Tyrus Thomas Discussions and Trade Rumors Start to Heat Up

Looks like as of right now, Tyrus Thomas is the only Bull who is guaranteed to be traded before the deadline.  He should be flattered, because he apparently has a lot suitors.  I discussed a few of them in a post a few days ago, but since then, there have been more recent developments.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, Tyrus’s verbal tirade on Vinny got other GMs’ attention, and they’ve been calling Bulls Management non-stop since that night.  It obviously became clear that the Tyrus’s time in Chicago was essentially over.

“Everyone understood Chicago executives are now determined to move Thomas, and a clear price has been established for suitors: Expiring contracts and a future first-round draft pick, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. The Bulls are also exploring ways to package Thomas with guard Kirk Hinrich to free themselves of his contract.”

I would most definitely accept expirings with a future first-round pick for Tyrus if that’s the best you can get.  You have to move him for something…why not for cap space and a future first-rounder?  It’s not like he’s an All-Star.  According to Adrian, the Bobcats apparently offered Acie Law, Flip Murray, and a future first-rounder.  Decent offer for Tyrus alone.  The Blazers have offered either Steve Blake or Travis Outlaw, both expiring, with 2 future second round picks.  Adrian suggests this is not good enough and they will have to improve upon this to be taken seriously.  I agree.  As it stands right now, the Bobcats are pursuing aggressively and are likely the front-runner.

“Bulls management is telling teams they expect to take the bidding right to the Feb. 18 deadline. The Bulls want to avoid the possibility of Thomas accepting a $6.2 million qualifying offer on the eve of this summer’s free agency, which would deliver a major dent to their salary-cap space.”

Fair enough.  Obviously you want the best possible offer you can get for the guy, and teams become more and more desperate as the trade deadline approaches.  But it goes both ways.  And every team knows the Bulls are desperate to trade Tyrus (as well as Kirk).  So far, the Knicks, Kings, Spurs, Nuggets, and Hornets are the other teams who have called the Bulls about Tyrus.  That’s a large list, so surely the Bulls will get something done by the deadline.  Now, for us fans, the waiting game begins.

Rumors: Possible Tyrus Thomas Suitors, and Could Brendan Haywood be a Bull?

Not that Tyrus was in the Bulls’ future anyway, but after his verbal tirade against Vinny, there is no doubt the organization is trying to deal Thomas harder than ever.  According to Ken Berger of CBS Sports, Tyrus is days away from being dealt.

“Tyrus Thomas isn’t as big a name as Stoudemire, but league sources agree he’s far more likely to be dealt by Feb. 18 – if not sooner. One person familiar with the situation said it would be surprising if the Thomas situation stretched into next week after his recent dustup with coach Vinny Del Negro over losing his starting job to rookie Taj Gibson. Sources say the Bulls would prefer to package Thomas in a bigger deal that would clear cap space for a major free agent signing — such as a detailed scenario here involving the Celtics’ Ray Allen. Short of that, the Bulls would be eager to unload Thomas in a smaller deal that would bring back less significant assets that could be used to surround and entice a marquee free agent. Two Western Conference teams intrigued by Thomas are the Nuggets, patiently seeking a big man to contend with the Lakers, and the Spurs, who were characterized by two rival executives as desperate to acquire an athletic big man. “They feel like they have to do something, like they’re behind the eight ball a little bit,” one of the execs said. The Spurs have a full complement of expiring contracts that would intrigue the Bulls, who want to avoid losing a significant player with no compensation (see Ben Gordon) for the second straight summer. The Spurs, who dipped their toe across the luxury tax line this season, will have to decide before the end of their annual circus road trip – which continued Monday night against the Lakers – what they’re willing to give up to see that investment pay off.”

