooting Guard: Klay Thompson vs J.R. Smith

Thompson has been unusually non proficient in the playoffs this far, shooting under 40 percent. Worse, he’s not a brother anymore. When you hear about the Splash Brothers these days, it’s more Curry and Durant, who are the main shooters these days for the Warriors. Thompson, as unassuming as he is, seems quietly to have accepted moving down a notch in the Warriors’ star hierarchy. He’s said basically nothing. Of course, he didn’t when he and Curry were taking them to 73 wins. Which does make these guys hard to not like. But you figure a guy who once had almost 40 points in a quarter is going to break out. The Cavs basically are a bad defensive team and if they feel they need Smith on Curry, then Thompson could go off scoring. He may anyway. And how about J.R. not even being considered the wackiest guy in this series with more anticipation about where Green’s foot will be the next time he sees LeBron’s groin.

Small Forward: Kevin Durant Vs. LeBron James

This is bigger than Magic and Bird. More like Russell and Chamberlain. It’s the two best players of the day and, at the time in history, not only in the same series, but probably defending one another. That’s the flaw of all those Jordan/LeBron matchups. They never played. Durant got himself an MVP in 2014 before Curry’s two. Yes, it was Derrick Rose the only MVP in the last eight years not in this series. Obviously, you can’t pick against LeBron individually, and he’s been extraordinary in these playoffs averaging more than 30 points. Other than that off game in Boston when the Cavs had their only loss, he’s charged the basket and avoided the fall back threes that lead to Cavs losses. The Cavs usually try to rest him on defense because he does so much on offense and likes to save himself for those run down blocks. But there’s really no one else to guard Durant. Kevin Love is way too slow. If I were the Cavs, I’d actually try Tristan Thompson, who has some quickness. Of course, that could leave Thompson too far from the basket for rebounding. And the Cavs figure one edge they should have is rebounding. The Cavs like to run and shoot threes, but would they slow it down to try to take advantage of their size for this series? Something to watch for. Coaches never do this stuff any more, but I like the Don Nelson trick of trying to lure your opponent into going to a guy who can’t score. So maybe put Thompson on Durant and have Irving guard ZaZa Pachulia or JaVale McGee if the latter gets in the series. See if the Warriors will stop their shooting and throw it inside. Then you have Smith on Curry and LeBron on Thompson, who is mostly a jump shooter, though he does run around a lot. Tyronn Lue will check with LeBron to see if he can do that. It’s not easy to play with LeBron sometimes even as unselfish as he is passing the ball so much. The Warriors understand LeBron wants to be a playmaker more than scorer and they never double team him. It’s the way to play the Cavs. Dare LeBron to score. It begins to take everyone else out and he really doesn’t want to. Plus, he hates going to the free throw line these days. It didn’t come up much in the playoffs thus far, but when the Cavs lost in Boston it did. Their chemistry for all the talk they do about getting along doesn’t seem that great on the court. When things go bad you always see Cavs guys yelling at one another, especially LeBron. How will they handle things if they fall way behind again? Well, we did come back from 3-1 last year. Durant outscored LeBron when they met in the Finals the one time, though the then LeBron Heat won easily. LeBron will see more defenders, certainly Green and perhaps some Andre Iguodala. But the faceups and staredowns with Durant should be great theater.

Power Forward: Draymond Green vs Kevin Love

Love was lovely, especially in the Boston series averaging about 22 and 12. And Boston had some good defenders, though not particularly tall ones. Green’s not that tall, either, but tough and probably this season’s Defensive Player of the Year. He, like James, can guard every position, and Love always has had problems with him. The Warriors still believe the league took the title away from them last season with the suspension of Green after there wasn’t even a foul call on his field goal against LeBron. Green has been on his best non punting behavior this season with his words having the most kick. Though Love has shot well, Green has shot even better in the playoffs, and Love is going to have problems chasing him around. The Cavs added a lot of three-point shooting to complement James, but those guys don’t move or defend well, which figures to be toughest against the Warriors. The Warriors with Durant are a better offensive team this season and the Cavs with Love, Kyle Korver and Channing Frye, the latter who hasn’t played that much lately, are a poorer defensive team this season. Because Love doesn’t post up much, the Warriors can play other defenders against him as he’ll also see the taller Durant when Green plays LeBron. Mike Brown for Steve Kerr has been a setback for the Warriors even as they are undefeated. Brown went to too many lineups in the playoffs with Curry and Durant off the floor. Bad idea, and that probably won’t happen in the Finals. One should be on the floor all the time because of their abilities to create.

Center: ZaZa Pachulia vs Tristan Thompson

OK, Thompson gets a lot of offensive rebounds. Box out.

