Just to play Devil's advocate, several experts have said that Aldridge could very well be the next Chris Bosh, and he was playing quite well down the stretch...

I think Aldridge will be good, but I just think Tyrus has something "special" about him. And by all means, I would have no complaints if the Bulls had Aldridge because I completely understood why they could have opted with him in the draft. I also understood why they went with Tyrus.

Gray is your man

That's what I've been trying to tell you.

I wanted LA so badly, but watching Tyrus play....he just has that quality. It's not just the speed and jumping and good hands. He wants to dominate constantly. He's the best athlete i've ever seen on the court. He wants to pick off every pass. Block every shot. Put back every miss. When he cuts down his mistakes and mental lapses, bam. Sometime in the next year or two, you'll see him put most of it together. He's a Kirilenko-amare hybrid. Just wait. I have a good feeling. And considering I hated the pick until probably January, I dont feel terribly biast.

I think Pax has a couple of targets in mind with the MLE, but would like to get a deal done involving Du and Noc going somewhere in a sign and trade deal. The Bulls still could get a bigger deal done with a team looking for cap relief if they can get PJ Brown to agree to go somewhere for a year.

I know that Randolph is a psycho and all but the Bulls should beaten the Knicks (who didn't give up that much Frye who is a good player and francis who has a big contract and is pretty bad at this stage in his career). I dont think it would have taken that much to get him. I would have given up NOah and Duhon or even if we had to Noah and Noc for Randolph.

I just read an article in the Southtown that said Paxson is planning to go after Gasol and Collison in the near future. I would take Collison since he is expendable and won't cost as much as Gasol.

Yeah. I wouldn't mind Collison. We could probably get him for Nocioni & Duhon.

The only problem I have with getting Collison is that he will be our starter which will restrict minutes for Tyrus. However, with Nocioni gone Tyrus can finally get minutes at SF which is probably his more natural position. It's going to be hard to get everyone minutes next year. Noah will likely get most of the backup center minutes unless Gray performs well which would mean Noah will probably get some PF minutes. If Noah gets PF minutes that means Tyrus won't get as many.

I want Tyrus playing at least 20 mpg next season so he can progress as a player.

Either move would be fantastic. I'd imagine they would be centered on a Nocioni (for Collison) or Noc/Gordon/Duh for Gasol.

I know we all want a low post scorer. The fact is there are very few available. The only legit low post offensive threats(12+ppg) who appear to be available are Pau Gasol and Jermaine O'Neal. There is a chance you could get some discussion going about Wilcox, Nene, Sean May or Ilgauskas. But really there isn't much out there. Most of the guys you list are marginal post players at best. If you look at their stats, nothing really impresses. The reason is they aren't that good. No need to make a big deal about getting backups and rejects. If a reasonable deal isn't going to be made for a low post difference maker, why bother?

I agree completely. If we want to see him become the player he can be, then Skiles has to give him a good amount of PT. However, judging on the PT he was getting towards the end of the year, I don't see him getting shafted.

As for Collison or Gasol, I'd love either in a trade. Obviously, Gasol is the better player, but he'll also cost a lot more. Plus, I'm not sure how TT and Noah (at least Noah, anyway, since TT could play some SF) would get many minutes b/c Gasol and Wallace would both get 35+ minutes every game. That would leave about 10 minutes per game of playing time left open at the PF and C spots. Though, Tyrus could play the minutes that Noc used to get (I'm assuming Noc would have to be in a Gasol trade), which would give him at least 20+ a game. I just want to make sure Noah gets enough b/c he's got to play if we want him to develop into the kind of Center that can take over in 2 (maybe 3) years for Wallace.

you bother because an upgrade is still an upgrade. Remember we were one game away from being the two seed, and having an easy trip into the Eastern Confrence finals. Do you want to tell me that we couldn't have won one more game last year during the regular season with just a little bit better play in the front court?

We blew several close games during the season that had little to do with not having a post player. Three that come to mind was the home OT game vs. CLE, choking up the 18 pt lead against NJ, losing to MEM on the road. I am sure there are others. I don't disagree with the need for a post presence. DO we have to chase guys like Ely, Magloire, Collison, etc. I just want to get someone who is respected and requires double-teaming. None of the benchwarmers mentioned provides that element.

So, the way I would do it, I would try to make sure that TT and Noah would get at least 25 minutes per game each. That basically fills up one slot in the lineup. Last year, Big Ben averaged 35 minutes per game when he played. That would basically leave about 10 minutes left to fill up if each of them pulled off those numbers, and that could be filled by some combination of a small lineup or by Gray.

My point is, the only way I see us desperately needing another big guy right now is for days when Wallace is hurting or can't play. Unless TT or Noah totally implode this year, which is of course always possible.

Well, 26 minutes available in the post, but you do have a point.

Personally, if we got Gasol without destroying the team I'd make that sacrifice. That'd make us the favorites in the East, plus you'd have the luxury of depth, so you can give Gasol/Wallace breathers more often, especially in blowouts. You can probably afford to get them closer to 32 minutes a piece without hurting your chances much and also making them a little fresher for the playoffs, while also giving Tyrus and Noah about 16 minutes a piece to work with.

Plus maybe those guys learn some things offensively by going up against Gasol every day in practice...