I posted this in another thread, but thought it was relevant here:

Not to sound like Hawk here, but where would JR have played?! Clearly the Bulls are very high of Sefalosha and as such, JR Smith is the 5th guard in the backcourt. And there is no way a 20 year old with a questionable attitude is getting past Noc or Deng in the lineup on the wing.

I like this move for one major reason, it shows that Pax understands the way championship teams are built. If you put too many guys on the same team that want the ball, it leads to chemistry problems because there arent enough shots to go around. Pax is creating a good mix of players that can score with players that defend and get after it like crazy.

No Adrian Griffin is not a star, but he is a blue collar player that good teams in the NBA need (see the Mavs last year). Sorry to see JR go because he has loads of potential, but I'm very happy with the direction of this team.

I agree, the Nuggets did get the more talented player. Not to sound like Hawk here, but where would JR have played?! Clearly the Bulls are very high of Sefalosha and as such, JR Smith is the 5th guard in the backcourt. And there is no way a 20 year old with a questionable attitude is getting past Noc or Deng in the lineup.

I like this move for one major reason, it shows that Pax understands the way championship teams are built. If you put too many guys on the same team that want the ball, it leads to chemistry problems because there arent enough shots to go around. Pax is creating a good mix of players that can score with players that defend and get after it like crazy.

No Adrian Griffin is not a star, but he is a blue collar player that good teams in the NBA need. Sorry to see JR go because he has loads of potential, but I'm very happy with the direction of this team.

Judd was another great one. The best volleyball player on the team AND he would always come in, run down the floor, and shoot a 3. I want to add him to my list of favorites.

Cliff Levingston. His towel waving on the bench cracks me up still when I watch "Learning to Fly."

And Dickey Simpkins... his first name is my last name

Some quick points. First of all, the National Title game was one hell of a game, it reaffirmed my love of that team because they just refused to quit (see both Elite 8 and Championship game). Also of note, you will never convince me that the officiating in that game wasnt slanted toward UNC. May was able to do whatever he wanted in the post, and the officiating took Augustine out of the game.

Zoom, I think you underestimate what Luther did for that team. Luther played great defense (the best defender on that team I feel) was a more consistent scorer than Dee, and was quite adept at getting to the rim.

Results wise they went the furthest of any Illinois team, but they would have been crushed by the '89 team. The '89 team was beaten by one amazing Glen Rice game for a Michigan team they had beaten twice during the regular season, and remember Lowell Hamilton hurt himself in practice during the tournament so he was limited during the tournament.

As far as this coming year's team, it will be an interesting year. Rich McBride looked like he finally started to figure it out at the end of the season. He even made some strides creating his own shot with that little shot fake, dribble 18 footer that we saw toward the end of last season. If Randle's jumpshot improves, he will be a good offensive option, and assuming Pruitt improves his conditioning, he could be a force as well. I'm not predicting a Big 10 title, but a top 3 finish isn't out of the question.

And SB, I have to say you are right about that Wisconsin team: they may not have had a superstar, but Bo Ryan made that a damn good team. Sorry for the long post, that's all I really had to say.

Disagree on us regretting this trade, Tyson didnt really have a spot with Wallace on board, and even though I was a big Tyson supporter, Wallace is an upgrade.

PJ Brown is a stabalizing veteran big man in the rotation. He isnt a star, but he's a solid player who will contribute this year AND his contract will be off the books next year.

JR Smith is only 20 years old and gets thrown into the rotation at the 2 guard spot. I agree that he could start for this team next year assuming that his defense is up to snuff.

Pax still has tons of chips to play with this off-season and I say there's a chance there will be another deal on the horizon.

If Pax can pull this off, you really have to admire his vision. He would have created a team that has decent depth (the Pistons achille's heel), would have a great chance to be the best defensive team in the league, and can score points. This would easily be the best Bulls team since Jordan left. Damn it Pax, getting my hopes up like this!!

Thats a great post. Adding KG, even if he has a few miles on him, makes the Bulls title contenders today.

KG gives the Bulls a dominant offensive post, Ben gives them a dominant defensive post, the guard play is there, Noc is a great role player, and the young guys can grow into their roles as energy players off the bench. In the NBA, veterans, not young teams win titles. If you have the chance to win now, you take it.

Of course this is all contingent on the Bulls managing to acquire KG.

The way I look at this is that the Bulls still have 2 needs, NBA quality frontcourt depth (see any of Nene, Nazr or Pryz) and a legit low post scorer. I posted this in another thread, but it seems the Harrington discussion has solidified here.

My problem with Harrington is that he is best suited to be a 3, we have tons of guys that already fit that role. Furthermore, Harrington doesnt seem like a great rebounder, he turns the ball over too much, and doesnt shoot for a high percentage for a post. While the Bulls clearly have a hole at PF, if Harrington isnt the player to put the Bulls over the top (and I dont think he is) then it seems to me the Bulls would just be throwing money at Harrington for the sake of throwing money at someone. I would rather the Bulls keep the money that would have gone to Harrington to keeping the core intact to make a legitimate title run in the next 5 years (finding during that time through trade, FA or the draft, a difference making player in the post). If the Bulls do sign Harrington, I hope I'm very wrong, but I would rather the Bulls address front court depth than sign Harrington.