Bench: The Cavs kind of manned up in this area with Korver and Deron Williams, though this is going to be a series of the starters. Iguodala hasn’t had a great season, but he was a Finals MVP and if the Warriors don’t win, David West is signing with the New England Patriots next season. Lots of other guys running around occasionally and not doing much, like Iman Shumpert, Richard Jefferson and Shaun Livingston, especially for the Cavs.

Coach: Steve Kerr (Mike Brown) vs Tyronn Lue

OK, I was kidding. Lue never has to really say pretty please, LeBron. Lue’s fine as a coach, but still just finishing his first full season as a head coach. Yes, it’s the Mike Brown of being fired every time they get to know him well, including by LeBron before he left for Miami. He’s running things during games with Kerr still trying to recover from that botched back surgery. Kerr isn’t on the bench to start the series, but he did the media appearance this week and is at practices and doing game plans. The Warriors by now are the train on the straightaway. Throw it in automatic. They adjusted quickly to Durant and he bought in immediately despite Westbrook telling Curry not to pass to him. Just guessing. Their offense is a machine, and they still have assistant Ron Adams driving the defense. Kerr has become one of the elite coaches in the game and his presence is ever present.

nba-finals-the-cavs-and-warriors-meet-again

NBA Finals: The Cavs and Warriors meet again

Let me just say upfront that Michael Jordan was the greatest thing that ever happened to Chicago sports, at least, during my (very long) lifetime and I was convinced of his singular greatness long ago. That said, watching LeBron James, especially the last couple of years, rings the same bells. He dominates a basketball court in the way MJ did. I think debates over the relative greatness of athletes from different generations is pointless, but it's interesting to think about other players who had the kind of impact on a game that MJ and LeBron have--not just scoring, not just defense, but a presence so impactful that the games revolved around them. Kareem, maybe, and Wilt and Bill Russell. Magic and Bird were great players, but I'm not sure they had the same impact on how the game was played. Anyway, it's a treat to be able to watch such a great talent.
Kirk Landers

Rondo out for the Bulls in the first round, Lowry and Nene out for the Raptors and Rockets in the second round, Leonard and Thomas out for the Spurs and Celtics in the conference finals. Not sure if I left anyone off, but has there ever been an NBA playoffs where so many critical and/or best players were lost for their respective series? This all seems kind of nuts.
Terrell Bryant

If the Bulls bring back everyone, the 16th pick of the draft will not help them win games, so they might as well take a gamble. That Diallo kid is worth the risk. The last athletic SG the Bulls selected that I can remember was Corey Benjamin. Am I forgetting someone? It would be nice to have Diallo learn from Wade and Rondo.
Victor Devaldivielso

- Do you see Jerian Grant with a long-term future with Chicago? I think he's a rather nice combo guard. He can play point or the shooting guard position. He seems more of a shooting guard based on his play. I expect him to back-up Wade if Valentine can't cut it. He and Payne should battle it out for Rondo's back-up spot.

- Do you think Canaan will be back next season? His option will only have $200K guaranteed for next season if he happens to get released this summer. He's only 26, he's not really a veteran presence. Sure, he's a nice bench player too have, but I think the Bulls should get rid of him.

- Do you see Wade retiring a Bull? Sure, he'll be back next season. I don't expect for him to be back in Chicago after his contract runs out, but do you see another team signing him then or could the Bulls bring him back for a bench role?

- What are your thoughts on MCW ? Could he be someone that can still be that 15/6/6 ball player on another team that has different needs at the point?

- Where does Rondo go after next season? I think Rondo signed with the intention of him, Butler, and Wade leading Chicago to a 4-5 seed and a deep run at the NBA playoffs. That didn't happen but I think Rondo will get his option picked up and he'll be back for one more season. At 32, then he'll look to get one final contract and win.

- What kind of ball player can Payne develop into - meaning can he be the point guard of the future for Chicago? He's shown he can shoot with his left hand but can he play defense and can he distribute the ball?

- Do you foresee a breakout season for Denzel Valentine next season? I'm talking 20+ mpg next season, 10 points off the bench and 45%-50% shooting from the field.
Tom Plonowski

Rondo emerged as the team’s most vital non-Butler player, so he’ll likely have that point guard spot and we’ll see how much they can push the ball with him firmly in that role now. Carter-Williams has a relatively small player option, which he figures to exercise to become a free agent. He’s hard to figure as he looked so good as Rookie of the Year and had an impressive playoffs against the Bulls when he was in Milwaukee. The inconsistent rotation seemed to affect him.

