It's time to blow up the Bulls
Despite the victory over Utah the other night, I really think it's time to blow up the Bulls. It's still mind-boggling to me how sour this season has gone. Never in my wildest dreams would I have guessed that they'd miss the playoffs. And yes, I know that they still might make the playoffs, but there's really no point. Extending the season by a week to get embarrassed in the first round is simply a waste of time. I'd rather lose out and get more chances at a higher draft pick, and that's something that I rarely ever would advocate. It's that bad.
I never thought that this exciting young core would become so lackadaisical. They just play with absolute zero passion, and this team is just painful to watch. The Boston game last week was just an embarrassment all around. And then Chris Duhon pulled his crap on Saturday with Duke before the entire team melted in the fourth quarter on Sunday. Just uncontested layup after uncontested layup against Detroit. Pathetic.
I just figured the worst-case scenario was for the team to not make progress. Another season of one, maybe two playoff series and then go home disappointed. This entire season has been a debacle. One sorry spectacle after another. And then they go out and tease us with a great game against Utah (who may or may not have been in some sort of Lost-like time-traveling loss of consciousness.) I'm quite certain they'll be back to their old tricks on Friday. Then maybe in a week they'll tease us again.
I'm afraid the only thing to do is start over. I'm not sure if that's even an option, though. The Larry Hughes contract pretty much means that the Bulls are stuck with him, and I don't know if they can get anything close to equal value for Deng in trade. Of course, that's assuming they can sign him to an extension. They'd be fools to let him walk, and they'd be fools to overpay him. That's the predicament their in. So for now, I'll just list the players that I would try to keep at all costs:
The Absolute Keepers
<crickets>
Ok, that didn't go so well. Let's try a new list:
The Guys Probably Worth Keeping
Deng - He may have hit his ceiling, but he's an inoffensive chap that might still have some upside.
Sefolosha - Lots of upside still, seems to play hard.
Noah - High energy dude. Fun to watch, for the most part. Also, a bit of a lunatic.
The Guys They're Stuck With but at Least Provide Value
Hughes - despite his honest quotes last week about preferring playing time on lousy teams to not contributing on a good team. That's not a very Jordan-like statement, but at least he's being honest and he's a legitimately good player. Not great, not worth the massive contract, but...good.
Gooden - He's solid enough. An inside presence on a team that's been sorely lacking. Plus his neckbeard rocks.
The Guys That Frustrate the Hell out of Me That I Really Want Gone
Hinrich - the captain provides very little value. He's good on D at times. Good on O at times. Almost never good at both on the same night. And when he's not good, he's awful.
Gordon - I suppose you can keep one of these guys, but I truly wouldn't miss either one.
Guys that I Don't Care if they Stay or Go
Thomas - Pretty much just a bum.
Nocioni - nice player and all off the bench, but he's really just a dime-a-dozen guy, ain't he? Good in spurts. If he could be packaged to aquire an every day talent, I'd do it.
Gray - A great white stiff, 3rd Center type. Can find these guys at 7-11.
Guys that are already Gone Whether I Like it or Not
Duhon - Maybe they should have included him in the Wallace trade and kept Griffin. Just kidding!
And that's that. I suspect there are wholesale changes next season, starting at the top. Boylan's a goner. He just hasn't been able to stabilize the team, and short of twelve new players on the roster next season, I don't think the current group will ever play hard for him.
Keep about 5 or 6 guys on the current team, dump everyone else. Start fresh. And be careful with that lottery pick.
Till next time...