The Bulls have been waiting for this day for three years, the day Kevin Garnett finally gets traded. That's why they were stockpiling all those young assets in the first place, isn't it? To get KG, the dominant post player that they desperately need. The guy who spent his final year of pre-NBA basketball playing at Farragut Academy and the guy that would make the Bulls the favorites to win the Eastern Conference right away.
Everyone always thought that was Paxson's plan. When the time was right he would deal away two or three players from his promising young core and get Garnett, who seemed to be wasting away the final few years of his prime in Minnesota. It just made so much sense.
KG finally got traded yesterday, only it's not to the Bulls. Instead he'll head to Boston, teaming up with Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, as they instantly become one of the top teams in the East. John Paxson is already taking some heat for not stepping up and getting KG. But the question is, could the Bulls really have beat the offer from Minnesota? The C's gave up more talent then people realize, take a look:
Al Jefferson: 22 years old, 16 points, 11 rebounds
Gerald Green: 21 years old, 10.5 points
Ryan Gomes: 25 years old, 12 points, 5.5 rebounds
Minnesota is also getting Theo Ratliff, who's 11 million contract comes off the books after this season, a couple of draft picks and Bassy Telfair. With Ratliff's contract, they can add another star player because the next two free agent classes are going to be loaded. Some people are saying Minnesota didn't get nearly enough back, but it's almost impossible to ever get equal talent back when a superstar is traded. All I know is that Minnesota got a lot more for Garnett then the 76ers got for Iverson.
Could the Bulls have put a trade together that would have topped Boston's? Most likely, these would be the guys involved:
Luol Deng: 22 years old, 18 points, 7 rebounds
Tyrus Thomas: 21 years old, 5 points, 3 rebounds
Andres Nocioni: 27 years old, 14 points, 5 rebounds
Then the Bulls would have to throw in two draft picks, and find a way to sign PJ Brown to a one year contract worth more money then he should be getting.
Would you even want the Bulls to do that trade? For me, I'd be torn. KG is one my favorite players in the league. He'd help them at least win 50 games next year, and possibly lead them to the Finals. But Deng is going to be a star, and Tyrus might be right behind him. Tyrus just dominated summer league and is poised for a huge season. Nocioni is the heart and soul of this Bulls team, and even though he was bad at the end of last year because of a foot injury, his play and prescience would surely be missed. If I had to make a decision, I would rather have the Bulls keep what they have, then make this trade.
But let's say that Pax would do this deal. Is it really that much better then Boston's? I really don't think so. Deng and Jefferson are the same age and both are about the same skill level. Both players are budding stars. But I think a lot of GM's would rather have Jefferson because he's a post player. It's easier to acquire good swing men like Deng. Finding a 22 year old low post scorer, who will probably be good for a double-double the next 10 years, is more valuable. While I think Tyrus is going to be great, I'm sure people think the same thing about Gerald Green. They are also the same age. Green beat Tyrus this year in the slam dunk contest and is more developed at this point in his career.
It would have been awesome to see KG on the Bulls, but it isn't going to happen anytime soon. And even if it could have, the price for a 31 year old power forward who has tons of mileage might have been too steep. The only impact Garnett will have on the Bulls this year is helping make the Celtics their chief rival for Eastern Conference supremacy.
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Comments
Wow, I was just going to write about this, Rickhouse. I feel the Suns and Bulls both blew it, especially the Bulls. I agree that moving Deng might be too much (though if Garnett is playing SF, he's expendable), but I think Ben Gordon is very tradeable. Could the Bulls offer Gordon, Ty Thomas, the #9 pick this year (better than the picks the Celtics gave up), and PJ Brown's expiring contract? Isn't that a better offer than the Celtics. And you think KG, if given the choice, wouldn't have pushed for the Bulls?
Then you would have Hinrich-Duhon-Deng-KG-Wallace as your starting five. A little thin in the backcourt, but a better team, no? Plus Nocioni, Sweetney and Thabo off the bench.
I agree with SML. Gordon is a nice piece but certainly tradeable, especially to get a player like KG.
The offer by SML is what I was thinking of too, and it is definitely better than the Celts offer.
I can only believe that Ainge will fire Rivers, become coach and hire McHale, or they are totally gay lovers.
SML i like where your heads at, but i like the C's offer better then Gordon, Tyrus, #9, and PJ. I just think Al Jefferson is real good, he's an monster down low and with so few young low post scorers in the league, i think he's very valuable. Gordo is great, everyone loves him, but theres a reason he's tradable. 6'1 shooting guards who don't play defense cant run an offense are replaceable. If i were Minnesota i like the C's offer better then what you proposed, and maybe its a toss up with my offer. I don't know that's just my opinion, who knows what McHale would have done.
I'm (sort of) proud to say this is the first time this blog has ever had racist and anti-gay comments in the same post!
Al Jefferson is going to turn out to be a really good player. Jeff Green and Delonte West could too. Boston's been giving up a lot of young talent for Allen and Garnett. The Celtics are two key injuries away from total oblivion by the looks on their roster, and Allen and Garnett have a lot of mileage and years between them. The Bulls might have been smart not trading for Garnett and mortgaging their future as the Celtics did.
I don't think that Wolves trade with Bulls without Deng in the package. I think that the Bulss really dropped the ball here. Even though Deng, Thomas, and Nocioni are a lot of talent, the KG trade would make Chicago the CLEAR eastern favorite. You just can't pass up legitimate title shots in the NBA. KG, Wallace, Gordon, and Hinrich? Book 'em for the finals and even a decent shot at beating the West...
Contrary to what everyone in the world thinks, the Bulls should not have traded for KG...they should have cleary won the East last year...the weak Cavs team that made the finals was an embarresment to the East...that being said, giving up Deng and Ty would be giving up too much...you have to ask how much gas does KG have left after years of losing in cold, miserable Minn. Like JJ said, the Cs are a couple of injuries away from setting their franchise back years...even with their big three, I do not believe they are the team to beat in the East....that would be the Bulls
I would not want to give up Deng. I think he'll be a premier player in the next couple years while Garnett will continue to get older... and blacker.