Bulls Discuss Dealing Noah Internally

by Chris Alvino on September 9th, 2010 at 1:53 pm

According to ESPN.com, the Bulls are discussing the possibility of dealing away young center Joakim Noah in a trade for Carmelo Anthony.  Noah, 25, will be a restricted free agent next summer.

Last season, Noah really stepped his game up in a big way.  Last season, Noah averaged a double-double and again proved how valuable he is on the defensive end.

In my opinion, Noah is the type of talent that is meant to complement other players.  It is tough to say whether he is a better prospect than Danilo Gallinari because they are completely different players.  Gallo has 20+ ppg potential.  Would it shock anyone if Gallo eventually became a primary scoring on an NBA team in the future?

As of right now, Noah has proven that he can not only help his team get to the playoffs, but also that he can play at a high level in the playoffs.  That is something that no Knicks youngster has proven yet. 

If I was the Bulls GM, I would not hesitate to deal away Noah to get Melo as a trio of Melo, Rose and Boozer would be very tough to beat.  However, if Noah remains a Bull, I expect him to have a great season playing alongside Boozer.

About Chris Alvino

Chris Alvino grew up in Crestwood, NY. He graduated from Regis High School in 2005. There he played both basketball and baseball. Chris is currently a student at Boston College, where he practices with the varsity Women's Basketball Team (... seriously). Chris has been a Knicks' fan for years and can literally talk about them all day long, every day of the week. Chris enjoys writing on this blog and seeing what everyone out there has to say about it. View all posts by Chris Alvino →
  • Dylan

    I think Noah is definitely a better prospect than Gallo, but thats just my opinion. If the Bulls are willing to give up Noah, other players, and picks for Melo than they can have him. I’ve said for a long time that I wouldn’t overpay for Melo. He is good, but not worth gutting our entire roster.

  • http://www.twitter.com/sportsnewsflash sportsnewsflash

    I think Gallo will become a leading scorer for the Knicks. If the Nuggets want Noah I would give them him to get Anthony. Anthony is a franchise player,Noah is a good supporting player.

  • k-hodge

    Nope..wouldn’t surprise me at all. I already think he’ll hit the 20ppg stat this season. I expect him to be the #2 scorer on this current edition of the NY Knicks. I look for him to be MUCH more aggressive this season as far as going to the hole and completing those And-1′s he was missing at the end of LAST season. The only concern I have is will he stay locked in mentally for the majority of the 82 games, my gut says yes he will. If he doesn’t disappear on the road, he’ll be at 20ppg without a doubt.

  • KnickFan4Life

    Noah is a really good player but the way some fawn over him is crazy, lol. But it’s to be understood considering how mediocre the Center position is in the NBA these days.

    I wouldn’t be shocked if Noah is shipped but I would be surprised. Seems to me is a central piece of what they are trying to do over there with a new coach who happens to be very defensive minded…

  • BiggieSmalls

    If the include Noah then good night turn out the lights.. Melo is a bull

    He is a much better player today than gallo. And no injury risk

    Plus rose is a better compliment to melo than amare

  • BiggieSmalls

    Noah blocks 3 plus a Game and gets double digit boards andis playoff tested.

    People do and should fawn over him

  • KnickFan4Life

    3 plus a game?

  • Dylan

    Noah blocks 1.6 shots per game…

  • KnickFan4Life

    I agree he’s a better player right now and has more value. Is a Rose Boozer Melo team a good fit for that coach though?

  • KnickFan4Life

    Gallo did just basically play his first year though. Noah just played his third…

  • bb_dot

    if you can have Melo for Noah.. you do it.

    Cannot see how the Bulls would pass this one up.

  • NoVaCaInE

    Great! Another article overvaluing Gallo. Noah is a defensive presence in the paint and continues to to improve each year. He is far more valuable than Gallo is. Outside shooters that play no D are easily replaceable, a shot blocking/rebounding force isn’t. I’m not so sure if I’m the Bulls I would include Noah in that deal.

  • NoVaCaInE

    Including Noah in the deal weakens their interior D. In this league you still need to play defense to win. A Noah/Boozer tandem will cause problems. Melo has let it be known he wants out so the Bulls need to be patient.

  • Dylan

    Gallo does play D. Did he struggle when he was matched up against PGs or elite scorers? Sure. But labeling him as someone who plays no defense just because he is European is ridiculous. I agree that Noah is more valuable because he plays a more important position, but Gallo is not just a one-trick pony, despite what “experts” on ESPN might say.

