at Soldier Field on October 31, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois.
It’s really hard to remember a player in the history of the Chicago Bears franchise, or Chicago sports for that matter, who was more divisive than quarterback Jay Cutler. Ever since he arrived with the team back in 2009, he’s created a furious debate among the media, fans, coaches and fellow players alike. Some love him. Some hate him.
For Bears fans, it really is a yin-yang sort of situation. On the one hand there is the quarterback who is the most talented in franchise history. He holds every meaningful mark from passing yards to touchdowns. He’s also led 16 fourth quarter comebacks and won more games than anybody in the Super Bowl era.
On the other hands this is the man with well-documented attitude problems. He’s withdrawn, moody and often reckless. He also has the most losses of any Bears QB to go along with second-most interceptions. Despite years of watching him play, people still can’t reach a common consensus on him. That’s why the question has been posed to several prominent NFL personalities over the past couple months.
The Bulls front office has gone back and forth several times on the idea of committing to a full-scale rebuild. According to multiple sources close to the team, general manager Gar Forman and vice president John Paxson have differing views on the matter. Forman reportedly put Nikola Mirotic and Rajon Rondo on the trading block in an attempt to bolster the roster for a playoff run in the weak Eastern Conference. Not surprisingly, neither player yielded much interest around the league. Jimmy Butler, on the other hand, now there’s a player who can bring the Bulls a huge haul in a major trade to jump-start a rebuild. And the old Bulls Celtics Jimmy Butler trade rumor just came back in a big way.
“There are rival executives who believe the Bulls and Celtics will rekindle trade talks centered on Jimmy Butler before the Feb. 23 deadline. The teams held serious talks in June, and the Celtics own the same assets — Jae Crowder, Marcus Smart, the Nets’ first-round picks in 2017 and 2018 — the teams discussed then.” – K.C. Johnson
The Time Is Now
If Forman and Paxson really don’t believe in Butler’s ability to be the #1 guy on a championship caliber team – as ESPN’s Nick Friedell suggested Monday – then it makes sense for them to trade him while his value is at its peak. That’s right now, given his age (27), his current level of play and the incredibly team-friendly contract he’s on for two more seasons.
As Johnson notes above, the Celtics still have the same pieces that the Bulls wanted when the teams repeatedly negotiated terms of a Butler trade last year. But the situation for each team has changed. Sources close to the Celtics’ camp believed that general manager and president Danny Ainge wasn’t willing to part with Jae Crowder, who happens to be Jimmy’s former Marquette teammate. That could still be true, but it’s also possible that Butler’s increased star power alters the package Boston offers.
Ainge might be willing to pay a higher price for Butler now, especially if he sees the newly-minted All Star starter as the missing piece for his team to challenge Cleveland for the East’s throne. Isaiah Thomas is playing at an MVP level, and Al Horford’s offseason arrival gave the Celtics a much-needed frontcourt presence. With the Cavaliers’ recent slide, the Celtics are just 2.5 games back of the #1 seed. Butler could help Thomas and Horford complete that takeover.
Youth, Youth, Youth
The bigger question is: do the Bulls want different pieces this time around? If trading Butler means dedication to a rebuild, Forman and Paxson will want an abundance of youth. To that end, they’d certainly demand at least one of the Celtics’ many first round picks. They own Brooklyn’s first round picks in 2017 and 2018. The Nets (9-39) appear to have the best chance at the #1 overall pick this summer. That could allow the Bulls to nab Washington’s Markelle Fultz or UCLA’s Lonzo Ball as the centerpiece of a new generation.
Along those lines, the Bulls probably won’t demand a starting-caliber player and an established rotation player like they did for Butler last year. If the focus is on “younger and more athletic”, GarPax likely would target point guards Marcus Smart (22), Terry Rozier (22) or Demetrius Jackson (22). They might also be interested in rookie wing player Jaylen Brown (20), whom the Celtics took with the #3 pick in 2016. Conversely, the Bulls brass could deem Avery Bradley (26) and Crowder (26) to be too old for their new direction.
Whatever the combination of draft picks and young players, Bulls fans can be sure that GarPax won’t shake on it unless they feel 200% confident that they’re getting equal or greater value in return for Butler. They might not see him as a leader of champions, but the rest of the league is starting to see that potential and GarPax know it.
