Bulls Looking At Potential Swap For Brad Miller
February 18th, 2009 by Andrew Wamboldt
Will Brad Miller have a new job as the Bulls starting center after this Thursday? (photo by theotherway on flickr)
According to Marc Stein of ESPN.com, a potential trade involving Drew Gooden and Andres Nocioni for Brad Miller and John Salmons is developing.
The Kings likewise have talked with Chicago about a still-developing swap that would net Andres Nocioni and Drew Gooden’s $7.2 million expiring contract for Miller and swingman John Salmons.
It is hard to tell what the Bulls strategy is. Because Salmon’s contract runs past 2010, you aren’t really creating a scenario in this Nocioni dump, to retain Ben Gordon while becoming a player for 2010. But with the acquisition of Salmons, the plan may be to just let Gordon walk in free agency. And if that were to happen, what’s the point of the trade?
This is not a knock on John Salmons as a player. He can score efficiently with volume. But to have Salmons come in and Gordon go out would have to be seen as a net negative for the Bulls because of the intangibles that Gordon brings to the Bulls, most notably, his clutch scoring.
The Bulls could explore other options to getting John Salmons involved with the team that are not at the expense of Gordon. If the Bulls do the rumored Kirk Hinrich and Sefolosha swap to Minnesota, then there would be room for Salmons as a sixth man at the shooting guard and small forward positions.
The Bulls could also make Salmons the starting small forward. Luol Deng simply isn’t getting the job at small forward, and really hasn’t for the past two years. This trade could allow the Bulls to dump the often injured Deng.
Adding another efficient scorer in John Salmons would be a good thing at the team. But if his minutes come at the expense of the Bulls most efficient scorer, Ben Gordon, than it does nothing to help the team. If his minutes come at the expense of an inefficient scorer, such as Luol Deng, then Salmons could definitely help the team.
The other part of the trade is Brad Miller. He is nothing special, but he would be a good place holder center for 2010.
Getting rid of Nocioni and Gooden will be good for the Bulls. Gooden is okay offensively, but brings horrid interior defense. Andres Nocioni wanders aimlessly on defense, while chucking up shots on offense. The Bulls really do need to say good riddance to both of them.
This trade is solid. It would be better if paired with a trade of Luol Deng or Kirk Hinrich. This trade obviously means no Amare Stoudemire in a two way trade, but would not discount the possibility of a three way trade.
Don’t be surprised if you see the Amare Stoudemire trade talks heat up again tomorrow. Talks have been ongoing, and Phoenix’s financial situation hasn’t changed in the past 24 hours. This rumored Brad Miller trade is just one of the many back up plans that the Bulls have pursued, and it is a solid one.
Also, the trade, as reported by Marc Stein, pushed the Bulls into the luxury tax. That is even if John Salmons waives his 15% trade kicker. Therefore, it is likely that there would have to be additional players moved in this trade, or that this trade would be accompanies by another trade, in which the Bulls shed some salary.
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Tags: Andres Nocioni, Ben Gordon, Brad Miller, Chicago Bulls, Drew Gooden, John Salmons, Luol Deng, Sacramento Kings, trade
February 18th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Actualy that’s a trade that a like, i mena we get a center that salary goes off the books in 2010, and a sixth man that have a salary of a sixth man(yeah ben gordon, i’m looking at you), for two guys that had been good, but are not getting younger and in case of nocioni are overpaid.
I like ben gordon, but he can start in a team where you don’t have a PG and a SF with at least god defense to make up for him. The sixth man role is perfect for him, but he don’t accept it, and always want more than he deserves to re-sign. i mean, he rejected a 5 years 50 million contract.
we got a instant fix with miller, with a contract that expires next year, and a sixth man with a fair contract, for two guys that aren’t in our future. And with that we could let Ben “I want big money” Gordon go.
Man, that’s a f****** nice deal.
February 19th, 2009 at 12:44 am
Gnomo, I don’t quite think the sixth man role is perfect for Gordon. Very few people in league history who have been able to produce like Gordon have been asked to come off the bench.
I think the Bulls have to think hard before letting Gordon go. He really is, at least offensively, the ideal player next to Rose. He is a great shooter, and a little known fact is that he’s fourth in the NBA in fastbreak points this season. If the Bulls want to run, keeping one of the best fastbreak players in the league is a good idea.
Tomorrow, I’d say to look for another trade. Hughes or Hinrich, maybe both, as the Miller trade puts us in luxury tax danger for next year.
Salmons is quite a bit older than Gordon too. That needs to be taken into account. Gordon is more likely to be able to grow with Rose, while Salmons could be too old when Rose hits his absolute prime.