I was courtside for the last time Pau Gasol suited up for the Los Angeles Lakers. It was the evening the Lakers debuted their black “Hollywood Nights” uniforms. What a way for Gasol to go out, a home blow-out loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, the laughing stock of the NBA. Actually, the Bucks are so bad they might be a laughingstock in the ACC. And on New Year’s Eve no less.

Today Pau Gasol was formally introduced to the media as a member of the Chicago Bulls. And his press conference was, exactly how most of these types of press conferences usually go: platitudes, cliches, making nice….and other yawn inducing discussion. It’s mostly the fault of the PR handlers and agents, although media don’t help the situation because they often ask pointless, boring softball questions.

However, one reporter asked Pau Gasol an interesting question and it led to a very interesting narrative.

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Nikola Mirotic is now in the second city today . He signed a deal worth $17 million over three years. And the Chicago Bulls paid more than $3 million for his buyout. He’ll probably play the role of a stretch four in the system of Coach Tom Thibodeau.

“I anticipate him spreading the floor,” said Coach Thibs today as Mirotic was unveiled to the media in Chicago today. That’s a very formidable front line now, when you combine Nikola with Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson. And with the amnesty of Carlos Boozer, the forwards will be automatically better on defense. And of course, if Nikola Mirotic plays hard nosed defense, he’ll fit right in.

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Carmelo Anthony is not coming to the Chicago Bulls, that’s just reality. They’re not getting Pau Gasol either. Lance Stephenson doesn’t fit the system. So your biggest name free agent addition would be Trevor Ariza or Chandler Parsons.

Sorry, Chicago Bulls fans, quoting 1990s 2-hit wonder The Rembrandts “that’s just the way it is baby.” You recall the hard core recruiting of Tracy McGrady- it didn’t turn out.

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Happy Carmelo Anthony visits Chicago day.

This isn’t the 2010 NBA free agent summer of love, but it’s still a great “silly season.” I truly get into this aspect of the league way more than the actual games. I love the business/transaction part of the NBA. As predictable and boring as this year’s NBA Finals, and Conference Finals were, my feelings are in the opposite for this year’s free agency period.

Now Carmelo Anthony has opted out of his contract with the early exit clause, let’s get this party started.

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Now Carmelo Anthony has opted out of his contract with the early exit clause, let’s get this party started.

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Derrick Rose isn’t known to be much of an active recruiter of NBA free agents. But that doesn’t mean he’s not interested in getting the Chicago Bulls to add more pieces.He is very competitive; and quite interested in making the team better. It’s just that he’s bad at talking. This isn’t news.

Rose is a less than effective and engaging public speaker, and as 2012-13 showed us (with the horrible way he and his camp handled the public information surrounding his rehab and return), impression management is certainly not his thing.

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The Chicago Bulls selected Cameron Bairstow with the No. 49 pick in the draft last night, and the reaction consisted of comments in the vain of:

“They drafted another white guy?!”

Well, the former 6’10″ power forward of the New Mexico Lobos might actually have a role with the Bulls come next season.

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