Paxson: No face-to-face talks with Thomas likely
By Mike McGraw Daily Herald Sports Writer
Posted Tuesday, July 27, 2004
]Bulls general manager John Paxson has no plans to get in a room with Knicks GM Isiah Thomas and Aaron Goodwin, who represents Bulls restricted free agent Jamal Crawford.

Goodwin suggested last week that if he, Thomas and Paxson met face to face, the three could work out a sign-and-trade deal to send Crawford to the Knicks. The Bulls are less optimistic.

"That's still up in the air," Paxson said of a potential meeting. "I'm not sure yet."

Basically, this story hasn't changed for weeks. From the Bulls' perspective, they need a good reason to trade away their leading scorer.

They'd settle for financial relief if the Knicks were willing to swap expiring contracts and take back Eddie Robinson and Jerome Williams, who have a combined $40.9 million left on their contracts.

So far, the Knicks aren't biting. The Bulls would agree to take Shandon Anderson, who's owed $23.7 million over the next three years; but want no part of compromise candidates Moochie Norris or Penny Hardaway.

The Bulls have offered Crawford a six-year deal worth about $39 million and know they hold all the leverage.

Unless Thomas agrees to the Bulls' trade parameters, Crawford's recourse would be to sign a one-year contract worth $3.5 million and become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

That would be a huge gamble on Crawford's part, knowing that New York couldn't offer him more than the midlevel exception next year.

Summer in Salt Lake: Most eyes were on the Bulls' three rookies at the Rocky Mountain Revue summer league and they didn't disappoint.

Luol Deng averaged 15.4 points and Ben Gordon 13.5. Gordon had three games of at least 19 points as the Bulls went 6-1 in Salt Lake City.

"I don't want to make it sound like Luol and Ben were perfect out there," GM John Paxson said. "But they're learning. I honestly believe whatever Luol's potential is, he'll reach it. He doesn't stop working as a player.

"Ben's got some work to do on the defensive end and has some habits he needs to break, but he can really score."

Second-round pick Chris Duhon was given the majority of the playing time at point guard in the final two games and posted a combined 30 points, 11 assists and 7 steals.

"Chris has a real chance of making our team and backing up Kirk (Hinrich)," Paxson said. "He can defend, knows how to run a team. He showed us what we wanted to see out there."

Bull horns: John Paxson thinks the team will sign 6-foot-7 free agent Andres Nocioni soon, before he heads to the Olympics with the Agentinian national team. ... If Crawford eventually re-signs, the Bulls are most likely done with player moves for the summer. There is a very good chance they will keep free agent forward Linton Johnson, who has impressed the coaching staff with his work ethic this summer.

This could go in the Jamal Update thread.