So the Bulls picked up Joakim Noah with the #9 pick in this year's NBA draft.
The good news here is that, as I've admired multiple times within this blog, the Bulls have chosen a philosophy and are sticking to it. In Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon, Luol Deng, Tyrus Thomas, Chris Duhon and now Noah, the Bulls pick players with grit, hustle, and big-game experience. It's an extension of coach Scott Skiles and general manager John Paxson. Passion and success sells tickets.
Does it win championships? The Bulls' current makeup lacks some height, bulk and (so far) the presence of a superstar. I think it's a recipe with potential, but it's of the Cinderella variety. The recent model of consistency in the Eastern Conference has been the Detroit Pistons, themselves without a true center or player with unquestionable Hall-of-Fame credentials.
History will eventually rate this team. The results of the maximum investment in aging, non-scoring Ben Wallace will be closely watched. The organization will reach a day of reckoning within the next few years: Whether to preserve their abundantly talented young core, or to take a risk in selling off key pieces in the hope of landing the final missing ingredients, a la Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant of the Jordan era. The recent multi-year deal handed to role player Andres Nocioni suggests the former.
In the meantime, I'm psyched for the 2007-08 version of the Running of the Bulls, armed with their latest long, lean, leaping college grad and another year of success under their belts.
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