Sam Smith Article in Chicago Tribune

I don't always agree with Sam Smith, but his NBA articles are sometimes a good read. Nene may fit the Bulls, but he's not worth a huge contract IMO. Three Rockets are mentioned, including a complimentary mention of Luther.

I bolded parts that interested me or mentioned a Rocket.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...ct24,1,2557028.story?coll=chi-sportsbulls-hed

INSIDE THE NBA

Time's ripe for Bulls to grab Nene

Sam Smith

October 24, 2005

So the Bulls are small, but remember, they're slow too. Which is why this could be a big week in the team's future.

That's because this is the last week for teams to offer contract extensions to players in the 2002 draft class. So far, Houston's Yao Ming and Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire have been re-signed. Those not re-signed can become restricted free agents after the season. Though teams can match offers, the fear of having to pay a luxury tax or big salaries could put several players on the market before the deadline.

For the Bulls, that could mean a chance to reclaim some of the size lost in dealing Eddy Curry. Reports out of New York have had Curry unable to guard a director's chair coach Larry Brown was using. Tyson Chandler, now the Bulls' highest-paid player, doesn't look quite as confident or assured without Curry around to get the ball in the post and absorb the media scrutiny. Perhaps no one has rooted more than him for a long White Sox run to divert attention.

Meanwhile, no team may be better equipped than the Bulls to make a deal now. They'll be well under the salary cap after the season and have two first-round draft picks--their own and the Knicks'--one of which figures to be in the lottery.

Can anyone say Nene? The Bulls long have eyed the underutilized, physical, 6-foot-11-inch, 265-pound power forward. He almost certainly won't get an extension with the Nuggets. Especially with the agent for Carmelo Anthony telling a Denver newspaper it's "a no-brainer" Anthony will ask for a maximum extension starting at $12 million annually.

It's hard to believe the Nuggets could turn down a possible lottery pick and maybe some cash and an expiring contract like Eric Piatkowski's thrown in for a player they can't afford and could lose for nothing. Others in that class without extensions include Cleveland's Drew Gooden, Golden State's Mike Dunleavy, Washington's Caron Butler and Jared Jeffries and Detroit's Tayshaun Price, who is close to a deal with the Pistons. Also not extended is Clippers power forward Chris Wilcox, who might be worth the risk.

Knicks' shuffle in works

It may be that the Knicks' roster shuffle is starting. Word is that they have been talking to desperate-for-veterans Portland about Malik Rose, who started Saturday night in what seemed to be a showcase. Brown is said to want to go with a youngster, like Channing Frye or David Lee, at power forward.

Also, the Knicks continue to talk about not releasing Antonio Davis.

The Trail Blazers are eager to make a move. They could be the league's worst team, and veteran Ruben Patterson already is saying: "Management will have to make changes. I'm not pointing fingers, I'm not trying to talk bad, but if we continue to do this, we are going to get beat by 30 every night. We haven't even played good teams yet."

Zach Randolph was kicked out of practice, apparently for cursing at new coach Nate McMillan. Asked if it was a lesson from the new coach, Randolph said, "If it was, I didn't get it." McMillan also has been hinting for veteran help.

Pistons get serious

The Pistons have been easing through the preseason, but they paid attention Saturday night and blew out struggling, new-look Miami. Then they piled on about the Heat adding Jason Williams, Antoine Walker and Gary Payton.

Said Rasheed Wallace: "With a team like that, I wouldn't have changed anything. They took us to a Game 7 in the conference finals. Why change that team? They had the same heart, the guys knew the system and knew what they were supposed to do. There was no reason to break it up."

Urban myth

Like spontaneous combustion and alligators in the sewer system, another urban myth continued to be exposed when Felipe Lopez was released by Orlando. The New Yorker was the high school player of the year in 1994 and, like most top New York City guards, hyped beyond reality.

Bob Cousy deserved it, and probably Lenny Wilkens, but since then the NBA's greatest guards have been Jerry West, Magic Johnson, John Stockton, Isiah Thomas, Oscar Roberston and Michael Jordan. We've heard for years of the coming of Kenny Anderson, Stephon Marbury and Rafer Alston, all New York urban legends.

