Odds and Sods

John Paxson has, for the most part, done a great job with the Bulls.  He took over a moribound franchise from former GM Jerry Krause (who somehow believed that he proved a pivotal figure in the Bulls’ success during the 1990’s).  His drafting acumen helped rebuild the Bulls with remarkable speed, bringing in Kirk Hinrich, Luol Deng, Ben Gordon, Chris Duhon, and Andres Nocioni.  Paxson also got the best of a deal with the Knicks to get expiring contracts and two first round picks (Tyson Chandler and the #9 pick this season) for Eddie Curry.   The result has been that the Bulls have a promising team with perhaps the largest stockpile of young talent in the league (that is young talent not young players Celtics fans).

However, the team is nowhere near capable of winning an NBA title at this stage.  They tried to add some experience this season by adding Ben Wallace.  However, as they soon came to realize, an aging undersized center who plays no offense and is declining physically is not exactly a difference maker (even if you pay him difference maker money).  Though Paxson obviously has a fondness for his bevy of young talent, none of them, at this point, is going to be a marquee player to spear-head a title run, which should be the goal of an NBA franchise.  With elite players like KG and Kobe Bryant potentially on the trade market, it is time for Chicago to make a deal.

As constituted, the team would probably be the 2nd or 3rd position in the star-devoid East, with a healthy Miami, Detroit, and the LeBrons being either at their level or slightly better.   This is not a bad position, but not a particularly great one.  If they were in the western conference, the Bulls would probably not even be a guranteed playoff team.

Assume that whatever deal they would make would probably involve the loss of Deng, Gordon, the #9 pick, and a sign and trade with P.J. Brown.  Throw Kobe Bryant into that mix.  The team would still  have one of the best young point guards in the league with Hinrich, Duhon, Nocioni, Tyrus Thomas, and Ben Wallace.  Kobe, arguably the most talented player in the league, with that supporting cast in a woeful Eastern Conference would make the Bulls a favorite to go to the Finals.

Or, change up that deal and go for hometown boy Kevin Garnett.  If they are getting a power-forward, they might switch out Thomas and Gordon in that deal.  They would then have KG with Hinrich, Gordon, Duhon, Nocioni, and Ben Wallace.  Again, that team would be the favorite to win the East.

Everyone wants to emulate San Antonio, but not every team is lucky enough to get the #1 pick in the year Tim Duncan comes out.  With other title winning teams of late, fortune favors the bold.  Joe Dumars took a chance by bringing in Rasheed Wallace, and the Pistons won the title and made the Finals the next season.  Pat Riley blew up a solid young nucleus to bring in Shaquille O’Neal and won a title two years later.  If the Bulls are serious about winning a title, they cannot be afraid to take a risk.  With Kobe Bryant (about to enter his prime) and Kevin Garnett on the market, now is as good a time as any.