True hoop blog post on LBJ to Bulls

[Kush77]

Celtics fans were chanting "New York Knicks" tonight everytime the LeBron James went to the foul line. Maybe they should've been chanting "Chicago Bulls"

Within minutes of the Cleveland Cavaliers Game 6 loss to the Boston Celtics, the speculation about LeBron James' next destination began in full force.

In the space of five minutes I heard from three NBA GMs via text, e-mail and phone. All three said that based on the information they have, they believe LeBron will leave the Cavs.

More surprisingly, all of them said they believe the destination will be the Chicago Bulls . Two said they believe that John Calipari will be the Bulls new head coach.

One GM went a bit further in a phone call a few minutes later. "I think the Bulls are really going to go for it. Look for them to offer the Cavs Luol Deng in a sign-and-trade for LeBron. That will allow them to retain most of their cap space. Then they'll go after Dwayne Wade or Chris Bosh as well."

I'm sure we'll hear various scenarios involving the Knicks, Nets and Heat over the course of the next month. But it's hard to come up with any other scenario that would be quite as appealing for LeBron.

 

[Shakes]

Kush77 wrote:

One GM went a bit further in a phone call a few minutes later. "I think the Bulls are really going to go for it. Look for them to offer the Cavs Luol Deng in a sign-and-trade for LeBron. That will allow them to retain most of their cap space. Then they'll go after Dwayne Wade or Chris Bosh as well."

If the Cavs help LeBron leave with a sign and trade for Luol freakin' Deng then Isiah Thomas' crown as worst GM ever has just been stolen.

 

[??? ??????]

I think based on the team setups that Chicago was going to be Lebron's landing spot. Seems like the league knows that.

That would be insane if they pulled off the Luol Deng sign and trade though. Bringing in Boozer, Dirk, Amare, whatever to go with Rose, Lebron, and Noah would be insane.

 

[Kush77]

If something like that actually played out I don't know what I would do?

For the first time I'm actually allowing myself to entertain these wild thoughts. :laugh: :cheer: :woohoo: :lol: :silly: :woohoo:

 

[Shakes]

My only worry is that Garnett was going to be traded to Chicago and we were going to win titles. Kobe was demanding a trade to Chicago and we were going to win titles. I don't think I can take a couple of months of hyping the LeBron to Chicago then dynasty story only for us to get Joe Johnson. So as excited as I am by the rumours I'm trying hard not to believe a word of them.

 

[Diddy1122]

There's no way the Cavs would do a sign & trade for Deng, that's stupid beyond words.

Lebron already loves Chicago so now it's just up to GarPax to get it done. As much as I hate the idea of having Calipari as coach if it gets us Lebron then do it! DO IT NOW!

 

[Bullsman24]

the bulls are built for lebron, it's up to garpax to make it happen...

 

[clonetrooper264]

Deng for LeBron?!?!? Hot freakin' dog, that's the deal (and steal) of the century! Do it now! :lol: If that actually happened I would thank the GM of the Cavs every day for the rest of my life.

 

[??? ??????]

There's a pretty good joke going around about the three GM's being John Paxson, Gar Forman, and Jerry Reinsdorf.

 

[Fred]

The Bulls need to bring John Calipari in for an interview tomorrow before the Clippers or Cavs call him. And they need to offer whatever it takes to bring him to Chicago. Rose and Calipari are already close, and Rose has already given his blessing on hiring JC. Enough said. We need to make this spot the most attractive possibly destination for Lebron, and that starts with hiring Calipari.

http://digitalsportsdaily.com/nba/news/912-the-calipari-lebron-connection.html

http://www.kentucky.com/2009/09/10/928785/lebrons-friend-gets-job-on-caliparis.html

If we don't, the Cavs (after Brown is canned) or the Clippers will. This is a once in a lifetime chance to get a once in a lifetime player. The Bulls organziation owes us this for the support we've given them over the past 12 years of relative crap.

 

[houheffna]

The Bulls need to bring John Calipari in for an interview tomorrow before the Clippers or Cavs call him. And they need to offer whatever it takes to bring him to Chicago. Rose and Calipari are already close, and Rose has already given his blessing on hiring JC. Enough said. We need to make this spot the most attractive possibly destination for Lebron, and that starts with hiring Calipari.

I don't think so...not unless Lebron signs the dotted line am I bringing Calipari anywhere near my team. If Lebron says he wants Calipari that is different...but I don't need Rose's opinion on anything right now and talking to Lebron or making inroads to talking to him through "certain channels" would be best, otherwise, Lebron could stay where he is and we are stuck with another coach that is in over his head in my opinion.

 

[Dpauley23]

Fred wrote:

The Bulls need to bring John Calipari in for an interview tomorrow before the Clippers or Cavs call him. And they need to offer whatever it takes to bring him to Chicago. Rose and Calipari are already close, and Rose has already given his blessing on hiring JC. Enough said. We need to make this spot the most attractive possibly destination for Lebron, and that starts with hiring Calipari.

http://digitalsportsdaily.com/nba/news/912-the-calipari-lebron-connection.html

http://www.kentucky.com/2009/09/10/928785/lebrons-friend-gets-job-on-caliparis.html

If we don't, the Cavs (after Brown is canned) or the Clippers will. This is a once in a lifetime chance to get a once in a lifetime player. The Bulls organziation owes us this for the support we've given them over the past 12 years of relative crap.

I don't get the Rose is close to Calpiri argument. Do we forget last summer when he basically threw Rose under the bus for SAT incident.

 

[hardguy]

Did anybody see Avery Johnson on ESPN saying that he doesn't think Lebron would be a good fit with Derek Rose because they both dominate the ball and that he thought the Nets would be a better bit for Lebron with Brooke Lopez and potentially John Wall? I can't believe that idiot is still bitter about the Bulls picking VDN over him as coach two years ago!

 

[houheffna]

I agree, maybe ESPN should sit Mr. Johnson for a while, he seems to have ulterior motives here.

 

[??? ??????]

hardguy wrote:

Did anybody see Avery Johnson on ESPN saying that he doesn't think Lebron would be a good fit with Derek Rose because they both dominate the ball and that he thought the Nets would be a better bit for Lebron with Brooke Lopez and potentially John Wall? I can't believe that idiot is still bitter about the Bulls picking VDN over him as coach two years ago!

He's probably going to go be the Nets new head coach.

 

[Kush77]

hardguy wrote:

Did anybody see Avery Johnson on ESPN saying that he doesn't think Lebron would be a good fit with Derek Rose because they both dominate the ball and that he thought the Nets would be a better bit for Lebron with Brooke Lopez and potentially John Wall? I can't believe that idiot is still bitter about the Bulls picking VDN over him as coach two years ago!

LOL, I saw that too.

I saw him take the Nets angle on it. I think he didn't that just for a little variety in that segment. Broussard was all about Chicago and New York, maybe Avery was just trying to throw that wild card out there.

Here's a question - Would the Nets be the East favorite if they got James. Say a lineup of Harris, Turner or Wall, James and Lopez?

 

[Shakes]

I think it depends on who the real Devin Harris is. If Harris can play at the level he did in 08-09, then they're the best team in the East. If Harris is really the mediocre point guard he has been every other year of his career, they're not.