  • PipeDreamin

    “and Russia got some valuable offense off the bench from Timofey Mozgov, who worked the pick-and-roll to perfection with Dimtriy Khvostov.”

    ^—FIBA.com

    I’m at work, and was unable to watch the game. how did timofey look against the NBA team? I see they played Odom most of the game, so we didnt get to see him play against a legit NBA big. but did he look scared? intimidated? excited?

  • bb_dot

    sure it does. I’m sure the Bulls would love to get Melo without giving up Noah as much as the Knicks would love getting Melo without giving up Randolph or Gallo. But the truth seems to be that Melo wants a trade rather than the risking free agency with less money. At that point “waiting for Melo to get him as a FA” as many here say becomes mute. If you want him, you need to put a package together and compete for him. This notion of him just flying into our arms is ridiculous. Who will blink first? If the Bulls add Noah it may be a done deal and I believe they will be better with Melo minus Noah than the other way around. Something has to give..

  • Dylan

    He was the best player on the floor for Russia during the first half, but got into foul trouble (a couple of them iffy calls), and didn’t play much during the second half. Overall he looked very good though. He didn’t look overmatched against Odom or Chandler.

  • BiggieSmalls

    was looking at his per 40 stats..he only plays about 30 minutes per last year.

    he definitely has the potential to lead the league in blocks and grab boards well into double digits.

  • CircleLimit4

    Knicks would have to give up Randolph, Gallo and Chandler + picks to compete, which I don’t advocate.

  • BiggieSmalls

    im sure Denver remembers why this is his basically his first year.

  • bb_dot

    I agree. That’s too steep..
    But not including Randolph nor Gallo is not going to get it done. I would definitely be willing to include one of them for Melo who is a Top 5 offensive player in the league and Top10-15 overall IMO.

  • bb_dot

    I couldn’t watch either..waiting for recap. But it sounds quite promising from the comments posted here. Could it be that we really got lucky for once..?

  • NoVaCaInE

    “labeling him as someone who plays no defense just because he is European is ridiculous.”

    Where did I mention that above? Plz spare the ridiculous comments. Gallo is slow footed period! Has nothing to do with his race or where he comes from. He will get killed on the perimeter against most 3′s in this league. He is a pretty good help defender though.

    “Gallo is not just a one-trick pony, despite what “experts” on ESPN might say.”

    I could actually care less about what ESPN analyst say. I actually watch the games. The problem with Gallo is he lacks a true position right now. Gallo is a high IQ player and has a great outside shot but he lacks the athleticism and speed to be successful @ the 3 spot. When teams played up on him on the perimeter he struggled. His best bet is to bulk up and play the 4. The problem is that spot is occupied over the next 5 yrs. Amare is not a C. That’s another debate for another day…

  • NoVaCaInE

    Good post! I agree Melo will seek a trade to get better money. However, a team can make the mistake of giving away too much if they are not patient. Denver has the player but does not have much bargaining room at this point.

  • peeg

    Mozgov had 13pts 4 rebs and a block. He also altered a shot or 2 and had 1 great block nullified with a weak foul call. He was constantly moving, setting picks and was the 1st up the floor a few times. It was real encouraging, even though he looks to have almost no moves. He won’t need to get his own shot though so that’s shouldn’t be a problem – he looks like he may be able to get some playing time.

  • MVM

    a little off topic but,
    “The U.S. built an early six-point advantage before Mozgov began to control the middle. He hit all four of his shots in the first quarter, twice while getting fouled, and his last basket tied it at 25 heading to the second period.”
    he looks decent against nba competition, think he should start by mid season & have turiaf come off the bench

  • bob go knicks

    you guys gotta remember that Gallo has played a little more than one full season in the NBA.This season comming up is basically Gallo sophmore year,no way i would trade him for Noah

  • bob go knicks

    im sure its not just NOAH that will be asked for

  • bb_dot

    yeah.. I meant “including Noah”.

  • KnickFan4Life

    I saw pretty much every Knick game last year. Gallo was not a bad defender at all. He more than held his own. He exceeded expectations by far on that end…and for 6’10-6’11 I would say no he is not slow-footed…

  • NYCBALL

    +1

    I don’t get why everyone on this blog thinks he is going to be something special.

