Chicago Bulls Blurbs: Job Security, #TradeSZN continues

It’s been a wacky ride for the Chicago Bulls, the most astoundingly average basketball team in the NBA, over the past week. The team continues to perform at an even keel, which is boring and boring is bad. Boring is worse than being bad. Boring. Okay, maybe they haven’t been that dreadful.

Must Read: Bulls at Warriors - Three Takeaways

The way the New York Knicks have handled everything this season is only marginally worse than how things have gone for the Bulls. Until last night, when they stepped to ticket-purchasing Charles Oakley. It’s nice that Chicago can hand off the spotlight of shame to a different organization for a while. It’s very not nice that the Knicks public relations team released an awful statement that no PR professional could release in good conscience.

Phil Jackson might have said that you can’t change the spot on a leopard in reference to Carmelo Anthony, but he could have just as easily meant that in reference to the never-changing Reinsdorf situation with the Bulls.

Sources: John Paxson and Gar Forman jobs safe moving into Bulls’ offseason – (@KCJHoop)

K.C. Johnson also has the scoop. He’s one of the best, and if people are telling him that Paxson and Forman are in no danger of losing their jobs, I believe it. But, I also can’t believe it. How are they still so secure in their positions within the organization? If you read this piece from Johnson, you’ll get your answer.

Which Team Is The NBA’s Biggest Clown Show? – (@TheCrossover)

The Crossover is the new Sports Illustrated NBA imprint, if you hadn’t already figured that out. Here, the staff runs through the teams they believe are candidates for the biggest clown show in the league. I’m not sure how they decided to break it up, but they clearly only wanted to mention each team once. Otherwise, this really should have just been the Knicks, Bulls, and maybe one or two other squads when you figure in all these peripheral shenanigans that have been going on lately.

Gar Forman’s Plan Isn’t Possible – (@DNEdstrom)

Don’t you feel like this statement is just the obvious? Yes, it feels that way. However, the Johnson piece for the Tribune made it clear that there is internal belief in Forman and his plan. Enter Drew Edstrom at Bulls Confidential. A clear picture is painted using words, tweets, and yes, actual data that suggests something to the contrary. Honestly, I want to know the names of every single person who believes in Forman and his plan. If any of them don’t rhyme with minesgorf, I’ll be confused.

Paul Zipser Fever is Spreading – (@Tyler_Pleiss)

You’re darn right it is. Zipser has been a lot of fun to watch this year. He has a slow shot, great footwork, and was a second-round draft pick – by Gar! If you’re not up to speed on Zipser, Pleiss has you covered. This is a quality breakdown that includes video, in case words are hard for you.

How to find the partner if the Bulls want to trade Butler – (@wontgottlieb)

Gottlieb tackles the big issue – where could Butler go? Trade season (#TradeSZN, amiright?) is upon us. This is great news because things are really getting into a groove. Teams are mostly playing how they will play the rest of the season, it’s almost time for the All-Star Weekend break, and then the final push for the playoffs and seeding. Trades are going to be the hot topic between now and when that final playoff push ramps up, so Butler is going to be talked about even more than he already is, I’ve definitely talked about it as have other members of our staff. On the Butler front, a trade is rather complex. Thankfully, Gottlieb does a great job of breaking it down and explaining exactly what kind of challenges face a floundering squad with a superstar on their hands.

How the Bulls can trade for Jahlil Okafor – (@xvanwilderx)

Hey, look, it’s something from yours truly. I looked at some reasonable, and unreasonable, options for Philadelphia and Chicago, if there is any truth to the two sides talking trade.