Tuesday was cut day in the NBA, where players with non-guaranteed deals were to either be waived or have their contracts guaranteed for the rest of the season.
On the mothership, Scott Schroeder has a roundup of those who qualified and those who were axed. The only Bulls who had non-guaranteed contracts were Brian Scalabrine and John Lucas, and KC Johnson confirmed that neither was waived today. It's a move that was expected, so much so that I preemptively took a shot at KC for his forthcoming 'as expected' tweet which never arrived (darn).
The Bulls still have 2 open roster spots, though in practicality only one: because a single league-minimum deal is pretty much all they can spend without triggering the luxury tax. In the latest Bulls Beat podcast, Doug theorized that due to that single-bullet theory, the Bulls will probably only add someone if they incur another injury (like when they signed Mike James), otherwise they won't have that option to choose a guard or a big later if an injury did occur. Makes sense to me. As does the following theory that it's not so much about paying a single-season tax as it is maybe not wanting to get into the 'repeater tax' too early (assuming, lol, they pay it in future years).
It brings up again whether this is the best way to use their end-of-bench spots, something addressed at the beginning of the season. There are merits to the pseudo-coach philosophy, to be sure. I've come around to the reality that there are some things Scal/Lucas can do as players wearing jerseys in the locker room that they couldn't as coaches.
And don't forget this benefit, pointed out by Kyle Korver after Monday's game:
So there's three incredibly loud cheers every game that you can count on. The first one is when the doughnut races the coffee races the bagel and everyone swears they pick the coffee. The reality is not everyone picked the coffee, but everyone cheers like they picked the coffee. Two is when we score 100 points and everyone gets a free Big Mac or whatever they get. And three is when Scalabrine comes in the game. Guarantee, every single game, the crowd goes nuts no matter where we're at.
0 recs | 52 comments
*clears throat*
SCA-LA-BRIIIII-NE!!!!
Belize - February 7, 2012 via mobile
Well thank God we are keeping Scal for the rest of the year!
Can’t trade a potential MVP of this season just yet!!
BullsFan22 - February 7, 2012
Scal teh Goat
T.Moore - February 7, 2012
Said without capitalization on purpose, I assume?
Doshi - February 8, 2012
Was watching Nets game on mute as baby was sleeping
can someone shed some light on the redheaded boy with the yarmulke taking cell phone shots of Scal during garbage time? Is that is nephew or something, or just some
gingerboy they decided to show?Fukudometer - February 7, 2012
Pretty sure the reason they decided to show him is because of his resemblence to Scal.
BullsFan22 - February 7, 2012
I was at the game last night in New Jersey...
even the few Nets fans in attendance were chanting Scalabrine. And when he came in everyone started snapping pics w/ their iPhones. In fairness, there wasn’t much else to get excited about.
defensive indifference - February 7, 2012
He's a former Net. They drafted him.
Doshi - February 8, 2012
After all
In the NBA cheers, especially cheers in lopsided home games, wins you more contests then having the most talent on the roster as possible
reprisal - February 7, 2012
Does UC chant MVP on Scal?
trig - February 7, 2012
wish we kept mike james tho
Wonder if it was “character issues”
Belize - February 7, 2012 via mobile
CHEMISTRY!
Geo4MVP - February 7, 2012
woulda rather kept him than lucas... even though he's old...
Jaina - February 7, 2012
hes a better passer than lucas
lucas play like a fuckin street baller.
Geo4MVP - February 7, 2012
i hate lucas's game
it’s annoying to watch even in garbage time.
Jaina - February 7, 2012
he's short, shoots alot, streaky, irrelevant and not ben gordon
Belize - February 7, 2012 via mobile
yeah, he reminds of carlton from fresh prince of bel-air
Geo4MVP - February 8, 2012
lol, and actually, if you watch the episode when will and carlton were on the basketball team, he plays alot like him, lmao
Geo4MVP - February 8, 2012
lmao
Belize - February 8, 2012 via mobile
We just didnt need him anymore
Rose got healthy but now he’s got back issues. Might need to dig Mikes digits out of the trash
RM. - February 8, 2012 via mobile
Nah, didn't make any sense to keep James
He isn’t any better than Lucas, possibly worse. But more, Lucas was already there and knows the guys and the system better. Why replace one mediocre player with another equally mediocre player who hasn’t been with you when Lucas has already put in the work and effort for you?
berzerkulous - February 8, 2012
yay..?
wrigleyrocker12 - February 7, 2012
BUT WHY COULDN'T IT BE JEREMY LIN!?
wrigleyrocker12 - February 7, 2012
Yea im a fan of his game
He’s got some Lucas in him (flinging up shots) but I just think that’s the nerves n excitement of doing well when not expected but he’s fearless n ill think he’ll calm down. Those 8 TOs were super ugly next to 28 pts 8 asts
RM. - February 8, 2012 via mobile
Kyle's quote brings up a good question.
How much do the players care that the loudest cheers are for these stupid things and not for the players themselves?
Survival Impaired - February 7, 2012
This happens in many other arenas too, so it's not a big deal.
berzerkulous - February 8, 2012
so does this mean
we aren’t signing przybilla? since they want the option of signing a big OR guard in case of injury?
hedonism bot - February 7, 2012
yeah what's up with that anyway
thought he was supposed to make a decision by the end of last week.
