If the Bulls think they can atract Thompson to the city of Chicago to play the wing and be the shooter, maybe their looking at wings is a smoke screen?
Not that you can have enough anyway, or they wouldn't still acquire two...its still what I expect.
I just am smelling a hard pursuit to make "Clay Thompson" the franchise guy. Dunn-Lavine-Thompson-Markenenen and #8 with Portis/Valentine and others off the bench...
?? for my money, that build has nice balance whether you want to add another stretch wing or go with a defensive center monster. Thompson give you better defense than the majority of wings or three and D guys though. and better shooting percentage, quick release, both more than enough to spread the floor and pair with Markenen on offense.
I guess if I could have any free agent I would be happy to invest in Cousins or Thompson because they change both ends. You could argue that attribute is more important than alot of stats put up around the league. Can you do multiple things? Then you are worth it if you do one thing at a premium. Thompson does two things. Cousins rebounds at a premium, is one of the best post move guys.
I'd take Thompson first but believe either of those guys or both would change our fortunes and be happier in Chicago then they have been other places so far.
We need Thompson more though, because Markenen shares some redundancy with Cousins. Every 3-pointer Cousins takes is one that Thompson or Markenen don't. An older center with a foot problem now...not worth the risk.
Acquire Thompson, trade up to land Porter Jr. Keep a fleet of defensive/rebounding centers for defense and fouls when you play certain teams.
I keep saying Thompson because the White Sox acquired his brother, and I expect he will visit our city soon in his off-season. It seems like part of some master plan to me.
This team has a future if they pick the right free agent, and land Porter Jr. I think they should move alot of draft capital personally to make that happen at #4. Take no chances, pay the #4 price he is worth even more than, and move Valentine or Dunn or Portis and a couple extra picks. Its about fitting that perfect core together.
Porter Jr, Markenen, Thompson/Cousins could be built around, Lavine and Dunn and Portis and other supporting pieces can be found, but of those Lavine is the most "special".
I think the turnaround will be quick, I just need to see more chess out of Hoiberg and less checkers before I believe keeping him for any length of time is the right thing. He is eroding the intelligence of the team and mishandling the locker room.
Whatever lands Thompson, but damn...Walton/Thompson? Is Kerr going to leave? Could he come back?
The Atlanta coach was playing chess and developing young players...I would get that guy if a Thompson connection does not exist.