I love how he says Tyrus isn’t as big a name as Stoudemire.  Is he even in the same realm as Stoudemire?  In my eyes, Tyrus is about a season away from being out of the league.  Apparently, the media doesn’t watch the Bulls nearly enough to realize it.  I guess that means that there’s a market for Tyrus?  The Spurs are desperate for an athletic big man…but desperate enough to deal for Thomas?  Who knows…maybe an organization like that will be good for his development.  As for the Nuggets, I hardly think Tyrus is going to help them contend with the Lakers moreso than Nene or Kenyon Martin.  Trust me, Tyrus isn’t the key to beating the Lakers when you already can’t do it with 2 much much better power forwards.  No idea what the Nuggets could be thinking, although if it happens, I look forward to the dynamic duo of J.R. Smith and Tyrus Thomas aka Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum.

Any other deal involving Tyrus would have to do with him being thrown in for a deal for Kirk Hinrich.  For example, if the Celtics traded Ray Allen for Kirk Hinrich, they would surely ask for Tyrus to be thrown in.  Also, an Amar’e trade would definitely involve Kirk and Tyrus as well, and probably Brad Miller to boot.  We’ll find out which team is actually the most desperate if Tyrus actually ends up being traded…because let’s face it, the only way you’re trading for Tyrus Thomas is if you’re absolutely desperate to make a deal.  I’m not really holding my breath, and at this point, if he walks at the end of the season and we don’t end up trading him, I don’t really care.

But wait…the most interesting rumor I’ve heard is Tyrus Thomas and James Johnson for Brendan Haywood.  In case you are not familiar with Haywood, he’s a big body, a banger, and a defensive beast.  He’s averaging a double-double and teamed up with Noah, we would absolutely crush teams on the boards.  Plus,  he’s fairly fundamentally sound offensively in the post.  The rumor comes from a source on realgm.com who’s  friends with an agent of a close friend of Haywood’s in Europe.

“Latest info I got is that Brendan Haywood has been informed that he could be going to Chicago for Tyrus Thomas and James Johnson.  This comes from a player my guy represents here in Europe and is close to Brendan.”

The guy supposedly is a reputable source on Real Gm and people take him seriously.  If true, this is coming directly from the horse’s mouth, i.e. Haywood himself.  This would be a great deal for the Bulls.  People will say that they don’t like trading Johnson, who’s a rookie project, for Haywood, who’s a half-season rental since he’s expiring.  I would say, have you seen James Johnson play?  His skill level is very sub-par, and he isn’t going to be effective in this league for years.  Do we really need another project?  I could care less about James Johnson, because this guy will never be a star in this league.  Haywood on the other hand is a 30 year old big man who can really really help us down the stretch this season.  He’s expiring, so we’re not taking on more salary by trading for him.  Plus, he’s a good fall-back option if we want to re-sign him in case we don’t get any other big names this offseason.  Trust me, the duo of Haywood and Noah would be a force to be reckoned with.  And if you’re wondering why the Wizards would do that trade…well because Haywood is expiring and they know he’s going to walk at the end of the season, so they don’t want to let him walk for nothing.  Why not trade for two athletic big men as you attempt to rebuild in the post-Arenas era?  Sure, those two will set you back about 5 years, but they don’t have to know that.  I hope this deal get’s done.  I’m sure there will be more to come…stay tuned.

Breaking News: Bulls Suspend Thomas for Conduct Detrimental to the Team

The Bulls just announced before the game that Tyrus Thomas has been suspended for conduct detrimental to the team.  Probably threw a fit after only playing 15 minutes against Josh Smith and the Hawks…a game he most definitely should have played more in.  Although, Tyrus should know better than to throw fits in the NBA.  Typical immature behavior by the fourth year player who continues to disappoint.  I will hold my tongue till I hear what actually happened, but it’s clear that the marriage between Tyrus and the Bulls is totally finished.

Taj Gibson Hurting…Will Tyrus Get His Shot?

Taj Gibson looks determined to drain a jumpshot in Brian Cardinal's face. Source: SI.com; Photographed by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images

Well, looks as though Tyrus is finally going to get his shot to start.  Taj Gibson has missed the last two practices with plantar fasciitis in his left foot. According to K.C.’s article, the MRI showed a stretch as opposed to a tear in his foot.  Obviously, that’s good news since a tear would sideline Taj for an extended stretch.  If I recall correctly, Andres Nocioni was sidelined for a third of the 2006-2007 because of a tear in his foot stemming from plantar fasciitis.  Taj has avoided tearing it thus far.

