jhow0036
Junior Member
Chicago Bulls
Posts: 712 
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Post by jhow0036 on Aug 25, 2014 13:14:57 GMT -6
I'd like to welcome everyone to our preseason press conference. We are very excited for the start of this season. We would like to discuss some of our moves from the off-season then we will open the floor for questions.
When I took over last year it was the middle of the season. Even with the talented guys we had it was extremely hard to win more than we did. I feel we did the best we could with the pieces we had, most I them being young. So with that said we ended the year with the fourth worst record.
When that happened, the fan base had a newfound hope being that this draft was so deep. With names like Kobe Bryant, Marcus Camby, Ray Allen, and Allen Iverson we were confident we would get a future star. When the lottery came we were ecstatic to hear we landed the number 1 pick. It made our choice easy, the new face of the Franchise would be Kobe Bryant.
On to free agency, we were able to land 2 of our main targets in Bryant Sith and Matt Geiger. Both of them being young up and coming players. we feel they will fit with the core of this team. We also signed Marcus Liberty to a one year deal. We like Marcus an this deal goes us an opportunity to see how he will fit on the team without handicapping us in the future.
So we are very excited to build for the future ere in Chicago and it starts with this year.
We will now take questions.
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Post by Nick Malone 77 on Aug 25, 2014 13:32:31 GMT -6
Nick Melon; Charlotte Observer: Clearly, everyone looks at the Bulls as Kobe Bryant's team. With Kobe being just 18 years of age, do you think his body is ready to handle the full work load of an 82 game regular season, if not more? also, you filled up your team this season with many 1 year deals, do you look at this year as a time to convince those you signed to stick around longer or look towards the future to build around Kobe that may not be on this team at this current time.
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jhow0036
Junior Member
Chicago Bulls
Posts: 712
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Post by jhow0036 on Aug 25, 2014 13:39:22 GMT -6
Kobe has done a lot of work to get to where he is, we feel he will be ready. We don't expect him to come out and dominate but he we be solid for us and continue to get better.
We signed a lot of one year deals so we could evaluate some guys we have interest in bringing back, but also to give us cap flexibility in the coming years.
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Post by JNR on Aug 25, 2014 14:16:22 GMT -6
Generic Wolves Reporter: You made the decision to decline Popeye Jones' option. As you start to assemble premier talent, did you feel that Popeye didn't fit your team, or were you simply not willing to pay the high price tag?
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Post by WigNosy on Aug 25, 2014 15:45:12 GMT -6
It's a bit of an open secret that you've been shopping Brent Barry and, to a lesser extent, Darrell Armstrong since you won the lottery, leading to speculation that you're trying to clear minutes for Kobe to play. Do you see a scenario where all three of them could get the minutes they would like?
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jhow0036
Junior Member
Chicago Bulls
Posts: 712
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Post by jhow0036 on Aug 25, 2014 16:03:53 GMT -6
Generic Wolves Reporter: You made the decision to decline Popeye Jones' option. As you start to assemble premier talent, did you feel that Popeye didn't fit your team, or were you simply not willing to pay the high price tag? We really likes Popeye here, but in the end this is a business and we couldn't justify giving him a max contract at this time. We wish him nothing but luck in Sacramento |
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Post by IamQuailman on Aug 25, 2014 16:15:23 GMT -6
Will Maukie, Milwaukee Tribune. With Kobe Bryant now, what is your plan with Brent Barry? 6th man?
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jhow0036
Junior Member
Chicago Bulls
Posts: 712
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Post by jhow0036 on Aug 25, 2014 16:19:55 GMT -6
It's a bit of an open secret that you've been shopping Brent Barry and, to a lesser extent, Darrell Armstrong since you won the lottery, leading to speculation that you're trying to clear minutes for Kobe to play. Do you see a scenario where all three of them could get the minutes they would like? Absolutely, whether it be one of them play 6th man or play all three at once, we will find a way to get them their fair share of minutes. |
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Post by TrayWithAnA on Aug 25, 2014 16:53:04 GMT -6
Obviously with a young team, your expectations should be tempered. However, we don't blame you for being excited about this squad as it develops. What are your expectations for the franchise this season and beyond?