    He is definetly a one trick pony. The kid is a damn good shooter. He dose not have the savy to get his own shot that some slower foot nba players do. ( Dirk, Pierce)

    Im not saying he doesn’t play D, but his ability to play D is lacking.

  • flossy

    Meh. Wake me up when Noah gets a clue on the offensive side of the ball.

    IMO if Randolph stays healthy he can be every bit the shot blocker and rebounder that Noah is on top of breaking some ankles.

  • KnickFan4Life

    It’s pretty common for a guy in his first year or two to still be finding his way position wise.

  • KnickFan4Life

    I don’t think you watched a lot of Knick games last season…

  • http://www.twitter.com/sportsnewsflash sportsnewsflash

    No one said the Knicks are trading Gallo for Noah. Noah might be included in a deal sending him to Denver for Carmelo Anthony. No way the Knicks would trade Gallo for Noah.

  • KnickFan4Life

    who wrote that?

  • DatNewYorker

    People just don’t understand that Big Men win Championships. You can’t win championships without
    size. Thats why I want so much for Mozgov to play
    well. Take a look back 10 years and you will see that only teams with size win rings. Teams without size never even make it to the finals.

  • NoVaCaInE

    Gallo also has a ton of experience oversees against grown men. Plz Bob! Your man crush on Gallo is out of control.

  • flossy

    I’m not saying Noah is bad btw, but his ceiling is maybe slightly higher than Haywood, Okafor, Chandler, Dalembert, guys like that. He may be cheaper than those guys, but for only one more year. And he is not the kind of guy you trade for your franchise player IMO because he isn’t and will never be more than a very good complimentary player.

  • ds2488

    agreed. Let’s test how much melo actually wants to come here and make him sign as a free agent. Other than that it’s Lebron all over again.

  • http://www.twitter.com/sportsnewsflash sportsnewsflash

    Gallo is anything but an overvalued player. Gallo is only 22 years old and last year was really his first. Gallo is a great shooter who could become a better rebounder and defender. I see a lot of upside in him. I would take Gallo over Noah 10 out of 10 times. He is still young and has unlimited potential. Noah won’t become a better player than what he is. He will never become an offensive force.

  • KV

    We need melo walsh……get the fanned job done..skip all the phenomenal break downs of fanatics……get us melo Walsh…..do not let Chicago get him….there won’t be anymore top 2s or 3s on the market……….don’t make ny look weak Walsh.

  • ds2488

    Yeah, who wrote that?

    Anyway, I agree with it. Mozgov was controlling the game for Russia in the first quarter off the pick and roll. There was clearly a major change when he went out and sat out the whole 2nd quarter, that’s when the US took the lead for good.

    From what I have seen, if Mozgov gets minutes there’s no way he can’t be a decent player. His biggest problem will be foul trouble along with crashing the boards.

  • ds2488

    Gallo’s a better defender than Wilson imo. He’s very slow-footed, but he’s smart and uses his length very well against other small forwards.

    Wilson is the very overrated defender imo. He’s never understood the nuances of man to man d, and there’s never been a pump or head fake that Wilson hasn’t jumped for.

    Gallo might not have done a good job on some of the top guys in the league, but he literally did twice the job Wilson did when he was defending them. Remember dream week 2 years ago lol? Wilson was guarding all of them. Carmelo put up 36 at the garden against Gallo, but he put up 50+ back in Denver against Wilson, and at least Gallo went right back at him.

  • bb_dot

    “Let’s test how much melo actually wants to come here and make him sign as a free agent.”

    that’s not going to happen. He will be traded. I can’t believe how passively some here approach this subject. I’m not the biggest Melo fan myself, but this guy is way above everybody else on our roster. He would make us a top 5 team in the east immediately. We are not anywhere near as good without him.

  • KnickFan4Life

    People need to relax with Melo though. I mean don’t get me wrong he’s an excellent player but he ain’t bringing you a championship. Not on his own at least and even with Amare we would still probably need another premier player to be in the championship mix and speaking for myself I’m not willing to give up the entire team for dude. I know we have sucked for a while but let’s not lose sight of the ultimate goal here…

  • http://www.twitter.com/sportsnewsflash sportsnewsflash

    He doesn’t have a ton of experience, he is only 22. Gallo has so much potential and upside. I see Gallo being on of the top 10 players in the NBA in a few years, he got that type of talent.