“In college, coaches always told me to play through pain and never complain and do your job to help the team win.  I’ll just play through it.  It’s getting better.”

Um, it’s getting better?  I find this hard to believe.  I’ve had plantar fasciitis, and the only way it gets better is through rest.  You can’t play through an injury like that.  But Taj is clearly worried about losing his starting spot to Tyrus to the point where he is terrified of sitting out.  And it’s understandable, because it Tyrus gets ahold of himself and plays well through a stretch of games, it’s going to be tough for Vinny to put Taj back in the starting lineup.  But if Taj decides to play through this injury, I’m going to go ahead and predict that he gets that tear in his foot after all.  Noc tried to play through it in ’06 and only made it worse.  So basically what we have here is a lose-lose situation for Taj Gibson.  Either play through the injury and likely cause it to get worse, but keep your starting job, or sit out until the injury heals a bit and lose your starting job.  I feel for the guy as he’s played fairly consistently for a rookie and has earned his minutes all season.

However, I’m going to go out on a short limb and predict that Taj misses some time in the near future.  As a result, Tyrus will get his chance.  Vinny was already hinting to the media and to Tyrus that he better get prepared to appear in the starting lineup.

“Tyrus played well (Monday against the Pistons) and had a good practice (Tuesday) too.  He was under control. I loved his activity.”

Translation:  Dear media, please don’t flip out at me when I put Tyrus in the starting lineup…he might be ready.

“Being athletic, running the court, hitting open 15-footers.  Not floating on the perimeter when he’s at power forward.  He has to just play, not turn the ball over and be smart.  Nothing’s going on.  When guys execute the game plan, play hard, do what they’re supposed to do and deserve to be out there, they’re out there.  When guys aren’t executing the game plan — not just Tyrus, anybody — they won’t be. You need to take good shots and not turn the ball over and play good, solid basketball.”

Translation:  Tyrus, please do what every coach has been asking you to do since you’ve been drafted.  Don’t make me look like a fool when I make you a starter.  Don’t dribble, shoot contested jumpshots, or run fast breaks.  Just rebound, cut to the rim, dunk the ball, and block shots.  That’s it.  Nothing else.  Please.  If you do that, I will not be forced to make both of us look like idiots by giving you minutes and then taking them away.

Tyrus vs. Taj…the saga continues.

Bulls Interested in McGrady???? Looking to Trade Hinrich

Apparently the Chicago Bulls have a serious interest in trading for Tracy McGrady.  According to espn.com’s Chris Broussard, the Bulls are actively shopping Hinrich and using Tyrus Thomas as a “sweetener” in any deal involving Hinrich.

“As for the Bulls, Kirk Hinrich is ahead of even Tyrus Thomas on their list of players they’d love to trade. In fact, Thomas is being offered around the league as a sweetener in any Hinrich deal. But with two years, $17 million left on his contract after this season, there’s not a great market for Hinrich.”

Wanting to trade Hinrich makes perfect sense.  It’s a near albatross of a contract for a mediocre player.  No one will deny that Hinrich has stepped his game up lately.  He’s shooting much better, even draining threes left and right, albeit against horrible teams.  But his value simply isn’t worth another $17million over the next two years.  As for Tyrus Thomas, the Bulls clearly would love for some sucker out there to take him off their hands.  Management wants to avoid the inevitable backlash that will occur if they let Tyrus walk for nothing a la Ben Gordon.  Thus, dangling a Hinrich & Thomas package is ideal for the Bulls.

However, there’s more.  Broussard claims that the Rockets are interested in one particular player on the Bulls roster, although he is not sure who it is.  Through the process of deduction, he comes to the obvious conclusion that it’s Joakim Noah, since Derrick Rose is untouchable.