Author’s Reaction
I don’t think the Bulls should trade Jimmy. As previously stated, he’s an incredible value who can still get even better. His work ethic is proven, and the improvement in his game from season to season is insanely high. The Bulls will pay him pennies through the 2018-19 season even though he’s arguably a top ten player in the league. How do you trade that guy away?
Who knows where the Bulls would be right now if GarPax hadn’t backtracked on their plan to give Fred Hoiberg a younger roster that better fit his coaching style. If the Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo signings never happened, Chicago could’ve spent that money on mid-tier free agent shooters who could space the floor around Butler. Essentially, do what the Rockets are doing – quite successfully – with James Harden. They can still execute that plan, albeit a year late, if they keep Butler. Send Rondo on his way, let Wade use his player option to hit the market and sign elsewhere, and actually commit to building around Jimmy. Use the money you would’ve spent on Wade and Rondo next season to bring in some shooters. Sign or draft a young point guard who can shoot to help Butler with the scoring load every night.
All that being said, if the Bulls front office is dead set on moving Butler and starting from scratch, the Celtics have the best pieces to offer. I’d want the Bulls to negotiate with them before any other team.
The final say for whom the Chicago Bears decide to make their top pick in the upcoming NFL draft rests with GM Ryan Pace. That much has been made clear over the past two seasons. At the same time it doesn’t mean others won’t have their opinions heard when the time comes. From the personnel directors to the scouts and head coach John Fox as well.
One man they’re sure to listen to is defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. After all, he’s gotten more results from the players he’s been given the past two years than anybody else on the coaching staff. His defense looks like it might be a couple moves away from becoming one of the best in the league. It’s a matter of finding the right pieces.
It will be hard to know what they are unless they ask Fangio himself. Provided they do that, there is a strong chance they’re going to be hearing one name a lot. Likely because he’ll remind the old coach of somebody he had great experiences with before.
Elena Delle Donne is one of the best players in the WNBA today. The 2015 MVP has appeared in 105 games over her four year career, averaging 20.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 1.4 threes per game. Delle Donne is a weapon on both offense and defense and one of the elite players in the WNBA.
While she may be a star, Delle Donne wasn’t happy with her situation in Chicago and has been requesting a trade. On Monday she got her wish.
The Sky reportedly received Stefanie Dolson, Kahleah Cooper and the second overall pick in the 2017 WNBA Draft for their star player.
Dolson has been in the WNBA for the past three seasons, appearing in 102 games. She has averaged 8.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game. She was voted to the 2015 All Star Game.
Cooper was the seventh overall pick in the 2016 WNBA Draft. She appeared in 30 games her rookie season, averaging 6.2 points and 3.1 rebounds per game while shooting .467 from three.
Coates has averaged 13.7 points, 11.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game this season.
Overall, the Sky is receiving a massive haul for Delle Donne. Getting two top 10 picks and an All Star is a trade rarely seen in any sport. This deal is one of the biggest in WNBA history.
The Sky did well to realize Delle Donne’s value and capitalize in the trade market. It’ll be interesting to see how Chicago fairs after losing their best player. Delle Donne is an absolute stud, but the players the Sky brought in could end up being just as good collectively.
As for Delle Donne, the Washington Mystics did not make the playoffs in 2016 and have never actually won the WNBA championship. She will look to change the culture in Washington and hope to bring the Mystics their first championship.
While Elena Delle Donne may no longer be on the Sky, fans should remember just how talented she is. Some have even called her the “female Kevin Durant”.
Unfortunately she was unhappy in her situation and was eventually moved. Atleast the Sky were able to get three impressive assets in return.
Feel free to continue the conversation on Twitter: @DFappiano14
ESPN Bulls insider Nick Friedell dropped all kinds of bombs on Bulls fans today when he chatted with the guys from Mike & Mike on ESPN Radio. First, he predicted that despite the outcry from his fanbase, the loyal Jerry Reinsdorf won’t fire Fred Hoiberg, Gar Forman or John Paxson before next season. Given the underwhelming showing from GarPax’s “retooled” roster this year and the growing belief that Hoiberg can’t control his locker room, Jerry could justly sack all three of them. Could, but won’t.
Not Our Guy
Then Mike Greenberg asked Friedell about Chicago’s rising star, Jimmy Butler. Essentially, “He’s an elite player, and only 27 years old, so why in the world would you trade Jimmy Butler instead of building around him?”
