Evolution of a killer

The 2006/2007 NBA season saw the Chicago Bulls come one win shy of 50. Many saw the stock of the Bulls going up after a 49-33 win season. Chicago managed to sweep a bad Heat team in the first round. While they lost to a good Detroit team 4-2 in the ensuing Conference Semifinals. Loul Deng was hailed as the next NBA superstar.

That summer Bulls fans would catch Kobe-fever. Rumors were rampant that Kobe wanted to be a Bull, but only under the condition Deng remained in Chicago. This situation continued into the early 2007/2008 season. ESPN.com reported on November 1st that Kobe vetoed a three team deal between the Bulls, Lakers, and Kings because of Deng's involvement. This trade would have been a franchise changer, and altered the NBA landscape. A season of turmoil resulted in a disappointing 33-49 season. The Bulls stock went from going up to crashing down. Recent top draft picks Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah seemed like bust, and Deng never blossomed into a superstar.

Nearly half the NBA, 14 of 30 teams, get to participate in the lottery. Armed with the 9th worst record, the Bulls figured to land a top 10 first round pick. May 20th, 2008 changed everything. The Bulls unexpectedly found themselves in the final three. Your representative says a lot about your expected pick. Standing there for the Bulls in the final three was EVP-Business Operations Steve Schanwald. Somehow, someway, with a 1.7% chance the Bulls must have blackmailed lady luck, and won the lottery.

Not everyone wanted the Bulls to pick Derrick Rose. I'd imagine you'd be hard pressed to find writers that would admit "I was the guy that said take Michael Beasley." but thankfully the Bulls got it right.

It was evident right away the talent Rose possessed. The biggest complaint about the eventual rookie of the year was his willingness to give up the ball. Ben Gordon wound up taking big shot after big shot, and Rose never complained. The Bulls knew they had to take a step backwards before they could take a step forward. They did the unpopular thing and let Big Ben walk.

Early on due to injury in his sophmore season, Derrick Rose struggled. People were worried about his development. In Decemember almost-Bull Kobe Bryant was quoted as saying "Just do it." in reference to Rose and his struggles. Health would eventually find Derrick and the light would go on. Talk shifted from Noah to Rose for who'd likely make the All-Star team as a Bull. Rose eventually received the well earned honor.

It was Roses' emergence that got people buzzing about the Bulls. Suddenly they were just a superstar away from being a championship contender. This would result in the Salmons trade at the trade deadline to clear up cap space. No matter how well he played or how many big shoots he took. The mantra that Rose couldn't be the best player on a championship team never went away. This perception was especially fueled by his low key demeanor.

While his defense remained suspect. He'd come a long way from a college kid at Memphis who ate mostly junk food, gummy bears was his candy of choice, to the gym rat he is now. Lets not forget when it came playoff time Rose continued to impress. While the Bulls eventually lost to the Cavs, they had no answers for Rose. Even when they had LeBron guard him the whole game, Rose wasn't shutdown.

Despite all this people still doubted Rose had the killer within. While everyone was concerned about the Bulls clearing cap space. Rose stayed quietly in the background. He was interviewd by MouthPieceSports.com in June. They asked him about getting LeBron and Bosh. His response? "Just give me one of those players and I'll be all right". He wasn't gushing about the chance to play with superstars. He said "give me" one of them. That doesn't sound like anybody's Robin.

Before LeBron decided to take his talents to South Beach. There were reports Rose didn't want LeBron in Chicago. Word has it that while he texted James, Rose never reached out to beg him to come. Most upper management had their stars reach out to James. Apparently no one sent Rose a memo. According to Rose if James wanted to talk he could have just called him. As Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports put it: James needed to be courted, needed to be wooed and apparently it surprised him there was a star who wasn’t falling over himself to do that.

When the dust settled and "The Decision" was made. You didn't hear anyone on the Bulls crying. They were happy with the additions of Boozer, Korver, and Brewer. More importantly Rose showed you the killer growing within.

"I want to be that guy," Rose said Tuesday in an interview with ESPNChicago.com before the start of Team USA's training camp. "I want to be the reason why the Bulls are back to what they were [during the Michael Jordan era]."

"Why wouldn't I want to be [the face of the franchise]?" Rose asked. "That's the point of playing the game. That's the greatest thing right now.

"I came to a team where they didn't make the playoffs, not for a couple of years. No one was really interested in the Bulls like that in Chicago, not like [it was during the Jordan era]. And I'm making it back [to being] exciting. I'm from Chicago, [and] it would mean a lot if I would just bring back one championship there, or even get past the first round. The city would go crazy. So for me to even bring that team back to like the old days, it would mean so much to this city."

Boastful isn't a word used to describe Derrick Rose often. Earlier this offseason he did talk up the expansion of his game. "It's there; I have a consistent 3-point shot now," Rose said. "You'll see. I just have so much confidence in my jump shot now. It's coming along so good. It's past even my expectations at this point."

Rose is a guy who likes being coached. He's one of the few players who listened to Vinny Del Negro. All indications are that Rose is greatly improving on defense. He's spending lots of time with new head coach Tom Thibodeau. Being the more complete player should give him a huge edge over Rondo for a spot on Team USA.

All of that doesn't matter if Rose can't become the superstar this team needs. Had someone like LeBron James come to Chicago, we'd still be asking that of Rose. Especially with LeBron because he's proven he doesn't want the ball. Analyze what Charles Barkley says about LeBron James, which in my opinion is 100% accurate.

