New Beast in the East?

I feel like its the first day of school and everyone else has been getting brand new super delux Trapper Keepers, and I still have my ratty old spiral notebook!!!

This should make the Celtics the favorites to win the East. They will have a tremendous inside/outside game. Bulls will have all kinds of trouble matching up with them at center and at the guard positions. This doesn't mean you just lay down and die. What the Bulls have going for them is the fact these guys have played together for so long and have become better as a team each year. Will it be enough? Maybe the Celtics will run out of gas towards the end of the season. Long term I'm still more worried about the Cavs. If Lebron gets moree help then Drew Gooden and Larry Hughes, that team would be scary.

Kevin Garnett - Beats Joe Smith
Ray Allen - is Better than Ben Gordon
Paul Peirce - is Better than Deng (now).

This doesnt look good on paper.

Also, NY still gives me nightmares. We better hope that Randolph really goes wild in NY, cause otherwise, if thats our only hope, if thats the only thing everyone can comeback with....and it doesnt happen....then...we are in BIG BIG BIG (no big man) trouble!!!!

Kobe, is still out there.....COME ON PAX...I KNOW YOU READ THIS BLOG!!!! MAKE IT HAPPEN. DONT LET DANNY AINGE PUNK YOU LIKE THIS...

Maybe Pax offered too much for KG...

Boston offers up Al Jefferson (nice player) and a bunch of garbage. What good is cap space to Minn when nobody wants to play there?

McHale strikes again!

Bulls now the 4th best team (IMHO) in east after Det, Cle and Bos.

Its a complex equasion because dynasties are rare and that is what Paxson is trying to build. I believe Paxson has over valued his team. He thinks he has a young San Antonio squad destined to win multiple championships. But I liken the young Bulls to the young Miami Heat team pre-Shaq/Riley. Exciting young, athletic, defensive minded with a middle of the road coach. Pat Riley saw an opportunity of a lifetime and traded 2/3rds of that "core" for a jilted juggernaut with something to prove. And he took over the reigns to personally make sure things went right. And 2 years later he was spraying champagne and saying clever things at the parade.

A Kevin Garnett comes along once in 30 years. When you have a chance to get him, you make it happen. You move whoever does not compliment his game and get him a REAL coach. And you roll your dice. Boston is not going anywhere with Garnett and Pierce because you have to have the right kind of star in the mix with Garnett. Inside and outside. He and Pierce are the same kind of guy. But if Ainge can get some vets and a good point guard, look out.

this deal is the equivalent to the Bulls giving up Ty Thomas, PJ Brown, Malik Allen, Chris Duhon and 2 future #1s...

someone tell me again why pax didn't deal for KG? is he awake?

Hard to say if it makes them the favorites. The NBA is littered with examples of putting superstars together and having it totally bomb. Of these 3, who will defer in a last possession play? Will they still have to play with 1 ball?

Pierce and Allen have a history of moaning but then again, except for about a dozen guys, the NBA is full of moaners.

Chin up Culzie. Older is usually built better. We'll see who has the better notes at the end of the school year.

"It sure seems the Bulls could have offered more than what Boston is sending."

Where do I start? 5 players, 3 of whom are forwards who give you double digits a game (ppg), none of them older than 25 (except for Ratliff who is just a gift with an expiring contract), and two first round picks within two years. Hmmm... I am sure John Paxson tried his best. What the Celtics gave up for one guy (and no deaft picks) is incredible.

Here is an example of what a real sports writer/commentator would say:

"It could go down as the most-lopsided trade in NBA history." -Boston Globe

"Kevin Garnett was traded on Tuesday in the largest trade for a single player in NBA history." -Minnesota Public Radio.

Nevertheless, I will always fight for your right of free speech irrespective of how asinine.

I FORGOT THAT BOSTON HAS RAY ALLEN THERE NOW!!! All they need now is a point guard and they should never look back. Boston is BACK. Paxson's gun-shyness has bitten us. I like Pax, but um um umm. They got Garnett for a 5 bums and a pack of bubble-yum. I guess he has to protect that beloved core. I don't get it and don't like it!

I BELIEVE ITS SCOTT SKILES!!! Too many players are passing up on Chicago.

Does anyone have any confirmation that the Bull's were seriously considering acquiring Garnett or actually made a proposal for Minny to consider?

I understand Pax's commitment to his guys and the young talent on the team, but if he is not willing to seriously pursue a talent like Garnett when he is available, you have to (at the very least) question his rationale.

Jayson

I disagree...you can't compare 1 solid player (Jefferson), 1 ok player (Green), some garbage like Telfair and some future late 1st round picks with one of the best players of all time. Create cap room...who wants to play in Minnesota?

In the span of about 45 days, Ainge has taken the 2nd or 3rd worst team in the NBA to the probable favorite in the east, and maybe 1 of the top 5 teams in the league. The only question mark about the Celtics at this point is the players they get to round out their top 7 or 8, and Ray Allen's ankles.

I don't look forward to the Bulls matching up to the celts with the game on the line and those 3 guys on the court.

Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, Karl Malone, and Gary Payton.....hmm, that's 4 "better" players....They lost in 5 to Detroit

I guess as long as the NBA doesn't go to 3 on 3 we'll be fine

I'll ride with John Paxson, thank you very much...he can count to 5, and he understands what a bench is

Last I checked..DaBulls were the 2nd seed in the East...I mean, in reality (golden state game), which, the NBA ...has no control of

DaBulls should win the East this year....There's even gonna be a team called the Blackhawks this winter!!

well...my chin is up, cause i do value a team that gels and plays hard together for 48mins over an ecclectic group of shoulda beens, but, I just dont like our lack of attempts at getting the big score.

Largest trade for any one player in NBA history....sounds to me like this was a trade only for Danny Ainge, not open to the rest of the GM's, especially Pax, who along with MJ helped to usher in the end to that old Boston team.

Dont get me wrong, i like our squad ...ALOT. But, i just dont like being the underdog, up and comming, hard working scott skiles lead bulls. We need a STUD.

Keith
I agree with most of what you said. The biggest fallacy about this trade is that Paxson can stop his yacking about "teams general don't make the dominating low-post players available for trades".

Boston seemed to be able to steal one...and they were able to dump Telfair for goodness sake. Jefferson is better (today) than Tyrus but I cannot believe they couldn't have matched this offer and still kept Paxon's hallowed "core" players. I also think Paxson completely mismanaged PJ's last contract since that chip is now off the table.

Not sure...time will tell how good the celtics will be. Lots of questions:
- Pierce coming off injury and has never had any inkling to play and D
- Allen coming off surgery on both ankles. Terrific shooter and average defender. Hinrich makes him nuts which is good. He whines like a 3 year old every time kirk defends him.
- KG - obviously one of the all-time greats. I would like him more if he didn't yell out "mother F'er" with every hoop he makes.

