Do We Go For It or Settle?

[bennjuiced34]

Two scenarios I'd like to ask the board about;

1) Joe Johnson wants to commit to us early. We haven't heard anything about LeBron and where the others are leaning leaning. We decide to sign Joe Johnson and take our chances with LeBron/Bosh/Wade.

2) Joe Johnson wants to commit to us early, but we have received indications from LeBron/Bosh/Stat that they are very interested in signing with us. No guarantees from any of the 3, but whispers we are leading. We decide to hold off on Johnson and go for bigger fish.

Which scenario do you take? Do you play it safe and make sure you get one of the free agents in the bag? Or do you say fuck it, we're going for it no matter how it ends up?

I'm torn. Johnson isn't on the same level as James/Bosh/Stat/Wade, but he's a pretty darn good player in his own right (Atlanta's system killed him IMO).

I definitely don't want to miss out on the cream of the crop though by jumping the gun too early with Johnson.

I also remember the fiasco of 2000 and how that ended up. Eddie fucking Robinson, Ron Mercer and Brad Miller. And I definitely don't want that to happen again.

If I'm GarPax, I see what Johnson wants to do and then immediately go to LeBron and the rest of the class and try to see what they think about it. I'm a little hesitant to sign Johnson to a max deal unless I know for sure that someone else will be following (even if it's not one of the big fish). Hell, Johnson + Boozer would be a nice addition to this team if that's what it came down to.

Or, we could just wait and see what happens next year in 2011 instead of overpaying this offseason.

Thoughts?

[Lex L.]

Avoid Joe Johnson.

[BigP50]

LeBron and Bosh have to be the main options. Ill eventually settle for a Joe Johnson but we need to go after the big guns hard!

[Anytime23]

No way in hell i play it safe for Joe Johnson. If im pursuing anyone over LeBron, its Chris Bosh because Bosh could bring LeBron here too. Im going for the gusto. JJ could commit to all of the teams in the running and no one will sign him early. the second LeBron puts the pen to the paper, if its not chicago, then you give the good to go on Johnson and you pair him with Bosh/Boozer/Amare.

[WindyCityWizard]

1st tier- Lebron james ,Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade

2nd tier- Joe Johnson, Amare Stoudemire, Dirk Nowitzki

Go after the big names first and if that fails, get liquored up and go after the 2nd tier.

[waldo7239117]

Maybe the Bulls can trade Luol for a 2nd round pick in next years draft and sign Rudy Gay and Ray Allen along with Bron and Bosh. That is a deadly team but I just love to wish at this time. Go !

[JCM]

I want Bosh or lebron. if not its a bust.

jj should be one of our last options.

[waldo7239117]

My options:
1) Bron
2) Bosh
3) Wade
4) JJ
5) Boozer
6) Staudmire
7) Dirk because of age
8) Gay, if the Bulls move Deng, him 1st in replacements.

[Chi-Town Brahma]

Originally Posted by waldo7239117

My options:
1) Bron
2) Bosh
3) Wade
4) JJ
5) Boozer
6) Staudmire
7) Dirk because of age
8) Gay, if the Bulls move Deng, him 1st in replacements.

The order of this list is the exact same as mine. With that being said...

I'd realistically want to avoid Dirk. Good player but his track record, not his stats, are not grade. He's a choke artist.....BUT ya never know what will go down July 1-8.

[Lex L.]

1. LeBron
2. Bosh --mainly because it seems like LeBron likes him and scores around the basket.
3. Dirk-- Im not sure he's not a better fit with LeBron than Bosh. His game isnt built on athleticism so Im a little less worried about age. He can score in the post and kill you from outside.
4. Boozer-- Im not sure he's a max guy but he plays the best defense of the remaining PFs and can play offense. Im a little worried about injuries and him stepping up and staying healthy in a contract year.
5. David Lee-- Not a max guy. He doesnt play defense but I think he would cause less problems when you bring in defensive subs. If you had Amare, I dont think he'd want to leave the floor for a defensive replacement.