No doubt Tyson would be a good fit there. Tyson just needs another solid post player alongside him to take pressure off and let him get this putbacks and play defense... Boozer would fill that void assuming he's healthy and would be a very solid addition as long as it wouldnt cost a player like Deng or Noc... so pretty much I'm agreeing with almost everyone else in this thread.

No, I'm not saying that's ideal either, but my point is that the Bulls are building to win a title within the next 5 years. That doesnt mean you throw money at a player that isn't going to put you over the top. Ask yourself honestly, is Al Harrington the difference between the Bulls making the NBA finals or not? Also, the Bulls shouldn't have Sweets starting at C, I'm assuming Pryz or Nazr will be signed to start at C and when a true impact post comes around, they move to the 8 man rotation.

Furthermore, Harrington is really more of a 3 anyway, and as has been pointed out at length, the Bulls already have plenty of these guys.

I'm just saying the Bulls should not be content with signing a guy to a 3 or 4 year deal unless they are convinced that player is better than anything they have now, or expect to add in the next 2 or 3 years.

Al Harrington would make the Bulls marginally better in the short term maybe, but I really think the Bulls need to be patient with their approach this off season and not throw money at someone just to throw money at someone.

Finally, I still fail to see how Al Harrington shooting 45.2% is the dominant post play that wins NBA titles.

The fact that he only shot 45.2%. If he's our back to the basket guy, he needs to shoot the ball better than that.

Furthermore, he's another combo guy which the Bulls don't need. Al Harrington is not the guy that is going to put the Bulls over the top IMO.

Thought on TT offensively (and I watched LSU quite a bit), no he didn't really display the jumper in college, but their offense ran through Big Baby and Darrel Mitchell, so TT really became a role player for them. I'm assuming Pax wouldnt have drafted TT if he didnt make some jumpers in his workout. That being said, making them in workouts is different than a game.

If nothing else, this year TT will provide endless energy. Assuming no trades, he plays 20 minutes 6 pts 5 boards 1 block.

I agree on Big Ben mostly due to what the Bulls will have to pay him, and I cant see him playing with Tyson. Pryz and Nene both bring something to the table though. Pryz brings defense and rebounding that the Bulls didn't get from anyone in the post last year (minus Tyson on occasion). The Bulls need bodies down low, failing the ability to obtain a legit back to the basket guy in a trade (and I'm not sold on Harrington as that guy).

Honestly, I'm not sold on Harrington as being a long term option in the low post. The Bulls aren't going to win the title next year, and Al Harrington sure isnt onestly, the player to put them over the top. Harrington is a short term fix for a much larger problem on this team.

To me, the Bulls need to add another complementary player in the post (Nene, Nazr, Pryzbilla) who will add height and another body to the low post. I know this isn't the ideal solution, but without a trade, there isn't going to be that ideal guy this year.

After this draft, I think that's a deal the Bulls could easily make but it isn't a deal I see the T'Wolves benefitting from at all

Some thoughts

Coming into the draft the Bulls had 2 major needs, a low post scorer and a big guard. Sefalosha (can we think of a shorter way to spell that) fits the big guard. I know a lot of people on this board wanted Carney or Brewer, but this guy, from scouting reports, looks comprable to, if not better than, both those guys.

The low post threat was not adressed through the draft obviously. In this draft, there was really only one player that potentially fit that need: Aldridge. Clearly Pax did not think Aldridge was as good as Tyrus Thomas, and did not consider him the answer. I hope he is right. I also assume at this point that the Bulls will address this need eventually (free agency is weak this year, big guys are available but not the one the Bulls need, though there are definitely trade options available). I dont think any of us expect a Bulls title next year, but they are getting closer. This team should be able to contend in a couple more years.

At this point, it is foolish to grade this draft before the off-season is actually done. Thomas has potential to be a good player in the league. Furthermore, Khrapya may be listed as a SF, but he is another guy that plays solid defense, and I do not think it's farfetched so say he wont see minutes as PF.

The last thing I want to say is that comparing Thomas to Chandler is foolish as far as development goes. Tyson really had his development slowed by his back injuries, hopefult Tyrus Thomas will not have the same problem.

Seriously, is Portland starting their team over completely from this draft?

Could he guard a PF?

Also, the majority of NBA 2nd round picks don't even make a roster, so trading those never bothers me

So will Shannon Brown.

NJ stacking up on UCONN guys here

Look at it this way, the Bulls added the 2nd pick to get Khryapa who I am convinced not a lot of people on here have seen before.

At 6-9 he has the height at least to guard 4s and is supposedly defensive minded. There arent a whole lot of devastating PFs in the East and the Bulls 2nd round picks the next year will be very late anyway.

This from truehoops.com (a Blazers fan)

"Sorry to have accepted the Raef LaFrentz contract. Sorry to have given up Viktor Khyrapa. But all in all, this team is getting better."

http://www.truehoop.com/2006-draft-21205-2...-sefolosha.html

The link is to Sefalosha's profile on truehoop. Interesting read

Stephen A Smith "almost" speechless. LOL

Why can't Sefalosha be that 2 guard? He plays good defense, is athletic, and shoots the ball pretty well from the arc from a deeper line than Brewer and Carney shot at in college.

The thing I'm thinking is that Krhyapa is listed at 6-9, maybe he or Noc can guard some other team's PFs? That or there is a blockbuster on the way.

Sefalosha vs. Brewer/Carney... I dont see much of a difference there