<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Kevin Durant in a Bulls uniform? It's not likely, but neither was the Blackhawks winning the NHL draft lottery. The Hawks had an 8.1 percent chance of landing the top pick Tuesday, but they defied the odds. The Bulls' chance of turning a double play for United Center teams depends on the New York Knicks. Their rout of the Knicks on Tuesday was important for reasons beyond playoff seeding. The victory essentially eliminated the injury-depleted Knicks from playoff contention. The next New York loss or Orlando Magic win will make it official and give the Bulls a seat on the NBA draft lottery stage for a second straight year. Just being in the lottery affords the Bulls a chance of landing the top prize in the June draft. Right now, that's Texas forward Durant -- who announced Tuesday that he's entering the draft -- but it could end up being center Greg Oden if the Ohio State freshman decides to leave school. If they get lucky in next month's lottery, the Bulls could be transformed from a team on the cusp of being a contender this spring to a legitimate title contender next spring -- especially if they land Oden. If that happens, expect the wrath of the New York media to zero in again on Knicks coach/ president Isiah Thomas. Remember, the Bulls have the right to swap first-round picks with the Knicks this year because of the October 2005 Eddy Curry trade. Shortly after the deal, Bulls operations chief John Paxson was blasted for not getting enough for Curry, but that criticism faded once the Bulls landed the second pick in last June's draft -- which Paxson dealt to Portland for Tyrus Thomas and Viktor Khryapa -- and everyone learned of the provision to swap picks this year. Before Tuesday's game, Isiah Thomas was asked if he realized he'd be giving up so much when he made the trade. ''I definitely didn't think we'd be the second pick in the draft last year,'' he said. ''I thought we'd be a playoff team, and I thought we'd be a playoff team this year. ''With that said, Curry is a rare guy. A player with his size and touch, they don't come along that often. He's just 24, and he's going to get better.''</div> Source: Sun Times
Durant could be a solid back up for Deng. But I really think you would take Oden at number 1. He can be the young Ben Wallace for you guys.
<div class="quote_poster">I-Miss-MJ Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Would we even take Durant? We got enough Small Forwards.</div> Absolutely, you take the best talent available and go from there. If the Bulls need to address a specific need, they can trade for it.
<div class="quote_poster">Basketballer05 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Durant could be a solid back up for Deng. But I really think you would take Oden at number 1. He can be the young Ben Wallace for you guys.</div> No doubt Oden would be the Bulls #1 if we got it. But we have Nocioni as Deng's backup. <div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Absolutely, you take the best talent available and go from there. If the Bulls need to address a specific need, they can trade for it.</div> I know we'd draft him, but keeping him is another story.
Anyone hear Skiles quote to the Knicks... "From everything I hear, the Knicks are on the verge of becoming a great team," Skiles said sarcastically. "So they are probably a team we will be playing over and over again in the years to come. Something like this should not fester."
<div class="quote_poster">michiganave17 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I would trade noch before I trade Durant. Durant can play 2-3-4 spot.</div> I think the Bulls would likely trade Durant because they could get something massive in return for his contract.
I'd be happy if we put ourselves in position (correction if the Knicks put us in position) to draft Brandon Wright out of UNC.
<div class="quote_poster">Blur Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I'd be happy if we put ourselves in position (correction if the Knicks put us in position) to draft Brandon Wright out of UNC.</div> Where is he projected to go? I say trade Durant for Elton Brand...
<div class="quote_poster">I-Miss-MJ Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Where is he projected to go? I say trade Durant for Elton Brand...</div> Brandon Wright was is going top five. We will know where in the top five better after his workouts, because depending how Al Horford does at the workouts, and Noah, Wright might slip a little.
<div class="quote_poster">Blur Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I'd be happy if we put ourselves in position (correction if the Knicks put us in position) to draft Brandon Wright out of UNC.</div> Yeah, I agree with that.
I don't think of anything of this years draft pick. You don't win a championship with youth. There is noone in this draft taht can really help us except Oden. But he's only going to help us on the defensive end. That still doesn't help us with the low post scorer problem.
Just curious: Why didn't Paxson look at drafting Aldridge last season instead of trading for Tyrus? You guys already had Noc and Deng. Wouldn't he have fit the role as a low post scorer and a decent post defender?
<div class="quote_poster">Eclipse Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Just curious: Why didn't Paxson look at drafting Aldridge last season instead of trading for Tyrus? You guys already had Noc and Deng. Wouldn't he have fit the role as a low post scorer and a decent post defender?</div> Aldridge scores more off of short jumpers than in the low post. Although, at the time I was a huge supporter of the draft LaMarcus Aldridge bandwagon. I am not disappointed at all that we picked Tyrus. We were in a position to gamble considering we already had a solid core regardless, and we took the best prospect in the draft.
plus we were hurting for an atheletic guy. plus he fits in because of his good shot blocking defense. hes doing for us what he did for LSU. guys think before they drive to the bucket now.
The best part about Tyrus is that he brings us some nice highlights. His dunks, blocks, and (my personally favorite) the alley-oops are fun as hell to watch. I know visual gratification and media attention are cheap ways to like a person so in reality the best part about Tyrus is his potential. I'm extremely impressed with how much Tyrus has improved since I first saw him play at the begining of the year...he's like a different person. I've said it before but I'm sold on him.
