Can we get the Oakman?

I like Oak everything. Do you think he is the solution to this team though? I rather to see this team tank for this season and REBUILD... It actually may not take that much to do that, a couple of young talents maybe, but let's start now!

Younger is better - and better is better - Let's not go for just anything, - I do like the plan to b(t)ank it for this season and going for draft choices and free agents in the coming two years. Quality is the Key...

This, from today's Insider:

Could the Oak tree hit the waiver wire?

Speaking of desperate . . .

How bad has Charles Oakley's relationship with the Bulls become?

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that the Bulls are contemplating waiving Oakley if they are unable to trade him by the deadline. The Chicago Sun Times is reporting that Oakley may be willing to waive the remainder of his salary for the season to facilitate the process.

That's a major reversal from Bulls operations chief Jerry Krause's repeated insistence throughout the year that Oakley isn't going anywhere. However, the emergence of Tyson Chandler and Marcus Fizer, along with Oakley's constant criticism, seems to have changed the thinking in Chicago.

"I don't know what I'm going to do," Krause told the Chicago Tribune. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it and as we see how Tyson [Chandler] plays. [Coach] Bill [Cartwright] and I are going to sit down after the break and discuss things. But nothing's imminent. We have time."

While several teams seemed hot for Oakely earlier this year when he went ballistic on coach Tim Floyd, apparently that pool has dried up.

"Jerry keeps saying teams can't fit me in the cap, this and that," Oakley said. "Jerry brought me here, and I don't know what the reason was. But I just have to deal with it."

Oakley is in the last year of a contract that pays him $7.3 million this season. Why that may be a lot of money for Oakley, whose game has clearly deteriorated this season, he could still help a veteran team looking for a little something to push it over the top.

The problem, more accurately, is what the Bulls want in return. Because Oakely would give them cap room next year, they are looking for either another player in the last year of his deal, draft picks or a young budding star. A high price for an old war horse.

Michael Jordan and the Wizards have pined for Oakley all year. However, to work out a trade, the Wizards would likely have to give up Tyrone Nesby, Chris Whitney and Courtney Alexander just to make the numbers work. The upside of the Wizards making that deal is that they would clear even more cap room to pursue Rashard Lewis this summer.

The Pacers, Sixers and Suns are all also looking for a veteran low-post presence. However, everyone may gamble that the Bulls release Oakley before March 1 (if he's release after, he's ineligible for the postseason), clears waivers and then can negotiate with the team of his choice. If Oakley makes it that far, don't be surprised to see him wearing Laker gold and purple in March.

Posted by Knixkik:

I like Oak, but how much will he help? He's no better than Harrington, Thomas, and Weatherspoon so we can't really put him anywhere.

I agree, I will always like Oak but how much could he help us now?? Unless he got packaged with Brad Miller...

Another advantage of trading for the Oak is that his 7.3 salary ends this year. If we would let him leave as a free agent or retire after this year would mean another 7 mil of the cap which is a start. If we could trade Ward or Eisley to accomplish this it would be a very good trade. He would bring heart and cap relief.

Posted by knicksbabyyeah:

Another advantage of trading for the Oak is that his 7.3 salary ends this year. If we would let him leave as a free agent or retire after this year would mean another 7 mil of the cap which is a start. If we could trade Ward or Eisley to accomplish this it would be a very good trade. He would bring heart and cap relief.

This would be a great trade if the Knicks land Marbury during the All-Star break...

I think if Oakley would have been in our roster during the finals against the Spurs... We would have stood a good chance of beating those bastards!!!