Multiple Bulls players discussed how the team can improve after finishing the 2020/21 season with a 31-41 record, Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic writes.
Among those players was Thaddeus Young, a 14-year-veteran with several years of playoff experience. Young is coming off his second season with the club and averaged 12.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 24.3 minutes per game on the campaign.
“It starts with the leadership and the direction,” Young said. “I think we took some steps and strides forward this year with the change and leadership in direction of the organization, which was hiring AK and Marc. They are competitors. They want to win just a bad as the players want to win. And they want to make sure they get everything right.
“They started off getting things right with preaching culture and winning. Then bringing in (coach) Billy (Donovan). I think they did a phenomenal job in getting Billy, and Billy put together a great staff, as well as AK and Marc making trades. I think they did a phenomenal job on trade day in making those trades.”
Here are some other notes from the Eastern Conference:
- Pistons forward Tyler Cook turned his 10-day opportunity into much more with the team, Keith Langlois of Pistons.com writes. Cook, 23, inked a multiyear contract in April after signing two 10-day deals. His $1.7MM salary is non-guaranteed for next season.
- Speaking of the Pistons, the team is hoping for some lottery luck as the event nears this week, Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press writes. The 2021 draft lottery will be held on Tuesday, June 22, and Detroit shares the best odds for a top-four pick.
- Steve Popper of Newsday examines what’s next for the Nets after losing Game 7 to the Bucks on Saturday. Brooklyn has most of its core under contract for next season, including Kyrie Irving, James Harden, Joe Harris and Kevin Durant. Bruce Brown and Blake Griffin — both of whom started for the team in Game 7 — are set to enter unrestricted free agency. A report from ESPN on Sunday also indicated that Spencer Dinwiddie plans on declining his $12.3MM player option.
Thad is right, and in turn the FO will trade him for the final missing pieces – a 3&D wing and a point guard. If they can also re-sign Theis or convince Simonovic to come over next year, they will compete on a nightly basis and perhaps get into the second-tier playoff byes.
Don’t see a sign-n-trade with Dinwiddie. Cause after being hurt why would you pay big and trade for him. He probably gets 15 mill or more on FA. Pistons may like him. But if they get first pick. They are not passing on Cade. So won’t go after Dinwiddie then. If Pistons get Mobley or Green. I would think they would want Dinwiddie. Griffin had solid run for Nets. But he’s a rotation guy now. Probably worth more than minimum. I think Nets would rather resign Green though. They don’t need Jordan, but who will take him. Nets do need to retool team a bit. Next yr they should be more focused. Nothing is a given.
Thad has got to be one of the most underrated players in the league today. He goes 12 and 6 religiously each season, and added 4.3 assists a games this year as the Bulls lacked facilitators. He also averages 1.4 steals a game for his career, and defends as well on the perimeter as he does down low against all but the biggest guys in the league.
As much as I dislike the Nets, had Thad been on that team, they probably squeeze by Milwaukee. A S&T deal with Thad and Dinwiddie this offseason seems like a no brainer.
I would do that in a heartbeat.
Keep Thad, sign a guy like Conley who would work wonders on a young team like the Bulls. Thinking he would a similar impact like CP3 had with Phoenix. Also, I would LOVE if they somehow added PJ Tucker as well. That’s my two additions I would like for this team heading into next year.
Not bad. Unsure if Conley would be interested.
Bulls should trade for Kemba, add a guy like Trent Jr and bring back Young instead of Theis. Billy Donovan is a good coach. If Lavine didn’t miss games due to the protocol, they would’ve made the play-in tournament. They should show D Rose some love and give him a chance to retire in his hometown if they fail to land KW.
Trent yes, Kemba NOOOOOOO! Having Rose back would be a nice story, help the team too.
Kevin Huerter is on fire. Hawks should move Brickdanovic this summer. Now I see why Kings didn’t match his offer. Dude choking big time despite that money he getting paid. Atrocious!!!
Nets should trade Harden for Beal. Let the beard and Westbrick go at it in DC lol
The process took a big hit once again! Masterful performance by Shaquille Simmons lol. ATL should give Kevin Huerter the bag! He showed up when Brickdan was jacking up shots
Dude get a twitter or something
Rubio for Young?
