He did a good job. What's he doin in NY so far? And he might bring back Isiah? I'd trust Riley to build a team from scratch over Walsh anyday.

He's extremely clutch and one of the top 2-3 scorers in the league. But he's a great defender and he doesnt make his teammates better IMO. You cant be a superstar if you dont have those 2 qualities IMO.

He's extremely clutch and one of the top 2-3 scorers in the league. But he's (not) a great defender and he doesnt make his teammates better IMO. You cant be a superstar if you dont have those 2 qualities IMO.

The knack for being clutch is such a huge intangible, maybe the most important of all athletes across all sports. Combine this intangible with 25 ppg game, 6 boards, 46% FG, 80% FTs for his career (In The West!!!) and you have one of the best players in the league.

Too bad he's headed to NY. He fits just as well with D-Rose as LBJ would have.

Bulls got beat up by Denver in their 1st summer league game 99-71.

Somehow I made it through 3 quarters of that game. Good God that was bad basketball. At one point Denver was up by 40 points. Everyone on the floor looked like shit. I know 90% of these guys have no shot at making the roster, but the guy who will be on the bench next season, James Johnson, looked like shit.

I did learn that Johnson is a high level black belt, so don't fuck with him. This guy better start gooning it up, because I don't think he has anything else to offer when he's on the floor.

Saw that Miami has no interest in going after Shaq and that Atlanta was interested in a sign and trade with Marvin Williams

I know Marvin has underachieved but I'm not sure i'd do that

Isn't this like pissing into the wind?

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/20 ... as-gm.html

No.

+1

While I am pretty happy with the Bulls "minor" moves, I'm mildly disappointed that they couldn't have gotten Barnes...he's signing with the Raptors for either 2/9 or 2/10 depending on the report which doesn't seem like a lot. I would probably rather have him than the combo of Brewer and Watson

I figured he would get somewhere in the $5-$6 mil/year range. Im just shocked he chose Toronto. I read that Boston and Cleveland were both interested in him, and I think those two desitinations would be a much better spot for him. I think Toronto might end up being the worst team in the East next year.

While I am pretty happy with the Bulls "minor" moves, I'm mildly disappointed that they couldn't have gotten Barnes...he's signing with the Raptors for either 2/9 or 2/10 depending on the report which doesn't seem like a lot. I would probably rather have him than the combo of Brewer and Watson

Yeah it is an odd choice but reportedly playing time was a big issue for him. He'll definitely get some there.

I'm actually happy with that combo. Call me crazy but I believe Brewer's style of play will fit perfectly with this team. He needs to work on his outside shot but everything else is a plus. While Barnes is currently a better defender Brewer is more athletic and versatile.

LAS VEGAS -- Some dribbles of gossip from the front-office grapevine as we transition from summer league to Team USA training camp in the desert:

• This is the week, by all accounts, that San Antonio and Richard Jefferson will complete the restructured deal that we’ve all assumed had to be forthcoming since Jefferson stunningly opted out of a $15 million salary for next season on the eve of free agency. The specifics in terms of years and dollars remain unknown, but I’ve been assured that Jefferson will officially be back with the Spurs quite soon.

• With or without an official deal for Jefferson, Shaquille O’Neal remains by far the biggest available name on the open market … with Tracy McGrady and Allen Iverson next in line on reputation. The Mavericks have abandoned the idea of a Shaq signing completely -- “He is out,” according to one team source -- since they have four centers currently on the roster until they can move the very available Alexis Ajinca. Atlanta, then, stands as the only team with a confirmed “live” interest in O’Neal. But Shaq, at last report, still wants assurances of a healthy slice of playing time as well as a salary that starts above the $5.8 million mid-level exception, which can be achieved through a sign-and-trade with Cleveland. No team out there, including Atlanta, is known to be willing to pay Shaq more than $2 million for next season.

• The Clippers do have legit interest in McGrady and are scheduled to work him out Tuesday. As Clips general manager Neil Olshey told ESPNLosAngeles.com’s Ramona Shelburne last week: "Tracy and I have a good relationship. We've known each other for a long time. He and Baron [Davis] have a good relationship [and] we obviously have a need for playmaking and scoring on the wings.” But sources say that news of the workout being made public was also intended to let the Bulls know that McGrady does have other options, since Chicago is where those close to McGrady say he’d love to land.

• Shaq, T-Mac and AI have all expressed interest in joining the most hated team in the league, yet you needn’t expect any of them to land on South Beach. In assembling a supporting cast for LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh on a severely limited budget, Miami has made it clear that it doesn’t want to add anyone -- no matter how much money they’re willing to sacrifice -- that could conceivably challenge the chemistry or threaten to divert focus away from the three SuperFriends. O’Neal, frankly, was never a consideration after his stinging critiques of Miami’s training staff upon arrival in Phoenix and his history of slamming Bosh.

• Two former All-Stars that the Heat are far more likely to consider: Jerry Stackhouse and Michael Finley.

• I’ve been advised that Philadelphia, with its surplus of swingmen, is open to moving sharpshooter Jason Kapono, who has one season left on his contract at $6.6 million. Kapono is a natural target for teams in the hunt for a perimeter specialist with Mike Miller and Kyle Korver getting snapped up early in free agency.

• A season together with the Yao Ming-owned Shanghai Sharks in China did wonders for John Lucas’ son John and former Hornets and Cavaliers assistant coach Bob Donewald. Young Lucas followed up his strong play for Donewald in Shanghai with a big summer league with Chicago and is attracting interest from the Bulls and Heat. “I’m hopeful that we’ll have something to announce soon,” said Bernie Lee, Lucas’ agent. Donewald, meanwhile, has been hired as the new coach of China’s national team in addition to his Sharks duties.

Five teams remain in the running to sign free-agent swingman Matt Barnes, according to sources with knowledge of Barnes' thinking.

Toronto is still one of those teams, sources told ESPN.com, despite the collapse of a sign-and-trade deal with Orlando that Barnes thought would be completed by now.

One source close to process said early Wednesday that Barnes continues to weigh interest from the Raptors along with the Cleveland Cavaliers and three title contenders he has been negotiating with since last week: the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers.

It appears that the Matt Barnes to Toronto deal did not happen. There are a few teams still in the hunt:

According to Yahoo, Barnes is going to LA for 1 year ($1.7 million) unless Cleveland pays more upfront.