Many Bulls fans will disagree: But I see Gar and Paxson as having a better eye for talent than they are credited with. We'll see if Butler and perhaps Rondo are enough to get any top players to want to play in Chicago. I think the Bulls can be better than the Celtics next year - they already gave Boston serious trouble this year.
LongGiang Le

I want the Cavs to crush Durant's dreams of winning a title. He shouldn't have joined the Warriors, but rather joined Harden/the Rockets instead.
Kieron Smith

Send LBJ to his fifth finals loss.
Mike Metz

You are around NBA players all the time. For us mere mortals can you explain the thought process with some of the big money players. If a player has $100 million in the bank, are they overly concerned about the next contract paying them $180 million instead of $217 million? I'm trying to understand if a max contract is as important as we hear it is. Is some of it ego?
Mike Burling

There’s a report the Timberwolves will consider Derrick Rose. Is he going to trade for Deng as well?
Mike Sutera

I think the pressure is on Boston now to re-consider trading the No. 1 pick on draft day with the Cavs knocking them out of the playoffs. Boston is the only team in the East right now that could challenge Cleveland given the right players.
Randall Sanders

This is so embarassing for the NBA. Who is going to watch the regular season any more? We can all pencil in Warriors vs Cavs round 4 for next year.
Bob Ding

ask-sam-mailbag-05-26-17

Ask Sam Mailbag: 05.26.17

Thoughts on the lotto? Celts and Lakers going after PG and Butler? Or will they both wait till they are FA in 2018?
Mike Sutera

Let's talk about denying championships. Between 1991 and 1998 the only way to win a championship was to be on Jordan's team or play for the Rockets while he was retired or not back to form. Between 2010 and 2016 (Lebrons's Finals run thus far), Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Kawhi Leonard, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, etc. all won championships. The examples they gave for Lebron (denying championships to) were Paul George and Carmelo Anthony. Am I just romanticizing the Bulls 90s run?
Brian Patterson

Was it intentional by ZaZa? Kawhi says it wasn't, but was he wrong to say that?
Kieron Smith

My cousin tried to convince me that the Warriors were going to make "small-ball" a trend in the NBA. I said no - and the Warriors lost last season when Lebron's size was key to defending against the Warriors guards after they lost Drammond proved once again that size and athleticism are important.

Shooting can only take you so far - because even great shooters get tired in a 7 game series and will miss shots - so you need the size and rebounding to give you more scoring opportunities and to defend against great players.

This may be why Justin Patton looks like a mobile athlete  - not just a tall guy that a coach walked up to in the hallway and said, "How about you join the basketball team?". This is the future of the NBA with Anthony Davis being one of the best future players in the league, and Giannis and Karl Anthony Towns developing as 7 footers, the future is a agile athlete like Justin who has 7ft length, can run fast breaks like the ShowTime Lakers, but also post up and give you Kevin McHale frontline scoring/rebounding.
LongGiang Le

If they did go with Mitchell like in your mock draft, where does Valentine fit in? I thought he would be the 2 guard of the future? Don’t see Valentine playing the 3 or in the point guard. I have a feeling the Bulls will go with another PF as they could lose Mirotic.
Randall Sanders

Being from Australia I don’t watch much college basketball (not that I overly enjoy it when I do – time out after time out!) so I am in no position to really comment on any draft prospects. But I did manage to see a few Kansas games being shown in Australia and maybe it was just by chance, but Frank Mason III stood out like a sore thumb as the best player on the court each time I saw him play. He showed great composure and decision making, looked like he could push the ball in transition, penetrate in the half court and had a beautiful/confident  shooting stroke. All draft projections have him going mid to late second round – I am assuming that this is mostly due to his size? I wonder, as a four year senior from a winning program would he be on the Bulls radar as their possible second round pick as PG backup to Rondo assuming he is retained. Seems like he would be able to contribute straight away as an NBA player.
Andrew Robson

I'm not sure Donovan Mitchell is the way to go bringing in an undersized two-guard while already having Denzel Valentine and point guards in Payne and Grant - both of whom come off the bench. In fact Luke Kennard would be the only shooting guard I would consider however I think #16 is probably too high to get him. It's interesting that you have Justin Jackson listed at #14. Mock drafts have him listed closer to #20 overall.  Could he be someone for the Bulls to target as a two-guard/SF combo player? There is a lot of talk surrounding the Bulls getting a big man with the #16 overall selection - Allen, Patton, Collins, Leaf, Kuzma, Rabb, Giles, Idebayo. The two players in the second round that I think Chicago should target based on everything that I have read on them are Sindarius Thornwell and Ike Anigbogu. Do you think there is a possibility that the Bulls may look to trade up or trade down in the first round or trade out of the draft all together?
Tom Pionowski

We should grab Carmelo for the 16th pick and something else. I don't know if we'd get a ring. But it would definitely be more fun to watch. He can score.
Ryan Carpel

If you're the Bulls, do you want to pay Butler the supermax when he's pushing thirty? The difference between the max and supermax is significant as far as salary cap, and Butler is a guy who gets nicked up every year and is not a great shooter.
Alejandro Yegros

ask-sam-mailbag-05-19-17

Ask Sam Mailbag: 05.19.17

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