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The Logical Bulls Trade Options That No One Is Talking About

By
Matt Peck
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bulls trade taj gibson celtics rockets deadline

Everyone’s talking about Jimmy Butler and the Boston Celtics as the NBA trade deadline approaches. The two teams engaged in talks about Butler before last season’s deadline, and again leading up to the 2016 draft. But sources suggest Chicago and Boston haven’t had substantial talks about Jimmy since draft night last year. Also, K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune reported earlier today that the Bulls are telling interested teams they have no plans to trade Butler. For now, it looks like Jimmy will stay.

So let’s spend some time focusing on a different path the Bulls can take to be active (and progressive) before the deadline: trade impending free agent Taj Gibson. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst believes Chicago’s front office is shopping Gibson, as well as Nikola Mirotic.

“I do think the Bulls are in the market, especially with Taj Gibson and Nikola Mirotic…I think they’re really motivated to trade one or the other before Thursday.” – Brian Windhorst

Let’s ignore Mirotic for now. Despite some rumblings about the Clippers being interested in Brickola, finding a buyer for Gibson seems much more likely.

The market for Taj (given the trades of Serge Ibaka and DeMarcus Cousins) probably won’t yield the lottery pick the Bulls want, but he can possibly fetch a lower first round pick or second round picks. At least two contending teams could use Gibson’s services for the playoff push: Boston and Houston.

Consolation Taj

So the Celtics don’t get Butler. They’re also reportedly in the market for a big. Adding a strong interior defender and reliable offensive contributor like Gibson would be a great backup plan to bolster their roster in anticipation of a showdown with Cleveland.

Celtics Receive: PF/C Taj Gibson

Bulls Receive: PF Amir Johnson, 2019 lottery-protected first round pick (via Clippers)

Courtesy of ESPN’s NBA Trade Machine

Gibson is an upgrade over Johnson in just about every category. He’s more versatile offensively with decent post moves and a reliable midrange jumper. Taj is a strong rebounder on both ends, which the Celtics desperately need. They currently rank 24th in offensive boards and 26th in defensive boards per game. His defense is also far superior to Johnson’s as he’s more adept at journeying out of the paint to contain stretch forwards and guards on the perimeter. That skill would be a welcome relief to Al Horford, whose perimeter switches are a vulnerability in Boston’s defense.

Assuming the Butler trade doesn’t happen, the Celtics will try to preserve cap space for the upcoming offseason to pursue big name free agents. Bringing in Gibson on a half-season loan fits with that plan, as they can let him sign elsewhere this summer.

Johnson, like Gibson, will be an unrestricted free agent. So the Bulls don’t need to worry about taking on his contract. They can waive him, try to negotiate a buyout or simply bench him and then let him walk. In the meantime, Fred Hoiberg could promote Bobby Portis. Elevate the young power forward’s minutes in the final 25 games to see if he’s a project worthy of further investment.

Add-On

If the Bulls have decided to give up on sharpshooter Doug McDermott (as he’s reportedly being shopped) they could add him into this deal for another pick. It’s very unlikely Boston would surrender any of their first round picks for Doug, but a second round pick is feasible. The Celtics have plenty of those to offer in 2017, including picks owed to them by Minnesota, the Clippers and Cavaliers. Boston could toss in another waive/buyout player like James Young to match the contracted money involved, and the deal still works.

Courtesy of ESPN’s NBA Trade Machine

Granted, the Celtics haven’t knowingly expressed any interest in Gibson or McDermott. They are looking for a big man, and Gibson fits their immediate needs and flexible future plans. Convincing them to take Doug might be more difficult, which is why a player-for-player&pick trade involving Gibson seems more likely.

Now let’s look at a challenger out West…

[USE ARROWS TO CONTINUE READING]

Sammy Sosa Compares Himself To Jesus Christ Regarding PED Use

By
Gus
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Sammy Sosa, Chicago Cubs, Hall of Fame, Mark McGwire

Let me preface the following article with this:

I love Sammy Sosa.

Not only do I love Sosa but I also love what he did for Cubs fans during his time with the team from 1992-2004. He arguably saw the worst of times (65-97 in 2000) and the best of times (88-74 in 2003) during his 12 years with the team. I’ll always remember the home run chase with Mark McGwire in ’98, the MVP, the moon shots he hit onto Waveland, and of course the good ol’ pop and hop.