I think this puts the celtics on par with the pistons, bulls and cavs with toronto and the heat a little further back. Did someone mention the knicks above? You must be joking...the buffet lines will go broke from curry and randolph and I give randolph 20 games before he's arrested.

You make some good points about Boston actually, but Funny, how you said exactly what I said you would say about the Knicks JC...but if Randolph doesnt get arrested then what?

Also, dont forget the sleeping giant D Howard & Orlando?

Thats a lot of good teams you rattled off....we went from a top 2-3 team in the East to top 7-8??

CLEV,DETROIT,BOSTON,NJ,TORONTO,MIAMI,NY,ORLANDO?

Where do we fit in?

I say we ressurect the Kobe trade discussion!!!

suddenly because Boston has aquired Ray Allen and KG to play with Paul Pierce this 3some is now a favorite to win the East? Ray allen and Paul Pierce are waning stars with injury histories, KG has got more milage on him in 12 years than a chicago taxi. can this so-called big three consistantly log 30+ minutes on the floor together? beyond those 3 Boston is as deep as a saucer. the top 3 in the east are still Detroit, Chicago and Cleveland in which ever order you prefer. with 4,5 and 6 being Miami, NJ and Boston.
what's the line from the commercial?....I believe it takes five...Boston has only three and I believe it takes at least 8.

Roman responds: There are no guarantees, I'll grant you that, but I'll also state that those are three character guys who know this could be their one and only shot at a title. That motivation will get them over some bumps and bruises that might have sidelined them in previous seasons.

Culzie and the Tim's will remember me saying that window of opportunity closes quickly in the NBA. Star power means a lot, and when you have one on your team you've got a fighting chance to land another one to compliment your game. Garnett, Gasol or Randolph should be in Chicago, but we just couldn't get it done.

Now we just went from a shot at the eastern conference finals to out in the second round for sure. I know folks are laughing at the Knicks, but all that laughter is going to stop. They have a star on the block now. And I guarantee you that Miami is going to be back also. That little window of opportunity the Bulls had just slammed shut! LaBron and DWade have been to the FINALS. Pistons have been Champs. Toronto and Orlando have young budding post players. And now the Celtics have awakened like Godzilla from a long sleep! Sad part about all of this is that we are going to have to part with some of our young talent anyway when Pax realizes we aint going nowhere. Now the only joker left for us to land is Kobe. And he is an abnoxious long shot.

Jayson
Other than Al Jefferson, how many of those guys would start for any other NBA team? One of the worst trades (on paper) I can ever remember in any sport. Ratliff is 60 years old and Telfair is another gun charge away from doing time.
Does this mean Boston is the favorite? Who knows...Houston failed miserably with a similar approach with Barkley, Pippen and the Dream although they were a bit older I think than the big 3 on Boston.
As several have asked...where's Pax and did he enter into the bidding?

Get real people, is Boston's new big three any better than New Jersey's combo of Kidd, Carter, and Jefferson. I know that I would take Kidd and Carter over Allen and Pierce, obviously KG is better than Jefferson. So the 2 big threes are a wash, the rest of New Jersey's roster is far supperior to Boston's, which at the moment consists of D-League players, and a bunch of empty seats. As I recall, New Jersey was the 7 seed last year.

Pierce and Allen combined to play only 100 games last year. Pierce was the cancer that killed the last Olympic team, read ball hog, no defense. Ray Allen is pretty much just a perimeter shooter, no D. These guys will score some points but in the playoffs it still comes down to defense.

Speaking of the Knicks, they could be interesting this year, they too will score alot and not play D. Teams win championships, not a collection of fantasy league stats. The Celtics will not get past the second round. The top 4 teams in the east are still Detriot, the Bulls, the Lebron's and Miami. The second tier consist of Boston, New Jersey, and Toronto. The Bulls will make the conference finals, quite possably as the #1 seed.

While I would have loved to see KG in Chicago, I'd would rather have Kobe. We can't have them both, and long term Kobe who is 2-3 years younger provides a much longer Championship Window than does Garnett. The Garnett trade makes a Kobe trade much more likely, and the Bulls have to be the most likely destination, whether it happens this year or next. With Kobe, a third three peat is quite possible.

As for all the critizism of Pax, a wise man once said, Patience is a virtue. The Celtics had nothing to lose, they were going nowhere, slowly. The Bulls are building for a long championship run, blowing it up for one player, even KG is a risk. The Bulls would have had to give up better players than the Celtics did to get KG, just because they have a much better roster. Which 5 players would you all have traded, Ty Thomas, who could be as good as Garnett or Amare soon, Noah, Nocioni, Duhon, and no giant expiring contract, plus 2 future #1's, one of which is Minnesotas own being returned from a previously horrible trade that Mchale made with Boston. The Bulls don't currently have the right pieces for this deal and it would have been too expensive if we tried. Supposedly McHale turned down, Deng, Chandler and Thomas last year. Just because McHale is dumb doesn't mean Pax has to be just to do a deal.

Roman responds: Big Way, my friend, you are forgetting a potentially very good team in the Orlando Magic. At this point, I'd rather have Dwight Howard than KG. The kid is 21 and averaged 15 and 15 in the playoffs against Detroit. Now they have Rashard Lewis, and J.J. Redick sounds like he may not be a monumental bust. This team is worth watching.

the celts now have a starting five of... rondo, allen, pierce, KG, and kendrick perkins. and a bench of... 3 rookies! depth is something that is necessary in this league, so don't go to boston and (in the words of dennis green) "crown their a$$" just yet. the celtics still have to fill out the rest of their team. i don't really see doc rivers being able to coach this group well. pierce and allen are below average defenders, and doc only tries to outscore people.

granted, the celts go from "who cares" to "watch out" in one day, but there's still an 82 game season ahead, and i see jesus shuttlesworth playing about 55 of those.

An injury in basketball is equivalent to a sick day in the working world. When you are a star and playing for nothing, you are not going to play through ANY injuries and you shouldn't. The stars on good teams play through injuries. Garnett, Pierce and Allen haven't had reason to play through anything. Roman is right, these are 3 classy guys who have a LOT to prove, and trust me, they are NOT going to have a problem getting free agents to come in and play with them. A lot of boston season ticket holders called in sick today because they got drunk celebrating. Tim in 45 days - Danny Ainge got TWO stars and have turned that whole franchise around!!! Note to Paxson: NOW THAT'S A CORE!

Boston has moved up, but still don't think they are head and shoulders above the rest of the east... Pierce, Allen, KG are star caliber players, but I wouldn't consider any of them superstars. To me a superstar is a player that elevates there team, which none have carried there respective teams past the 1st round.