  • KnickFan4Life

    I wanna win a title. Top 5 every year for the next 10 years is not enough for me sorry…

  • ds2488

    Again, even if Melo is traded, if he REALLY WANTS to come here as has been reported we should make him come here.

    I’m done with the days of crybaby narcissistic stars using the Knicks as leverage to get what they want. I hope Walsh is too. We’re certainly not the laughingstock we have been under Layden and Isiah anymore, and I don’t think we should allow ourselves to be used in the same way over and over again.

    It’s like Stockholm syndrome or something with us Knicks fans.

  • harris

    I thought Melo was a “can’t lose” for our heroes. Especially given his wife’s aspiring career, and Carmelo’s reportedly close relationship with Amar’e. According to the TKB, a “”source close to the situation” is saying that Melo “still has every intention of battling Miami as a Knick” Now he’s going to Chicago? Typical.

    But don’t fret Knickerbocker fans. We got Moz! All is well in paradise.

  • KnickFan4Life

    That’s right Mozel Tov for Mozgov!!!

  • bb_dot

    the ultimate goal is to compete for championships. With a main lineup that includes Melo, Amare, and Randolph we would have a formidable front line. If some of the other pieces live up to the hype or develop well we would be competitive in the East. From there you improve through lateral trades, drafts, etc. For our current roster to get to that point alone you have to hope for Gallo and Randolph to become all-star caliber players or one of them to become a superstar.

  • http://www.nomoreonionbags.com trenttucker

    He doesn’t have great hands. He seems to lose rebounds that he gets his hands on somewhat easily. But he’s got a lot of other great attributes. I remain fairly astonished with his lateral quickness. When I hear the term “7 foot Russian guy” I don’t think of someone who can move laterally like him. He slides in and out of that high pick really naturally.

  • KnickFan4Life

    I would love to get Melo, but I don’t want to give up the whole team for dude. We have to be smart about it. If we are not smart we will be stuck in the middle…

  • bb_dot

    I hear you. You talk dignity.. but let’s face it, if we want to compete we need the players to push us over the top. Melo may not deliver a championship right away but he will get us much closer than the current squad if we can hold on to either Gallo or Randolph. Is anybody disputing that? All I’m saying let’s not miss out on this one if we have a reasonable chance to get him.

  • bb_dot

    oh yeah? and the current team without Melo is more likely to win a title?

  • KnickFan4Life

    Yeah he doesn’t have the kind of hands you would want on a classic post center but for his type of game his hands are good enough and he finishes well around the basket…

  • Knicks2RingCircus

    The bulls would be fools to hinder a deal for Melo over the likes of Noah. Noah is very good hustle guy and solid defender but I Don’t think he’s capable of being as good as Ben Wallace was on that end and I also don’t think his offensive game is ever going to make any major leaps. At the end of the day, has noah really proved he’s MUCH better than guys in the class of udonis haslem and brian grant? To some degree you also have to question just how serious noah is about basketball.

    On the other hand the sky is the limit for Galo, I can envision him being a better version of Peja Stojakovic. Personally, I am in the camp that would much prefer to land CP3 than melo anyway…

  • KnickFan4Life

    You are so right about his fluidity laterally. It was the first thing that stood out to me when I saw him. It’s very rare to see a big who moves around that well…

  • BiggieSmalls

    i view his ceiling as Marcus Camby

    Haywood is not a ceiling.

  • knicksfan36

    randolph — 6’11
    amare — 6’11
    gallo — 6’10
    chandler — 6’8

    thats not tall enough for you?

  • JeffM729

    There’s a long way for Gallo to to even make the East All-Star team. You’ve got LeBron, Granger, Wallace, and, Igoudala in the East and none of them are old.

  • chito31

    Agree… I don’t think you watched many games. Gallo’s problem last year was lack of aggresiveness (like Chandler). Maybe it’s better now without Al Buckets chucking all day. But they did run some isolation plays for Gallo, especially when he was being guarded by slow big men. I remember one play where he crossed someone at top of the key adn drained 23 footer… and me wishing he would do that more.

  • JeffM729

    Mosgov had a nasty, smack the ball block on Derrick Rose that was called a foul. He got just a touch of his lower body, making it a close call. He is all of 7’1″ and has length and agility.

