http://blogs.nypost.com/sports/knicks/archives/2006/11/maybe_curry_pac.html

Maybe Curry package wasn't a Bulls steal
By MARC BERMAN

If there is any weekend in the past 13 months in which Isiah Thomas can say the Eddy Curry trade does not look so horrendous, it is this one.

Forget that Curry had a wonderful night in Boston Friday night and still teases us with flashes of All-Star potential.

Let's really look at what they gave up for Curry, who faces the Bulls tonight. The salt in the wound was supposed to come this season when the Bulls finished with one of the best records in the NBA and the Knicks finished in the lottery. The Bulls would have been able to swap picks with the Knicks, who would've went from a chance at Greg Oden to a first-round bubble guy.

However, the Bulls, with Ben Wallace a bust, limp in at 3-9 following getting massacred in Philly. Big Ben was benched. They have a worse record than the Knicks (5-9). Is it possible both teams make the lottery and the damage won't be as sweeping. Swapping lottery picks would be easier to swallow for a Knick fan.

Now let's look at Tyrus Thomas, whom the Bulls took with the Knicks' selection at No. 2. On opening night Tyrus looked active, blocking a Shaq shot. But he's on the fringe of the rotation for now. Yes, he might turn into a defensive demon but he was a freshman at LSU when he entered the draft and it could take a few years. Curry is ready now to be an impact player. On nights he wants to be.

As for Michael Sweetney and Tim Thomas. Sweetney has played six minutes this season. Thomas never played for the Bulls. Believe it or not, it's still too early to condemn the Curry trade as a complete disaster. When it comes down to it, it could be a swap of Curry for Tyrus. And I'd rather have Curry the next two years.


Posted by Marc Berman on November 25, 2006 11:50 AM
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Hey, bottom line, if we don't swap picks this year, the trade is essentially Curry for Tyrus Thomas and Mike "bubble butt" Sweetney. I'd still make that trade today.

This should really give people perspective.
Without the 2007 pick Swap(If Bulls Record>Knicks) it's essentially Thomas for Curry.

Posted by bigbeast:

Keep in mind though, The Bulls are just finishing up a massive road trip which has been a disastor for them. To be fair, the trip they are comming off would have been hard for any team. They will play about 7 straight home games soon, and will have a chance to straighten out there record. We will get a better feel for the Bulls by January when the schedule evens out.

agreed. we've also already played the Spurs and Rockets a total of four times though. but yeah, I expect that the Bulls will easily make the playoffs when all is said and done.

still, I said it at the time and I'll say it now - it was a mistake to basically trade Tyson Chandler for Ben Wallace. Tyson's best years are ahead of him, Ben's are behind him. Ben's rebounds have gone down every year since 02-03, that's a long time for a steady decline. They're still good, but I think they made a mistake. I also question drafting Tyrus. Lamarcus Aldridge would've given them a post pressence. Brandon Roy would have given them a burly SG to switch up the small Ben Gordon.

I'll be happy if we get close enough so the pick swap doesn't matter. If we draft 15th and they draft 19th, I don't care about the swap.

We also got Davis which was traded for Balkman.

I disagree untill eddy grabs at least one rebound that doesent simple bounce into his hands

Posted by Elite:

I disagree untill eddy grabs at least one rebound that doesent simple bounce into his hands

Thats just lame hater talk. While he needs to rebound better he gets easy and hard rebounds just like every other big. He gets offensive rebounds. Offensive rebounds dont just bounce in to guys hands. You have to attack to get most of them

Posted by SugarRayRichardson:

Posted by Elite:

I disagree untill eddy grabs at least one rebound that doesent simple bounce into his hands

Thats just lame hater talk. While he needs to rebound better he gets easy and hard rebounds just like every other big. He gets offensive rebounds. Offensive rebounds dont just bounce in to guys hands. You have to attack to get most of them

Its easy to get an offensive rebound when your bricking 2 footers right back to yourself. Its not hater talk to say that Curry is one of the worst rebounders for a big man in the entire NBA. Its an objective statement. And there is no excuse for it considering how big he is and how high he can jump. Make no mistake about it, Curry has got hops. He just doesnt have the DESIRE to rebound. And that is a FACT.

Posted by izybx:

Lets not forget that the Bulls are a team that has shown that they have the capability to win games in bunches. That being said I dont think its fair to say that their record has to do with their schedule, they are losing games because the arent playing well. When a team that relies on defense fails to stop the opposing team, they are going to have problems. Similar to that other Chigago team, the Bears, the Bulls' success depends on D.

The Wallace signing is starting to look terrible. A defensive minded center with ZERO offensive skills on a team that already had no problem on D. Sounds ironic, but I think that if we did a center swap, Curry for Wallace, it would be a much better fit for the respective teams.

Can you imagine a better fit in the middle for the Knicks than Wallace? Would Curry provide the bulls with the low post scoring presence that they need?

Yeah, I think Chicago's problems go beyond their schedule. They have no inside scoring and rely on their perimeter players too much. Wallace is done (well he is not quite done but he is not going to be getting any better), which is why the Pistons did not overpay for him. These next two games will be crucial. If we can beat Chicago here and in their arena, our confidence will boost and it might take the Bulls a few more games to regroup.

is this article for real? berman's an idiot.

and wallace replaced chandler...not curry so he has nothing to do with the eddy deal.

Posted by SugarRayRichardson:

Posted by Elite:

I disagree untill eddy grabs at least one rebound that doesent simple bounce into his hands

Thats just lame hater talk. While he needs to rebound better he gets easy and hard rebounds just like every other big. He gets offensive rebounds. Offensive rebounds dont just bounce in to guys hands. You have to attack to get most of them

alot of people get toooo creative with the curry bashing. Yes Curry needs to chase down those rebounds that hit the ground more often, but when rebounds hit the ground that means your bigs are boxing out and other players are suppose to chase those down.

I know when people make these "jokes" about Curry they are thinking about those two rebounds that happened against the Celtics in MSG. Yes curry should have chased those rebounds down or atleast tried. But what people don't notice or remember is that Currys man didn't get those rebounds, because curry was boxiing out. Wally and Gomes came flying in to grab those boards because their men released. SMH @ the Hate!!!!!!!

Posted by Anji:

Posted by SugarRayRichardson:

Posted by Elite:

I disagree untill eddy grabs at least one rebound that doesent simple bounce into his hands

Thats just lame hater talk. While he needs to rebound better he gets easy and hard rebounds just like every other big. He gets offensive rebounds. Offensive rebounds dont just bounce in to guys hands. You have to attack to get most of them

alot of people get toooo creative with the curry bashing. Yes Curry needs to chase down those rebounds that hit the ground more often, but when rebounds hit the ground that means your bigs are boxing out and other players are suppose to chase those down.

I know when people make these "jokes" about Curry they are thinking about those two rebounds that happened against the Celtics in MSG. Yes curry should have chased those rebounds down or atleast tried. But what people don't notice or remember is that Currys man didn't get those rebounds, because curry was boxiing out. Wally and Gomes came flying in to grab those boards because their men released. SMH @ the Hate!!!!!!!

You watch the game as a Knicks fan. Haters watch the game hoping to find somebody to blame. Thats the difference.