Picks 16 and 26

I go this route if I were the Bulls G.M.

MY UPDATED "IDEAL" MOCK DRAFT:

1. Blake Griffin - Clippers
2. Jordan Hill - Memphis
3. Hasheem Thabeet - OKC
4. Ricky Rubio - Sacramento
5. James Harden - Washington
6. DeMar DeRozan - Minnesota
*7. DeJuan Blair - Golden State (Traded to the Chicago)
8. Stephen Curry - New York
9. Tyreke Evans - Toronto
10. Jonny Flynn - Milwaukee
11. James Johnson - New Jersey
12. Gerald Henderson - Charlotte
13. Jrue Holiday - Indiana
14. Earl Clark - Phoenix
15. Austin Daye - Detroit
16. Brandon Jennings - Chicago (Traded to Golden State)
17. Ty Lawson - Philadelphia
**18. Terrence Williams - Minnesota (Traded to Chicago)
19. Jeff Teague - Atlanta
20. Tyler Hansbrough - Utah
21. B.J. Mullens - New Orleans
22. Erick Maynor - Dallas
23. Wayne Ellington - Sacramento
24. Omri Casspi - Portland
25. Patrick Mills - OKC
26. Chase Budinger - Chicago (Traded to Golden State)
27. Gani Lawal - Memphis
**28. Sam Young - Minnesota (Traded to Chicago)
29. Danny Green - Los Angeles
30. Marcus Thornton - Cleveland

* Bulls trade #16 and #26 to G.S. for #7

** Bulls trade Kirk Hinrich to T-Wolves for #18 and #28

*** Bulls trade Luol Deng, Ty Thomas and Tim Thomas for Amar'e Stoudemire, Alando Tucker and a 2nd Round Pick

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=cxb8au

Feedback?

Finally some proposed trades that actually make sense for both teams. While the likelihood of all 3 getting completed in slim to none simply because of the fact that so many other teams are going to be looking to deal on draft night I think all of them are realistic possibilities. Personally I think if the Bulls could pull off that trade with the Suns they are better off keeping Hinrich and letting Gordon walk in free agency. While I agree Blair would be a nice addition to the Bulls I don't know if you give up 2 first rounders to draft a guy at 7 who plays the same position as Amar'e. I think they could stay put and draft a shooter like Ellington to help replace Ben and then take the best available at 26 or consider packaging 26 and the 2nd rounder from the Suns to move up into teens with a team looking to move down such as Detroit. Not resigning Gordon at around the 10 mil he's expected to get also saves cap room for next summer when the free agency class is better.

I don't think that Brandon Jennings would fall that far in the draft, with Blair going that high. I know that I am going to get just ripped apart for this, but the more that I think about it, the more I am against giving up Luol Deng and Tyrus Thomas for Amare. Just because his contract is going to be up after 2009-2010, it scares me to get rid of Deng for possibly nothing. I know that a lot of people aren't that high on Deng right now, and with his recent injuries I can understand why, but I just don't know if the Bulls should move their two best trade pieces for what could end up being NOTHING in the long run. I have a feeling that Bosh would be an easier player for the Bulls to resign and he doesn't have the injury history (both knees and his retina, right?) that Amare has. I think that New York will be the most likely scenario for Amare, although if that trade happened tomorrow I would probably be excited, I don't know if it wouldn't be better for the Bulls to just wait until after the 2009-2010 season and try to sign someone outright. Deng is a pretty good player to have on the roster for the future, if he can stay healthy of course.

I guess Vinny Del Negro would have to talk to Amare (I am assuming that he knows him pretty well from their days in Phoenix) and John Paxson would have to get an honest assessment from Steve Kerr about the chances of the Bulls resigning Amare when his contract is up. Does his injury history bother anyone else, or am I just being paranoid? I think that moving Amare to Toronto and Bosh coming to Chicago, with Deng, Thomas, and Thomas going to Phoenix would make me feel a little bit better. Amare might like playing in Toronto with Marion again, with a lot of folks thinking that Steve Nash might follow after the 2009-2010 season. Bryan Colangelo is trying to recreate the Suns style of play in Toronto so Amare might find a good home there.