  • http://www.nomoreonionbags.com trenttucker

    I like Noah more than you do, but agree that the real prize is Paul. Paul is A LOT better than Carmelo Anthony. A lot, a lot. Alottalot.

  • JeffM729

    You know we got Randolph for an unrestricted David Lee. If you have to give him up to get Melo, you do it. He’s not even a starter. Put Melo and Amare out there with Chandler and Fields as backups and we are fine.

    Some folks think that Gallo and AR are the second coming of Bird and McHale. They are not.

  • yuhdunknow2g

    i dont know if anyone posted this already, but it seems the joakim noah for melo talks is false.

    RT @AlexKennedyNBA: The Chicago Bulls offered Joakim Noah a five-year, $60 million extension two weeks ago. Hard to believe that they’re ready to move him now.

  • KnickFan4Life

    No but they would have more flebility in order to build a potential title winner…

  • KnickFan4Life

    Define reasonable

  • KnickFan4Life

    lol yeah, plus I really do think bulls see Noah as a main part of what they are trying to do over there. With Thibodeau they are trying to really work that defensive angle going in the complete opposite direction from that now with a team anchored around Melo would be strange…

  • chito31

    1) Noah is good, but if you ask me, he reached his ceiling. How much better can he get. If Denver makes that trade, and gets stuck with Deng…. they will be stuck in mediocrity for years. Billups, Deng, Harrington, JR Smith (maybe) Nene, Noah…. yawn.
    2) You guys are ready to throw kitchen sink for Melo…. but is Melo and Amare enough. We need to keep any two of Gallo, AR, Chandler as supporting cast, to join Melo and Amare.
    3) As fans, we are bias, but I do think othe NBA teams undervalue our roster…. or they know how desperate we are and want to rob us. That’s why I’m glad for Walsh… he works at a slow pace, but patience is a virtue. Stick to your guns DW!

  • KnickFan4Life

    ^correction, lol meant flexibility not flebility

  • snadler

    I’m sure this has been said already but knick fans, please wake up..If the knicks don’t get melo, that means wade, bosh, lebron, carmelo which are 4 of arguably the top ten players in the game and we missed on all of them. Not to mention if the bulls do get him with Rose, boozer, melo then they all of a sudden become a top 3 or 4 team for years to come and then there’s us. A team trying to win 42 games battling for 6th-8th seed..yeah!! Come on do you see what will be going on in the east. We would be banking our future on a very unproven Randolph..who yes has talent but there has to be a reason he couldn’t even make the rotation of an awful Warriors team, and a young Gallo who people forget is only playing his second full season, why? because of a back injury which is never mentioned as to probably the reason why the nuggets aren’t interested in him. Yes you can all be excited about what this team has to offer, of course because we have sucked for so long so we are willing to settle for any glimmer of hope. However, if melo is traded to the bulls and signs the extension the knicks will not be a top 3 team in the east for at least the next 4 seasons..and then of course when we do get swept in the first round, next year we will be hoping who will be the next star we come up short on..cp3? deron?

  • VOR

    On Mozgov, He didn’t play or look scared, or inexperienced, or stiff, nor over matched and lacking confidence, and he didn’t even come across as raw and not being ready-for the NBA that is. The three things i noted that he lacked in this game-against an NBA talented team-was(1)A legit big man opposite him (Amare) to occupy some space and that he can play off of, and (2)A pg who can and will get him the ball at the right time-when he is open rolling to the basket or when he’s close to the basket “asking” for the dam ball (his pgs played poorly and they did not go to him nearly enough)! I would also say he is a “first round talent”! Hopefully with the right seasoning he will become the Knicks center of the future.

  • mioz

    for those who understand italian: http://video.gazzetta.it/basket-danilo-gallinari-videochat/b40064fe-bc22-11df-8370-00144f02aabe

    46 minutes of an interview to the rooster… very inspiring… he is 200% a knick inside..

  • VOR

    *The 3rd thing i noted in watching Mozgov was that he is not a “legit” rebounder yet, and that may be because he have to be a “help defender” for his team-
    mates, or he “choose” to be a help defender for his teammates, or he is not yet a “determined” rebounding center “yet”!

  • bb_dot

    “Define reasonable”
    either Gallo or Randolph together with Curry+picks. But not both. I agree with you that gutting the team that we have just put together is problematic. But hoping to get Melo as a FA or without giving up any talent besides Chandler is not very realistic..