"Let me just tell you this," Barkley said. "Mike and I are in 100 percent agreement on this. If you're the two-time defending NBA MVP, you don't leave anywhere. They come to you. That's ridiculous.

"I like LeBron. He's a great player. But I don't think in the history of sports you can find a two-time defending MVP leaving to go play with other people."

Now compare that with what Derrick Rose said about possibly leaving Chicago.

"I'm never [leaving]," he said, before punctuating that statement a few seconds later. "Never."

Ladies and gentlemen, this is a man who can be the best player on a championship team.

Open Letter to Fans from Cavaliers Majority Owner Dan Gilbert

Dear Cleveland, All Of Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Cavaliers Supporters Wherever You May Be Tonight;

As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier.

This was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his "decision" unlike anything ever "witnessed" in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment.

Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us.

The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you.

There is so much more to tell you about the events of the recent past and our more than exciting future. Over the next several days and weeks, we will be communicating much of that to you.

You simply don't deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal.

You have given so much and deserve so much more.

In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight:

"I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING’ WINS ONE"

You can take it to the bank.

If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our "motivation" to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels.

Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.

Sorry, but that's simply not how it works.

This shocking act of disloyalty from our home grown "chosen one" sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And "who" we would want them to grow-up to become.

But the good news is that this heartless and callous action can only serve as the antidote to the so-called "curse" on Cleveland, Ohio.

The self-declared former "King" will be taking the "curse" with him down south. And until he does "right" by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma.

Just watch.

Sleep well, Cleveland.

Tomorrow is a new and much brighter day....

I PROMISE you that our energy, focus, capital, knowledge and experience will be directed at one thing and one thing only:

DELIVERING YOU the championship you have long deserved and is long overdue....






Dan Gilbert
Majority Owner
Cleveland Cavaliers

@kingjames

Looks like LeBron is trying to out Favre, Brett Favre. Once we got that whole NBA championship thing out of the way, it was all about King James. I'm not sure the NBA draft even happened. LeBron has been done with his free agent meetings since Saturday, but he's been busy.

Have you been to LeBronJames.com recently?

The launch date is nearing for the online home of LeBron James and you can put yourself on the guest list!

Personally directed by LeBron, the new site will keep you up to speed on his actions off the court, his focus on strengthening the community and why “It will always be about more than basketball”.

It will be interesting to see if there's a comment section on this website. Though even more recently King James has joined twitter. His account, which has been verified, is http://www.twitter.com/kingjames. LeBron already has a staggering 207,000+ followers. In his first and only tweet he mentions Chris Paul got him to sign up.

Hello World, the Real King James is in the Building "Finally". My Brother @oneandonlycp3 gas'd me up to jump on board so I'm here. Haaaa

Tuesday night the following was reported on ESPN.com.

LeBron James is planning to announce the team with which he will sign during a one-hour special on ESPN Thursday night, ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard has learned through independent sources.

ESPN would only confirm that active discussions for the special are ongoing. But sources tell Broussard that representatives for James contacted the network, proposing that James makes his announcement during a 9 p.m. ET special.

How does ESPN learn something about ESPN from independent sources? Regardless, at 8 p.m. local time this "primetime special" will air. I'm left pondering what kind of content will drive this hour. Plus, if he picks Cleveland I want an hour of my life back.

World Wide Wes

William "World Wide Wes" Wesley put in his two cents about the Lebron James free agency saga. Luckily for Chicago Bulls fans, Wesley's two cents are worth a lot since he is considered to be the most influential person in the NBA. The man behind everything in the basketball world said in a quote Friday, "He's up out of there(Cleveland)" saying that all of Lebron's inner circle already knows the decision. The Yahoo article also said, "We're going to Chicago, and Chris Bosh is coming to." It's all a possibility, due to the trade of Kirk Hinrich the Bulls have two max contracts to offer so in a perfect world, James and Bosh will be calling Chicago home in about a week and a half. In the end, unfortunately, only one person knows what #23 (uh make that #6) will be doing next year. In the meantime, tune in to A Case of the Mondays on sportstownchicago.com for all your Lebron Watch updates. Every Monday from 11am to 1 pm!

Captain Kirk to the Wizards!

Kirk Hinrich and the 2010 17th overall pick were dealt for what's rumored to be a future 2nd round pick. As long as the Bulls play their cards right, it could go down as one of the best trades in franchise history. Remember coming into the 2009/10 season when we were all worried that we couldn't afford one max free agent? Exporting Salmons mid-season began the dream. Now the Bulls have positioned themselves to go after not one, but two free agents from the dream class.

While LeBron is the prize--even if the Bulls wound up with lets say a Chris Bosh and Joe Johnson. That's a better team than either of them plus Hinrich, but let's not kid ourselves. We want LeBron and he should want us. Wherever he decides to go he'll be paid well, but he needs rings to secure his legacy. The one thing teams like New York and Miami had over Chicago was more cap space. They could sign LeBron and another free agent of his choosing. Would that be enough to win it all? Previously the Bulls could counter pitch that with having a great core in place, and being closer to a championship.

While the Bulls were the smart option before. Now they have to be the only choice. Who knows? Maybe the Bulls aren't done. The rumored Deng to the Magic deal doesn't seem to be picking up steam. I'd still like to see that contract moved. Bottom line it's a great day for Bulls fans. It seems like it's only a matter of time before the King arrives.