I’d venture to guess that I’d be in the minority of Cubs fans (and probably baseball fans) who who still like Sosa. He left the team on very bad terms in 2004 and seemingly hasn’t looked back since. You never see him around the stadium, he’s never sung the “7th Inning Stretch,” and more importantly, he played no part in helping the team celebrate their first World Series championship in over a century.

A championship that he helped lay the foundation for.

Former Cubs media relations employee Chuck Wasserstrom spoke with Sosa over Skype and documented the conversation in his own personal blog. After reading the conversation, I feel like I understand why neither Sosa or the Cubs have been able to mend what was once a very tight relationship.

REPORT: White Sox And Nationals Rekindle Trade Talks Over David Robertson

By
Dan Fappiano
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The Nationals have long seemed like the favorites to land White Sox closer David Robertson. Washington has a team talented enough to push for the National League pennant, but without a dominant closer, it seems unlikely that the team unseats the Cubs.

Currently Shawn Kelly, Blake Treinen and Koda Glover are the three most likely candidates to enter the season as the Nationals ninth inning pitcher. As I listed in a previous article, the three have a combined 12 major league saves.

Adding a player like Robertson, who has proven time and time again that he knows what it takes to close, greatly bolsters the Nationals chances of reaching the World Series. The team already has a dominant offense and pitching staff, adding a talented closer could be the missing piece.

The two clubs have had dialogue earlier this offseason. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale even reported that a deal was close at one time. With the Nats having an obvious need and the White Sox having an obvious solution, it was only a matter of time before the two teams rekindled trade discussion.

On Tuesday, February 21st, the Nationals signed former All Star catcher Matt Wieters to a two year deal.

Wieters on his own is a great signing for Washington. He is a career .256 hitter with 117 home runs and 437 RBIs. He was voted to his fourth All Star game in 2016.

However Wieters signing also creates a surplus for the Nationals. The team’s major league roster now features three catchers in Wieters, Derek Norris and Jose Lobaton. Washington also has an incredibly talented catching prospect in Pedro Severino.

The White Sox need for a backstop has been widely known. The team currently has Geovany Soto, Omar Narvaez and Kevan Smith in major league Spring Training.

Soto is the veteran and likely the starter. His 12 years in the MLB will help groom the White Sox fairly young pitching core. Narvaez is the incumbent starter and just 25 years old. He has stuggled during his time in the MLB, but has the potential to become atleast a major league backup. Smith is going on age 29 and is more of organizational depth at this point.

At the minor league level the White Sox have talented prospect Zack Collins. Collins hitting abilty is undeniable, but some are worried about the prospects of him staying behind the dish. If he is forced to move to first base, the team’s catching depth would take a serious hit.

Overall, Soto or Naravez are both below average MLB starters. Collins oozes potential, but it is not yet known if that potential will come as a backstop. The Chicago White Sox are in need of a catcher.

With the Nationals still in need of a closer and the White Sox still looking to add a catcher, both teams remain the perfect trade partners.

Bulls Telling Interested Teams They Have No Plans To Trade Jimmy Butler

By
Matt Peck
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bulls trade jimmy butler timberwolves necessary survival

On Monday night, Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas tweeted the side-glancing eyeballs emoji, and Twitter exploded. When Thomas did that on July 2nd of last year, free agent Al Horford announced later that day that he chose to sign with Boston. Naturally, every on-edge basketball fan took this as a sign that the Celtics were on the verge of completing a major trade. Say, a Jimmy Butler trade, for example.

But no #WojBomb tweet ever came from breaking NBA news guru Adrian Wojnarowski or anybody else, and Bulls fans are still anxiously waiting to see what happens with Butler.

No Plans…Yet

Moments ago, K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune reported that according to his source, the Bulls are rebuffing inquiries about their star player. As of right now, Gar Forman and John Paxson have no plans to trade Jimmy.

There’s a subtle difference here that Bulls fans must realize. Chicago’s front office isn’t actively shopping Butler in the way they’re aggressively shopping Nikola Mirotic. The plan – as of now – is to keep Jimmy.

