Robinson, Bulls to part company Oft-hurt forward agrees to buyout By K.C. Johnson Tribune staff reporter October 29, 2004, 10:22 PM CDT The Bulls and representatives for Eddie Robinson have reached an agreement on a buyout for the forgotten forward, according to two league sources. Neither Robinson, his agents nor Bulls general manager John Paxson would comment on the agreement, which will be announced Monday when final rosters are set. A source familiar with the negotiations said Robinson will receive $10.2 million of the $14.05 million remaining on his five-year, $31.2 million contract that runs through 2005-06. The team and Robinson's representatives still are negotiating such details as continuing health insurance and retirement plan benefits until Robinson lands another job. A league source indicated Miami already has expressed interest in offering Robinson a non-guaranteed contract. The buyout ends a rocky relationship few could have predicted when former general manager Jerry Krause signed Robinson in August 2001, shortly after his dominant playoff performance for Charlotte against Miami. Robinson endured injury-plagued seasons in his first two years with the Bulls, appearing in only 93 games. Last season, he enjoyed his most productive stretch in Chicago, shooting 60 percent on a seven-game trip in late January and early February and averaging 27.1 minutes over 14 games. But Robinson fell out of favor with management for refusing to change his pregame and postpractice routines and work harder. He played only 22 minutes over last season's final 24 games and publicly feuded with coach Scott Skiles. When Robinson complained of a sore big left toe on the second day of training camp, the situation worsened. Bulls management and Robinson's representatives agreed for him to stay away from the team until a settlement could be reached. Now that's done. Robinson joins Dalibor Bagaric, the injured Jay Williams and the retired Scottie Pippen as players bought out in Paxson's 18-month tenure. This is yet another indication of Paxson's attempt to remake the team in an image he and Skiles prefer. With Robinson gone, the Bulls' 15-man roster is set unless Paxson signs someone off the waiver wire as other teams make cuts this weekend. Six of the 15 players are rookies. Adrian Griffin, Frank Williams, Tommy Smith and Jannero Pargo are prime candidates to land on the three-player injured list when the 15-man roster is turned in Monday. Because of his two-game suspension for fighting, Antonio Davis is a long-shot possibility. Tyson Chandler, who suffered a badly bruised right hip in a scary fall during Wednesday's exhibition finale against Indiana, will be on the active roster. Chandler didn't practice Friday because of lingering pain but is expected to practice Saturday. Chandler felt good enough to trade one-liners at the team's annual tipoff luncheon at a downtown hotel. The light-hearted event featured plenty of them, including one from Skiles after radio broadcaster Neil Funk introduced him as a man with an impact. "I don't know what kind of impact I had," Skiles said. "We won 23 games." Skiles also took a jab at the marketing department's advertising campaign of "Through Thick and Thin." "I guess I'm in charge of thin," Skiles said. "We all want thin to be over." --------------------------------------------------------------------- Suns release veteran backup point guard Eisley By Mike Tulumello, Tribune The Suns got rid of a potential festering sore Friday. But they paid a mountain of money to do so. The Suns bought out the contract of Howard Eisley, then released the veteran backup point guard who has been unhappy about his deep backup role for the club. Eisley got somewhat less than the $14.5 million he was guaranteed, $13 million over the next two seasons, then a partial guarantee of $1.5 million for a third season, a Suns' official indicated. Eisley termed the Suns' backcourt "crowded" before sitting out Thursday's exhibition game vs. the Los Angeles Clippers. Coach Mike D'Antoni said Eisley had "flu-like symptoms" though he said so with a wink and a nod. The Utah Jazz are believed to be interested in Eisley, who once excelled for the club as the backup to superstar John Stockton. The Suns now have 14 players on their roster. It's unclear if they will make any more cuts.
Wasn't everybody saying the Robinson-signing was a mistake when it happened? I remember thinking the Bulls were fools for taking him and giving him as much money as they did.