Rubio might work as a stopgap, but if you are going to trade Zach’s mentor, you better be sure it is the right move, and Rubio is questionable as he would never draw coverage, allowing Zach to be doubled and diminishing Vucevic’s room in the paint.
People are overrating what Thad Young can draw. Maybe he could have drawn a mid-first at the last trade deadline. Wendl Carter can be younger, but win more too? Young works out so don’t keep him? I suspect the #1 player will want the #2 player to stay, and not want Williams at the 4 at least until he gets stronger.
Meaning Lavine will want Young to stay (and has said so). Bulls getting both younger and better will take some moves. Vucevic can get more probably.
You mean the #2 & #3 players, right?
Don’t forget that now CHI’s best player is Vucevic, not even close, right?
Uh, no. Lavine is younger and rising. Vooch is established but at his ceiling.
Can’t believe Sixers lost. I thought just on D they would win. Sorry to say it. But Doc is not the doc of Celtics. He had Thibs then handling his D. They won on D. Gotta give McMillan credit. He’s really got this team playing well. And believing they can win. Sixers bench scored 15 pts. Time for to see Ben for who he is. KP and Ben have to change and get better. Both are NOT max players. Close out gm.
Ben – 36 mins, 5 pts, 8 reb, 13 ast, 1 stl
KP – 43 mins, 16 pts, 11 reb, 1 ast, 0 blk
13 ast ???? Ben is NOT a PG. Booker plays point better. And he’s a SG
As a huge Sixers fan and huge Simmons fan I don’t think you can blame Doc to much.
He helped turn us from being a high potential 4/5th seed in the east to the best. He helped Joel go from good when fit to 2nd in MVP votes.
Simmons went from great defensively to having DPOY stolen from him. They ranked well in every defensive statistic as a team. Are were near unbeatable at home in the regular season.
However come playoffs, Embiid had some really bad shooting nights. Simmons was almost nonexistent on offence and don’t even get me started on the FT’s. Green and Hill were both let downs, while others did there part. Still a very young team but that was our series.
I think Simmons is going to be in a lot of trade rumours and deservedly. He’s great defensively, hard to stop on a fast break, is a great passer and is a good all round baller just doesn’t have a shot at all and that’s the most important part of the game.
Going to hard trying to find a good trade for Simmons after this series, although I still really rate him.
Portland makes alot of sense. Dame is getting old, so Ben would be the future of the franchise. They would work well together with Dame shot and Ben’s passing and defence.
GSW would a lot make a lot of sense, they are all getting old but they would provide the right system and shooters for Ben to do well. Not to mention they have a great shooting coach and good defence he could be apart of.
Kemba Walker or Kyle Lowry could be fallback options. Both are experienced, can shoot, and have proven to step up occasionally when needed.
Going to be a long hard offseason in Philly
Wiggins and the 14th overall pick for Ben Simmons, Shake Milton and a second round pick
Sixers then release George Hill from him non guaranteed deal, let Danny Green and Mike Scott walk that opens up 28mil ish.
Throw Kyle Lowry a 2 year 32 mil deal (16 a season), bring back Dwight Howard, draft Franz Wagner, and then try add a couple smart veteran FA signings.
1. Lowry. Maxey. Milton
2. Curry. Korkmaz. Joe
3. Wiggins. Thybulle. Reed
4. Harris. Wagner. (FA)
5. Embiid. Howard
Something like this I could get around. Wiggins and Embid played together in college. Wiggins is a good ball handler and defender. Lowry coming back home to Philly he would add something. But also need to add to the bench to push us over the top.
GSW would be smart making this trade. Curry Thompson Simmons Green Wiseman, then the 6th overall pick, Kevin Looney, Poole, JTA, Paschall, Milton and then some flexibility with the Oubre situation. Would be a championship level team with some young fresh faces appearing.
Not about blame it’s about getting it right. How can you not Know who Ben is. You just gave him the contract. Westbrook is a better fit for this team. I do that right now. Fact Ben showed who he is. Only tells about Sixers organization. He’s not a PG. This should have been dealt with long ago. Just like his shooting. Cause it all has gotten worse. I like Ben lol. But this is embarrassing. You are going to pass up a chance on rings. Cause you want to wait on Ben to shoot. Please man. Get Embiid a real PG. Ben has value. Time to move on.