This looks more like when Barkely went to the Rockets, with the dream and clyde... Not as old as those guys, but at least 2 of them (Pierce and Allen) on the latter part of there careers. Also, since they basically traded there whole team, who plays PG and C for them, and comes off the bench??? That may be the key for Ainge, the role players that he puts around these guys.

And the Knicks?? Don't see how Randolph and Curry compliment each other, just gonna clog up the middle on offense.. and not like they have good outside shooters (please don't say jamal crawford is a consistent outside shooter). Randolph doesn't make them any better defensively either.

To me the team to watch out for is the Magic, Howard is a monster!

Here is my prediction... Kevin Mchale resigns as GM of Wolves. And surprise, surprise, he gets a front office job where.. with the Celtics. Wink, wink...

For agreeing to one of the most lopsided trades ever, I'll give my old teammate a front office job. Poor t-wolves are left to rot after how many years of Mchale running that franchise into the ground... Mchale = Millen.

If McHale was saving this all along for Ainge, all hope for Garnett to be a Bull was a mute asking. Whether this trade makes Boston a Top 3 in the East, I vehemently dispute. Having three solid veterans to close out games is a true bonus, but where is the sustaining ENERGY for the season. They don't have solid young guns helping to push both ends of the floor (e.g. Parker, Ginobili, Udroh for S.A.) and their other guards are unproven with a low turnover to assist ratio. Five, six or seven in the East at best. As for Paxson and the Bulls, I feel he believes the sum of the parts is greater than the whole with his squad, and felt he would lose that formula with a Garnett type trade. We'll probably never know now how a blockbuster trade would have affected our team, but I like our chances and the decision to hold tight with what we have.

KG to the Celtics makes them an Eastern Conference Playoff team...not much more than that. They have about 4-5 years to win a championship and considering they're gonna be in luxury tax territory the whole time, that severely limits their ability to surround the Big 3 with a solid group of supporters. Look at Phoenix or New Jersey. Phoenix has a big 3 of nash,stoudemire, and marion and yet they never sniffed the NBA finals. New Jersey has Jefferson, kidd, and carter and they didn't make the nba finals either. And BOTH of those teams had SUPERB role players to Boston's and i think kidd and nash make their teams way better than garnett would make the celtics team becuz they run the offense

for chicago...i think they're still in a good position as long as their core still develop...and let's not forget...next year elton brand is a free agent and if he comes back to chicago (God willing), the bulls are for sure an nba finals team for the next 5-7 years....

It blows me away to see the lack of respect Miami and Orlando are getting in these blogs. When you have a 320#, 7'2" behemoth, who doesn't have to move too much underneath the net, alongside one of the most competitive, and recent Finals M.V.P (both of whose injuries were costly last year) in the mix, how do you discount them one year uncrowned. If Orlando jells, they could be awesome. Their youth and bench, deterents in the past, may take a huge leap forward this year. These Boston bandwagon jumpers should take a moment to see that it may be the EAST that is really the BEAST.

Im with Keith on this one..again...and no doubt those three guys have a lot to prove and....after what I saw Tim Grover do with Pip and Jordan, (no joke, he had them doing eye lid excersises) that the life span of players is a lot longer than it used to be. Modern Conditioning and Sports Specific training is AMAZING.

Your nuts to think a bum ankle will prevent these top teir pro's from doing what it takes to win. Think about this, Garnett, Peirce and Allen have all been playing on 1 man teams. And putting up huge numbers on losing teams with 0 help. Id develope a bum ankle or two if my season was over after the first 2 months too.

Roman, call your boy Pax, and let him know we have decided we need another peice.

If we make no moves, then our only hope to get to championships is that Tyrus Thomas developes really really fast and Gordon takes every other shot.

Knicks Gm gets a point. Celtics gm gets 2 points, Bulls gm get 0 points....again.

Excellent Points K.

The Bulls went into the off season wanting to address the fact that we do not have a post player who will demand a double team. Please don't tell me Joe Smith was the filler for that void because we certainly know that Noah is not.

We are not at training camp yet, so I hope Pax is not done.

Celtics are going to have to deal with the chemistry factor for at least the 1st half of the season. The Bulls are strong because of their team chemistry. This trade solidifies Boston as playoff contenders but nothning more. I still feel strong about the Bulls chances of making the NBA Finals. You can't measure how much heart this team plays with.

There are so many dumb comments here, I don't know where to start.

First, Jefferson is a potential All-Star caliber player year in, year out. Anyone saying that, RIGHT NOW, Tyrus is equal to Jefferson is nuts.

Secondly, what Boston now has, FOR PROBABLY JUST TWO, MAYBE 3 YEARS, is better than what the Bulls would have had with what they would've given up to get KG.

Thirdly, the guy that said KG, Pierce and Allen are better than Deng, Gordon and Joe Smith is right and OH SO WRONG because the Celts have nothing else to compare with Hinrich, Wallace, Thomas and Nocioni and, at this time, the NBA is not a 3 on 3 league.

Fourth, for his 2 final years of current contract and 3 years of extension, he will get 105 million bucks or 21 million a year. Do you reallly believe that, at 35 and 36, he is going to be worth that money?

Finally, anyone that wants to lay out some cash that the Celts will finish ahead of the Bulls this year, I'll take the action.

The BULLS will be fine, if not great this year. Led by their young bench, with an improving Tyrus, healthy Nocioni and the rest, I'm not afraid of the celtics big 3. They're NOT what they were, say 3 years ago (with the possible exception of KG). The BULLS speed and defensive relentlessness will overcome their size, AGAIN. They're only BETTER!

Contreras (if I spelled it right) was the SOX ace. Now, if we can't move him and must keep him, it's time he left the mound for some refreshing. He is simply being pounded. I hate to see it, for him and as a fan. It hurts.

I blammed last year on OZZIE. I felt he didn't do enough to motivate the players. They made errors (not just Iguchi) and didn't seem to be trying their best, too often. That's not the case this year.

This year, I'm scratching my head. The pitching went south, the bats couldn't ever heat up, until recently. Coincidentally after players heard trade rumors. I think/hope they'll do better down the home stretch, at least the hitters will.

The other day, watching Ron of the Phillies play, reminded me of '05 when they really seemed to play more as a team; picking each other up, encouraging each other, hustling for each other (not just to save a "no hitter"). I miss that, and I think that's what their missing too. But, like I said, I'm still scratching my head.

DJ, I was thinking the SAME THING! McHale should have asked KG if he had room in the hummer since they were going the same way. Cause I would have fired him if I were Minnesota. They are the Celtics - without Pierce. UUUUUauuauuaauuagh!

Tim, the Celtics are going as far as the Bulls, if not further. I predict both to go out in the second round just like last year. The unbelievable thing about this is the Celtics are going to turn it around in 1 year. And in the offseason have more players looking to run with them than participants in the Boston Marathon. HOW'S THAT FOR PATIENCE? Why do we have to be the patient franchise?

