Tough choice. Crawford probably has more upside. He's a chucker right now with horrible shooting percentages, but his biggest issue is consistency. He can definitely run hot and cold. He's the kind of play Isiah is looking for. He can handle the ball and take pressue off of Marbury, can play both guard spots, can be energy off the bench and can start if Houston is still hurt.

I love Thomas' defensive intensity and rebounding and would certainly welcome him.

You think the Bulls are gonna match 6 years 37.5 mil for Crawford with Gordon, Hinrich, Duhon and some of their other swing men? I think there's definitely a chance they won't match if they want to keep their cap under control. Most teams would not pay that much to a backup player.

The writing was on the wall for Crawford when the Bulls took him out of the starting lineup last year. And the writing became even clearer when they drafted Gordon. He realizes that he's not part of Chicago's plans and I'm sure he doesn't want to be stuck on the bench there. The only two questions are, will the Bulls match a 6 year 38 mil contract just so that they don't lose him for nothing (and then they're stuck with him through at least December--the earliest they could trade him)? and will some team with cap room give him more than the MLE? I think he'd still take the MLE with NY even if some team offered him slightly more because he's said he'd like to play for Isiah and if he becomes a star, he'll make a lot in endorsements in NY.

I'd love to get both Etan and Jamal--one in a sign and trade and the other with the MLE. That would be ideal.

If you trade Kurt, you have to obtain a good low-post defender this summer.

[Edited by - Bonn1997 on 06/26/2004 14:40:58]

we need frontcourt help more than we need back court help

steph/frank and houston/penny can get it done, its the rest im worried about

Posted by BRIGGS:

this is a moot subject. go look at their roster they are very thin at 1-2-3 positions.

Very thin?? They have lottery picks at both backcourt positions. I'm sure Isiah would give them Frank in a sign and trade too to get Crawford.

Posted by RonRon:

briggs is right, the bulls can just match the offer and trade him a couple months later for ATLEAST a first round pick and expiring contract from a weak team. Its a no brainer for bulls to match a 5-6mill per year. we have no shot at crawford unless we trade for him. Remember the whole thing when golden state wouldnt let danny fortsan walk and they matched the offer and made him sit on the bench for 2 years. And about odom, he totally got fed up with the organization and requested them not to match. And that was for a whole lot more than the mid exception

GMs don't like to commit themselves to big, long-term contracts on players they don't want. That's why the Clips didn't match Odom's offer (even though they bluffed and said they would)

Also, if the Bulls dotch the MLE offer, you're right they can trade him in December, but it would mean taking on a player making around $5.5 mil, which they might prefer not to do.

[Edited by - Bonn1997 on 06/26/2004 18:36:05]

What if the Bulls trade Crawford now? You're telling me they wouldn't want a deal: Crawford and Jerome Williams for Kurt Thomas and Othella Harrington. They get rid of their longest contract, bring in a good PF and a guy with an expiring contract, both of whom are hardworkers and could smack Curry and Chandler around in practice.

The Bulls aren't idiots, they aren't going to sign Crawford to a 6 year deal when in 2 years he's going to be a backup at $5 mil per. With this deal they get two vets who are similar to what Scott Skiles wants and get to deal Crawford, they won't get a better deal in December where teams are willing to take on a huge contract like Williams. They can sign Stephen Jackson and have him at 2/3, Deng at 3, Gordon at 1/2, Hinrich and Duhon at 1, and the have a young core of players at those positions. They still have Dupree and Johnson for depth reasons at those positions and very cheap. With their cap situation now (they have to re-sign Curry and Chandler next year), that's their best bet.

Same thing with Washington, they're going to sign Etan Thomas at 6 years and $37 million, then have to re-sign Jared Jeffries and Juan Dixon next year and possibly re-sign Kwame Brown? All this for a guy who's going to play the same position as a player you just traded for and have money committed to over the next 4 years in Jamison?

It's okay to be pecimmistic, but let's not be unrealistic. If Chicago is offered KT and an expiring contract for a re-signed Crawford and JYD, they do that. If Washington is faced with matching Etan Thomas at 6 years, $37 million, they won't. They haven't made the playoffs in years and need to start re-signing their younger players, they're going to match that big of an offer? I don't think so.

Those are good points Bigsmooth. That's why I'm optimistic that Crawford and a good PF/C (maybe Etan) can be added to the roster.

KT, Harrington & Deke for Crawford & JYD might work.

C - MLE / Nazr
PF - Sweetney / JYD
SF - Thomas / Penny / DerMarr or Ariza
SG - Houston / Crawford
PG - Marbury / Frank / Moochie
IR - Shandon / Trybanski / Lamizana?