  • tcj132003

    Wow…this is big news.

    If the Bulls get Melo, put them right up there with the Heat and Lakers.

    right now, I still think the Lakers have it (match ups favor Lakers 4-1 over Heat), but if you put Melo in Chicago, I think they may become the new force to deal with over the next 2-5 years. Young talented core.

    If you would like to see how I think the Lakers win the Heat match up, take a look at this article.

    http://splittingaces21.blogspot.com/2010/08/sports-bet-extra-nba-finals-2011.html

  • bb_dot

    and for those who don’t understand italian? come on! give us some tidbits..

  • Brad Lohaus 54

    haha thinking the same thing..

  • mioz

    unfortuantely my english is as good as bargnani’s defence…
    he says that the knicks management told him to have a bigger role in the locker room, to be some kind of leader to the new players…

    he said that amare is really motivated, that felton is the right pg for the knicks (hahahah), that when anthony randolph jump it seems to fly and that if he were lebron he would have gone to the knicks.

    they ask him of the trade scenarios gallinari-melo, and he answered that he is a knick, he will remain a knick, and there’s no chance this kind of deal is going to happen….

  • http://www.nomoreonionbags.com trenttucker

    I’ll listen to it now and see what I can glean. My Italian is only okay. Watch this space.

  • bb_dot

    thanks. I appreciate it..

    I love in particular the part about the “flying Randolph” LOL

  • KnickFan4Life

    Iggy is a nice player but let’s not act like he is some unreachable mountain. Same thing for Granger and Wallace. Lebron is going to start All Star games until he retires though even with so many people hardcore fans hating him. Too many casual fans vote. Him reaching all star level is a lot closer than you make it seem…

  • KnickFan4Life

    I would say slow-footed compared to a smaller 3. For a 6-10 6-11 guy no.

  • http://www.nomoreonionbags.com trenttucker

    I can’t get my computer to load it. But I saw an interview from his Reebok press conference today/yesterday and he says the same stuff. He says his goal is to make the playoffs.

  • mioz

    Yes but he also says that ar isn’t fully recovered, he isn’t fully confident on his lega because of The injury…

  • TobyKnight

    Yeah, I am of a similar mind. I think CP3 would mean more to this team than Melo. If we can’t get Melo for Gallo, Chandler and a future #1 than I’m inclined to allow Gallo develop into a 20 ppg player this year and then package him with Felton next year for CP3. I would then insert Randolph into the 3.

    PG Chris Paul
    SG Azubuike
    SF Randolph
    PF Amare
    C Mozgov

    If AR develops his shot and Mozgov becomes legit, that’s a potentially awesome lineup that could really give the Heat fits.

    Paul and Randolph > Felton and Melo

  • BrooklynsFinest1

    Listen if these Gallo and Randolph supporters want to keep them and the Bulls somehow get Melo well what the hell are we cheering for when the goal of championship or even the Eastern Conference Finals is a pipedream. Mediocrity is where we will be for many years and to think that Gallo and Randolph will be franchise leading kind of talent are drinking some serious kool aid. So don’t trade those players in a possible package for Melo and enjoy having players grow and learn on the job with one day hoping they can be top 20 much less top 10 NBA players, for me as they say there is no guarantees in sports and you make your breaks not hope they fall your way.

  • bob go knicks

    you should see the size of it!

  • Dylan

    Call me crazy, but I don’t think the Bulls are better with Noah, Deng, and Gibson than they would be with Melo. There is no denying that Melo is a great player. But part of what makes the Bulls so good is their tough interior players. If they trade Noah, Deng, and Gibson for Melo, they would be left with no center, and very little interior depth. I think that having Noah and Boozer gives them an advantage against the Heat, and allows them to match up with teams like the Magic and the Celtics. Defense and rebounding is what wins games in the playoffs. In my opinion, the Bulls would be crazy to give up Noah. They already have an elite scorer in Rose, a great insider scorer in Boozer, a pretty good wing player in Deng, a great 3-point shooter in Korver, and a legit C in Noah. They also have good depth with guys like Gibson, Brewer, and Thomas. Would Melo be an upgrade at the SF position? Of course. But trading for him would also create a hole at C, backup C, and backup SF. How exactly would the Bulls stop Howards, KG, Horford, or Bogut in the playoffs? How would they stop Gasol and Bynum in a championship game? We all know that defense wins championships, and replacing their best defensive player with an offense oriented forwards would make them a much worse team defensively.

