The Running of the Bulls in 2010

In an off season where LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade were all free agents, the Chicago Bulls saw the summer of 2010 as a major opportunity to rebuild and ressurect the golden years of Jordan, Pippen and Jackson. With the signing of James and another maximum salary contract player, the sorrow of players such as Tyson Chandler, Eddy Curry, Jay Williams and Marcus Fizer would be long forgotten.

To the people of Chicago, it inspired hope in a city that is thirsting for their Bulls to strive for an NBA championship.

Speculation grew day after day that the Bulls were front runners to land the most coveted free agent in NBA history. The majority of analyst’s from media outlets such as ESPN and NBA-TV, along with newspapers delivered to doorsteps and columnists at the click of a mouse, pitched their argument for why the Bulls had the most ready core of players to win a championship.

When the dominoes of Wade and Bosh fell, LeBron made his selection. In front of a national audience, “The King” announced his “Decision” to form a monstrous trio in South Beach. Video from New York, New Jersey, Cleveland, and Chicago displayed faces of disappointment. In Miami however, there were signs of the best party on Earth.

Maybe it was the jumping-for-joy that Heat fans possessed. Maybe it was the meetings Bulls management had with the three superstars that went south. Whatever the case may be, the Bulls did not sleep and let the hangover of James’ decision affect their plan. General Manager Gar Forman and Vice President of Basketball Operations John Paxson wiped money off their books to go all-in this summer. If they could not finish number one, was number two that far out of sight?

First things first, upgrade the frontcourt. Forman and Paxson tried to lure LeBron James by signing former Cavalier teammate and Utah Jazz big man Carlos Boozer, a 6’9, 266 pound workhorse that has averaged a double-double in five of eight seasons in the pros. Most notably, Boozer put up 32 points and 20 boards on January 20^th of the 2003-2004 season with Cleveland. Unfortunately, just one day after signing Boozer to 5 years/$80 million, James signed with Miami.

What Boozer Brings: Picture a better mans Drew Gooden. He can hit the deep jumpers Gooden took with more consistency. Boozer possesses a will to go hard in the paint and has developed a nice soft jumper that extends beyond the free throw line. Look for big numbers.

Maximum salary players such as Amar’e Stoudemire, Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce, and David Lee all fell into place with other teams. Time was not running out for Chicago, nor was the money. With a need for shooting guards and a small forward to take some of the burden off of an injury-plagued and underachieving Luol Deng, Chicago made another splash in free agency.

Tuesday, July 13^th. Chicago inks sharpshooter and three-point wiz Kyle Korver for 3 years/$15 million. It seemed like a no-brainer teaming up with former Jazz teammate Carlos Boozer and staying near his family, who reside in Pella, Iowa. Korver, 29, is coming off a career year shooting 53% from long range during the regular season and 47.8% in the postseason.

What Korver Brings: The signing of Korver can only better the team if he lives up to his 3-point hype. Boozer has said, “When he is on, he’s on.” This could only do better for a team that struggled from 3 at times in regular and postseason playoff. If Korver can provide consistency from downtown, defenses will have to adjust on the double-teaming of Derrick Rose. Another plus, Korver fits new Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau’s offensive scheme of drive-and-kick basketball that is his main emphasis.

To provide more depth, Bulls management recognized another opportunity to improve their field goal percentage (45%; 23^rd overall) and perimeter shooting (33%; 28^th overall) by adding JJ Redick. The offer: 3 years/$19 million. Because Redick was a restricted free agent, the Bulls could only make an offer to the 6’4 two-guard. His former club, the Orlando Magic, had seven days to either match the offer and retain Redick or let the Bulls sign him to their respective offer. Orlando decided to retain the former College Player of the Year and leave the Bulls to fish around for other shooting guards.

Enter Ronnie Brewer. At 25, he is not considered the most talented player in the NBA. He does not possess the best touch with the basketball, nor the best dribbling. So what does he possess? How about putting the team first instead of a me-first mentality that many of these highly touted free agents maintain.

“I feel I can elevate my game to whatever coach (Tom) Thibodeau needs…If he wants me to rebound and push the ball, I’m comfortable in that role. I can initiate offense as I did in Arkansas and a little in Utah…I let the game come to me. I don’t try to force things.”

What Brewer Brings: Brewer provides length at 6’7 and has guarded some of the toughest players to take the court. He is bigger than the franchise’s best defender the past seven years in Kirk Hinrich (6’3) and hustles. He is a player that is very coachable and will dive for loose balls. Not a flashy player, but certainly loves to throw it down on the fast break.

Basketball is a game conducted by five generals on the wooden floor playing as one sound, cohesive unit. The patience of a long season and the trials and tribulations of every game supply a team with chemistry to get not only their bodies through eighty-two competitions, but their minds as well. The goal is to win a championship for the city of Chicago. The bus is in motion towards the right direction.