Bulls Ink Gray

The Bulls have re-signed center Aaron Gray.  The team drafted the seven-footer in the second round out of Pittsburgh two years ago.  Gray played for Chicago the past two seasons, starting 19 games along the way and averaging 3.9 point and 3.3 rebounds in 11.4 minutes per game.  Gray is a big body that will give the Bulls depth inside, something that they’ve lacked in recent history.  Gray will play behind starting center Joakim Noah and backup Brad Miller.  Gray is pretty fundamentally sound and gives the Bulls a nice option should an injury occur or major foul trouble arise for either of the players above him on the depth chart.

Noah is going to be the starting man in the middle for the Bulls in 2009-10 and going forward.  He showed that he can be a tenacious defender and rebounder, something that every teams needs inside.  Miller is a skilled offensive player that will provide a nice contrast in playing style to Noah, and can provide offense when needed.  Gray is a good offensive player, but has been somewhat inconsistent in his limited minutes in the past.  Still, he’s got size and some post moves around the rim that make him a valuable asset toward the end of the bench.

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Keys For Noah

We’ve talked about how Joakim Noah is definitely a player to keep an eye on during the upcoming 2009-10 NBA season.  Noah, though still very raw offensively, showed himself to be a budding defensive presence in the middle last season and posted some impressive rebounding numbers.  Noah is a player that thrives on his energy and passion for the game.  Bulls fans can find an example of this energy on his now-famous block on Boston’s Paul Pierce in the playoffs last season.  Noah blossomed in the postseason and started to play a bit more under control, something that he’s had some trouble doing in the past.

ESPN’s Rich Bucher noted the transition Noah appeared to be making in the playoffs last season, but also said that Noah has to continue to play a smartly as he did in the postseason.  “Granted, he had the element of surprise last season; most teams discounted him as an energy player who ran out of gas rather quickly and was easily frustrated,” Bucher writes.  ”He played extensive playoff minutes, however, and the transformation caught people’s attention, which means they’ll be a little quicker to put a body on him.  He can’t just play hard this season — he has to play smart.”

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One-Two Punch

We’ve seen time and time again that one player cannot do it all on his own.  Michael Jordan had Scottie Pippen, Kobe and Shaq had each other and David Robison didn’t win a title until Tim Duncan showed up.  The same will hold true for the Chicago Bulls this upcoming season.  Derrick Rose will not be able to take the Bulls to the next level by himself.  Rose will probably be able to step up his own game, but he’s going to need someone else to step up and become his sidekick of sorts.

That’s where former franchise player Luol Deng comes into play.  Deng, who missed a good portion of last season with an injury, will be looked at to replace Ben Gordon, at least from a scoring production standpoint.  “Gordon, for all his offensive explosiveness and clutch scoring, was a defensive liability and took his share of ill-advised, play-breaking shots,” writes ESPN’s John Hollinger.  ”Deng, who played only 49 games, is apparently healthy, and both he and Rose are capable of making up for Gordon’s scoring punch while giving a stauncher effort on defense.”  If Rose and Deng can develop into a solid one-two punch, this team could really be going places.

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Miller Valuable in Multiple Ways

ESPN’s John Hollinger recently discussed what he projects Brad Miller’s role to be this season for the Bulls.  “Miller will be the Bulls’ backup center and probably play 20-25 minutes a night behind Joakim Noah,” Hollinger writes.  ”While his defensive limitations are clear, he’s a useful asset to the Bulls because he provides two things they otherwise lack — a big man with bulk who can win physical battles, and an effective high post player who can shoot and pass.  In fact, even with his weaknesses, he rates as one of the game’s top backup centers.”

“But he may have even more value to the team after the season … after he leaves,” Hollinger continues.  “He has an expiring contract worth $12 million, but the Bulls are almost certain to hang on to it and use the ensuing cap space to dive into the free-agent market in 2010.”  Miller can still provide the Bulls with valuable minutes when the Bulls are looking for more offense.  As Hollinger notes, he’s a more than capable backup center, but his true value rests in his expiring contract.  The $12 million that will come off the books at the end of the season will position the team to make a serious run at a top-level free agent like Dwyane Wade or Chris Bosh.

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Deng Poised For Rebound Season

ESPN’s John Hollinger says that he thinks Luol Deng will be better in 2009-10 than he was last season.  “Deng will start at small forward and likely play around 35 minutes a night, which could lead to a big year statwise,” Hollinger says.  ”With Gordon gone, the Bulls will probably look to kick-start Deng’s offensive game to establish a reliable second option after Rose, especially in the half-court offense.  The fact Chicago invested in a six-year, $71 million deal for Deng only strengthens that impression, and it wouldn’t be surprising if his scoring average rebounded back into the high teens.”

Deng was on the verge of becoming an All-Star just a couple of seasons ago before he was bit by the injury bug.  None of the injuries should linger into this upcoming NBA season, so Deng should be good to go for the first time in a while.  He’s long, athletic and possesses a solid midrange game.  The Bulls will need Deng to step up and assume the second banana role to Derrick Rose.  If Deng can return to form, the Bulls will not miss Ben Gordon nearly as much.  One could say that with Deng lies the difference between making the playoffs convincingly and squeaking in.

