Drew Gooden to the Bulls? Options

[Da Bulls 88]

Sign-and-Trade in works?

Update: One rumored sign-and-trade involving Gooden has him going to Chicago for power forward Michael Sweetney and point guard Chris Duhon, the Lorain Morning Journal reports.

Recommendation: "It's a possibility we're interested in," agent Calvin Andrews told Chicago reporters. "We haven't talked too much about that happening. It's up to the Cavs. If something would come up with the Bulls, it would interest us, definitely." The talks between Gooden and the Cavs have stalled, making a sign-and-trade a possibility. Cleveland would seek a starting-quality power forward in any deal.

Drew Gooden: Sign-and-Trade in works?

[sport1016]

Gooden is as intriguing as wilcox, though he has been a quality producer for longer but probably has a lower ceiling.

The problem with spending a ton of $ on either one remains that we are gonna have at least a decent draft pick in an awesome draft for bigs.

We DO NOT want to spend $60 mil on a guy who belongs on the bench behind whoever we get next year.

ALso, as wilcox looks likely to sign a tender offer for 1yr to become UFA, we can go after him next year after he's had to produce another year if the draft doesnt yield us a prized big.

I would not fault the Bulls for bringing him in, BUT I think PJ and Sweets can score enough to keep teams honest.

I hope paxson's plan looks like this instead of throwing 60 mil at one of those guys:

'06-07: Over 50 wins, make lots of noise in the playoffs, maybe get lucky and make it to the finals, but most importantly take the year to get everyone extensive playoff experience and have the year for everyone to develop A DEFINED ROLE!

'07-08-Add low post scoring threat via draft or FA and resign our guys, be the favorites to come out of the east after adding to a team that already went deep in the playoffs the previous year, we're all business from start of season to finish bc everyone now knows their place.......win a title

[spiderman]

I hope paxson's plan looks like this instead of throwing 60 mil at one of those guys:

'06-07: Over 50 wins, make lots of noise in the playoffs, maybe get lucky and make it to the finals, but most importantly take the year to get everyone extensive playoff experience and have the year for everyone to develop A DEFINED ROLE!

'07-08-Add low post scoring threat via draft or FA and resign our guys, be the favorites to come out of the east after adding to a team that already went deep in the playoffs the previous year, we're all business from start of season to finish bc everyone now knows their place.......win a title

I agree with your vision for next year - I think the Bulls are capable of making a nice run in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.

As for adding a low post scoring threat, our best chance is going to be with the Knicks pick next season. I expect the Bulls to flip flop that pick as the Bulls should be in the 20's, and you'd think the Knicks would be in the Top 5 or so again. There is going to be a lot of big time talent in the frontcourt next season.

Also, don't forget that Tyrus Thomas, in hopefully no longer than 2 years, will be a presense down low - maybe in more of the shot blocking, rebounding mold than a dominating offense force, but that is too early to say

With all the money that Hinrich, Gordon (assuming the Bulls decide to keep him long-term), Noce, and Deng will command, we are not going to have the salary cap room to offer more than the mid-level for future seasons, and as we've been seeing with average/below average big men (Chandler, Nene, Dalmebert, etc) getting 10 million plus, we won't be able to afford anything more than a role playing big man.

I think that story is rehashing a story of a couple days ago where his agent made some comments very similar to the ones in this article.

Either way I hope there is some serious truth to this rumor because it would give the Bulls a player capable of putting the ball in the cylinder from the low post. He'd also be surrounded by a good coach, a good friend (Hinrich) and some very good veterans.

I realize people have questioned him at times, but if the Bulls want to get him all Pax has to do is ask Hinrich. If Hinrich says he works hard, etc than I think we pick him up (if the Cavs are interested in the package).

I don't think this rumor is anything more than an agent trying to drum up interest in his client. Gooden wants huge money (6 years, 60 million) from Cleveland, and nobody else is/can offer that right now so the only way to get a long-term deal is through the sign and trade.

While I would jump on a Duhon/Sweetney trade without taking the salary cap ramifications into consideration, the fact is, making that trade, and taking on another long-term, big money contract would most likely result in the Bulls having to let one of their younger core players go in the future.

I'd like to see Drew added, if nothing else than for his size.

It would be nice if the Bulls could get one more big man to play in a rotation with Ben Wallace and PJ Brown until Tyrus Thomas is ready to contribute. I don't think that's going to happen though, and the more I think about it, I'm somewhat comfortable with it. Michael Sweetney and Malik Allen can play as backups, Thomas can hopefully develop, and be that 3rd guy as the season wears on. If not, at least Sweetney and Allen are at least comfortable in our system, and have had some moments for the Bulls.

IMO, Drew Gooden is not the final piece to the puzzle. He looks lathargic at times, his defense is mediocre and we would be overpaying him. We can do better. I would rather go with the guys we have than to bring in a stop gap and be stuck with him for several years. He is not a skiles/pax guy...he is a classic underachiever.

The best thing he would bring is size. I'd rather keep Duhon and Sweets. Plus, if Sweets has lost weight, he could be the low post answer we seek.

I've always thought that Gooden wouldn't be a good fit for a Skiles team because he's not a really disciplined player - too many times, I've seen Gooden take bad shots from the perimeter, and, as you say, struggle on defense.

As I said above, if there was no salary cap ramifications, I'd probably make the trade for Gooden if it meant giving up only Sweetney and Duhon, but I don't think that's a good move because we'd be committing big money to him instead of a player like Noce or Deng.

Don't get me wrong though - when he's on his game, Gooden is a very good player, but there are too many times that I've seen where his game just is full of mental errors.

[hammerhead johns...]

but there are too many times that I've seen where his game just is full of mental errors.

It's the story of his life.

Are you from soxtalk?

[Chisoxfn]

It's the story of his life.

Are you from soxtalk?

I think so...at least I know there is a poster named spiderman on ST.