Friedell’s response isn’t quite what you’d expect to hear, given the fact that Butler just earned his first selection as an All Star starter.
“They have had multiple chances to commit to Jimmy… I don’t think that Gar and Pax believe that Jimmy can be the #1 star on a team, at least on a championship caliber team. Knowing that, when you look at this roster and all those draft picks they’ve made recently… none of these guys are panning out. So if you know that you need a rebuild… your best asset on this team right now is Jimmy Butler. And if you’re not convinced that he can be the #1 star on a title team, then you’ve got to look and see if you can move him. I think that’s where they stand right now.” – Nick Friedell
If Forman and Paxson truly believe that, they need to get their eyes checked. Maybe schedule a lobotomy while they’re at it. Butler has done nothing but improve, improve and improve some more since winning the NBA’s Most Improved Player award following the 2014-15 season. He’s now on the same level as LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in conversations about the league’s best two-way wing players. He expanded his offensive game, and he guards the opponent’s best player every night.
Lead Us
So what is it, exactly, that’s preventing Forman and Paxson from getting completely on board with the idea of building around Butler? Maybe it’s the leadership qualities, or lack thereof.
“Last year, Jimmy tried to take that next step in his leadership role and he struggled. Guys like Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose were looking at him like, ‘What happened to the humble kid from Tomball, Texas?’… Dwyane Wade comes in this year, I think he’s been a big help for Jimmy in getting him more comfortable in the framework of the locker room… I just don’t think the Bulls have ever been fully confident in Jimmy being that leader inside the locker room.” – Nick Friedell
Wade’s presence has undoubtedly helped Butler figure out what it means to be a leader in the NBA. Or has it? Taj Gibson implied that the younger guys on Chicago’s roster are frustrated by Wade not regularly participating in practices. In a somewhat hypocritical Instagram post, Rajon Rondo reminded everyone that real leaders don’t point the finger of blame at the younger guys. They put the blame and responsibility on themselves, and they pick the younger guys up. So is Wade really leading by example? If Butler followed Wade’s lead with those postgame rants to the media, are his leadership qualities just as questionable as those of his elder Marquette brother?
Leave Us
Remember, the Bulls front office fined Butler and Wade for their comments, and Hoiberg took them out of the starting lineup. Forman, in his very brief time with the media, scolded them for publicly calling out their teammates. Maybe the leadership issue is actually a very big one in the eyes of Butler’s employers. Enough of an issue that the Butler trade rumors actually carry some weight.
If they got the right package back of draft picks and younger guys on longer deals, I think they’d make that move. I’d look to a team like Boston, because they have the pieces to do it. – Nick Friedell
Plenty of potential Jimmy Butler trades between the Bulls and Celtics exist, as Friedell notes above. But Boston certainly wouldn’t be the only team in the league to express interest, should the Bulls make it known that Butler is available. The team refuted the latest report that such trade lines are open, but that might change if the Bulls continue to sputter along in an aimless season.
In the ongoing debate about whether or not Butler is an “untouchable” franchise player in the NBA, the latest from Friedell suggests the Bulls front office doesn’t think so. Let the debate continue. The trade deadline is now less than a month away.
Lucas Giolito is one of many White Sox prospects who must prove himself in 2017. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
The Chicago White Sox 2017 season will be focused around the addition and development of top prospects.
While the team has moved Chris Sale and Adam Eaton, Chicago still has multiple valuable assets who could be dealt. Jose Quintana, Todd Frazier, David Robertson and others are all expected to be traded prior to the end of the season.
However almost as important as acquiring top prospects, is developing them.
The key to the White Sox rebuild will be how they handle their top stars. It’s important for the White Sox to make sure that each of their top stars reach they’re highest potential. Being a prospect is one thing, developing into a star is a whole other ball game.
That being said, not every prospect in the White Sox farm system is perfect. Not all of them are going to be able to reach super-stardom. Yet for some, 2017 will be a make-or-break season.
Whether it be proving they belong or proving they can handle the rigors of the MLB, some White Sox will go into 2017 with a major chip on their shoulder. The South Side is slowly turning into one of the best farm systems in the major leagues. Some prospects need to prove that they deserve to be apart of the team’s future.