The Knicks remind me of the Spurs before Duncan joined them. They tanked a lot of games and were in the middle of the road anyway. But after they picked up the big fundamental went full steam ahead. Twin towers got it done. I'm not saying that Zack and Curry are that good, but they are good enough in the east and I aint even discussed the rest of the players.

Bulls are losing ground fast and they better have Kobe's number on the speed dial. It disgusts me to type it, but that is where we are at now. I like Elton Brand but he is too short, and I am not talking about the rapper (bout the same height aint he). We cant have a 6'8 front line. I can see Dwight Howard laughing right now! Especially when we send Krusty the Clown in there after he fouls out our front line! I am not happy about this Garnett business. Roman its a good time to ask if anyone is STILL excited about Joe Smith!!!!:(

Roman responds: Keith, I was reading your stuff about Boston and thinking to myself: "At least he's not talking about the Knicks." And then BAM! LOL You the Knicks. I have your email address. I'm writing you tomorrow to make a wager.

I hear Kobe is still grumbling!

Keith the Bulls window of opportunity has not closed, it has yet to open fully. KG is desperatly hoping to find a crack in the window to go through with Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. ain't gonna happen. at best Boston will be scrapping for the eighth seed along with your beloved Knicks come April. as Roman pointed out earlier seems everyone is overlooking Orlando and as I mentioned in my earlier post as the season and the play-offs progress, depth becomes a huge factor. and that is something Boston sorely lacks and the Bulls have plenty of.

50 million a year for three guys in their thirties. I say we've seen the best years these "stars" have to offer. And we know any average blogger is more than equal to Paxton's basketball savvy. Not!
This is a breakout season for the Bulls, run the older teams to death.

Roman responds: San Antonio wasn't exactly winning another title on young legs last season.

Keith just lost all credibility touting the Knicks. Exactly how many guys on that team play ANY D? Waiting...waiting...Curry and Randolph essentially play the same sport. MSG is now investing serious dollars reinforcing their floor.

You sound like the ESPN yellers talking up the Celtics - the same ones who were touting the 76ers when they added Webber a few years back which was a complete joke. Celts have no point guard and only KG plays any D on that team - they also have very little beyond the big 3 at this point. You're also assuming Allen and Pierce are 100% recovered from their injuries. Are they more dangerous..absolutely. Let's see them commit to an 82 game schedule and commit to playing some semblance of D.

History says the Celtics will not get anywhere near the conference title. I give it 20 games before one of the 3 start pouting about not getting enough shots - actually it will be pouter #1, Pierce.

I am laughing too Roman, I couldn't resist!!! But those bad boys have earned my respect. Dumars, Isaiah, Mahorn, and even Lambier are in coaching. They are all doing fine too. Isaiah had Indiana on their way until the big brawl. And I look for him to make his mark in NY because he knows the game. I have a soft spot for gangsta ball, even though MJ ushered in this highflying-cant-touch-em era. I appreciate the Suns, but I would have more respect for them if you could touch them and if guys like Shaq could use his muscle. Winning championships comes down to mental toughness, dirty defense and half-court execution. We have to wait until the playoffs to watch real basketball. All this scoring affects rivalries too. I don't mind a guy making the Sports Center highlights, but at least let him earn it. I am rooting for Isaiah to get his ship righted! Thats right!! ehehhehee! Blogfather - Make me a wager I cant refuse!

No one is saying that NY is instantly great, we are just saying that NY has to have you watching over your shoulder now.

Also, for the record....it was ME who brought up Orlando...not Roman!

Another conspiracy... NBA facilitates the boston-minnesota trade, needs one of its charter franchises to be relevant again! Who has really cared about the Celtics until now?? And most importantly, this deflects the spot light off of the current gambling scandal... The Wizard (stern) has the wheels in motion!

Also, Keith, please come out of the closet already, you Knicks fan! Comparing the knicks to the spurs before Duncan joined?!?!? So Randpolph is the same caliber player as Duncan?!?!? WOW! So Curry is Robinson?!?!??! DOUBLE WOW!!!! Watch out East for the NY TWIN TOWERS???????????

I am upset like everybody else that we didnt grab K.G. I know that Paxson is dedicated to his Young players, but WOW he sure seems to think that he can win without a dominant player. Maybe he was afraid that if he traded for K.G. and then that team won a couple of Championships, K.G would say players win Championships not management( sound familiar) I say we trade Gordon, Duhon, Noah, and next years picks to the Lakers for Kobe. What do you all think?

Let the Celts have KG...Paxson is eyeing Kobe. I'm guessing Kobe will now force his way off the Lakers before the start of the season and choose Chicago as his landing place. A package of Gordon, Tyrus/Noah and a couple of picks should get him. I'd take a team of Kirk, Kobe, Deng, Noce and Big Ben over the Celts or anyone else. Plus their bench would still be solid with Thabo, Duhon and Smith making up the core.

Is Boston the new beast of the east? Not even close. Paul Pierce can talk all he wants about how he'll share the ball and be a team player and defer to KG and Ray Ray... please, I've heard it before. It ain't gonna happen. Pierce will score only 20 points a game for a week and then he'll pout that he's not the go-to guy.

Sure, I wish the Bulls coul have landed Garnett, but it's not going to ruin their season and it's going to make the Celtics instant contenders. This is just a case of idiot one GM (McHale) helping another idiot GM (Ainge) who happens to be an old friend.

Knicks got on the radar because PAXSON let Isaiah steal Zack Randolph. The Grizzlies got Milic. And now Ainge has stolen KG.

All I need to hear now is that Orlando has signed Kobe, and then um through with Pax. We have made every excuse in the book for Pax. Its too many deals being made! Once in a lifetimers and we end up with - Joe Smith. I am fine with Smith, but cmon man. All these deals for bums too. We have enough bums to have gotten KG and Zack Randolph. Somebody better tell Pax he is holding two pair and not a Royal Flush.

Knicks got on the radar because PAXSON let Isaiah steal Zack Randolph. The Grizzlies got Milic. And now Ainge has stolen KG.

All I need to hear now is that Orlando has signed Kobe, and then um through with Pax. We have made every excuse in the book for Pax. Its too many deals being made! Once in a lifetimers and we end up with - Joe Smith. I am fine with Smith, but cmon man. All these deals for bums too. We have enough bums to have gotten KG and Zack Randolph. Somebody better tell Pax he is holding two pair and not a Royal Flush.

Can anyone here name an NBA championship team that DIDN'T have a bench?

I think that answers this question about who's going to win the East ... .

True, San Antonio didn't win it ALL on young legs last year, but boy they sure helped. Tony Parker is the equivalent to Steve Nash in team importance, and Ginobili, though 30, hasn't but six years N.B.A. mileage. Mix that with four other young solid bench players who averaged double digit minutes and your formula goes way beyond three hungry veterans. I see where you're coming from Roman, but I also don't see them sustaining a full year plus playoffs. As for the Knicks, they better have their offense on all cylinders day in and day out, cause I can't see there "D" shutting down ------- that's just it, I can't even see their "D".

