Roster Improvement: Free Agents Now and Later?

Sorry guys but if we were going to get him we would have a long time ago.

Im convinced the Laker FO doesnt give a rip if we win this year or not and theyre just gonna put the onus on this $100 mil payroll to get it done. We are desperate at backup C and SF and they do nothing. They probably believe these small moves wont make a difference in winning a championship or not so why waste the $. SMDH

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/ct-spt-0301-bits-bulls-76ers-chicago--20130301,0,475486.story

All aboard: All signs point to the Bulls winning a four-team race and signing Lou Amundson to a 10-day contract on Saturday, bringing their roster to the maximum 15 players. Amundson, who was waived by the Timberwolves on Feb. 8, would be big-man insurance while Taj Gibson remains sidelined with a sprained MCL in his left knee. The Heat, Celtics and Knicks also are in the mix for Amundson. - See more at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/ba ... IYBDc.dpuf

They have a payroll of ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS. They've done their job. This team will either win it or not the way it's built.

I don't blame them at all for not wanting to add more players to this team.

Doc Brown wrote:

Marc Stein ‏@ESPNSteinLine
Just going online now: ESPN sources say Bulls in talks to sign Louis Amundson. Decision on veteran power forward expected Friday
Expand Reply Retweet Favorite More

Damn. I wanted Amundson here.

I"m not disagreeing, but if you look at it from the Lakers' perspective...

They've spent more money than anyone else this season and this team has said over and over that they need time to gel. They need time together. I think the last thing you want to do then is throw another body in there. Couple that with the fact that we're spending a ton of money and I don't blame them for not wanting to "waste" the money on a team that hasn't given the team/fans what we deserve.

Weezy wrote:I know our payroll is high, but Amundson would be a drop in the bucket and we need a big. The bulls have a need and are going to fill it, we should have as well.

Agreed.

therealdeal wrote:I"m not disagreeing, but if you look at it from the Lakers' perspective...

They've spent more money than anyone else this season and this team has said over and over that they need time to gel. They need time together. I think the last thing you want to do then is throw another body in there. Couple that with the fact that we're spending a ton of money and I don't blame them for not wanting to "waste" the money on a team that hasn't given the team/fans what we deserve.

Yes, but we do have the injured player exemption from Hill, so how is this adding payroll?

Lakerjones wrote:

therealdeal wrote:I"m not disagreeing, but if you look at it from the Lakers' perspective...

They've spent more money than anyone else this season and this team has said over and over that they need time to gel. They need time together. I think the last thing you want to do then is throw another body in there. Couple that with the fact that we're spending a ton of money and I don't blame them for not wanting to "waste" the money on a team that hasn't given the team/fans what we deserve.

Yes, but we do have the injured player exemption from Hill, so how is this adding payroll?

We're still responsible for that exemption. We're still on the hook for at least that 1.7 million (without taxes).

The only reason it's special is because of the amount that's freed up. That 1.7 is only available because of Hill's injury. If he didn't get hurt we wouldn't be allowed to spend it.

But that doesn't mean we aren't responsible for that money. That's still almost 2 million before taxes.

^^ Ah, I see. Still money probably well spent though, don't you think? Amundson is a solid big. Earl Clark isn't playing as well since he got that injury. We could use some insurance. And Amundson wouldn't be hard to fit in. He's just a hustle guy really. That's the easiest kind of fit.

Weezy wrote:I am looking at it from their perspective and I still don't get it. We're talking probably hundreds of thousands for Lou, maybe that to 2 mil tops. We also play 8 guys, he'd be 9, off the bench. A hustle guy that doesn't need plays drawn for him, there wouldn't be a lot of need for him to gel, he's a hustle guy that can fit right in. If they don't want this to be a lost season I think they would get help when it's needed. We're beating bad teams yes, but good teams are still owning us, Lou wouldn't be a savior but it's a big to help the bench that we need.

Seven years in the league means he should get roughly 1.15 million for the minimum salary. After taxes that's another 2.3 million on top of everything in what could very well be a 2.3 million dollar waste of money. Would he help us win a Championship? Probably not. Would he help us make the playoffs? Sure. But if the goal is now to make the playoffs, the roster as constructed should be able to do that.