Blair's knees problems scare me too much to trade up for him now. I'd take him if he falls to us.

If we get into the top 10 I want a weapon for Rose like DeRozan.

I think James Harden would be a perfect complement to Derrick Rose in the backcourt. I know it is highly unlikely we could trade up high enough to get him (without giving up too much in return), but his skill level and basketball IQ is exactly what I'd want running next to Derrick.

Harden or Hill are my 2 guys too that I know we won't get but I would love. James Harden is who I would hope the Bulls would try extremely hard to get if they can get up towards the #6 or #7 in a trade for Hinrich, with something extra thrown in to slide up a couple spots (or, who knows he might fall to #6 with the crazy way the draft night goes)

I know that this is EXTREMELY far fetched, it's just my secret draft day dream scenario. You know that and the Deng/Thomas/Hinrich for LeBron/Wade/Kobe trade scenario that everyone keeps talking about.

I would trade BG7 to New Jersey for #11 (DeJuan Blair) and use #16 on T-Will and #26 on Sam Young.

I don't think Luol Deng is that expendable. Remember 2 years ago Kobe almost got traded to the Bulls but L.A. wanted Deng and Chicago wouldn't give him up, and on top of that Kobe refused to play in Chicago if Deng wasn't there. He's been their best player for a while he just needs to stay on the court.

if they can get Chris Bosh or Amar'e Stoudemire for him and Tyrus Thomas, plus a third team, if needed.

I wish you didn't remind me how close Kobe was to being a Bull. I don't knowwhat will happen, but the Bulls have a history of being very active on draft day. This looks like a year we are poised to make some real moves getting some players. We have 2 first rounders and some talented players who have value. I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens!

Those are the players the Bulls need. There is NO EXCUSE not to go and get them.

CHECK THIS OUT!!!

[i]THEIR "DRAFT CENTRAL" WEBSITE SAYS IT ALL.[/i]

Bulls Draft Central '08 - They did a pre-draft interview page on Derrick Rose
http://www.nba.com/bulls/news/rose_080619.html

Bulls Draft Central '07 - They did a pre-draft interview page on Joakim Noah
http://www.nba.com/bulls/news/noah_070608.html

Bulls Draft Central '06 - They did a pre-draft interview page on Tyrus Thomas.
http://www.nba.com/bulls/news/thomas_060615.html

[u]The TREND:[/u]

It sure looks like the player they intend to draft will come from those WHO GET a pre-draft interview page.

These are the players who have one.

DeJuan Blair
Gerald Henderson
Jeff Teague
Eric Maynor
James Johnson
Wayne Ellington
Chase Budinger

* No B.J. Mullens or Tyler Hansbrough, yet.

If its James Johnson, then Tyrus is probably being worked into a trade package

I would prefer to get a PF from a trade, giving up one of the two picks, and taking a SG/SF with the other. Blairs knees and weight are troubling, Mullens has at least a 75% of being a bust, Clark and Johnson are hybrids like Thomas, and Hansbrough doesnt have the bulk.

The either trade up and grab a guy they think can replace BG7 at SG or settle for solid role players, who fill a need (inside banger and winger defender).

I like Terrence Williams, DeMar DeRozan or Sam Young as the SG/Wing Defenders
I like DeJuan Blair and Tyler Hansbrough as the Inside Bangers, preferrably Blair.

That's what they NEED from this draft.

The either trade up and grab a guy they think can replace BG7 at SG or settle for solid role players, who fill a need (inside banger and winger defender).

I like Terrence Williams, DeMar DeRozan or Sam Young as the SG/Wing Defenders
I like DeJuan Blair and Tyler Hansbrough as the Inside Bangers, preferrably Blair.

That's what they NEED from this draft.

PITT, you read that new homepage article? Mentions Bulls look like they will take Blair if hes there. You must be pumping your fist behind that computer screen haha

RealGM is reporting James Johnson (a SF, which they don't need) and NbaDraft.net is reporting DeJuan Blair (a PF, which they DO NEED.)

Get it together JOHN PAXSON AND GAR FORMAN...the MAN for Chicago is DeJuan Blair!!!

That's what they NEED from this draft.