Thonus: Does the Bulls front office hang on to assets too long?

So, if he passed the genetic test, they were going to keep him. If he didn't, they were going to give him an annuity. That's a direct quote from Paxson. (the thonos article says the same thing btw)

The reason the Knicks trade happened is because Curry forced Paxson's hand by not taking the test. Paxson was clearly torn about the entire situation.

As for Paxson expecting Curry to fail the test, I don't buy it. That means that Paxson wasn't dealing in good faith and was asking Curry to destroy his career and future earning potential. It would also publicly devalue Curry so that a trade like the Knicks trade would likely not happen. I don't think much of Paxson, but I don't think he'd stoop to such underhanded / bad tactics.

 

FWIW, this is what I remember.

 

I understand what you're getting at but I don't buy it. Curry averaged 16.1 on 54% shooting as fourth year preps-to-pros player. There's usually only like four or five guys every season who can score from the post and Curry was one of them. Yes, he never made you ooh and ahh. Yes, his defense and rebounding were suspect. But the centers who can score from the post, they're the one's who make the big bucks because so few people can replicate the skillset. Paxson would have paid top dollar for Curry, just like every other GM.

 

The thinking us he tried to talk down Curry's value by hanging the heart problem on him.

"Go get your best offer and we'll match. We'll make sure they know signing you is a huge risk, tho."

 

If he cared about Curry as a person, he'd have just cut him. Why be a party to his dying on the court as a knick? Why encourage him to play at all?

 

I'm saying this as a friend. You're over the edge.

 

I think we're talking over each other . My point is that everybody has doubts - and secretly hates -- developing, brash young big men. But you pay them mad cash anyway because they're impossible to find and essential to success, unless your wings are LJ, Bosh and Wade.

 

I don't think so.

When his ploy failed, he saw the Knicks would pay Curry anyway. More than Pax was willing to.

 

I agree with everything you've said here. Where we disagree is with this comment you made earlier:

I read your statements as suggesting that Paxson never was committed to retaining Curry. My point is that Paxson could have harbored serious reservations about Eddy's long term success and still have been absolutely, 100%, no-waffling willing to give him a giant extension.

 

What's more likely is they realized twin towers wasn't exactly working. Skiles started Curry and finished with Chandler, but the two rarely played together.

 

It was shocking how terrible a rebounder Curry was. He was extremely good for his age on the offensive end. If he grabbed 10 boards a game, he'd have been a superstar.

I think Curry also being home near all his family and friends he grew up with had bad influences. Getting away should have done him well, but he imploded.