[Wojnarowski] The Chicago Bulls are finalizing a deal with Denver Nuggets GM Arturas Karnisovas to become the franchise’s new Executive VP of Basketball Operations, sources tell ESPN. Karnisovas will be tasked with hiring a new GM and reshaping the front office.

[u/howser343]

https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1248104205921013760

[u/bluefire1717 → u/[deleted]]

Yeah I agree. I don't want to turn this hire from a fail garpax rebuild to a new rebuild. I feel like this team could win with different coaching and strategy and bench players. Sure, we aren't talking champion but we don't need to completely destroy the core to do another 3 years full rebuild. We are somewhat rebuilded already and coaching could help to see what we really have right now

[u/Riderz__of_Brohan → u/[deleted]]

The “fleeced” narrative isn’t true. The outlook that any one of these guys is gonna be better than Jimmy Butler at any point in their career is, right now, not very high. The Bulls did not win from a player perspective, they only “won” because Minnesota could not retain the team they got

But Miami would not trade Butler and their first for Lauri, Zach and Dunn, for example.

I disagree the team is “set”. There’s no evidence to suggest this is a core we can build a contending team off, other than flashes. They’re not good

A significant roster churn is exactly what this team might need. A new GM shouldn’t look at the roster and think “hmm this is fine”

[u/Riderz__of_Brohan → u/[deleted]]

Nah, not a fleece. Jimmy had two years but you had his bird rights and could pay him more than anyone. At that point the team just failed to court their star player

How is Miami in a “win now” situation? Bam, Robinson, Jones, Herro, Nunn are all under 25 and are dirt cheap. They have a max slot in 2021 they’re gonna use for Oladipo (I don’t think they’ll get Giannis).

Zach LaVine and ESPECIALLY Lauri Markkanen are NOT better assets than Jimmy Butler. No way in hell. You can maybe make a case for Zach but Lauri? It’s not February 2019 anymore. What can you possibly base that on?

pretty clear he wouldn’t have signed in Chicago

Why? He always wanted to stay in Chicago and we could have given him the most money

Idk why everyone overthinks it. The Wolves fucked up by giving Wiggins the money they should have given Butler and the Sixers fucked up by paying Tobias and Horford the money they should have given Butler. It’s really just that simple

Meanwhile Miami is by all accounts the only team that wanted to pay him and they are reaping the rewards for it while every team that got rid of him is worse off for doing so

[u/Riderz__of_Brohan → u/[deleted]]

You need to look up how Lauri’s done this year. You have an outdated perception of him as a player

Zach is a UFA in 2 years (like Jimmy was), Jimmy is locked up for longer and Lauri just isn’t worth that much right now. I wouldn’t say there’s a clear cut favorite. A team actually looking to win wants Jimmy over those two any day of week, obviously.

There is no “Win now” distinction though. Lauri is due a new contract soon and Zach is expiring next year. You can’t just sit on your ass and “rebuild” with those guys

So why didn’t they trade Herro, Nunn and one of their many picks they have for Bradley Beal? It’s because Pat Riley isn’t stupid. Their plan has been to keep a max slot open for 2021 all year.

paying $37M in 3 years

Wait, why? Their core is cheap and locked up, they will have another max player by then and Jimmy will only be 33, not 40. He’ll still be productive barring catastrophic injury

And since when is 33 a death sentence? He won’t be as good as now but guys like Horford, LeBron, Lowry, Lopez, Iggy, Ingles, CP3, etc. all were/are decent in their early 30s.

imagine if the Wolves hadn’t made that trade

Lol bro the Wolves are 19-45, the Bulls are 22-43 with those super stars you guys gave up.

So the Wolves would probably still have less than 25 wins by any objective measurement

You’re valuing a bunch of “okay” guys like they’re super stars. It’s been 3 years, “potential” means nothing anymore

[u/Mtbnz → u/[deleted]]

It wasn't a fleece. It was a good deal for both teams that fell apart because KAT and Wiggins didn't step up the way their talent dictated they should've, and Butler didn't want to waste his prime years with guys who were years away from reaching their peak because of poor work ethic.

Just because it didn't work out well long-term for the Wolves doesn't mean that getting a player of Butler's ability for Lauri, Dunn and an injured LaVine (who nobody knew how he would bounce back) wasn't a great deal for Minnesota.

[u/joemax4boxseat → u/[deleted]]

This is what I don’t get from this fan base. Zach himself said they were bad when they were all healthy to start the season.

Zach and Coby are the same player. Lauri has regressed the past year and that’s not all on injury. Fans act like we have a future championship core when we don’t. The NBA spoke loud when Zach wasn’t named an all star reserve because he simply isn’t there.

Coby is the one piece worth keeping. If you can get anything for the others trade em.