But as Johnson points out, one mega-offer could change that. (The Bulls front office could also be lying. Heck, the Kings front office insisted that DeMarcus Cousins wasn’t going anywhere, and they traded him for peanuts just days later.) Despite some questionable rumors linking Butler to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Celtics remain the only team in the league that can give the Bulls what they want in return for their franchise player: a haul of young talent and high draft picks.

It’s still unknown whether or not Celtics general manager and president Danny Ainge is willing to part with Brooklyn’s 2017 first round pick, which could very possibly become the #1 pick in the draft. However, ESPN’s NBA Insider Brian Windhorst suggested on Monday that Boston is ready to up their offer for Butler. Most analysts believe that ’17 pick must be included in Boston’s offered package for the Bulls to even engage in talks.

The NBA trade deadline is Thursday at 2:00 PM CST, which puts us around the 50 hour mark.

Sports Mockery will keep you up to speed on any developments surrounding the Jimmy Butler trade rumors.

This Looming Cap Casualty Would Make a Perfect Bears Reclamation Project

By
Erik Lambert
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jairus byrd bears

Not everything is going to go according to plan for the Chicago Bears this offseason. That’s just how things work in the day-to-day business of the NFL. The job of GM Ryan Pace is to have a plan. When something he hopes for doesn’t work out, he’ll have to have multiple contingency options so he can still accomplish the objective for his team.

No doubt the overriding goal of the 2017 free agency period will be what to do about Alshon Jeffery. Right behind that though is finding any way possible to upgrade the secondary. Both the cornerback and safety positions were woefully understrength last season and it showed in their production. Just eight interceptions in 16 games. That’s bad.

Sure there is a list of prominent names expected to hit the market that the Bears would love to dip into, but there are no guarantees. They may have to figure out some fallback options. There is one name who could be joining the fray as a cap casualty over the next couple weeks. He might be just the veteran bridge option who can help.

Chicago Bears Predicted To Pursue This Sneaky Good Corner

By
Erik Lambert
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logan ryan bears
Credit: USA Today

The Chicago Bears are going to spend some money in NFL free agency this March. Make no mistake of that. A team doesn’t go 3-13 one season and not give up some serious cash to correct it the next year. While injuries were a big part of their problem, the truth is the Bears know they’re not where they need to be yet. So the roster overhaul must continue.

GM Ryan Pace stated that his priorities are pretty straightforward. Of course quarterback tops the list, followed by whatever it is he has planned for Alshon Jeffery. After that? The focus will be squarely on the secondary. A unit overrun with mismatched parts and few playmakers. They forced just eight interceptions last season. For context, Casey Heyward had seven with the Chargers by himself.

Free agency could offer them one or two solutions depending on how much they’re willing to pay. If it’s the classic Pace hidden gem approach, there may be one perfect for them.

Could The Chicago White Sox Actually #TankForBeer?

By
Dan Fappiano
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As a White Sox fan, you’ve likely already heard of the hashtag, #TankForBeer. The popular moniker will likely take over social media for most of the 2017 season. But what does it really mean, and is it truly attainable?

The “Beer” refers to top draft prospect Seth Beer. The Clemson Tiger has absolutely dominated the college circuit and looks like he could be an impact bat at the MLB level. He is largely expected to be the number one overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft.

A freshman in 2016, Beer appeared in 62 games and hit .369 with 18 home runs and 70 RBIs. He was awarded the Dick Howser trophy which goes to the nation’s best college baseball player. It was the first time the award went to a freshman.

Just watching Beer’s highlights gives fans an idea of just how good he can be.

White Sox fans are already salivating over the potential of landing Beer in the draft. Putting him in the same lineup as guys like Tim Anderson, Yoan Moncada and Zack Collins could be absolutely deadly. Coupled with an impressive pitching staff featuring Lucas Giolito, Michael Kopech and others, the White Sox would be one of the most dangerous teams in the MLB.

But what are the White Sox realistic chances of landing Seth Beer?

Projections

USA Today predicted that the White Sox would finish the 2017 season with a record of 68-94.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If we follow the projections, then the White Sox would have the fourth worst record behind the Padres, Reds and Twins.

There have been drafts where the undoubted number one overall prospect did not go first overall. Most notably may be the Astros taking Carlos Corea over Byron Buxton.

But there will be no questions about where Beer is going. Whoever gets the number one overall pick will take him. Even in the case of the Padres, who desperately need pitching, cannot afford to pass on a star as bright as Beer’s.

