<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> It's four years later, four years after the Bulls traded Elton Brand to shock the NBA world. The one-time co-rookie of the year had been averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds. Then, on draft night 2001, the whispers around the NBA were: Where is this leading and what are the Bulls doing? Four years later, and still no one knows. The Bulls were quiet Tuesday, shocking no one this time because they had no draft pick. But in the wake of that dramatic move in 2001, they have suffered theexpected losses. It cost the jobs of the men in the middle of it. Coach Tim Floyd, who wanted no part of the deal, was the first to go. Then general manager Jerry Krause was forced out. New general manager John Paxson fired Floyd's successor, Bill Cartwright, and Krause's top assistant, B.J. Armstrong, left the team after this season. The fallout has become a life lesson for many around the NBA.</div> Full Article (Registration Required) This story had better not be true, or the Bulls might be in trouble. They are reporting (for those who do not want to register) that people close to Skiles have asked the Bulls to trade Eddy Curry this off season. That would be a horrible move considering many of us saw what this team became last season in the playoffs without Curry. It became a team with no direction, and no anchore in the middle. Which cost them rebounding, and some easy points in the paint.
I'm actually not surprised the Bulls are interested in moving Eddy Curry. He's going to be an expensive risk for the rest of his career after his heart problems. Last summer was the first time he came into shape, conveniently right before his rookie contract expired. Curry is expecting a huge pay day, but there are no guarantees he puts in the work once he gets the max deal he's looking for. I love how the Bulls finally made it back to the post season and the potential is obviously there. However, what motivated Curry more has to be asked, was it the winning or was it his contract? If Skiles and Co. think it was more contract than winning, then he needs to deal Curry.
He reminds me of Chris Taft entering the draft. But there looks like there are plenty of teams that are willing the break the bank for him.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">But the Bulls might have a good feel for Eddy Curry?s future with the team by Friday, when the pursuit of free agents officially begins. If other NBA teams demonstrate a strong interest in Curry this weekend, the Bulls will take the opportunity to try to trade the 22-year-old center. A team insider confirmed this strategy. Would trading Curry be a good idea? Well, obviously Curry?s heart condition brings a significant risk. But health issues aside, look at recent NBA history: Six of the last seven championships were won by Shaquille O?Neal or Tim Duncan. The odd title went to Detroit, which had Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace and Mehmet Okur. The point is, you win with size in the NBA. With Curry and Tyson Chandler, the Bulls are big enough to cause opponents problems inside, even if those players are not in Shaq or Duncan?s stratosphere.</div> <div align="center"> Latest Update June 30, 05 </div> According to this article that was released today Lorenzo Wright (Grizzles) and Al Harrington (Hawks) might be two options for players we may trade Curry for. It also mentions Jeff Foster and Rasho Nesterovic () it does however, say its difficult to predict what will happen. I do not think Paxson would make a trade that makes no sense for our franchise in what we get in return. One intresting possibility that is unlikely, but was mentioned in the article would be just to let Curry go resign Chandler and Duhon, and with the cap increasing this summer according to the article the Bulls could still have seven to eight million dollars to work with to find a replacement for Eddy Curry.
I would hate paxson if he did any of those trades. I say its better we just take a chance on curry then trade for lesser value. We saw how the bulls did last year in the playoffs without a great low post scorer. None of the players listed above were as good low post scorers as curry is.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting miamiballa12:</div><div class="quote_post">I would hate paxson if he did any of those trades. I say its better we just take a chance on curry then trade for lesser value. We saw how the bulls did last year in the playoffs without a great low post scorer. None of the players listed above were as good low post scorers as curry is.</div> I think if we are not going to keep Curry we would get more if we let him walk then trade him for one of the players they listed. If we let him walk and resign Chandler and Duhon we will have seven to eight million dollars to work with in free agency, because of the new collective bargening agreement. I am not sure if that is including the MLE. However, the players avaliable in free agency Big Z, Swift, Shareef Abdual Raheem, etc all have more upside then the players we could obtain in a trade. I still think keeping Curry is our best option. I mean I believe he lost weight, because it was his first off season with Skiles as coach, and that motivated him to get into shape. What would have convinced the orginization to keep him if he would have kept the weight on? Last off season they told Curry the only way they would offer him the extension was if he motivated himelf to get around ___ weight, and he did that if they do not resign him I think its a shady move by the orginization, and Skiles.
skiles...arg. no i actually like skiles, but he didn't like jamal either and he was one of my fav bulls players, and now curry. so it'll be kinda cool to see curry end up in ny, that would be an interesting rivalry from an nba fan standpoint, curry, jcraw vs hinrich, gordon, chandler. all of them are young, so it'll last awhile, wishful thinking of course.
When you are in charge of an NBA franchise, personal matters can not cross your mind. I love Eddy Curry, the potential is there and the offense is there. However he has too many red flags. His heart, his conditioning, and the fact that he's 6-11 290 and only has a career ave. of around 6 boards? Come on now. I want Eddy back as much as the next man, however you need to take a business look. Say you resign him, and the heart condition or his weight becomes and issue. You are cap strapped and got nothing out of it, and his trade value is bottomed out. However, if you cut ties now, while he has value, you get assets in return (not always talent, but sometimes cap relief with an expiring contract) The Bulls do not have to rush into throwing money at players. They can build on what they have now. They also have enough money to throw at a guy like Donyell Marshall, who would be welcomed back to Chicago and slide right in at the 4 and allow Chandler to be the defensive and rebounding monster her is. If we pulled the trigger on the Atlanta deal (supposedly for Al Harrington and Tony Delk) it gives us depth and talent and allows us to sign a free agent. Also, most recent rumor has Michael Finley highly interested in speaking with Chicago should Dallas release him. He will still get his contract paid to him so he would not be above taking the MLE. If we could put a lineup of Hinrich, Finley, Deng, Harrington and Chandler on the floor, bringing Duhon, Gordon, Nocioni, and Davis off the bench, I would be happy with that team. Gives us experience, youth, scoring, defense and rebounding. What more could you ask for, and it allows us to go into next year with cap room to spend and is a bridge to developing Paxson and Skiles' kind of team.
