I really hope the Bulls try and sign PJ Brown to a minimum contract this summer. I think PJ is a great veteran presence and he would be a great big man to come off the bench next year. I don't want him to be our starter b/c hopefully we will fill either the center or PF position with a better option this offseason either through the draft or via free agency.

PJ's been a solid player. He's not the player he once was, but it is always nice to have a big man that can rebound, defend and hit the 15-18 foot jump shot. I think Sweetney's going to have a hard time finding more than $3.6 million on another team, so he is likely going to remain a Bull for one more season. I think the Bulls and Paxson were smart b/c they new that contract would end before any extensions to Deng or Gordon became official. Either way, I would much rather spend that money on PJ and not Sweetney. Will Malik Allen get signed to another one year deal? I really don't care if we keep him.

I wonder how our 21 year old sensation is doing. By that I mean Marty. I hope he's been working on his game b/c you can't teach 7-2. He was definately more promising than Luke. I wouldn't mind trying to sign him again at a very low amount and keep him in the D-League.

What does everyone else think.

It all depends on the money and the playing time. He's certainly not a bad guy to have around, if he's willing to accept his role, which, given another year of development for TT and another draft pick is probably going to be less than half what it was this year. He'd have to accept being a bench player and backup. Is he ready to do that? I dunno.

The way I look at things, if we want to be 2 deep at every position next year, we need 2 more big guys, and PJ does fill that role.

Gordon/Thabs
Hinrich/Duhon
Wallace/?
Deng/Noc/Khryapa/Griff
TT/?

i wouldnt mind having him back in vet. presence off the bench role, but I think he is going to retire. He was talking about it a few months back.

I believe the Bulls will use his salary on the draft pick and a FA. Unless he takes a pay cut, he won't be back.

No!

Great post. Way to vindicate your answer too.

Atleast I answered the question

If PJ is brought back in a role that he will play 10-15 mins a game, I would be fine with it.

Under no circumstance do I feel he should come back as a >30min a game starter.

I am really hoping Hibbert falls in the bulls lap this upcoming draft.

The Bulls are due for some good luck. Oden or Hibbert.

Of course he'd have to take a pay cut. There's no one in the NBA who's going to give him $8 mil a year, I doubt anyone would even give him the veterans exemption next year at his age.

Really depends on the draft.

If we get Hibbert or Oden I guess he could be somewhat of a tutor to them until they are ready which shouldnt take too long. Then again Big Ben could do the same.

I could go either way, not sure of his contract but if its high cut him.

He'd be a fine roll players at smallish amount, but we need to find a starter first at the C or PF position.

I don't think TT is power forward material. I'd scoot him in the Deng/Noc/and then crap group. The Bulls biggest need this off-season is a power forward who can put up points and hold his own on the defensive end. Tyrus Thomas is not the guy I think of banging his body around in the blocks. If TT doesn't develop a mid-range jumper, I don't think he'll ever fully maximize that potential.

Tyrus is what? 19? 20? I think it is a little early to try to pigeon hole him.

TT is like AK47

I think that is truly the best comparison

A guy who can be the class of the league defensively (blocks, steals, rebounding) and still score 16ppg or so based more on energy than real offensive moves

Like ak47, he could play the 3, but his game is MUCH better suited for the 4. You neutralize his impact by taking him away from the basket. Tyrus's wingspan and jumping make up for his lack of height. He can be a game changer from a rebounding and shot blocking perspective.

Also, both are excellent at getting steals, using their quickness to jump the passing lanes. Matching up either on a 3 negates that.

Not once has he ever looked completely overmatched by a 4. What I mean by that is they've never put him on someone like duncan or even rasheed wallace and then been dominated on the block a few times in a row or anything.

Tyrus is a 4. A little bulk and he'll the bulls starting 4 for a decade. Depending on who we get in the offseason, I expect tyrus to be our starting 4 in year 3 and not give up the job for a decade or so.

To get back on topic, if PJ is willing to stick around for the veteran's minimum, he has already proven he is a good mentor to TT. TT might be a future franchise player, and that alone warrants taking a hard look at PJ in the offseason.