  • Dylan

    **Woops I mean I think the Bulls ARE better off with Noah, Deng, and Gibson.

  • flossy

    Fair enough. If I were trading my franchise player and a 28ppg scorer, I would want players back with a lot higher ceiling than Camby.

    Noah may be a more productive player right now but IMO both Gallo and Randolph have the potential to be much better. Noah (and Deng) is a very good role player, which is not all that useful to a rebuilding team.

  • flossy

    I think the Nuggs would do everything in their power not to take back Deng.

    Which means the Bulls would be paying their 2 SFs a combined $36 million/year. Plus Boozer at $13. That’s almost $50m for 3 players, two of whom play the same position. Pretty soon Rose will want big money too.

    No team in their right mind is going to trade for Luol Deng. His contract is straight up insane for a player who is solid but nothing special. Deng’s contract makes Iguodala’s contract look like a bargain.

  • Knicks2RingCircus

    It’s very easy to argue that Chris Paul is the best PG in the league, he’s averaged a double double for his career, plays great defense and has a .47 fg%. He also came in 5th in the MVP voting in his last full/healthy season(2009).

  • flossy

    Billups/Affalo/Deng/Harrington/Noah

    That’s not a playoff team in the West. Billups will be on his way out soon so they’ll get even worse. And they will never be able to trade Deng.

  • flossy

    WOW they are going to regret that contract soon. Noah is good, but $12m/year good?

  • Dylan

    Yeah I agree that the Nuggets probably wouldn’t want to take him back. I’m not sure how much the salary thing matters for the Bulls though. The best teams in the league tend to have really high payrolls. The Lakers payroll is nearly 100 million dollars. The NBA allows teams to retain their players, so its not as big an issue. The Bulls couldn’t add any more big names, but with all the talent they would have (assuming they could hold onto Rose, Noah, and Boozer) in a trade for Melo, they wouldn’t really need to sign anyone else. My biggest issue is A) the Bulls would be crazy to give up Noah, and B) the Nuggets would be crazy to take back Deng. Thats why I can’t see a deal happening between the Bulls and Nuggets. It just doesn’t make sense for either side.

  • Dylan

    Another trade scenario I saw was a swap of Rose and Deng for Lawson and Melo. Personally, I think Chicago would be crazy to make that deal. I think Rose is already better than Melo, and he is also much younger and cheaper.

  • http://bigappleball.blogspot.com TaylorMade

    don’t forget Turiaf

  • NoVaCaInE

    @ sportsnwsflash

    ‘He doesn’t have a ton of experience, he is only 22.”

    Gallo’s been playing professionally since he was 15.

  • NoVaCaInE

    “for 6’10-6’11 I would say no he is not slow-footed…”

    What does his height has to do with him being slow footed? I can type a long list of 6’10 players that move faster than Gallo. That’s one of the most ridiculous comments I’ve ever heard. Shaq @ the age of 38 with 325+ lbs on his 7’1 frame can outrun Gallo. Give me a break!

  • blackwood

    Exactly Nova!! People act like this dude is just learning the game! he has been a pro for years against other men in the second best league in the world.

  • giantg

    ESPN cranks up the slow news day machine and everyone starts salivating like Pavlov’s dogs. Last week it was Lopez, now Gallo not being considered, Noah being considered…

    Quick take:

    1) Nets not going to trade a cheap 5 with upside in a package for a maxed out Melo. Perhaps more importantly Melo wouldn’t want to max out with last year’s Net’s less Lopez. BS meter 8+

    2) Too much is unknown here but if Melo is playing his cards (wants to be traded to a contender and maxed) Denver is in a tight spot – if Melo wants to go (still a big if) their option could expire worthless at year’s end and their player walks away clean a la Bosh. Nothing is black and white, it’s all grey for the Nuggets GM. It is highly unlikely that he has ruled out young talent like Gallo based on his merits. They may not like a Knick package but there is little to be gained by essentially dismissing the Knick’s talent in earnest to the media or another GM. BS meter 7+

    3) As mentioned above Denver is the team with the toughest road if they can’t get Carmelo to sign an extension mainly because it is very tough to get equal value in return. Chicago on the other hand is in the best position; they don’t need to do anything and they will challenge for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. So the question is, why would Chicago bail out Denver and dangle the center that will bang against Garnett/Kendrick/Shaq or Howard/Gortat or whoever Miami wheels out deep in the playoffs so that they can upgrade at sf from Deng to Carmelo? It doesn’t make much sense if you are trying to put together an NBA championship run or if you are trying to meaningfully upgrade your talent. BS factor 7+

    Just my 2 sheckles

  • blackwood

    Nova you can drop facts all day but the blind will always refuse to see the truth. The truth not an insult is that Gallo is slow footed and he has to be able to move to the 4 at some point or he will end up being the fire power off the bench.

