The recent performance of Cristiano Felicio offers more proof that the Bulls should have traded Pau Gasol before February’s deadline, writes Nick Friedell of ESPN.com. The Brazilian rookie center had 16 points and five rebounds in 23 minutes in Saturday’s win over Cleveland, and coach Fred Hoiberg chose to use Felicio over Gasol late in the game. Friedell gives executives Gar Forman and John Paxson credit for finding Felicio, but contends it was foolish to keep Gasol as part of the future when he will turn 36 this summer and can become a free agent. Gasol has already expressed an intention to opt out, which means the Bulls may get nothing in return when they could have picked up assets and created playing time for Felicio and rookie Bobby Portis.
There’s more news out of Chicago:
- Forman worked hard to land Felicio, according to Sam Smith of Bulls.com. The Bulls GM had been watching him for several years as he moved to the United States and made a failed attempt to become eligible to play at Oregon. After Felicio returned to Brazil, Forman traveled there to scout him in several tournaments and signed him to the Bulls’ summer league team.
- There’s plenty of blame to go around for a failed season, contends K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune. Chicago is almost certain to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2007/08, and Johnson says the responsibility goes from the front office to the coaching staff to a mismatched roster. Forman has carried the most influence behind the scenes, according to Johnson, as he was the leading proponent of hiring Hoiberg and of passing on a chance to deal Gasol to the Kings. Johnson notes that the front office is now less enamored with Gasol, as re-signing center Joakim Noah has become a higher offseason priority. Forman also angered the locker room by trading popular veteran point guard Kirk Hinrich to Atlanta to cut the Bulls’ luxury tax payment by more than $2.5MM.
- Despite complaints about Hoiberg, the coaching staff is expected to remain mostly intact for next season, Johnson writes in the same story. Management believes the problem this year was that the core of the team was kept together too long. One possible change is assistant Randy Brown could return to a front-office position. Brown is liked by players, Johnson relays, and some view him as Forman’s direct link to the coaching staff.
Yes it was a horrible mistake. We could of had a lottery pick, a young center(Koufas), and a young wing (Mclemore)
Roster:
C-Koufas, Felicio, Bairstow
PF-Gibson, Mirotic, Portis
SF-Butler, McDermott
SG-Moore, Mclemore, Holiday
PG-Rose, Brooks
would of been a much more balanced athletic team. With two centers that are much better defenders than gasol
There has been no accountability in the Bulls organization for years now, and we are seeing the result of that. Thibs needed to be gone because he doesn’t believe in resting his starters and drives them too hard during practices and games. Gar Forman should have been fired last year for mismanaging the roster and his inability to make adjustments via significant trades. The Bulls have had many trade offers over the years which should have been accepted, but GarPax sat on their hands. Now the best fans in the NBA must endure slow death by stagnation with no end in sight. Rose, Noah, Gasol, Gibson and Butler should have been moved for younger players and draft picks to rebuild because they have simply failed to win or even get to a conference final. It’s time to move on already.
These luxury tax moves by the Bulls are a complete joke as well. The Bulls have been the hottest ticket in the NBA for how many years? If Jerry wants to save money so bad, he should start by firing his entire front office.
Hey Jer, that’s a great group you’ve got running things. Great decision making. This is what happens when you get yes men running things. If the 76ers beat the Bulls in the last game, you better clean out your office