The off-season started for the Bulls a bit early this year (I still don’t want to talk about it), but it looks like it has the potential to be an interesting one.  With Asik’s qualifying offer, Deng and Rose coming back from injury, and the bench mob’s contract issues, there is a lot cooking.  Here are a few links around the web to bring you up to speed.

• Could and should Luol be on the trading block? The reality is that Rose will be hitting his prime just as we bring Mrotic over in 2-3 years.  Shouldn’t we look at moving Deng for a high draft pick who could be a part of that core that surrounds Rose from age 26-29?
• Speaking of Mrotic, the foreign phenom won’t be brought over here for at least two years.  I’m guessing Gar Paxdorf just doesn’t want to pay what it will cost to bring him here before his contract expires.  And why would they? Let him develop over there.
• Sounds like the Celtics are making a big push to get Asik.  He would allow them to move Garnett over to PF.  I just don’t see Reinsdorf shelling out the amount of cash it would take to keep him right now.
• Jason Kidd would consider playing for the Bulls.  Interesting…
• Bye bye Berto Center.  It looks like the Bulls will be moving back to the city.  I heard it was originally built in Deerfield to accommodate Michael.  No surprise there.  On another note, don’t even get me started on the gentrification of that area.
• This is just a pipe dream, but Brandon Roy is trying to make a comeback….why not in Chicago?
• I’m sick of this story.  It’s lose-lose.  I get why Deng has to play for Britain in the Olympics, but it just sucks that he is putting off his surgery.
• I couldn’t find a good link with a roundup of the Bulls draft prospects with their 29th pick.  Anyone have any good links for that? Quincy Miller? Fab Melo? Jared Cunningham?

Here’s a little hilarious weekend video fun if you haven’t already seen it:

It’s-a Me Mario!!  Magic Mushroom Make-a Me Tall!

I have no idea if this is real or not, but apparently a teacher created this word problem somewhere in the Chicago area for his students.  Disrespectful is a great way of putting it:

Here is a quick transcript of what Peanut wrote, for those of you who couldn’t make it out completely (sic):

“Mr. Amrein, This is Charles “Peanut Tillman of the Chicago Bears and I’m shocked that you would have a problem like this for your students. The probability that the Bears would win in my opinion is 100%. Please do not and I repeat DO NOT send them home with Math homework that is disrespectful to our team, city, and our beloved Chicago Bears.  Your All Pro Corner Charles “Peanut” Tillman.  P.S. Bear Down”

Go back to Green Bay Mr. Amrein.

H/T: Dr. Mikus

I’m a huge Pippen supporter, and will defend him to the death.  Nothing pisses me off more than someone who wants to have a “discussion” about whether Pippen was great on his own or was only great because he played with Jordan.  Even the way that question is framed implies that there should be any doubt as to Pippen’s own unique talent.  Anyways, Malone recently stated he would rather have Pippen on his team than Jordan.  KD over at Ball Don’t Lie breaks it down and makes a compelling argument for Pip over MJ (although in the end even he acknowledges that he would take Jordan).  I highly recommend reading it.  Also, just because I love this clip and could watch it on repeat forever, enjoy a look at my favorite in-game dunk of all time (yeah, my favorite).

The 20 year anniversary of the Dream Team is approaching this summer, and everyone is talking about it.  NBAtv is even running a documentary that looks awesome.  Anyways, do yourself a favor and read this amazing “Oral History” of the Dream Team from GQ.  Some of these quotes are priceless.

H/T @AndrewSharp on Twitter

With little to get excited about beyond the prospect of Theo Epstein’s great (but as of yet unfulfilled) vision, Cubs fans are looking to hang their hats on just about anything they can find.  That’s why people are fawning over Starlin Castro, even in the face of overwhelming evidence that he is not all that good.  Bryan LaHair was the next big thing, but realistically he may not be anything special either.  Which brings us to the big new signing by the organization, Jorge Soler.  Beyond all the great headline opportunities utilizing his last name, what does he really bring to the table?  We don’t need to get into his real age here (19 seems a little unlikely, no? I’m guessing more like 22 or 23, but whatever), but let’s talk a little about his supposed skills.  I’ve gathered some tidbits from around the web, as well as impressions from what I’ve heard on TV and in the papers.  Here is a totally unreliable and unsubstantiated aggregation of what I’ve heard with no citations:

Physical Attributes: He is 6’3″ 200 pounds.  He appears to be an actual athlete and not just a baseball player.

