Chicago Sports Exchange: Pace’s Backup Plan Lands With A Thud
Bulls Get Off The Snide, Hawks Not So Much
What a week, huh?
Ryan Pace swung for the fences to get Russell Wilson under center for the Bears but wound up with Andy Dalton instead after his offer—reportedly three first-round picks, a third-rounder and two starters—for the Seattle Seahawks’ quarterback was rejected.
The Bulls filled us up just to let us down…twice.
And the Blackhawks are in free fall.
When’s Major League Baseball’s Opening Day again?
SELL - Bears Have Everything On Table, Except Good Vibes, To Start New League Year
If Ryan Pace is trying to save his job, he sure has a funny way of showing it.
It’s one thing for Pace to sign Andy Dalton, who (maybe) is a step-stool above the only other quarterback on the roster. It’s quite another to promise him a starting gig and spend more than three times as much money as Jerry Jones did to watch Dalton throw for 2,170 yards, 14 touchdowns and eight interceptions in relief of Dak Prescott for Dallas last season.
And still its another for Pace to have to purge one (Kyle Fuller), and maybe two (Akiem Hicks), of his better defensive stalwarts in order to uphold his end of that one year, $10 million deal.
It’s the latest in a series of events that have made Pace a source of amusement nationally and complete scorn locally as there is no reason to do anything but fear the worst for the remaining period of free agency and leading up to the NFL Draft, a time when so many other franchises can look hopefully at new talent gained.
Odds of a Russell Wilson, Bears trade with Joe Fann of NBCS Northwest | Under Center Podcast
All this has even irked one Bear who is still under contract, Eddie Jackson, and another, back-to-back All-Pro kick returner Cordarelle Patterson whose own future with the team looks sketchy at best because of the financial pinch in which Pace finds himself, enough to express their disappointment publicly.
As tough as it is to stomach these latest developments, the harder punch to the gut is George McCaskey and Ted Phillips allowing Pace to continue pulling their on-field product into the quicksand with him.
Pace shot his shot to get Russell Wilson and Kenny Golladay. Had either of his attempts gone in, Pace’s sins as general manager would’ve, at the very least, been temporarily forgiven.
Then again, had he not missed everything in drafting Mitch Trubisky four years ago, he may have little to no reason to atone in the first place.
Pace has been the architect of six different rosters, he has one winning season and two first-round playoff exits to show for his work. McCaskey and Phillips may have given him more time at the drawing board, but the fanbase’s patience for Pace is as thin as it’s ever been.
HOLD - Bulls Move Within A Game Of 8th Seed With Trade Deadline Thursday
This time, the Bulls didn’t blink.
The team for whom no fourth-quarter lead had been safe last week, left no doubt in snapping their two-game losing streak with a 100-86 victory over Detroit Sunday. It was the third time this season the Bulls held an opponent under triple digits.
Following a pair of double-digit collapses against San Antonio and Denver, the Bulls’ handling of the Pistons inspired more a sigh of relief than anything else.
The Bulls (19-22) did move a game behind Charlotte—who lost their presumptive rookie of the year LaMelo Ball for the season due to a right wrist fracture—for the eighth seed with the win, but face league-leading Utah (30-11) tonight. After that, only a date with the Cleveland Cavaliers (16-26) remains before the trade deadline.
Given the Bulls’ struggles against quality opponents (3-15 against teams at or above .500), executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley may feel compelled to tinker with the roster to put more oomph behind their playoff push.
On Sunday, the Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor reported that the Bulls had offered Tomas Satoransky and second-round picks to New Orleans for Lonzo Ball. That proposal was rebuffed though because the Pelicans “are asking for at least one good first-round pick or a young player,” O’Connor added.
Would Karnisovas sweeten the deal by including Lauri Markkanen, who’s set to become a restricted free agent this summer?
Would that even be enough to entice the Pels to trade Ball, who is averaging 14.2 points and shooting a career-high 38.5% from beyond the arc with 5.6 assists and 4.2 rebounds and also set be a restricted free agent this summer?
Stay tuned.
SELL - Hawks Go Winless, Lose Grip On Final Playoff Spot
Just throw the whole month of March away.
After falling 4-1 to Tampa Bay Saturday, the Hawks (14-13-5) have now dropped four-straight games, six of their last seven and are 2-6-1 altogether this month.
It’s been a brutal stretch that’s included five clashes with the defending champion and division-leading Lightning as well as a two-game set against the second-seeded Florida Panthers, who the Hawks play twice again this week.
The Hawks haven’t been thoroughly outplayed, contrary to what recent results might suggest. But they have eaten away at their already thin margin for error at times and failed to seize their own golden opportunities, too—like an 82-second two-man advantage Saturday.
“We’re working pretty hard for our chances and it’s not coming as easy as sometimes it does, and you go through stretches like that,” head coach Jeremy Colliton told reporters Saturday. “But we’ve been made to suffer for the mistakes we make and we have to react accordingly.”
With 24 games left in the regular season, the Hawks now find themselves out of a playoff spot for the first time since Valentine’s Day.
BUY - Fire Rage On In Preseason In Spite Of Injuries
Javier Casas Jr. scored the only goal in the Fire’s victory against Philadelphia Union Saturday.
More important than his team picking up its second win in as many preseason matches was the extended contest allowing for head coach Raphael Wicky to get more of his guys on the field.
Of course, an increase in playing time in any sport means an uptick in the risk for injury. Forward Elliot Collier was sidelined late in the first half after injuring his knee while fellow forward Fabian Herbers and defender Andre Reynolds II also appeared to suffer injuries. Wicky was unable to provide any further detail after the match.
The Fire face FC Cincinnati Saturday in their second-to-last tuneup before hosting the New England Revolution in the season-opener April 17.
Drew Stevens is a Senior Writer for WARR Media, he lives and works in Chicago