Lopez's story is another sad footnote. He bounced around the NBA for four years, was injured, went to Europe and the minors and may be done now.

"You always wish that things could have turned out differently, that everything would have come true," he said.

In a preseason diary for the basketball Web site Hoopshype.com, he said he felt he wasn't given a fair chance in Orlando and would keep playing because his life is basketball.

Oklahoma City Hornets?

It's tough times for the New Orleans Hornets, a victim of Hurricane Katrina. Already rebuilding after trading Baron Davis to the Warriors last season, they'll play 35 games in Oklahoma City and six in Baton Rouge, La.

They have an option to return to Oklahoma City next season, and the betting is they never make it back to New Orleans. The league would love to run out owner George Shinn, and that well could be the cost of allowing a move. There's been much talk about whether Oklahoma City can support a professional franchise.

The Hornets have had some hardships. P.J. Brown's New Orleans home was flooded and vandalized. General manager Allan Bristow quit, though that was more basketball-related. The marketing chief resigned, and several employees didn't follow the team to Oklahoma City, where Shinn has bought a new "temporary" home.

Illini watch

One of the big rookie surprises could be former Illinois star Luther Head, who is averaging 11 points and 3.5 assists in 23 minutes for Houston and shooting an impressive 47 percent, 50 percent on threes. "I don't want to label him because I don't know what he is," coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "I like that he has an innate sense of confidence in his ability. He's one of the few young players who know their place--quiet, dignified--goes about his job in a professional manner."

Also, Deron Williams is making an early case for rookie-of-the-year honors. He's tied for second in scoring for the Jazz and leads the team in assists while shooting almost 54 percent. "He's going to be a good player," said coach Jerry Sloan, not given to complimenting rookies.

With the league's new dress code set to go into effect in the regular season, Sloan already stopped wearing his John Deere baseball cap to postgame interviews.

Disappearing act

Draft bust Rafael Araujo is being called "Hoffa" in some Toronto newspapers. You know, a guy who disappears, may be dead. . . . Orlando officials are a little concerned and sending poor Grant Hill for more tests on an abdominal problem. . . . Clippers officials are a lot concerned about injured Shaun Livingston, being sent to a specialist for back issues. . . . Though their season is overshadowed by Jason Collier's death, the Atlanta Hawks are trying to put together the Magic Johnson-type team of five players about 6-8 who all handle the ball. But they seem to be missing Kareem and Worthy. . . . Cleveland's key with all its additions still will be center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, quietly having a good preseason. He's averaging 13.2 points in 21 minutes. . . . Former NBA player Haywood Workman is in the developmental league--as a referee--trying to work his way into the NBA.

Yao goes Yank

If there's a more American guy than Yao, he's hard to find. After having a toenail removed, Yao said, "I'm thinking of putting it on eBay." . . . The new "minor league" developmental idea isn't going over well yet, with most coaches saying they'd rather have their rookies learn their system with the team. The Bulls are not expected to send any players to the minor league. . . . Golden State coach Mike Montgomery promoted Keith Smart to his top assistant. . . . Chicagoan Linton Johnson is gaining notice with the Nets. . . . The Suns haven't slowed much, leading the NBA in preseason scoring at 103.2 per game. . . . No sign of Chris Webber yet in Philadelphia, with Allen Iverson averaging 29 per game in the preseason. . . . That was Naperville's Anthony Parker hitting the shot to beat Toronto for Maccabi Tel Aviv, the first time a European team has defeated an NBA team in North America. Parker has become a hero in Israel for such dramatics.

Gotta love these guys

Is there anyone better for the media than NBA players? Whether they're good for the NBA is another issue. Unable to restrain himself commenting on that supposedly draconian dress code that still allows jeans, Paul Pierce said Jeffrey Dahmer, the Wisconsin cannibal murderer, dressed well and was a criminal. So there. Pierce added: "White-collar crime is the worst there is." And you know how they dress. . . . And with Latrell Sprewell still unsigned, there's talk of a leaguewide tag day to help feed his family.