The Grizzlies got Darko????!!!! Oh NO!

Kobe to Orlando, why did you even suggest that!!!?? Now it will happen.

Who was on Detroits Bench when they won it? They were 6 deep at best. Wallace/Wallace/Prince/Billups/Hamilton and maybe Lindsay ....maybe! But they made the RISKY move for sheed and it paid off. We need to make a risky move.

You know its funny, you can be the grandpa that sold the family farm for a crack pot idea, or you could be the grandpa that sold the family farm and bought into the next McDonalds and set up your family for the next 10 generations.

You just dont know, until you sell the farm!

Keith looks to me like Boston is holding three of a kind, the Nets have a small pair with an ace kicker, the Bulls have a full house and the Knicks have a toilet flush. sorry old buddy but you're being short sighted. the only radar the Knicks are on right now Keith is police radar and do you really think Pax had any chance of getting KG? Mchale and Ainge I'm sure are laughing about the trade they made and offers that were turned down knowing this was a blood brother deal from the get-go and any trade talks with other teams were just for show. as i stated earlier I believe it takes 8 not 5, and I see joeY agrees the key words to a championship are ......bench depth

The Bulls will be a top four seed in the east this year. But we have a team that is built for the 2nd round of the playoffs. Without a legitimate superstar we will not be headed to, nor will we be NBA Champs, and that is the goal. Look at the history of the NBA, Great players wins Championships. Exception Detriot recently but let's get real they where stacked with tons of height and defeated a cocky arrogant Lakers team with issues in the locker room that defeated themselves.

This Bulls team has a ceiling (with Deng and Tyrus reaching there max potential) of what Dallas has done over the past 5 years. What we are missing is that superstar like a Wade, Duncan, Bryant, Garnett who imposes their will on opponents at the end of the game. I hate to say this, especially since i never have liked Boston or Detriot, but they are the best two teams in the east in a 7 game playoff (without Wallace acting like a complete idiot for Detriot).

It will be difficult to stop KG (post), Pierce (slashing), and Allen (Shooting) in the playoffs. Anyone who says they are old and reaching the end are hating big time or blind. KG and Allen were all-stars in the West on teams they had to carry, imagine them with help. Not bench, but in the playoffs, teams play 8 players anyway. We can beat Detriot, Cleveland, and Miami but it will be tough especially with Miami at full strength. With Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh getting better, and Agent Zero back on a healthy Washington team, we need a all-star with a mean streak this year if we will think Finals. PAX, please get Kobe, Hinrich and Wallace should be the only untouchables, but anything other than a combo of two of these four players are too much Noce, Deng, Thomas, and Gordon. Or maybe even O'Neal from the Pacers, without given up our core.

Roman responds: We asked Paxson about the KG deal yesterday, and here's what he said: ''All I can say is that I had many conversations with Minnesota, but I don't know if we were ever close,'' Paxson said of trade talks with the Timberwolves. ''Some people will never understand the myriad of scenarios that are discussed and ultimately why a team does what it does.''

I believe him.

Thanks Roman. Yeah we all suspect foul play with the Boston Deal. McHale is through in the NBA except with Boston. Any other franchise would be foolish to hire him.

But its also fair to say that NO teams are making any deals with the Bulls other than NY. Because there is a LOT of action going on. Paxson seems like the person you hate to play monopoly with because he is affraid to make any deals. Only the wheel and dealers ever win. You might make some deals that you don't like sometimes, but you can't win if you don't play. Danny Ainge got KG to come to Boston because he also got Ray Allen. And now that he has Ray Allen and KG, he didn't have to address losing Paul Pierce. S T A R - P O W E R!

Chicagoans are celebrating our deal with NY - which Eddy forced. And now our franchises are inextricably linked. Fans are looking at NY who didn't even make the playoffs and saying Chicago fleeced NY. But I am looking at the BIG picture and that is the race to see which of us makes it to the finals. The team with the draft picks or the team with the STAR. Other stars like Dirk, Wade, and James have made their appearances in record time, while Chicago is taking the horse and buggy route. NY is stockpiled with developed talent and ours with "baby Bull". (and I left off the "s" on purpose) Its going to be interesting to see who makes it to the TOP first.

Keith
I think I speak for many other bloggers here when I say we must have been watching a different Knicks team than you have.

"stockpiled with developed talent"...offensively, sure, they will be able to score. Defensively, you would have a difficult choice to name the worst defensive player on that team but I would go for a tie with Crawford and Curry - 2 guys that have NEVER had any inkling or desire to play any D. On top of that you have Robinson, Marbury, Randolph, Richardson....all brutal in their own right.

Maybe Karl Malone's elbow is the reason Isiah traded for that lineup of collective failures.

Keith I want some of those brownies you've been eating!

You arent listening to Keiths point, which I think you just made very clearly in your last post.

That Eddie Curry trade will be judged for years to come. The Knicks may have had to discard a few jokers, but they could be really close having the Royal Flush.

Me personally, hated to see Eddie go, I was a huge fan. Now, he doesnt have to carry the whole load inside now either. US on the other hand, have 0 inside scoring. STILL.

Defense may win Championships, but low post scoring gets you there!

Renaldo Balkman, David Lee, Jared Jeffries, Jerome James, Fred Jones, Nate Robinson, Malik Rose, and Mardy Collins are going to play some defense for NY. I am not going to even discuss Jeffries block against the Bulls in the playoffs.

Bulls Defense is ok, its not lock down people. Outside of Ben, Noch, Tyrus and Kirk, what do we have? And not just that, but ALL of them are underSIZED. Everyone is ready to go to grant park, but I watched Detroit take us out like some chinese food! Only to get DESTROYED by Cleveland. We beat a long in the tooth, bandaged up, unmotivated, fresh off a ship, over celebrated Miami Heat team. Thats all. All you had to do was look at Ben Wallace's face during the playoffs.

Roman responds: Keith, you're not watching. Thabo will be the lock-down defender, and Tyrus will be among the league leaders in blocks. No one is saying Grant Park, but they're a lot closer to Grant Park than the Knicks are to the second round.

No one hopes your right more than me, but if Isiah does unlock his rubic cube of a team, he could be top 4 teams..with arrow pointing up.

I feel like Isiah is building an Orc army deep in his boiler room of the garden and amassing a force of our darkest deepest fears to use against us.

Ok, i just got back from Harry Potter, but im not that far off!!!!