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kucoach7
Junior Member
Portland Trail Blazers
Posts: 268
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Post by kucoach7 on Aug 25, 2014 17:02:18 GMT -6
Stith did not leave Portland on good terms. Rumor has it he was never happy being seen as a role player and wanted to be the star. Have you had any problems with Stith bickering with Kobe?
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jhow0036
Junior Member
Chicago Bulls
Posts: 712
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Post by jhow0036 on Aug 25, 2014 18:33:55 GMT -6
Will Maukie, Milwaukee Tribune. With Kobe Bryant now, what is your plan with Brent Barry? 6th man? Well, he will likely start the year as a sixth man, but he will still get plenty of minute and hopefully cause problems for others bench. |
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jhow0036
Junior Member
Chicago Bulls
Posts: 712
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Post by jhow0036 on Aug 25, 2014 18:36:24 GMT -6
Obviously with a young team, your expectations should be tempered. However, we don't blame you for being excited about this squad as it develops. What are your expectations for the franchise this season and beyond? We are excited about this team no doubt, but by no means are we expecting a playoff team. This team is still rebuilding. Another lottery pick may help the continued rebuild. So I would say just an improvement over last year and growth from our younger players is what we are looking to see this year. Now in the future we plan on have a contender year in and year out. |
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jhow0036
Junior Member
Chicago Bulls
Posts: 712
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Post by jhow0036 on Aug 25, 2014 18:37:50 GMT -6
Stith did not leave Portland on good terms. Rumor has it he was never happy being seen as a role player and wanted to be the star. Have you had any problems with Stith bickering with Kobe? Honestly, they have bonded really well. Not one problem from Bryant. We believe he can be a solid contributor to this squad. |
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logpmess
Junior Member
Miami Heat
Posts: 557
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Post by logpmess on Aug 25, 2014 19:29:20 GMT -6
Gonzalo LeBetard, Miami Tribune. I see Kobe chose the number 33, do you anticipate him dropping 10 digits and becoming a legend? Also, how are you planning to play the power forward position in this upcoming season?
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jhow0036
Junior Member
Chicago Bulls
Posts: 712
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Post by jhow0036 on Aug 25, 2014 19:35:50 GMT -6
Gonzalo LeBetard, Miami Tribune. I see Kobe chose the number 33, do you anticipate him dropping 10 digits and becoming a legend? Also, how are you planning to play the power forward position in this upcoming season? Kobe will take a while to become great, but we do believe he will get there. As for the PF position, we realize we are weak there, but we are really strong at the Wing position so we may shop one of them for a PF or play some small ball. |
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Post by bowtothebill23 on Aug 25, 2014 19:49:47 GMT -6
While your team has a lot of young developing talent, it seems unlikely that you will make a playoff run. What do you hope to see out of your team this year? And do you feel this will be your last year to get somebody worth a damn in the draft?
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jhow0036
Junior Member
Chicago Bulls
Posts: 712
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Post by jhow0036 on Aug 25, 2014 20:04:16 GMT -6
This year all I am looking to see is progress. I want to see how all these younger guys play together. This will be a developmental year for us. We feel that this upcoming draft there will be a few potential stars, but yes we feel as this may be the last year you see us in the lottery for a long time.
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J2
Junior Member
Washington Wizards
Posts: 955
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Post by J2 on Aug 26, 2014 16:22:40 GMT -6
Johnny Junior, Washington Post: How exactly do you see your SF/SG rotation playing out? You have 4 players - 5 if you count Majerle - who are all capable of playing either SF, SG, or both, and all 4 are fully capable of starting. Who will start, and who will sit?
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Post by IamQuailman on Aug 29, 2014 11:25:47 GMT -6
Awarded 5 points (towards preseason presser 5pt cap).
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