San Antonio, lets not make a trade
A recent blog post from NoBloodNoFoul.com came up with an interesting trade rumor between the San Antonio Spurs and the Chicago Bulls.
The trade included San Antonio sending Manu Ginobili, Bruce Bowen and Matt Bonner to Chicago for Kirk Hinrich and Andres Nocioni. I am writing this post in response this trade rumor; a trade which does not make sense to me for Chicago. Lets go over whats wrong about his points for the Bulls.
The first reason made was that Chicago needs leadership. I agree with the fact the Bulls could use some veteran leadership. NBNL believes that Chicago can find this leadership in Manu Ginobili once he returns from his injury after a month or two. Why would we want someone who is injured? Ginobili is going to start the season injured. Ginobili, although a better shooter, is not much different than Nocioni. Each from Argentina, play tough nose defense, always playing with maximum effort.
Another reason made is the defense play of Bruce Bowen would also take pressure of younger Bulls players, as well as act as a mentor to teach the younger players. Bowen is quickly aging and his defensive play will begin to diminish as he becomes slower. Does another name pop into your head when you think of aging, defensive players? Ben Wallace.
The last point, and the only one I agree with, was that the Chicago Bulls get rid of two long term contracts they don’t really need. The Bulls have Hinrich and Nocioni inked to long term deals, each for players likely to spend more time than before on the bench. With Derrick Rose now slated as the Bulls future at point guard, Hinrich’s lack of skills at the shooting guard position make him a back up. The same goes for Nocioni now that Luol Deng is signed to a long term. The Bulls also need to be looking forward to 2010 when Tyrus Thomas and Thabo Sefolosha become free agents.
Now although this trade makes since from a financial point of view, I believe the Bulls would be better off holding out on this one. As the dead line begins to approach in February, teams who are just out of it or missing players due to injury, others may become interested in these players.
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I’m honored that you responded to my post with a post of your own. Thank you!
I would submit that Ginobili is easily *twice* the player that Nocioni is. He might be the best finisher in the NBA. He’s deadly from 3pt range. He can create. He can catch and shoot. Nocioni doesn’t do any of those things particularly well. I like Nocioni as a player, but saying he and Ginobili are equals is like saying the mayor and president are equals.
Defensively they’re somewhat comparable I suppose, but the leadership factor provided by Ginobili can’t be understated. Who on the Bulls roster is supposed to take the final shot in a clutch game? Who is the go-to guy? It’s not Deng – at least not yet – and Ben Gordon isn’t on the roster as of today. That leaves Kirk, and he didn’t do too well in that role last season.
As you say Ginobili’s injuries are a concern, but Chicago can’t expect to trade a bench player (Nocioni) and a starter in a slump (Kirk) for a bonafide superstar.
Not to be a wise acre, but I think you’ve got it backwards. This is more of a bad deal for San Antonio than it is for Chicago.