In terms of the three teams ahead of the White Sox, perhaps the Reds and Twins could surprise. Both have a collection of young stars, if they’re perform at top level there’s a chance Minnesota and Cincinnati could push for .500.

However no matter how other clubs perform, the fact is is that the White Sox just aren’t bad enough currently to land the first overall pick.

Work To Be Done

As it stands currently, Jose Quintana, David Robertson, Todd Frazier, Jose Abreu, Melky Cabrera and many other talented veterans remain on the team. If they aren’t moved, then the team should easily surpass 68 wins.

Realistically, Quintana and Robertson are likely to be moved by the Trade Deadline. With Frazer and Cabrera being impending free agents, it would be smart for Rick Hahn to move them as well.

Trading away these talented veterans for prospects would increase the teams number of losses. The number of trades increase how high the White Sox draft pick will be.

While the team shouldn’t trade just to trade in an effort to get Beer, he should be in the back of Hahn’s mind at all times. A talented mix of top prospects and Seth Beer could put the White Sox back in the playoffs much sooner than fans expect.

What will be key for the White Sox however, is making sure that they do not rush their prospects to the major leagues, giving them ample time to develop in the minors.

Good Things Happen To Those Who Wait

In terms of developing prospects, the White Sox should give their young stars as much time as they need in the minor leagues. There is no set timetable to this rebuild, and while fans obviously don’t want to wait forever, they would rather have a fully developed prospect than a rush job.

Look at Yoan Moncada for example. He was rushed to the MLB last season and struggled during his debut. The White Sox could negate those struggles by letting him play in AAA.

With Moncada or any prospect, the White Sox need to understand that 2017 will be a losing season. They cannot rush their prospects for the sake of looking palatable at the MLB level. Fans will understand losing as long as it eventually results in winning.

The same theory applies in attempting to draft Beer.

Yoan Moncada is going to be a better baseball player than Brett Lawrie. But that doesn’t mean he should break camp with the Sox. Keeping these talented players in the minor leagues for as long as possible increases their chances of a high draft pick.

While Chicago doesn’t need to keep Moncada, Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez in the minors the entire year, they shouldn’t be up until atleast the Trade Deadline.

Let the veterans work as stop gaps with not only allow the prospects to face talented minor league pitching/hitting, but it’ll likely lead to more losses, and therefore a better chance at landing Seth Beer.

Overall

As the White Sox roster stands right now, Seth Beer would not be coming to the South Side. The team’s veteran core is just too talented to even land a pick in the top five let alone number one.

If the team begins moving their talent then that is a different story. Once players like Jose Quintana and David Robertson are shipped out of town, there’s a chance the White Sox could fall to the bottom of the MLB.

Realistically, even with the trades surpassing a team like the Padres could be seriously difficult when trying to landing the number one overall pick.

One thing is for certain and that is the White Sox need to commit to this rebuild. Moving Sale and Eaton is one thing, but they have so many more valuable trade assets than need to be dealt.

The White Sox have been stuck in the middle for too long. With the roster they have put together right now that will likely stay the same in 2017. Moving their veterans would add to an already talented core that could have the team back in playoff contention by 2019-2020.

As for Seth Beer, the Clemson Tiger should dominant with whatever franchise he is drafted to. As for his potential in the South Side, it’ll all come down to how Rick Hahn handles the White Sox current rebuild.

 

Feel free to continue the conversation on Twitter: @DFappiano14

WATCH: How I Got To Play Trivia With Denis Savard In An Uber

By
Marc-Louis Paprzyca
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On January 11, 2017, I received a once in a lifetime opportunity from Uber and the Chicago Blackhawks. Uber had a promotion to be picked up in a Blackhawks Chevy Suburban and play trivia with Hall of Famer Denis Savard. Prizes and rides were extremely limited but if you know me, that’s not going to stop me from trying.

How It Went Down

My good friend, Nicole, informed me of the promotion the night before because she knows I live for contests like this. She’s a personal trainer who has an affinity for collecting sports memorabilia and memories like myself. This wasn’t my first dance with Uber contests and I’ll be honest, I’ve won a few before. Shhh.

That morning, I entered the promo code in my Uber app and I was ready to go. As soon as the clock hit 11 am, I started requesting the ride, time after time.

