2035-2036 Bulls Preseason Presser

[garbageman]

68-14

That was the Bulls record last year. It was the best regular season record in the league from a squad that was built to get the best record in the league. It was a squad that looked, on paper, like the best team in the league. It was a squad that, in the playoffs, couldn't beat the Dallas Fryeing Mavericks. We lost 3 games at home all season. We went 1-2 at home in the playoffs.

29.57

This is the average age of the Bulls roster. We're the 2nd oldest team, on average (the Pacers are about one hundredth of a year older than us). The players have won a combined 5 championships. They have led the league in blocks, steals, rebounds, assists, and scoring. There are 29 all-star game selections between them. Two defensive players of the year. One playoff MVP. They know what it takes.

$89,797,891

This is the amount that the 2035-2036 Bulls squad is over the cap. That's a big gamble for a team whose big players fell short in the most important moments of last season. But Silky gets a max contract. Norris Turney gets his max contract matched. Jaren Jackson and Norrin Radd get traded for an even more expensive guy in Grayson Allen (welcome sim-home).

We expect a team this expensive to do better. We expect the players that dropped the ball to play with an extra chip on their shoulder this year. Not to get comfortable no matter how well they're doing, no matter how high they end up seeded, no matter what projections people have for them.

If it doesn't like that's the team they're going to be, any player who isn't playing like that is going to be on the (Kno)block by Day 60. Last year was fun until it wasn't. This season will not be fun. Not until that fun is earned.

Redemption or bust.

[greepleairport]

Seriously though, what happened in the playoffs last year, in your opinion? You were fit to give the Clips a helluva series!


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[garbageman]

Seriously though, what happened in the playoffs last year, in your opinion? You were fit to give the Clips a helluva series!


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We lost. Next question

[Keepit100]

Last season, Norrin Radd chipped in with some quality play off the bench. With his departure who do you see providing that same kind of spark on this year's team?

[garbageman]

Last season, Norrin Radd chipped in with some quality play off the bench. With his departure who do you see providing that same kind of spark on this year's team?

We're hoping that Ernie Acuna can come off the bench and lead that second unit. He's a proven three point thread who can defend and distribute the ball. We'll have to see who else steps up, but if Acuna can run the offense, Jason Waters, Domingo McKoy, Richard Erickson, and Thomas Minter are all capable of providing scoring, and Erik Haynes still brings size, tough defense, and rebounding ability to that center position. We'll spend some time figuring out who fits best with that second squad and who wants to put in the effort. Down the stretch, there aren't going to be enough minutes to go around, and all of those guys are veterans who know the deal.

[Bowtothebill23]

Even though it didn't turn out as you hoped, congrats on the best record in the league last season. You've built your own little super-team this year, and you've done so while maintaining a couple of young guys on your roster. But, as you mentioned with how expensive this team is, you're staring at a tax bill well over 100 points this year. And, as it stands now, you're looking at another tax bill next year, even if you traded one of your $50MM players with nothing in return. Are you worried at all about not having the points to exercise Cristiano Felicio's RFA rights? Or are you under the assumption that you will be doing absolutely whatever it takes to get to the point next year where you can pay your tax bill?

[garbageman]

Even though it didn't turn out as you hoped, congrats on the best record in the league last season. You've built your own little super-team this year, and you've done so while maintaining a couple of young guys on your roster. But, as you mentioned with how expensive this team is, you're staring at a tax bill well over 100 points this year. And, as it stands now, you're looking at another tax bill next year, even if you traded one of your $50MM players with nothing in return. Are you worried at all about not having the points to exercise Cristiano Felicio's RFA rights? Or are you under the assumption that you will be doing absolutely whatever it takes to get to the point next year where you can pay your tax bill?

I'm not worried. We'll earn a lot of points over the next two seasons, and we can make appropriate moves to cut down on our tax bills.

[Xist2Inspire]

With Grayson and RJ, you now have two former wings that found their greatest success at the 4. How are you planning to utilize them now that they'll be sharing the floor?

[garbageman]

With Grayson and RJ, you now have two former wings that found their greatest success at the 4. How are you planning to utilize them now that they'll be sharing the floor?

We're moving RJ back to the 3. While RJ is excellent at the 4 spot, we feel he'll also be excellent at the 3 spot. Grayson's a better defender and he has a few extra inches on Barrett. On the offensive end, Grayson is the better inside scorer. We'll be giving up some blocks and some offensive rebounding, but we think that RJ's perimeter defense and his three point shooting should both get more focus.

[MexicanMamba]

Acquiring Grayson Allen or Felicio's continued growth: Which off-season happening has you more excited about the coming season and your chance at fulfilling the promise your squad has?

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[TheSyndicate]

Obviously, you're going to be favored in (just about?) every game your team suits up for this season. Is there a certain style or build you think your squad is potentially vulnerable to and/or stronger against?

[garbageman]

Acquiring Grayson Allen or Felicio's continued growth: Which off-season happening has you more excited about the coming season and your chance at fulfilling the promise your squad has?

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Probably Grayson Allen. Felicio is still not on that level. I'm glad he's improving, but he won't really be a dominant force on his rookie contract.

[garbageman]

Obviously, you're going to be favored in (just about?) every game your team suits up for this season. Is there a certain style or build you think your squad is potentially vulnerable to and/or stronger against?

We'll be weak against teams that only ever resign their own players, never really trade because they don't know which GMs are on which teams, and that we dominated in the regular season.

[false9]

With a plethora of offensive talents, who do you plan on keying up for Sim 1? Will you be experimenting throughout the season?

[garbageman]

With a plethora of offensive talents, who do you plan on keying up for Sim 1? Will you be experimenting throughout the season?

I definitely will be experimenting throughout the season, not only with my key players, but with my bench formation and gameplan as well.

Norris Turney came out of preseason looking like he's ready to score a lot of points. We know Grayson Allen can score a lot of points real fast, too. Hopefully he fouls a lot less so he can spread it out more. The first month and a half will be integral. We have a lot of offseason acquisitions that we really want to take a hard look at, and we don't really have the room for auxiliary salary.