Van Gundy says Bulls need MORE then LeBron

[Rush]

Chicago Bulls need more than LeBron James to be a title contender, says Jeff Van Gundy - ESPN Chicago

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Many believe that if the Chicago Bulls land LeBron James this summer, they will instantly become a title contender.

Jeff Van Gundy isn't one of them.

The former NBA head coach and current ESPN analyst says he believes that the Bulls will become much better, but not necessarily one of the NBA's elite teams, by adding James.

"Any team that gets him along with Derrick Rose and [Joakim] Noah, you're going to have a good team," Van Gundy told ESPNChicago.com before Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. "A lot depends on how much they have to give up to get him. If it's a sign and trade, what other moves they'd make, but I would not think they would be a championship-caliber team right away. But I think they'll be a top-3 or -4 team."

Van Gundy isn't sure where James will end up once free agency starts July 1.

"I think there's a lot of opinions, but I don't think there's any informed opinions," he said. "So I have no idea, nor does anyone else, except him. He'll make the decision that's best for him, and still, the team that adds him is going to have to play well to win a championship. We've seen the last two years in Cleveland, they have very good teams, but they haven't been able to get it done."

Van Gundy has been rumored as a possible replacement for the recently fired Vinny Del Negro, but Van Gundy's brother, Stan, the head coach of the Orlando Magic, told ESPNChicago.com last week that he would be surprised if Jeff coached at all next season.

When asked specifically about the possibility of interviewing for the Bulls position, Van Gundy responded this way:

"I never really think about it like that," he said. "I just do my job that I have now, and whatever comes down the road, comes down the road. That's really not how I go about things. I always let the teams discuss and say whatever they want -- if they want to comment -- but I stay away from the hypotheticals."

Whether or not Van Gundy ultimately decides to interview for the job (if an interview is offered), he admits that the Bulls vacancy is one of the best on the market.

"I would say it's a very good job," he said. "If you look at it from the standpoint of they have at least a very good player, however you decide to [describe] Rose. Rose can definitely be the second-best player on a championship team, and Jo Noah, in my opinion, can be the third- or fourth-best player on a championship team. So if they add a guy who can be the best player on a championship team, then they're right there in the mix.

"So certainly, having that cap flexibility, making the playoffs the last two years, so you've gotten to see Rose and Noah in pressure-packed situations. That's a very good job. Chicago the city, Chicago the organization has proven itself to be very good."

As for whether a coach has to be in place to woo a prospective free agent, Van Gundy says that decision lies with the player.

"I think that all depends on the individual," he said. "James already knows how much money he's going to make. So that's not even the question. He keeps saying it's all about championships, so you'd think he'd want to know at least somewhat what [the team] is thinking about as far as a coach, but whether he'd have to have that specific coach in, I really don't know how he's thinking."

 

[TopekaRoy]

I would not think they would be a championship-caliber team right away. But I think they'll be a top-3 or -4 team.

WTF is this? So the 3rd best team in the NBA is not "championship-caliber?"

Which 2 teams does he think are championship-caliber?

If getting Lebron makes the bulls a top 4 team, that's ok with me ...

I think they can "overachieve!"

 

[xCraCKz]

He's right. That is why were getting Bosh too... lol

 

[Bullsman24]

we nearly took the best team in the league with the best player in the league playing his best to the wire three out of five games. add the best player in the league and obviously we'd be near or at the top.

 

[Anytime23]

He's right though. We wont be a championship team with LeBron but we will be title contenders. All great teams need depth to win deep into the post-season. Like Chris Broussard says, we have the flexibility to get Bron and also more pieces. We still have some money and have Hinrich/Deng to deal. Im not saying teams would take Dengs contract but its a possibility. One team just might get desperate if no big named players want to go there.

 

[Da Bulls' Eye]

Only thing we need besides LeBron is one or two quality three-point shooters. Other than that, LeBron is pretty much all we need.

 

[BullsFan_1]

Cleveland with Lebron is considered a title contender...you can't tell me that the Cavs supporting staff is better than the Bulls.

 

[Anytime23]

Cleveland with Lebron is considered a title contender...you can't tell me that the Cavs supporting staff is better than the Bulls.

Their starting 5 is nowhere near ours with LeBron but their bench is above and beyond ours.

 

[Bullsman24]

Well wasn't the knock on Boston that they have no bench? If you have that good of a team, veterans will come to win a title

 

[Bullsman24]

Their starting 5 is nowhere near ours with LeBron but their bench is above and beyond ours.

I'd rather have deng than varejao. The rest of their bench really isn't that good.

 

[Anytime23]

I'd rather have deng than varejao. The rest of their bench really isn't that good.

Varejao, Delonte West, JJ Hickson, Leon Powe, Jamario Moon, Z and Booby Gibson.

At least 5 of those guys can put in quality minutes.

Id rather have Deng too if he didnt have that contract. I would trade him for Andy V if Cleveland was dumb enough.

 

[Bullsman24]

varejao is ok, delonte west doesn't he start? if not parker is a scrub. hickson might be the most overrated player in the league right now. powe still isn't playing. moon is a nice role player but there are many of him. Z's a scrub now. gibson hasn't seen the court in ages.

deng and xavier henry/james anderson are better than all of these. the rest will fall into place.

 

[Anytime23]

varejao is ok, delonte west doesn't he start? if not parker is a scrub. hickson might be the most overrated player in the league right now. powe still isn't playing. moon is a nice role player but there are many of him. Z's a scrub now. gibson hasn't seen the court in ages.

deng and xavier henry/james anderson are better than all of these. the rest will fall into place.

You cant compare a bench that doesnt exist yet.
No west doesnt start, Parker does and if it was the other way around, Parker is nice to have on the bench. Hickson is overrated but good. Better than James Johnson. Powe has been hurt and Z can give you a few quality minutes. Gibson hasnt seen the court because he's buried in the depth. He would be our 1st guard off the bench.

Deng would no doubt be the best player of both groups but there wont be a 11M dollar SF coming off of the Bulls bench next season. And if youre really arguing that our bench is better than the Cavs, you need to slow down on the kool-aid. They have at least 4 guys as good as our best 6th man.