    He is a great shooter with good smarts but he needs to get stronger in the legs and bulk up over all, he needs to be a 4 like dirk to be anything other then an off the bench weapon.

    I like Gallo but i am honest about his strong & weak points.

  • http://www.twitter.com/sportsnewsflash sportsnewsflash

    So what if Gallo has been playing since 15. At 15 your still learning the game a developing. Its not like Noah just start playing basketball yesterday and has all this upside. He has been playing since he was young too.

  • flossy

    The salary thing matters because a) the Bulls owner is notoriously cheap–he even tried to cut costs during Jordan’s championship runs–and b) there may be a hard salary cap after the new CBA.

  • blackwood

    “and has unlimited potential”

    Are u kidding me? he has a back issue that wont get better just worse over time, agility is not there so athletically he is very limited. His talent is shooting and being able to move the ball well. I saw him many times refuse to body and post up guards like hinrich! All guys dont have that killer instinct alpha male treat which is not a knock just a fact. He is a good player who will be a role player on a team a kick out weapon who could help a contender.

  • flossy

    spot on

  • NoVaCaInE

    The Gallo meat riders have tunnel vision…

  • HaS

    “I remember one play where he crossed someone at top of the key adn drained 23 footer…”

    LOL

    First of all, ONE play? And second of all when a player “crosses” someone it should lead to penetration otherwise you’re just dribbling in place. A crossover dribble to freeze the defender to get your shot off is nice, but a launch from twenty-three feet? That’s not exactly a great shot.

    “Would it shock anyone if Gallo eventually became a primary scoring on an NBA team in the future?”

    I would be completely shocked. Gallinari has the potential to be a good player, maybe a very good player, but a leading scorer on a winning team? Doubt it.He cannot create his own shot and he is too slow to drive consistently.

    I think he needs players to draw attention away from him for him to be most effective. Without the ability to create his own shot I don’t think he’ll ever be able to get off the volume of shots he would need to be in oder to be a leading scorer, unless he’s just launching threes without a conscience.

  • HaS

    “2) Too much is unknown here but if Melo is playing his cards (wants to be traded to a contender and maxed) Denver is in a tight spot”

    If he wants to be traded to a contender that rules out the Knicks, they’re contending for the 8th spot, that’s about it. Denver with Carmelo is a better team than the Knicks with him, they’re not getting by the Heat, Magic or Boston even with Carmelo. Not sure why he thinks getting away from the Lakers is going to automatically thrust him into “contention” for anything.

    I think if anything he’s more interested in being famous and out of the obscurity of Denver. Not exactly the type of player you want on your team is it?

    Pushing for a trade from the team that drafted him, the fans that have cheered for him, a playoff team that went to the Western Conference Finals a season ago and a team that wants to max him out because he wants the fame that comes with playing in a big market.

    They don’t make many loyal players like Durant anymore.

  • KnickFan4Life

    Shaq is not outrunning anybody anymore, wake up homie and yes size does have to do with foot speed, your gonna compare guards speed with Centers and PF’s who are bigger, no right. Do you watch basketball?

  • KnickFan4Life

    Yes we are being honest but you guys gotta realize it was his first friggin year. He is still growing into his body.

  • http://li.baseballgallery.info/wilson-12-pony-league.htm Wilson 12 Pony League

    [...] Bulls Discuss Dealing Noah Internally | TheKnicksBlog.com He will get killed on the perimeter against most 3′s in this league He is a pretty good help defender though. “Gallo is not just a one-trick pony despite what “experts” on ESPN might say.” I could actually care less about what ESPN analyst say. Gallo might not have done a good job on some of the top guys in the league but he literally did twice the job Wilson did when he was defending them. Remember dream week 2 years ago lol? Wilson was guarding all of them. [...]