The upcoming season will give these players a chance to prove the doubters wrong, but more importantly, prove that they’re a vital part of the Chicago White Sox rebuild.
If someone were to bring up the current White Sox rebuild, people would more than likely start gushing about Yoan Moncada, Lucas Giolito and Michael Kopech. Understandably so, as they are all A-list prospects that were just brought in recently due to the Adam Eaton and Chris Sale trades. However, one player who certainly must not be forgotten is second-year shortstop Tim Anderson.
Leading The Youth Movement
Anderson is the first position prospect the club has drafted, developed and promoted to the bigs since Aaron Rowand. His ability to make consistent contact, get on base, and steal bags will be key for the White Sox going forward. Last year as a rookie, Tim batted .283, and added 9 home runs, 30 RBI’s, and 10 stolen bases. In what will be his first full season, Sox fans should see those numbers trend upwards in 2017.
Coming into the league, scouts could all agree that Tim’s hitting and speed were his two best tools. On the flip side, many were questioning his below average defense at shortstop. Well, he seemed to do just fine last year.
With Anderson possessing elite athleticism, expect to see plays like this regularly on the South Side for a while. While he did have 14 errors in 99 games played, those numbers should drop with more experience at the MLB level.
Late Bloomer
Perhaps the most shocking thing about Tim Anderson is that he did not start playing baseball until his junior year of High School. With his limited experience, both at the MLB level and as an amatuer, it is crazy to think that he climbed the ranks so quickly.
Currently, the biggest concern for Tim Anderson is his strike out/walk ratio, which was an abysmal 117/13. However, it is important to remember that Tim only has 99 games and 410 at-bats under his belt. With more experience, his strikeouts should drop and his plate discipline should become more refined. Tim’s ceiling is a .300 hitter with the ability to steal 25-30 bases a year. His floor is also relatively high, and should at least be able to hit .285 with 15 steals.
Crosstown Comparison
Many people have been comparing the White Sox rebuild to the Cubs. A more specific comparison would be to compare Tim Anderson to Anthony Rizzo. Now, I’m not saying that Anderson is going to hit 30 plus bombs next year, or finish in the top 5 for MVP. However, both Anderson and Rizzo are similar in the fact that they were both the first long-term piece to each teams respectful rebuild. Rizzo is captain of the Cubs, and it would not shock me if Anderson becomes the same for the White Sox.
Quiet Confidence
Being a rookie last season, Tim did not talk much. Chalk it up as rookie nerves. As Tim gets older, he will gain a deeper knowledge of the game and be able to help incoming prospects such as Yoan Moncada and Zack Collins adjust. Ex-manager Robin Ventura had this to say about Tim last season:
“He’s quiet, but there’s some confidence and some inner drive,” Ventura said. “He’s not a showboat guy. He just plays, and he’s a hard-nosed kid.”
Tim lets his play do the talking and seems to lead by example, which should delight Sox fans. The one thing that should especially excite people is the confidence that Ventura commented on. Here is a quote from Tim Anderson about a month after he got called up to the White Sox:
“I’m 23 right now, so 15-plus years, 10-plus All-Star Games, a couple of MVPs,” he said. “I have a lot of things in mind. Just have a successful career, be one of those guys that the younger group looks up to, that has that Derek Jeter impression on people. I want to be homegrown and stay in Chicago, be the next guy in Chicago that everybody loves. Like a Michael Jordan thing.”
10 plus all-star games and a couple MVP’s would probably sit well with Sox fans. As the centerpiece of the Chicago White Sox youth movement, Tim has plenty of weight on his shoulders, and it sounds like he cannot wait to bear it.
CHICAGO - OCTOBER 26: Cornerback Charles Tillman #33 of the Chicago Bears returns an interception with blocking help from teammates Lance Briggs #55 and Brian Urlacher #54 during a game against the Detroit Lions on October 26, 2003 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Lions 24-16. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
The state of the Chicago Bears can often be separated into three distinct categories. At least from the perspective of fans. There are of course the optimists. These are the people who believe 2016 was quietly a turning point for the organization. Despite the 3-13 record, injuries hid what in fact is a talented young roster. One that featured an All-Rookie center, dynamic rookie edge rusher, and Pro Bowl rookie running back. Just one more good draft and this team is ready.