Lots of Isiah apologists around. He is neck and neck with McHale over the past few years with some of his absurd trades and FA signings.
The Randolph trade is a no lose proposition. He didn't give up anything and got a good offensive player with a rap sheet as long as my....
They are still a bunch of 2 guards, 2 fat guys who play in the low post, and bunch of fringe players. In the east, that will get you a fight for the 8th spot.

Keith, you know I've never said a bad thing about you, UNTIL you mentioned Jerome James in the same sentence with DEFENSE. I think I'll take a dozen of those brownies myself. Plus, how could half those guys play "D" when they'll be pickin' their noses on the bench. I'm also gonna question your basketball saavy and southside roots. How dare you forget to mention a committed, LONG and LANKY hometown boy like Wilson Chandler. Jerome James? You must be near a chemical plant!!!

Roman, you are right. Thabo is going to be a lockdown defender. But not with the Bulls. He is just like Kirk, a tweener and he needs to be on a spanking brand new team to flourish. He has game, but is simply not going to play under Skiles unless there is a guy that needs guarding in tough spots. He is cool for now, but one day he will wake up and realize there are better opportunities out there for him. Good defender, but not great. And he is not going to get calls like Bruce Bowen or Radja Bell.

Chicago has seen 6 championship teams. We wrote the recipe for how to play ball in this new era. I cannot believe the same fans cannot look at our current team and see the glaring differences. Championship Teams had 2 stars (3 when Rodman joined), Big Guards, an Offensive System, played GREAT Defense and had a Great Coach. Our current team only has an offensive system and plays good defense mainly because we don't have size. We are just a scrappy bunch of boyscouts that look like a Utah Team. Plays hard but aint going NOWHERE!

And Mark, that elbow Zeke got from Karl Malone was an thing of beauty. NOW that was basketball. Isaiah was mad at the league for putting John Stockton on the Dream Team in his spot. MJ threatened not to play if Isaiah was on the Team. So Isaiah took it out on John Stockton in primetime! Isaiah put on a Harlem Globetrotters/And-1 show on Stockton! He had 44 points in 3 quarters before Karl Malone lowered the Boom on him! Now that was Hoops Justice. Didn't need the ref or the league to step in. They handled that bidness on the court. Isaiah made his point, but it cost him. That is when I stopped liking Karl Malone and was extremely satisfied when Rodman stripped him in the finals and the Pistons destroyed the Lakers denying his 3rd chance of winning a championship. He was always a punk and tried to sneak in with the Lakers. Everything in the NBA is so watered down its a shame. And they had all those rules implemented to stop the violence and now we have had more violence than ever.

Brand suffers ruptured Achilles' tendon
August 4
Los Angeles Times (registration required): "On a team beset with question marks, the lone certainty went down Friday when the Clippers announced that star forward Elton Brand ruptured his left Achilles' tendon."

Roman responds: Yeah, I saw that last night. Feel bad for Elton. His rookie year was my first year covering the Bulls. Great guy, and promising Hollywood producer after producing "Rescue Dawn."

Scratch him off my christmas list!

Brand produced that! I just looked it up. Well he has time for another one now. Be a good time for the Bulls to go out and "get shorty" like they did Ben Wallace. You stack them both up together and get Wilt Chamberlin!

Antony my friend I only mentiion those guys because they are tall enough to play defense at their positions. James is 7'1 280. Wilson is a 6'8 guard who blocks shots. Now don't act like you didn't notice 6'3 Chauncy Billups getting off every shot he wanted against the Bulls. ONLY to be slowed down by Cleveland. Most of the time SIZE does matter.

It appears that a lot of people are ready to just give the celts the east crown before a game has been played. Take nothing away from Ray Allen, a great scoring guard or Paul Pierce a super small forward and the great Kevin Garnet, what a truly wonderful player with an old school mentality. How many nba titles or even conference championships do they have between the three of them? No offense to those guys, any of them could play on my team but having great talent does not make a team great or even make them winners, it just makes them talented. Let's see if the talent translates to 50 or 60 wins, until then I will take my Bulls over any team the NBA has to offer East Or West conference. Now, see ya come playoff time boys and girls..

I have to really disagree with you Keith when you label Malone as a "punk"...look it up in the dictionary and you'll see a picture of Isiah. I submit the following:
- Participating in freeze out of MJ
- Siding with Rodman when they said Bird was hyped by the media because he was white
- Walking off the court when the Bulls swept them
- Bankrupting the CBA

No comparison

Keith...you're delirious..."Thabo is just like Kirk"? Thabo is 6'6" - 3 inches taller than Hinrich.
What are u drinking with those brownies?
How can you compare any team (other than cleveland) with the Bulls of the 90s? I can't imagaine another team to win it all based on their 2 guard. You obviously have issues with Skiles - from your posts it seems he's not "player friendly" - I think we all know what that is thinly disguised as.
Also...don't call Malone a punk. Isiah is the one who walked off the court after they got hammered by the bulls. Isiah is the one who tanked the CBA. Isiah is the one who is being taken up on sexual harrassment charges.

Romo - is there any way to screen off Keith's posts? I think he might be beyond delirious at this point.

I don't see KG coexisting well with Pierce. I could see boston trying to peddle pierce to fill some gaps. Allen and KG are a better fit with some solid role players and depth.

Please don't let the bulls trade for pierce, be like bringing in eddie robinson all over again. The bulls need a scorer but pierce is not the right fit.

Ask his DAUGHTER (who he abandoned until she became famous) if he is a punk? She said on HBO that COACH RICK MAHORN was her father figure. She plays on a WNBA Championship Team. Unlike her old man. He hit little Isaiah with an elbow for PLAYING GREAT BASKETBALL against his teammate. He never even got into an argument with a player his size. And he gave the man stitches on a dirty play. Not by challenging the man to a fight or something. NOW IF THAT AINT PUNK MATERIAL - I DONT KNOW WHAT IS. And Isaiah got his comeuppance also. He got jilted like a bad lover from the NBA. And Mike froze him off the Dream Team. He paid his dues for his deeds. But that PUNK got off the hook, but not from hoops justice! hee hee hee! No ship for PUNKS! Everyone from that TEAM has a ship but him - even Payton!

Thabo is not a point guard but he can play it in stretches. He is not a two guard, but he can guard them. He is not a small foward either but he can also guard at that position in stretches. Heeeees a TWEEEEENER just like his TEAMMATE Kirk Hinrich!!! Who can play the point, but cant guard most of them. Not a Two guard, but can guard them.

And I am not the only one who has issues with Mr. Skiles. Shaq had to slap the taste out of his mouth, and Jason Kidd - the Bulls Killer - hates him with a passion. I look at Mr. Skiles and don't see a Phil Jackson or an elite coach. I see a guy that is WORSE than Doug Collins. Lawrence Frank and Jason Kidd made him look like Tim Floyd in the HUGE game at the end of the season. The team is just like him - scrappy and over their heads. And I am a Bulls fan. I root for them above all teams, but I have to call it like I see it.

