James Johnson? Taj Gibson? Really?

By Sean Mackey

Well, it's over. We can all blink now.

The 2009 NBA Draft came and went Thursday evening with the Bulls settling on Wake Forest Forward James Johnson with the 16th pick and USC Forward Taj Gibson at the 26th.

Like most Bulls fans, I'm a little confused. Is this what we wanted? To me, it feels like the whole 2007 NBA draft all over again. Why the team passed on DeJuan Blair TWICE is mystery. We've heard his knees are bad blah, blah, but really? The man has been projected as a top 16 pick since March. I'm sure Greg Popovich is laughing his ass off someplace because he was the only one with the balls to actually draft him and he'll do well there in their system. You know....the one where the Spurs are the most fundamentally sound team in the NBA? Well now they have a fantastic rebounder. Since he's now playing for my 2nd least favorite team, I hope he ends up like Clarence Weatherspoon.

I'll have to admit, I was a little heartbroken when the Indiana Pacers selected Tyler Hansbrough with the 13th pick. According to Chad Ford, the Bulls were also heartbroken. I would have been totally cool if they moved up to get him but now it's over and Larry Bird has the only starting lineup in the NBA with 3 white dudes. Where does he think he is? Indiana?

The only thing I am glad about is that whole BJ Mullens guarantee was all BS. I'm sooo glad we didn't invest time in another project like him. Plus, having another strikingly ugly dude tread up and down the United Center is something I just can't bare.

I'm honestly hoping we trade Johnson and Gibson and get a decent post up player because these guys aren't going to do anything for us. Nothing.

Hopefully, when December rolls around and Johnson is averaging a double-double, I'll be eating my words, but I doubt it.