“Chicago, which has definite interest in McGrady, also has the combination of young talent and expiring contracts the Rockets are looking for. There is a Bulls player Houston covets, but it’s not clear who that is. Since the Rockets surely realize that Derrick Rose won’t be traded, logic suggests it’s Joakim Noah.”

If Broussard at all thinks that Joakim Noah is going to be involved in any package involving Tracy McGrady, then the man has lost his marbles.  Joakim Noah is nearly just as untouchable as Derrick Rose.  Popularity-wise, in this city, he’s reaching Derrick’s level.  Play-wise, he’s becoming all-star caliber.  McGrady?  McGrady hasn’t looked good since 2002.  Plus, he’ll only be around for half a season, if he can even stay healthy for a long stretch.  Why you ask?  Well because there’s only one reason why the Bulls would even consider trading for McGrady:  his expiring contract.  The more cap space for the summer of 2010, then obviously the better.  But alas, the Bulls would never give up Noah for MAYBE a half-season of Tracy McGrady just because of McGrady’s expiring contract.  But Hinrich and Thomas?  Yes please.

In terms of the basketball side of it, ith McGrady, assuming he can play, the Bulls have a finisher and a player Derrick Rose can defer to as a legitimate scoring threat.  The Bulls become more competitive for half a season, and obviously do not need to rely on John Salmons inconsistent scoring ability as much.  I think McGrady helps, but I don’t think McGrady makes ALL the difference in the world.  Joakim Noah, definitely out of the question.

But if the Bulls can grab McGrady and his expiring contract while unloading Hinrich’s contract and avoiding letting Thomas walk for nothing, then that surely has to be considered a coup.  McGrady helps basketball wise for a half a season, helping to lure free agents this summer, and best of all, his contract expires clearing a ton of cap space.  That means if it gets done, McGrady’s contract is off the books this summer, Hinrich’s contract is off the books obviously since he’ll be gone, and we don’t re-sign Thomas since he’ll be gone.  All this equals money to blow.  Bottom line, I don’t see that happening, similarly to how it didn’t happen with the Bosh rumors a week ago.  But one can dream.

The Tyrus Thomas Saga Continues

As always, there’s a lot of hoopla surrounding the role of Tyrus Thomas.  Since the start of the post-Jordan era, there probably has not been a more polarizing figure.  His talent is tantalizing when he flashes it, but the rest of time you sit there and wonder why exactly we traded him for LeMarcus Aldridge (who’s becoming a bonafide stud).  Well, you saw why in Tyrus’s first three games back from his injury.  That was, in all likelihood, the best three game stretch of his career.  Tyrus supporters were out in full force with the “You see?’s”  and “I told you so’s”.

And then what happened?  He reverted back to form.  In the next few games, he turned back into the walking turnover and 17 foot jump-shot bricking machine that we know.  As an example, in the recent Oklahoma City game, he, in my humble opinion, single-handedly lost the Bulls that game.  He completely took the air out of the offense.  Every time he touched the ball, he either put up a jump-shot or put the ball on the ground in an attempt to create something off the dribble.  The problem with Tyrus shooting jump-shots is that he can’t.  He simply is not a good shooter.  It’s not his form, it’s more of a mental thing…a confidence thing if you will.  He often times is simply not close.  He isn’t mentally strong enough or confident enough while he’s shooting to hit that 17 foot jumper at a consistent level.  Unfortunately, Tyrus doesn’t know that, so he keeps shooting. Don’t get me started on Tyrus’s attempt at ball-handling.  Every time he dribbles, your heart skips a beat.  Time almost slows down as you wait and wait and wait for him to pass to Derrick Rose, who should be touching the ball at least twice on every possession.  Yet because of Tyrus, often times, Derrick won’t even touch the ball after he passes it off once he brings it across the half-court line.  And you know there isn’t any possible way Vinny wants Tyrus shooting that jumper or putting the ball on the ground.  All Vinny wants…all ANY COACH WOULD WANT…is for Tyrus to stand under the basket and use his incredible athleticism to block shots, rebound, and put back some dunks.  But Vinny can’t possibly control Tyrus.  So what we have is a catch-22.