Jaina - February 7, 2012
the decision: part II...one hour special on ESPN
Geo4MVP - February 8, 2012
They're keeping Scal? I'll sleep well tonight knowing that. But keeping Lucas will make
me have nightmares.
BlackStar - February 7, 2012
Correct me if I'm wrong
But also by not going into the tax, at the end of the year, we get a slice of the $ that the tax paying teams paid. So not only are we cheap by not paying the tax, we get more money. Cheap and greedy!
The90sBullsRevival - February 8, 2012
i seriously cannot believe we have lucas when jeremy lin was available T_T
why lucas?? why?
even mike james was better
sin - February 8, 2012
Lucas's real job is scout team QB, same with Scal.
Even in the crazy short bench season, the only real benefit these two bring to the team are being important practice players. Lucas playing backup/starter minutes 5 to 8 games doesn’t matter in the long run compared to whatever role he has running the other teams offensive in practice.
There have been actual documented examples about Scal privately working out with guys trying to get back in shape …. see Noah last season and Deng last week. Scal also works out Omer a lot. Has that translated to Omer catching the ball regularly? – no, but he has finished a few more 1 on 1 post moves this season.
Remember that when playoff rotations get cut to 8, or in the Bulls case 10… the bottom guys on the roster’s only job is to be a positive locker room influence and be smart practice players.
Jscho316 - February 8, 2012
The loudest chants at the Prudential Center Monday
by at least a threefold margin, were the Scalabrine chants. He has the most fans of all. Considering how the Nets played, I bet a lot of those Nets fans wish he was still on their roster. White Mamba can pump fake Johan Petro out of his shoes.
NerdVernacular - February 8, 2012
Johan Petro can fake Johan Petro out of his shoes
He doesn’t even have to move! It just is.
…
Also Scal would totally be playing 20~30 MPG on the nets. Which is pretty ridiculous
Prevenge - February 8, 2012
and howard wants to go that team?
buhahahahaha!
Geo4MVP - February 8, 2012
there's his stretch four!
Prevenge - February 8, 2012
OT: seems like rose is gonna be out few games
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/ct-spt-0208-bulls-chicago—20120208,0,7411139.story
and….sam smith on nbc sports talk said rose will most likely be out couple of games. From my experience of back pain, I expect him to return back by sunday.
Geo4MVP - February 8, 2012
i wouldnt be too worried. I trust in watson as the pg for the next few games. Heck, I would even trust him against the celtics.
Geo4MVP - February 8, 2012
yeah
i hope he’s playing sunday though, i’m going! and i want to see rose!
i didn’t end up going to the last game here, and was like well at least maybe i’ll get to see our whole team. but now rip still won’t be playing and maybe rose won’t either! lame… although i do have a feeling unless he’s really hobbled he’ll be out there on sunday.
Jaina - February 8, 2012
OT = new 'T'
your friendly BullsBlogger - February 8, 2012
oh, this is just the article I linked above
it doesn’t really have an update. I expect we get one after shootaround today.
your friendly BullsBlogger - February 8, 2012
yeah, sorry, I didnt see the link above.
Geo4MVP - February 8, 2012
Oh yeah Larry Hughes is out there for the taking!
J Theory - February 8, 2012
not cool man
sweetneyisfat - February 8, 2012
maybe related..
LINK
Belize - February 8, 2012
hell get the best chance with chicago to showcase his talents...
Geo4MVP - February 8, 2012
J.R. can play with both the starters and the bench, so I think he would get more minutes than
if he played on those other teams. Bring some much needed athleticism, and 3 pt. shooting. So I’m not sure what role he expects with those other teams. What do they mean by bi-annual? He would be signed for 2 years? He’s too unpredictable for this front office. They have to get players they know, and fit the company mold, which I think is a stupid reason for avoiding players. They’ll limit the talent pool, but hopefully they’ll take a chance and J.R. sees the opportunity that the Bulls can provide him with.
BlackStar - February 8, 2012
its an exception thats only available every other year.
hedonism bot - February 8, 2012
Ah, gotcha. Thanks.
BlackStar - February 8, 2012
I've said this numerous times before
JR Smith is an outstanding talent whose skill set fits the Bulls needs perfectly. It would be the utmost stupidity to not even make an attempt to get him. He actually can be a game changer for this team and put them over in a match up with the Heat or Thunder.
Get it done Bulls and worry about any potential chemistry issues if and when they come up later. After all, Shaq and Kobe never got along and won 3 championships. Rodman never even talked to Jordan or Pippen and they won 3 championships and had the single best season ever. Chemistry is overrated and talent usually trumps it.
berzerkulous - February 8, 2012
bulls would have to go into the tax to use the biannual, wouldn't they?
or since it would be prorated, it might not?
regardless, not sure we should use it this season when we will be more strapped next season and hopefully could make use of it there. course we could cut some combo of brewer/watson/korver for 500k (korver) total and don’t have scal or lucas. i don’t know exactly what the numbers are though.
well, hope the bulls can win it all this season and then maybe jr will pay to keep people together. /wishful thinking
Jaina - February 8, 2012
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