"The Bulls and Knicks continue to exchange ideas on a sign-and-trade deal for Jamal Crawford, with Penny Hardaway being the latest name discussed. The Bulls aren't expected to have interest in Hardaway. The Knicks also are dangling names that would need to be included in a Crawford deal in sign-and-trade talks with Golden State about Erick Dampier.

Bulls management is preparing to possibly have Crawford return. Coach Scott Skiles recently talked with Crawford on the phone, sharing a story in which he returned to a team after a messy summer of contract negotiations.

And the Bulls are hopeful-if Crawford returns-that he can stay professional like Stephen Jackson did in Atlanta last season after getting burned in the free-agent market last summer.

The Bulls remain confident Andres Nocioni will sign as soon as his buyout with Tau Ceramica is completed."


http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/cs-040718bullsbits,1,7039113.story?coll=cs-home-headlines




[Edited by - s3231 on 07/18/2004 23:18:25]

Definitely not good news. It seems like Isiah is losing his chance on Crawford, if those reports are right. Including Penny in the deal is something strange. I think the Bulls had already had enough with Shandon and Moochie to now consider Penny. Maybe this is an attempt to make Isiah committ completely on the Crawford trade, but to me the Bulls are really giving up on trading Crawford. And thats not good for us.

Not that I'm a Crawford fan, I don't really know enough from him, but this deal was really good in other ways like getting rid of at least Shandon Anderson, along with getting some role players that could help us. I really wonder if a deal for Dampier would be has possitive. A trade where we lose a lot of players, get bad players in return along with a Dampier signed to a terrible contract really scares me. The fact that Isiah is using some players from the Crawford deal isn't a good indication about things. Im still not sure about Dampier. Shaq stopper he isn't, but at the right price he can definitely help. But who knows if the deal will leave us in a worse shape than the Crawford trade.

I wonder if Isiah will get something done. But it looks like the Crawford trade is dead.

This makes a lot of sense, his contract expires one year before Shandon's.

It's basically Hardaway for JYD and Eddie Robinson, and Crawford for expiring contracts.

Crawford for the contracts is a wash, since if Crawford wasn't resigned he wouldn't count against the CBA, and they don't lose much with him gone now that they have Gordon and the Italian guy.

Hardaway for JYD and ERob favors the Bulls. Hardaway comes off 1 year earlier, you've consolidated two unhappy, whiny players with 3 years left into a knowledgeable vet who could serve the role they wanted Pippen to play with 2 years left.

If Chicago has a brain they'll accept the deal. Let's just hope the Knicks don't go nuts and sign Crawford to a deal starting at $9 mil. Trade Penny and Mutumbo (and possibly Frank or Trybanski) for JYD, ERob, and Crawford resigned to a 5 or 6 year deal. If it's Penny and Mutumbo, Crawford's contract starts between $6.5 and $7 million. If it's Penny, Mutumbo, and either Trybanski or Williams, add a million to that. Not sure how that comes out after 6 or 7 years.

Imagine if the Knicks got Crawford AND Dampier and retained Frank Williams and Kurt Thomas. That'd be ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous. Shockingly, it just might happen.

[Edited by - bigsm00th on 07/19/2004 04:05:03]

Surprisingly, I'm not excited to see penny go- I think he can play a nice role on this team.

And the Bulls should take a hard look at this deal- it does make some sense- they turn two bad contracts into one, its a bit less total money due and comes off the books sooner

and, when he is in the last year of his contract, a lot more valuable to trade away- potentially if they want to go that route.

I just hope we can keep open roster spots for the likes of Ariza

I think Chicago is far too stupid to accept Penny. I would have mixed feelings about losing him. I like him basically playing the LJ role on this team (hitting those 4th quarter threes from the corner when no one else wants to take the shot).

Getting Dampier still allows Zeke to make the Toine Walker deal for Kurt, Deke and Frank or some combo like that. We shall see. Once Damps is here, the pieces will start to fall into place...

I hope the Knicks can keep Penny. I hope the Bulls go for a Shandon Anderson, Mutumbo, F Williams for J Crawford and E Robinson. Hopefully they hate E Robinson enough to take on Shandon's last year, and see F Williams a prospect enough to take on instead of losing Crawford for nothing. Let's hope Archie and Jamal create enough of a mess that they Bulls have no choice.