The Bulls traded the wrong guy
January 5, 2006

What's wrong with the Chicago Bulls? Their 12-19 record this year is a huge dropoff from last year's 47-35 finish, indicating that whatever changes the team made in the offseason were not beneficial.

Perhaps the biggest problem is that Bulls traded the wrong guy. Tyson Chandler, who was projected to break out this season, has averaged just 4.9 points to go with 7.9 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Eddy Curry, who scared the Bulls off with a heart condition, has put up 13.8 points and 6.8 boards and finally seems to be learning the art of rebounding under Larry Brown.

So instead of a 7-foot, filled-out bruiser who even Shaq has said could be the next Shaq, the Bulls have a lanky 7-foot 'tweener in Chandler, who's too skinny to play center, and a power forward in Mike Sweetney who's too fat to play power forward for more than five minutes at a time. Tim Thomas, the other player received in the Curry trade, hasn't played for the Bulls since November 14, and probably won't play for them again.

Scott Skiles doesn't seem to be helping matters. He has a long history of initial coaching success followed by rapidly diminishing returns as his teams tire of his hard-nosed style and schizophrenic substitution patterns.

Around the league

More than a quarter of the way through the season, there's little question that Peja Stojakovic's audition for a big free agent payday has been a complete flop. The Kings are last in the Pacific Division at 12-18 and Peja, counted on to provide his usual 20-plus points and deadeye shooting, is averaging fewer points ( 17.2), fewer shots and a lower shooting percentage (41.7) than he's ever had as an NBA starter. He leads the Kings in no major statistical categories and he has missed 20 percent of his team's games.

Vladimir Radmanovic's agent is now Bob Hill's biggest fan. In the first game of the post-Bob Weiss era in Seattle, Radmanovic made his first start of the season and put up 14 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists while going 4-for-10 from 3-point range. Radmanovic's decision to gamble on a big free agent contract this offseason looks a little less stupid than it did last week. But he alone won't turn around the Sonics.

Interesting how both teams think they got robbed by the other.
Briggs?

Posted by Ira:

I thought, however, we could have negotiated better. Chicago made it clear that they weren't going to re-sign him and there was no one else bidding. We were negotiating from a position of strenghth.

I dont know man, hindsight is always 20/20. They could've just sat on him or given him the money if we didnt make a strong offer. I think it was an OK trade.

that pick ain't gonna be a top 5.

3 out of the 8th seed.

West aint so great either. 17-17 gets you the 3rd seed.

Nalod, Marv and Bonn1997: If we make the playoffs, its not going to be a high pick and this trade doesnt hurt us that much right?

Posted by Ira:

We got fair value for Curry and he's a good player. I'm happy we got him. I thought, however, we could have negotiated better. Chicago made it clear that they weren't going to re-sign him and there was no one else bidding. We were negotiating from a position of strenghth.

I've been singin that same song for the longest. Don't mind giving up the pick but I don't understand why it couldn't have been lotto protected or even top five protected.

Posted by Marv:

3 out.

Who's smelling 1999?

That ain't 1999, that was yo' dinner!

Tyson Chandler is a burger.

Yeah he's chopped meat.

That ain't 1999, that was yo' dinner!

Thanks for reminding me - my Curry Fryes were burning!

Back in '99, they had Chris Childs' wife cookin' the dinners:

great trade