Keep in mind guys, this is the devil's advocate speaking. I'm on the fence on this one, but I'd add another body for insurance. But I can definitely see why they wouldn't want to add another player.

^^ Yeah, to me, this team needs to make the playoffs to redeem this season. They could use the help as you said, and a guy like Amundson could definitely do that. Especially with Hill and Pau out. Getting to the playoffs is key.

Weezy wrote:If we get into the playoffs, start gelling, Pau comes back, there no telling what happens. I don't think we can win it all this season, but if you get in with Kobe, Nash, Dwight an Pau healthy, you can't say never. So if Lou helps us get there, he's absolutely worth 2 mil.

Maybe, but like you said we probably can't win it all anyway. That extra 2 million could definitely go to waste. And then who would care or remember that we brought in Amundson for 5 minutes a night for a month? At this point we might as well wait until Pau gets back. Then Earl plays less minutes and HE'S our hustle guy. And we didn't have to add anybody to the payroll.

But what's the old saying, penny wise pound foolish? You know for sure that you can't win it all if you don't even get to the playoffs. That's the issue right now and we could use the help. If it ensures you make the playoffs that's money well spent.

Weezy wrote:Earl is playing starting PF and backup C right now, I don't see how you can think that's good or will get us far. He's our hustle guy, but he's also going to wear out. Also, probably not being able to win it all is not a good reason to not sign help, to give up, you can't say never when you have Kobe, Nash, Dwight, and Pau returning.

Agreed. We could use the help right now, and for the following three to four weeks until Pau comes back.

Maybe, but when's the last time an 8th seed did anything in the playoffs in the NBA? It's been a while. It could be that they spend the money and we make the playoffs and the most statistically likely event will be a first round exit.

Then again we might not even make the playoffs.

And if this team can't get to the playoffs as they're built right now, then they don't deserve the help. They've been slacking of all season long and now it's time for them to pull together. We don't need another body in there adjusting chemistry. Yes he can come in for a few minutes here and there and that wouldn't change chemistry all that much, but is that worth 3 million dollars? We might as well use Sacre for that, he's already on the team.

Hmm. Sacre isn't on Amundson's level at all. I like him, but he's not. And D' Antoni won't play him. More than likely the Lakers are holding out for Bell right now and that's the main explanation. I think they know they could use help. Perhaps you're right thought that they aren't willing to go there for Amundson. Who knows? Find out tomorrow.

Hey guys I'm with you. If it were me, I'd probably bite the bullet and add a guy already. But I also would have already waived Morris and Ebanks a while ago too.

I'm just trying to get you guys to see from Mitch's and Jim's perspective a little. I don't blame them for not wanting to spend more. I'd actually be pretty bitter towards this team and this season right now.

therealdeal wrote:Hey guys I'm with you. If it were me, I'd probably bite the bullet and add a guy already. But I also would have already waived Morris and Ebanks a while ago too.

I'm just trying to get you guys to see from Mitch's and Jim's perspective a little. I don't blame them for not wanting to spend more. I'd actually be pretty bitter towards this team and this season right now.

Oh yeah, we've talked about that - I would also have been done with those two guys.

I get you about trying to see Mitch and Jim's perspective. I really think they are actually waiting on Bell, though. Seeing what will happen re: his buyout (or not). We shall see.

Casspi?

Lakerjones wrote:

therealdeal wrote:Hey guys I'm with you. If it were me, I'd probably bite the bullet and add a guy already. But I also would have already waived Morris and Ebanks a while ago too.

I'm just trying to get you guys to see from Mitch's and Jim's perspective a little. I don't blame them for not wanting to spend more. I'd actually be pretty bitter towards this team and this season right now.

Oh yeah, we've talked about that - I would also have been done with those two guys.

I get you about trying to see Mitch and Jim's perspective. I really think they are actually waiting on Bell, though. Seeing what will happen re: his buyout (or not). We shall see.

I won't necessarily be disappointed by that... but I'm not going to be jumping for joy either.