But I have to give credit to Vinny where credit is due.  After the first three games, the Tyrus Thomas bandwagon were screaming for him to return to the starting line-up.  But Vinny knew better.  Vinny knew, as any rational Bulls fan should have known, that Tyrus would not remain consistent.  That playing Tyrus in too long of stretches would only deflate your offense and lead to unnecessary turnovers.  That Tyrus still simply lacked the basketball IQ and decision making skills required to log heavy minutes.  So he’s sticking with Taj Gibson, whose talent is average, but whose basketball IQ is off the charts.  Taj has proven himself to be a hard-hat and lunchbox type of player.  He’s a banger underneath, he provides tremendous help defense, and he let’s the game come to him.  He won’t turn the ball over, ever.  And best of all, he can hit that jumpshot that Tyrus has been trying to learn how to hit for 4 years now.  When he’s not in foul trouble, which unfortunately has been his downfall this season, he can be one of the most efficient players on the Bulls.  In Vinny’s words:

“I don’t think he’s been in as good of a rhythm as he [Thomas] was the first few [games]. He gave us such a big boost when he came back. He’ll be fine. I thought he had an excellent practice [Thursday]. We need his activity and his shot blocking. Running the court and doing the things he’s capable of. He gives us more of a shot-blocking presence in there. We’ll get him back on track [Friday] night. The more consistent he is on the court, the more minutes he’ll get just like everybody else. We need him to play well and he knows that.”

On Taj Gibson, Vinny said:

“I just feel that Taj has earned every minute and with Taj and [Kirk] in the lineup we seem to have had a little bit better starts at times.  Guys are going to get their minutes if they’re productive and if they execute the game plan and know what we’re doing. I’m happy with the starters right now and there’s no reason to change anything until I feel differently.”

So for once, Vinny has gotten it right.  Props VDN.  I remain convinced that the best way Tyrus can help this franchise is as trade-bait.  Hopefully some other poor franchise will be suckered into taking on the Tyrus Thomas project, just as the Bulls were 4 years ago, due to the rare glimpses of talent he provides.

Chris Bosh Rumors Swirl

According to the Boers & Bernstein show on the Score 670, the Bulls are talking to the Raptors about Chris Bosh.  Who are the Bulls offering for one of the premier big-men in the east?  Kirk Hinrich and Tyrus Thomas.  What is the advantage for the Raptors in doing this trade?  None.  Thereby, I have come to the conclusion that this rumor is clearly false.  B&B were the same duo who reported that Kirk Hinrich was the key piece in the so-called Kobe Bryant trade and that it was a done deal.  Not so humorous in hindsight.

Other than B&B’s semi-lacking credibility, this trade just makes no sense whatsoever.  Chris Bosh is going to be a free agent after this season, so it makes sense that the Raptors would want to trade him.  However, why would they want to do so for an average point-guard with a horrible contract in Kirk Hinrich, and for an underachieving but athletic tweener who offers no true basketball skills and will probably walk after this season anyway.  I mean the Raptors have a more efficient player (maybe not defensively, but better overall) in Jose Calderon and taller swingmen in Bargnani and Turkoglu thereby rendering Hinrich totally and utterly useless.  Bottom line, if the Bulls were to pull this off, I would never say a bad thing about Gar Forman or John Paxson ever again.  It would probably be the biggest steal in NBA history.  I mean it would be HUGE for the Bulls.  Not only do they unload a horrible contract in Hinrich, but they don’t let Thomas simply walk away for nothing (see Ben Gordon) all while acquiring arguably the best center in the Eastern Conference.  If it happens, Bulls become major playoff contenders with Noah, Rose, and Bosh (and throw in some Deng) as centerpieces.  This also adds to the likelihood of Bosh signing with the Bulls beyond this season and maybe luring his bff Dwyane Wade home to Chicago.

All-in-all, this is clearly too good to be true.  I am going to dismiss these rumors as interesting radio material on a slow news day.  Yet, I am a Bulls fan after all, so there’s always that tiny glimmer of hope that I’m too stupid to ignore.