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Noah the Name to Know

Rich Bucher dubs Joakim Noah as the name to know on the Bulls roster heading into the 2009-10 season.  “Talk about a serious one-year transformation,” Bucher writes of the Chicago center.  ”Last summer there were questions about whether he was still in the Bulls’ plans.  This summer?  He and the team value each other so much management insisted that he limit his service to the French national team so he’d have more time for strength training at the Berto Center and he readily complied.”

“By all accounts, Joakim is ready to build on his no-joke double-double playoff average against the Celtics,” Bucher continues.  ”He joined the French squad for two games after strength training at the IMG Academy in Florida and then resumed the weight workouts with the Bulls’ staff.”  Noah will certainly be a major factor in the team’s success this season.  He’s a good defender in the paint, which is crucial to have in the middle in the NBA.  If he can continue to play with the energy that he always has, as well use the experience he gained last season to improve as a player, he should be in for his best campaign yet.  Plus, his penchant for rebounding and defense would go very well with a dominant post player, something the Bulls could be targeting next summer.

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Offseason Buzz

ESPN’s John Hollinger says that on the surface, it looks like the Bulls’ offseason was a bit of a flop, but that doesn’t mean that the team won’t improve in 2009-10.  “For most teams, the Bulls’ offseason would qualify as an unmitigated disappointment,” Hollinger writes.  ”They did not fill their need for a low-post scorer, though they were apparently close enough to getting Carlos Boozer for him to publicly make veiled goodbyes to Utah.  On top of that, they lost shooting guard Ben Gordon, who signed with Detroit after averaging 24 points a game in the Bulls’ thrilling seven-game series with Boston”.

“But don’t be surprised if the Bulls improve on last season’s 41-41 record and seventh playoff seed,” Hollinger continues.  ”This is, by and large, a young team with plenty of room for growth from NBA Rookie of the Year Derrick Rose to second-year coach Vinny Del Negro.  Their 17-11 pace to close the season after acquiring Brad Miller and John Salmons is easily attainable.”  So after a bit of a dig at the Bulls’ somewhat uneventful offseason, Hollinger makes sure to clarify that he doesn’t think the franchise will struggle this season.  This team made a major move at the trading deadline last season, making the need for a big offseason move less of a necessity.

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MJ Inducted

More likely than not, there will never be a better basketball player than Michael Jordan.  Arguably the best player to ever step on the hardwood, Jordan was inducted into the Basketball Hall-of-Fame on Friday evening.  “The entire night at Symphony Hall, Jordan watched highlight reels of himself in the past, throwing down acrobatic dunks, hitting game-changing shots and defying gravity, tongue wagging in the air,” wrote ESPN’s Justin Verrier about the ceremony.  ”By the time his name was called and the time had finally come at the end of the night, the emotion immediately spilled out and tears began to flow.”

“The crowd was captivated by his every word as he gave a speech as charismatic as his play on the court was,” Verrier continued.  ”Finally, though, Jordan ended his inauguration speech by saying he doesn’t see his enshrinement into the Basketball Hall of Fame as the ‘defining end.’”  “It’s simply a continuation of something I started a long time ago,” Jordan said.  Jordan’s speech was certainly a memorable one, as he drew laughs and also made some comments that may be viewed as a bit controversial.  But one thing is for sure, Jordan is undoubtedly one of the best to ever play the game.

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On Jordan

Chicago Bulls great and basketball legend Michael Jordan will be inducted into the basketball Hall-of-Fame tonight.  ESPN.com has a page dedicated to quotes from notable basketball people talking about Jordan.  ”I was reminded recently that when it came time for me to announce the No. 3 selection, I simply said, ‘The Chicago Bulls pick Michael Jordan, University of North Carolina,’” said NBA commissioner David Stern.  “That’s it.  Shame on me.  Did I have any idea how good he would become?  None at all.”  Nobody knew how good Jordan would become.  How could you?  This was before the age of intense scouting where the top amateur players are scrutinized from the time they’re in middle school.

“What I saw was a guy who could play at an extremely high level in back-to-back games,” said Phil Jackson.  ”I’d been on the Knicks with Walt Frazier and Earl Monroe, and they scored a lot at certain times.  But this was new: A guy that good night after night.”  That was perhaps the thing that was so darn impressive about Michael Jordan, that he’d bring it every night.  He had a competitive fire that was unmatched by anyone he’d be playing against, which gave him the first of many edges.

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Seeding

As noted previously on this blog, a poll of 53 ESPN experts predicted the Bulls would finish as the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference this upcoming NBA season.  This poll had the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat finishing ahead of Chicago in the conference standings.  The Philadelphia 76ers and Washington Wizards rounded out the playoff teams.  ”Our voters have the Bulls winning as few as 30 games and as many as 55, and perhaps it comes down to what they think of reigning rookie of the year Derrick Rose, whose scintillating playoff performance was followed by a tumultuous summer,” the article says.  ”In any case, most of our panel is bullish on Chicago overall.”

There is good reason to be bullish about the team’s chances to make some waves in 2009-10.  The Bulls showed a lot of promise in their first-round playoff series with the Boston Celtics last season.  If Luol Deng can return to his 2006-07 form, I think the Bulls can hurdle the Hawks and Heat and snag home court advantage in the first round.  Dwyane Wade could get sick of carrying the Heat again and I’m not sure if the Hawks can get much better than they already are.

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