What the heck are we talking about now? This thread has miandered(pts?) so far off topic, i feel like I drank the brownies!!

Bottom line is, Teams are beefing up in the East and we are holding Pax. Do I have that same feeling I had when we brought in Rodman, or traded Oakley? No, i do not. I do not feel that we are now the team to beat. We are now just another team, that has a great defensive identity and play hard and plays as a team. Wow...this isnt COLLEGE!!!! THis is the PROS. Name one team that won a NBA title without a superstar in the last 50 years!!!

End of debate!

Read a few of the comments thusfar...and I have to say that ANYONE who thinks the Bulls are a title contender are sorely mistaken. First and formost...I've become a diehard Heat fan because of Paxson and two things: drafting Noah and failing to make the trade for Kevin Garnett. Everyone has agreed that the Bulls have the best collection of young talent, yet the Timberwolves got stiffs and picks for one of the best players in the league. The Bulls right now are probably the FIFTH best team in the East right now. A collection of energy players cannot win a title!! I've been saying for two years now that the addition of KG could possibly give the Bulls a title. But...Paxson is basically trying to win a war of attrition by thinking that these young guys will mature (and stay with the team)...and win a championship with everyone else getting old. All you Bulls fans that think that Joakim Noah is the final piece of the puzzle...are living in a total fantasy world. Paxson somehow is getting a pass for not making a move that could bring a ring to this city. Hell, even Krause traded for Dennis Rodman!! So come April next year...while the Celtics are playing for the Eastern Conferenc Finals...Bulls fans can look back on this summer when Paxson basically chose to stand pat as opposed to being aggressive and going for a title.

Im surprised no thread about Oakley trying to make a comeback!!

Roman responds: I covered Oak for a season with the Bulls. It was a memorable one. I'll never forget the 55-point (franchise-worst) loss at Minnesota. Afterward, Tim Floyd said his team couldn't have beaten a "snappy" junior-high team. When told of that remark, Oakley ripped into Floyd and was fined $50K the next day. Wild ride.
He'll be talking about a comeback when he's 60.

me thinks Oak needs some cash...

Roman responds: He owns a string of car washes, but everyone could use extra.

He would be good for the ex-athlete reality show I just came up with.

Ex athletes who now have to work in the real world...and deal with real life BS like the rest of us. But, they get harrassed for their celebrity status and mocked and have a hard time coping with it. Thats where the drama of the show kicks in. You like/or love to hate them, but you also feel sad for them, and realize how pathetic it is to think your special when your a celeb athlete, but then forgotten when your over the hill and just watch how they come to grips with it. Maybe have like 3 who are successfull like the Sanders and Staubachs of the world and then have 3 who are not handling it so well...like Oakley or someone like that..who cant let it go.

anyone want to sign me up as a writer for it??

J'O'Neil wants out of Indy!!! I say we bring him to Chitown.

Trade anyone!!

Roman responds: Hey, great idea. After all, he's done so well in Indy. It doesn't matter who you put around him. And he's a great teammate. He'll never ask to be traded.

Is there any superstar out there or available you do like or you would trade Hinrich for?

Roman responds: It's not that I wouldn't deal Kirk, I'm just not a huge JO fan. I used to be, but I've soured on his attitude.

I bet it it wasnt a team in our conference Pax would be all over it.

JO is an ok player. I couldn't see us giving up much for him. I would give them Malik Allen, Krapya, Sweets and a 2nd round pick.

Keith
Wow...Jason Kidd hates Skiles? I'm sure Skiles is really put off that a guy who slapped his wife around doesn't like him! As I recall, he got po'd for someone grabbing one of his french fries.

Shaq got into it with Skiles as teammates in practice but to this day, said he respects a great deal (whether that's true is debatable but Shaq isn't shy about speaking his mind).
Jordan slapped Steve Kerr around...does that mean he hates Kerr?

Around the league, Skiles is known for getting more out of his players than almost anyone. Blame Pax if you don't think he got the talent to get it done, but don't hate on Skiles because he and Pax don't want some of these NBA malcontents on their team.

Culzie you are right. For the record, I like Pax and was the first one to give him credit for bringing in Wallace. But we should not feel like ok he's painted the Cistine and now he is done. Cubs fans now see what happens when you spend some cash and bring in a Star. Bulls have the luxury of not even having to compete with another basketball team in town. We have a loyal fan base that was built on the shoulders of MJ. After watching MJ, Scotty, Worm and Phil we have a RIGHT to demand a legitimate star in this town and a coach that isnt a can of industrial strength star repellant. Stars wont even consider coming here. We HAVE to sign guys like Joe Smith instead of Zack Randolph. Some say its because of the legend of MJ, but thats nothing more than a polite excuse. Who wouldn't want to play in the 3rd largest market on a team with great tradition and a loyal fan base? Boston, LA, Houston, Phoenix, NY, Detroit all have championship history, yet Stars continue to play in the shadows of their greats.

I believe in what Pax is doing in theory. I am also a basketball purist. I like guys who buy into a team concept, but I also know - and so does PAXSON - that those nice little guys wont get a chance to make their necessary contribution without the presence of the star/s. Stars demand a double team which opens up the offense or they will make you pay. That is how John Paxson got off all of those wonderful shots he made and why Scott Skiles owns the assist record. Skiles knows better, but he can't comment on it becausssse he KNOWS that those type of stars won't play for him. And its ashame because we are 1 good star away from winning it all.

Maybe it is Skiles!

First Matumbo.....now....Miller....whos next Pip??

Miller mulls joining Celtics
August 9
Boston Herald: "So it shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that Ainge, now searching for depth, has targeted a soon-to-be 42-year-old retiree who also happens to be one of the greatest shooters in the history of the game. Ainge acknowledged yesterday that he has approached Reggie Miller about coming out of retirement to play for the Celtics. "

Celtics may sign Mutombo
August 2
Boston Herald (scroll down): "The C’s, who now have 13 players on their roster, can add two more. One is expected to be a big man, with veteran 7-footer Dikembe Mutombo, 41,a possibility."

First Matumbo.....now....Miller....whos next Pip??

Miller mulls joining Celtics
August 9
Boston Herald: "So it shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that Ainge, now searching for depth, has targeted a soon-to-be 42-year-old retiree who also happens to be one of the greatest shooters in the history of the game. Ainge acknowledged yesterday that he has approached Reggie Miller about coming out of retirement to play for the Celtics. "

Celtics may sign Mutombo
August 2
Boston Herald (scroll down): "The C’s, who now have 13 players on their roster, can add two more. One is expected to be a big man, with veteran 7-footer Dikembe Mutombo, 41,a possibility."

OK, ive had a change of heart...i dont want to be pegged as someone who isnt sharing in on the koolaid.