Persistence is key and you’re not going to get an opportunity like this with minimal effort. Finally, after about 45 minutes I received the notification like it was  your typical Uber ride, “Your Uber is on the way. Denis (5.0 stars) will arrive in 10 minutes.”

How Cool?

The Experience

I grew up watching “Savoir-Faire” and he’s a hockey legend. Then, you tell me he’s going to drive me around and ask me Blackhawks trivia. I’m stoked!

Before I got to meet him I had to sign a waiver and get mic’d up. Because of my excitement, I felt like this was taking forever. Then I was informed they would be filming for a commercial. Even more awesome!

I finally got to enter the truck and there was Denis Savard sitting in the driver seat. I was already smiling as I shook his hand and said thank you, repeatedly.

He went into his spiel about the Blackhawks, Uber and told me he was going to ask me some trivia while he drove me around The Loop. It was at this point he also told me to stop calling him Mr. Savard and call him Savvy.

Then lights went on like Cash Cab, but in the colors of the Blackhawks’ feathers.

Nice!

Trivia Questions

  1. For $10, How many feathers are on the Blackhawks crest? A: Four $10
  2. For $10, Who wears number 22 for the Blackhawks now? A: Jordin Tootoo $10
  3. For $10, Who did the Blackhawks defeat in the 2010 Stanley Cup Final? A: Philadelphia Flyers 10
  4. For $20, What year did construction begin on the United Center? A: 1993 $20
  5. For $20, What year was Denis Savard Drafted? A: 1980 $20
  6. For $20, What are the names of two of the three players who created playlists for Pandora this season? A: Niklas Hjalmarsson and Patrick Kane $20

I had amassed $90 for those 6 questions. This was going well.

Next, they told me I could double it if I answered a pop culture question. The caveat being, I would get nothing if I was wrong. C’mon! This is house money and I’m going for it.

  1. Who won the Oscar in 2016 for Best Actor? A: Leonardo DiCaprio

Nailed it for total of $180 in about 10 minutes!

Go For It

Wayne Gretzky once said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” This is the only motivational saying I use in my life.

I’ll be honest, I’ve had a lot of once in a lifetime opportunities because I am the one that takes these shots. Instead of thinking I can’t win, I think of strategies of how to win. It’s not easy work but the rewards are great and I enjoy the hunt.

The result this time happened to be meeting one of my heroes, Denis Savard. The money and tickets were just bonuses to getting to spend time with a special person. I am very thankful to Uber and the Blackhawks but I can’t say enough about how genuine and nice Savvy was through the whole experience.

 

Cubs Have Some ‘Spiritual’ Spectators At Spring Training Today

By
Gus
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A little help from the man upstairs never hurts right?

From what has become a pretty rainy Spring Training thus far, the Cubs kicked off full-squad workouts today from a finally sunny Mesa, Arizona. Now that the entire squad has reported, the gimmicks that Cubs manager Joe Maddon has become so famous for have begun already in Mesa.

Well, sort of.

Cubs strength coach Tim Buss started the day leading the team stretch in a pretty unique top hat and sport coat. I’m not quite sure what look he was going for but it’s pretty reminiscent of a pre-WWI commoner from London.

You can see the look here.

During a break in between segments, Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo trotted over to mingle with the fans and was greeted by two nuns. The highlight of the exchange was when the nuns said, “we prayed for you” and Rizzo responds, “well it worked.”

Yes.

Yes it did.

NFL Insider Sees This QB As Chicago Bears “Fallback Option”

By
Erik Lambert
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a.j. mccarron bears

In the mad rush through the long list of possibilities, Chicago Bears fans haven’t stopped to consider the quarterback question from the “glass half empty” point of view. What happens if they don’t end up getting their guy? Or their backup guy? It’s not a totally unreasonable question to ask considering the depth of competition they’re facing in the QB market this offseason.

No fewer than four other teams besides the Bears are considered to have pressing needs at that position. They include the Browns, 49ers, Jets and Texans. That’s not even considering the fringe threats like the Chargers, Bills, Cardinals and Chiefs too. In other words Chicago will need a good deal of luck to get who they want, and a serious backup plan in case they don’t.

At least one prominent NFL insider believes there is one name they’re keeping an eye on.

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