Hitting: His numbers in international competition show that he almost never strikes out, so thats good.  I haven’t heard anything about him hitting great for average, but if he is at least putting balls in play that’s definitely a good thing.

Power: This is supposedly his big asset.  My understanding is that he doesn’t muscle up to try to hit home runs, but has a natural power that allows him to line drive home runs out of the park without necessarily trying to.  Ideally he could be a 30 home run guy.

Speed: He’s fast but for some reason he gets thrown out stealing.  The rumor is that his speed, which is above average, does not make up for his inability to read pitchers while he’s on the basepaths.

Fielding: Right fielder.  Decent range and a very good arm.

So what does this all mean? The Cubs seem to have gotten a good deal with him for 9 years and $30 million, but it seems like there are all kinds of arbitration clauses in the contract, meaning if he gets good, they will have to pay him more than the $3 million average a year.  Also most scouts say he is 3-4 years away and will probably start in low single-A ball.  The floor is obviously that he is a bust, but his ceiling seems to be a .280 hitter with 30 home run power and decent fielding skills.  That would sure be nice to have in the middle of our 2015 World Series contending lineup, no?

Yeah I’m not done bitching about this.  I feel cheated.

I love boxing, but I will admit that my expertise in that area is not exactly stellar.  It didn’t take a professional boxing analyst to see that the Pacquiao-Bradley fight was a complete joke, however.  By my count, Pacquiao unquestionably won 8 rounds, Bradley won 2, and 2 could have gone either way.    Now we all know that Stern has handed out draft picks to his favorite teams in the past, as well as probably influencing officiating in big games (LA-Portland ’99 anyone? Or worse, the entire Kings-Lakers series about ten years ago?).  This match however, was a blatant slap in the face of all intelligent Americans.  Those NBA schemes were all shady and grey, but this was a clear victory for Pacquiao that got handed to Bradley.

I mean, how much do you think a boxing judge costs? Multiply that by two and if it’s less than the purse, I guess it was worth it for Bradley.  This was another sad, but typical, chapter for a sport that has been plagued for years with accusations of corruption and bribery.

H/T: Ethan

Ah the memories….

Not only was he a welcome sight after the real Larry Hughes made me want to vomit for so long, but he also took us “Globalo“.  Good times.

Hard hat? Check.  Lunch pail? Check.  Time to go to work.  That was just a little snippet of a day in the life of Taj Gibson.  He has been awesome in Chicago, although he has been stuck behind Boozer for the last two seasons on the depth chart.  If given minutes, he can be a great contributor and even off the bench he has been fantastic.  His energy and surprisingly decent offensive game fit Thib’s system perfectly.  The question is, with the team’s fate in the air on the heels of the Rose injury, will the front office be willing to shell out to get him an extension? If not, they can always exercise their qualifying offer rights after next season, but that usually doesn’t end well (see Ben Gordon).  At least we know Taj wants to stay in a Bulls uni, as a recent interview indicates:

“Really, it doesn’t matter (when it happens),” Gibson told ESPNChicago.com Thursday afternoon. “I told (general manager) Gar (Forman) and (vice president John Paxson) how committed I am to just being with the Bulls. It’s not a thought in my head to leave Chicago because I love playing for the Bulls.

“I love wearing the Bulls logo across my chest. So that’s the last thing I’m thinking about right now. Right now, I’m just thinking about next year. Just come in and figure out how I can try to help the team better and just let the chips fall in place. A lot of guys tend to worry about that stuff, but I know I have a good agent in Mark Bartelstein and I have a lot of faith in what he does and I know I have a lot of faith in the Bulls organization so I’m just relaxing and practicing.

“I believe my future is here. Either mid-July or next year (for an extension), just have to be patient and just wait and see.”

We love you too.  Make it happen Pax Gardorf.

“All these flashy shoes…these guys don’t practice the fundamentals anymore.” Ha!

H/T: J-Chap