I saw a picture of Gordon and i got the chills. I saw the picture and had visions of his break out season. I think if we do hold Pax, and roll the dice with who we have, then its gonna come down to Gordon and Thomas.

Im a total believer. I want them to kick a** in the worst way and Id love nothing more than our home grown guys to take it to the NEXT LEVEL.

I would hate to have the circus that is Boston going on here...reminds me too much of when Scottie couldnt retire, and Toni K was still floating around. Thats not the Bulls I want to have.

I want them to go from the baby bulls to the "Oh Baby! Bulls"

Culzie I am also excited about another entertaining season. But its going to be just that...entertaining. JUST like Boston's season. Their fans are even MORE excited than us. And yes, I believe Scottie is going to play with them. Its going to be very interesting to see if the Babies can beat the Geritol Gang. They have stars who have turned them around overnight and we have.......patience. Lots, and lots of patience. Go BULLS 2025!

Nope...im not gonna be a nay sayer. Sure, i let my enthusiasim about a BlockBuster Trade cloud my vision, for a moment, but no longer will I diss.

If a trade happens great. If Kobe gets traded to the Pistons, then youll hear from me again, but for now. Im ok.

as long as Ainge is foraging through the Geritol and Life Alert crowd, why not talk Barkley out of the TNT booth? after all he is still fast enough to beat Dick Beveta in a foot race and might even be able to get his 300 pounds off the floor high enough to still dunk the ball.

Tim, Charles is one snickers away from becoming a complete circle! You are wrong for bringing him up! But I can bet you, there are a lot of guys working out just to see if they can make a comeback! That is how watered down the league is. What used to be a war, has turned to soft finesse touch ball. Golden State and Utah played the most exciting ball in the whole playoffs. Teams that played to their potential and left it all on the floor. Love my Bulls, but don't think we have that kind of talent.

Keith you really dont think we are as talented as Utah and GoldenState?

wow....bold statement.

Also, way to go after Tims Barks comment. I think he was kidding though;) but It was kinda wrong of him.

I love Barks. Him and Dan Marjle...local yolkals out here.

Gotta go sell some land!

Later...

yes guys my Barkley comment was dripping with sarcasm. not that I was taking a pot shot at Barkley cause i enjoy him in the booth. it was more a shot at Ainge going after Matumbo and Reggie.

Culzie, I don't think we have a talent to match Baron or Deron in the playoffs. They willed their teams into the next rounds. Deron performed better than any Bull we have, and Baron was off the charts. Both teams got MORE out of their players than the Bulls did, and yes - you can attribute that directly to the coaching and a lack of a bonefide star.

Bulls have a good team, but make no bones about it they are for entertainment purposes only. Not going to win because they don't have a star to get them over the hump in the playoffs. Bears and Baseball fans are talking about championships and that is the RIGHT conversation. ONLY BULLS fans are talking about BULLS 2018.

Hey...dont get me wrong KLTSS I think we need a star too....perhaps..one of our guys can break out though. Thats what im saying NOW. Since it appears no stars are on the horizon.

Gordon...could go Baron Davis on you....hes young, and i remember when he just flat out took over the NCAA tourney.

Tyrus Thomas could be the next Amare' or dude in Orlando...

Deng could blossom into a pippen style player....lock down D with great moves to the basket...

and...although he is totally hated in here...Hiny, could...and I mean...could be a John Stockton/Nash style point gaurd...not so much with his quickness...(which he is lacking) but more in his Floor General, Winning attitude!

I dont know....im not too worried about Deron and Baron...at this point...

I more worried about Dwayne and LeBron

Also...i hear that Elston Turner wants to make a comeback!!!

Was great to see Hinrich turn down the Olympic Team. We want ALL of these players to progress/blossom, and some of them will, but "when" is the big question.

You are right to watch Dwayde and Labron. Might be a good idea to also keep an eye on Boston too. And we are not the only team with young promising players.

Hey, I sold that land, to a guy stationed overseas. I think thats where Roman is vacationing actually. kuwait. or am i just pretending?!?!?!?!?

Celtics the talk of Rodeo Drive
FIBA Americas Championship
Boston Globe-

Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills doesn't shut down for just anybody. But it did two weeks ago when Paul Pierce co-hosted the LA Stars Celebrity Charity All-Star weekend with Golden State guard Baron Davis and Washington guard Gilbert Arenas. The Saturday night street party featured a surprise performance by Stevie Wonder. But after three days of festivities, it was Jermaine O'Neal who made headlines for comments about wanting to leave the Pacers.

What might have prompted O'Neal to think differently about his situation? Maybe it was hanging out with Pierce in the afterglow of the Kevin Garnett deal. Spending offseasons in Los Angeles, Pierce and O'Neal have become close friends. They talked during the charity weekend about their respective teams. After all, it wasn't long ago that Pierce struggled with being the lone superstar on a team with young talent and contemplated asking for a trade.

"Jermaine is just like me," said Pierce. "He wants to be involved with a winner. He's not getting any younger, either, and his miles are piling up. That's rough. I didn't tell him he should go somewhere else, none of that, because he's going to make his own decisions in the end.Continued...

I just posted an article about Oneil going to the Celts.

hmmm.,,.,,,.

not good. not good at all!

Warriors lukewarm to Pietrus
Golden State so far is unwilling to up its offer for the restricted free agent
By Geoff Lepper
STAFF WRITER

Article Launched: 08/16/2007 03:02:17 AM PDT

The temperature in Las Vegas on Wednesday was measured at 103 degrees, which suited the needs of Warriors forward Mickael Pietrus quite well.

(*lets get um)

Bibby could end up in Miami
August 15
Miami Herald (scroll down) (registration required): "Sacramento hasn't ruled out trading point guard Mike Bibby, and now views the Heat as a potential partner if it does, an NBA official said. The Heat would give up Jason Williams, but whether Miami would move Udonis Haslem in such a deal is questionable. Bibby, due $13.5 million and $14.5 million the next two seasons, could be packaged with forwards Kenny Thomas or Shareef Abdur-Rahim."

Another BULLS POST TOPS 100!!!!!!!!

Artest To Miami?
by Angelo on August 20th, 2007
Word is the Heat is intent on making another push to acquire Ron Artest, trying to entice Sacramento with Udonis Haslem and others. Miami Herald 8/19/07

I REALIZE THESE ARE RUMORS, BUT...ARE THERE ANY BULLS RUMORS OUT THERE TO TANTALIZE??

sam smith reports...

Knicks may target Kobe
September 3
Chicago Tribune: "With coach Phil Jackson entering the final year of his contract, transition appears to be in the Lakers' future. The betting is the Knicks will make a major run at Bryant with the Bulls, Bryant's personal choice, still a possibility."

Roman responds: I thought Sam said Garnett was coming to the Bulls. I love the guy, but it's just conjecture.