Bulls 2007-2008 Catch-All Thread, Notes That Don't Need A New Thread Options

[RME JICO]

With the Free Agency upon us, it seems like a good time to have a catch-all thread for posts like this:

The Chicago Bulls are also interested in acquiring the rights to Spanish league power forward Luis Scola from the San Antonio Spurs.

Bulls forward Andres Nocioni is not likely to be involved in a trade to the Spurs. The Bulls may offer guard Chris Duhon if he is not included in a larger deal.

This guys seems like a sleeper Pax would go after.

[dasox24]

I think this is a solid reminder that Rose is just a 19-year-old rookie who's gonna have his ups and downs this year. Let's make the best of it and not freak out when he has a bad string of games. It's gonna happen.

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...1,6740926.story

Life may not be rosy for Bulls right away
Rose likely to struggle early, like most NBA rookies

By K.C. Johnson | Tribune reporter
4:58 PM CDT, July 5, 2008


The blur that can be Derrick Rose on the fast break is intoxicating, the images taking root in fans' minds only in the form of no-look passes, greatness and green lights.

The Bulls, on the other hand, are preaching caution, yellow lights rather than red, and warning of speed bumps, maybe even—gasp!—some turnovers ahead.

There's a reason why, save for Elton Brand, none of the Bulls' high-profile NBA draft lottery picks since Michael Jordan left town made major impacts their rookie seasons. Making the jump from college to the NBA, no matter how talented the player, is difficult.

"Early in my rookie season, I had a triple-double against Jason Kidd and the next game, I faced Sam Cassell," said Jay Williams, the second overall pick in 2002. "Shortly after that, I faced Baron Davis and Steve Nash. In between that were tough practices where Jamal [Crawford] and I were going at each other, talking trash, fighting for playing time.

"The league has so much better scouting. When I was playing against Baron, he was telling me while he was guarding me that he was going to force me right because the scouting report said I wasn't as effective going that direction.

"It's a grind making the jump. Young guys don't understand that."

Rare is the rookie like LeBron James—a unique physical specimen—who dominates in his first season.

Heck, even Kobe Bryant averaged 7.6 points on 41.7 percent shooting as a rookie in 1996-97.

Yes, Chris Paul averaged 16.1 points and 7.8 assists while starting 78 games and winning Rookie of the Year honors for Oklahoma City/New Orleans in 2006. But the other point guard to whom people are comparing Rose, Utah's Deron Williams, started 47 games for Utah the same season and posted relatively modest averages of 10.8 points and 4.5 assists.

That's not to say Rose can't be a factor and perhaps even a major one. It is to say doing so would be more the exception than the rule.

"If Derrick takes the ball from Day One and runs with it and leads us, that's great," general manager John Paxson said. "But if it takes time, that's fine too. We understand that."

Rose rarely makes politically incorrect media statements, so the No. 1 pick is saying all the right things about how much he has to learn, listening to coaches and teammates and filling whatever role management thinks best.

Those atwitter about the Bulls holding Rose back also miss this point: As Paxson said, if Rose is the rare rookie to transcend the typical growing pains and steep learning curve inherent in this jump, he will play. A lot.

"Everybody grows at their own rate," Paxson said. "When we drafted Ben [Gordon] and Luol [Deng], they had a little more worldly experience and maturity level and blossomed that first year.

"I got nailed after we drafted Tyrus [Thomas], but I said at that time it's like drafting a high school player and he's going to take some time. And he has taken some time. But we still believe he has a chance to be a real player.

"We're going to approach this as we need to put whatever player we select in the right position to be successful."

The Bulls have watched every second of every game Rose played during his one season at Memphis—likely more than once—as well as games from his high school career at Simeon. Beyond the jaw-dropping speed with the ball and NBA-level athleticism, this stood out: Rose's ability to blossom as he gets more acclimated and comfortable.

Like most point guards, Rose defers to teammates first. So his arc typically follows him becoming more aggressive as the season progresses and he gets more comfortable with his role and teammates.

"Once he got acclimated to that offense and system under coach [John] Calipari and integrated himself to that program, he really blossomed," Paxson said. "We think Derrick possesses a unique skill set that can benefit us for the next 10-15 years."

If all goes to form, those years will be filled with plenty of no-look passes and greatness. Even Rose knows the first year will be an adjustment.

"I still have a lot to learn," he said. "But I'm willing to work hard and I think they realize I can be effective."