Then there are the pessimists. These people believe 2016 was a revelation of just how broken down the franchise is in terms of its overall structure. From the coaching staff to the training crew, and the football gods themselves. They’re all combining to prove that this team will never win. Not so long as this ownership remains in charge. Until then, success is a forlorn hope.
While it can be entertaining to hear those sides argue, there is the third group. Ones who fall in the middle ground. They are the realists. They don’t believe in conspiracies or luck. Facts and history are what drive their beliefs. Not to mention experience for some. One of those realists, a former fan favorite in Chicago, was asked that all-encompassing question.
How close are the Bears to winning again? His answer pulled no punches.
The St. Louis Cardinals were finally hit with their punishment after their former scouting director, Chris Correa, was charged and convicted of hacking the Houston Astros. On Monday, MLB handed down the punishment that includes a $2 million fine and stripping away two draft picks from the Cardinals.
The fine and two draft picks will go over to the Astros.
MLB reaches decision on hacking scandal: #STLCards must award top two picks (Nos. 56, 75) to #Astros and pay $2M fine to HOU as well.
More details came out on Sunday, regarding how many times and what specifically Correa did when he hacked the Astros nearly 50 times over a 2.5 year period.
Yahoo!’s Jeff Passan thinks the punishment from MLB wasn’t harsh enough, considering Correa testified that other Cardinals’ officials knew what he was doing.
The St. Louis Cardinals make $300 million a year in revenue. A $2 million fine is 0.67% of that. It is change in their couch.
Everyone within the organization may be pretending that all is fine after the Bulls’ win over Philadelphia Sunday night, but that means about as much as a Band-aid on a bullet hole. No offense to the young Sixers, who have been playing better basketball recently. They’re still a mediocre team at best, and faced the Bulls without their star player Joel Embiid. That one win will not make everything right in Chicago, and a daunting six game road trip awaits Fred Hoiberg’s splintered crew. Three of those six games include matchups with Russell Westbrook’s Thunder, James Harden’s Rockets and Western Conference powerhouse Golden State.
…Good luck with that, Fred.
You’re…Not Fired
As Bulls fans watched the madnessunfold last week, many wondered if this latest disaster would finally mean the end for front office wonks Gar Forman and John Paxson, and the head coach that duo hand-picked after blaming their failures on Tom Thibodeau. If you count yourself among the “#FireGarPax” alliance, you’ll be pretty disappointed to hear the latest analysis from ESPN Bulls insider Nick Friedell.
Friedell spent this morning with the guys from Mike & Mike on ESPN Radio, offering up his take on the state of the Bulls. Does he buy the party line that everything is fine and everyone’s on the same page after a team meeting addressed the confrontational comments made by “three alphas” Jimmy Butler, Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo? Not. At. All.
“I think [the six game trip] is the beginning of the end for the Bulls. This has been an up and down team all season, but this team is ready – with just a little bit of a push – to be falling down the mountain. So no, I wasn’t buying what everybody was trying to sell the other day. I think this team is really ready to break apart.” – Nick Friedell
Loyalty Despite Failure
If the Bulls do cave, as Friedell predicts, don’t expect that to cause a changing of the guard among the team’s trio of coach, general manager and vice president. Here’s more from Nick:
“I don’t believe Fred Hoiberg’s gone…Jerry Reinsdorf is very loyal to his coaches, to his GMs, and he’s got a long pattern of this. Fred still has 3 years and $15 million left on his deal, so I don’t think Fred’s going anywhere.” – Nick Friedell
Fred appears to be safe. What about his bosses, who’ve been constantly berated and criticized by Bulls fans for several years?
“Fans in Chicago are wondering ‘What happens to Gar Forman, what happens to John Paxson?’ I don’t think they’re going anywhere either…People want change, but Reinsdorf is extremely loyal. He loves John Paxson like a son, and I think Gar isn’t going anywhere right now.” – Nick Friedell
Did you catch all that? Bulls fans can rally together to demand change and pass “Fire GarPax” petitions around the web until Michael Jordan decides to lace ’em up for his third NBA comeback. It won’t matter. Reinsdorf’s sense of loyalty to his guys remains constant. If the owner decides he wants a full-scale rebuild, like he did with his baseball team, the same trio will still be making the decisions concerning draft picks, trades and roster formation.
…Did you hear that?
That was the sound of millions of Bulls fans’ eyes simultaneously rolling out of their heads. Thanks for the update, Nick.
