Archive for July, 2009

With the recent trade of Tyson Chandler to the Bobbies and the Mavs signing Drew Gooden, I got to thinking: What would an All Ex-Bulls Team look like? The only criteria I used is that they have to be in the league and they had to actually suit up and play for the Bulls. So no LaMarcus Aldridge or J.R. Smith. I wonder how far this team would go? Tyson Chandler – C I always thought that Chandler was the perfect example of a player that should have went to college instead of going pro out of high school. His [...]

Luol Deng talked about his injury and the Olympics, and he said all the things Bulls fans want to hear. From NBA.com: “It’s a very tough decision not being able to play (in the Olympics) but it was just a tough year last year with my injury. The fracture of my leg was such a serious injury that I need all summer in order to go full speed and I’m not full speed yet, but I’m almost there. Right now it’s the right decision, hopefully it will come out as a small sacrifice for my future with the Bulls and [...]

Drew Gooden has signed with the Dallas Mavericks. It’s a one year deal and if you’re keeping track at home, the Mavs are the 7th team for Gooden. That’s not a good sign when you are selected 4th overall in the 1st round, as Gooden was in 2002. And according to ESPN, Gooden may get the starting nod: It’s believed that he’ll get a shot at starting at center for the Mavericks ahead of Erick Dampier, after that spot had been earmarked for Gortat with a five-year, $34 million offer sheet early in free agency. Gooden has his uses, but [...]

Over at Zoner Sports, I do a series called “When the Bulls Were Dominant“. Here at Pippen Ain’t Easy, we’ll look at some of the less-celebrated players that have passed through Chicago. Their stays may have been short. Maybe they were a big name that threw on a Bulls jersey in their twilight. Maybe they hardly made an impact at all. But they played here. First up: Dennis Hopson. Have a quick listen as the Commish calls his name on draft day, and hear how is hair is described. When you’re done laughing, hit the jump to read the rest [...]

Top 10 Point Guards of the ’08-’09 Season Dime Mag Jerry Reinsdorf On Why the Bulls Let Gordon Leave Mouthpiece Sports James Johnson Shows Promise…and a Poor Jumper NQTC Ranking the NBA’s 9 Best Unrestricted Free Agents Ball Don’t Lie 5 Worst Free Agent Signings of All-Time Hoop Doctors Gimpy Or Stiffy? Or Is It Baloney? Life On Dumars D-Leaguers Make Good In Summer League True Hoop Timberwolves “Tradition” In Capable Hands Empty the Bench David Kahn Is Busy Chasing Ricky Rubio So the Coaching Search Can Wait NGNG Sign and Trade Ideas For Sessions We’re Bucked

Great highlights from the summer league game between the Bulls and Timberpuffs. Jonny Flynn’s dunk is insane, and DeMarcus Nelson throws one down too. Embedded video from NBA Video

Not too long ago I tapped out a post called Eddy Curry: Hype Sequel. It was based on a report that Curry had been working out like a monster and losing weight to become more athletic. There was also talk about speed and explosiveness and that a team doctor was impressed. I thought that maybe Curry was ready to fulfill his massive potential, but I wanted to see it first, because it was a “hype sequel”. Then this happened: None other than Garden chairman James Dolan was on hand to see one of his biggest investments, Eddy Curry, prove that [...]

The namesake speaks. And he has some words of wisdom for the Bulls. From the Trib, here’s what Scottie Pippen had to say about Derrick Rose: “He’s a very exciting player who I love watching play because he plays a lot bigger than his size and doesn’t mind mixing it up. I just think you have to put some players around him or he’s going to sort of fade away. As good as he is, you can beat a dead horse only so much. If he’s not motivated here by winning as his career continues, then he’s going to start [...]

And once again, Tim Thomas is an ex-Bull. Sam Smith broke the news and K.C. Johnson of the Trib breaks down the ramifications: Thomas’ $6.46 million contract was set to expire following this season, so it won’t affect the Bulls having roughly $25 million worth of expiring contracts.The buyout means the Bulls likely have enough room under the league’s $69.92 million luxury tax threshhold to sign a veteran big man to a minimum contract this summer. I’m actually kind of bummed about this. As a 8th-9th-10th man, Thomas is an asset, especially considering the loss of Ben Gordon. He can [...]

The Blazers have a star in the making in LaMarcus Aldridge at Power Forward. That didn’t stop them from offering a 4-year deal to restricted free agent Paul Millsap. The offer has some interesting ramifications in regard to the rumored three-way deal involving Utah and Portland that would send Kirk Hinrich to the Blazers. Rip City Project explains: Just to clear up some issues on the effect an offer sheet has on Portland’s cap space, here’s two sections from the NBA Salary Cap FAQ: There can be no compensation given to a team in return for their not matching an [...]