This is the second time that this trade rumor has appeared in news print. Both times, it has been mentioned that Chicago might have to give up a LeBron protected #1 pick to Cleveland. Since the Rockets must be repaid for the Drew trade, before Chicago can trade this year's #1 pick, is it possible that the Rockets could be included in the deal? They'd have to be included in some way. What player would you want from Chicago or Cleveland, that we would have a realistic chance of trading for? Or, would we just receive extra picks? Hmmmm, just food for thought. http://www.suntimes.com/output/bulls/cst-spt-roman041.html Smoking out trade winds January 4, 2003 BY ROMAN MODROWSKI STAFF REPORTER It's always easy to tell when Jerry Reinsdorf is at the Berto Center because he marks his territory with smoke from an expensive cigar. The Bulls' chairman is in town this week, and he visited the Berto on Friday. His itinerary included taking Tyson Chandler out for lunch. Reinsdorf's cigar probably didn't taste quite as satisfying after he watched Mi-chael Jordan turn the United Center crowd against the Bulls in a 107-82 rout Thursday at the hands of the Washington Wizards. But there's nothing Reinsdorf could do about the past, so he concentrated on the future. Chandler already knew the Bulls are hoping he and Eddy Curry become players worthy of maximum contracts. Reinsdorf likely told Chandler he'll do all he can to piece together another championship contender. That might mean pulling the trigger on a trade before the Feb.20 deadline. One player the Bulls have coveted since he jumped from East St.Louis High School to the NBA in 2000 is Darius Miles, who visits the United Center tonight with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs acquired Miles from the Los Angeles Clippers last summer in a trade involving Andre Miller, but Miles has yet to find his niche with his new team. There are rumors the left knee he had surgically repaired in the summer is flaring up, but Miles said that's false. The 6-9, 210-pound Miles, 21, has been playing some point guard, though that's clearly not his position. But with Dajuan Wagner and Ricky Davis excelling at the other perimeter spots, Cavs coach John Lucas doesn't have a lot of flexibility. One answer would be a trade, and the Bulls would be willing to deal Jamal Crawford for Miles. But the Cavs would want more to show from the Miller deal, so the Bulls likely would have to throw in a first-round draft pick. They could protect the pick in case they win the LeBron James lottery. It would be an interesting acquisition, considering the predraft cornrows controversy triggered when Miles and his mother accused Jerry Krause of not allowing the predominantly African-American hairstyle to be worn on the Bulls. Krause claimed the accusation was untrue, and feelings were hurt. Even after the controversy, former Bulls coach Tim Floyd admitted the Bulls would have drafted Miles if he were still on the board at No. 4. But the Clippers took him third, and the Bulls drafted Marcus Fizer fourth. Miles told me during his rookie season that if the Bulls would have drafted him, he would have held out to force a trade the way Steve Francis did when the Vancouver Grizzlies drafted him in '99. But things are different for Miles, who enters the game averaging 9.6 points and 6.1 rebounds in 31.3 minutes. He's no longer hip-hopping with the Clippers' ultra-smooth youth movement. Miles is on the worst team in the league, and every other team has to be viewed as an improvement. BENCH MARKS: TNT analyst Charles Barkley noted Thursday that not everyone on the Bulls' bench participates in huddles during timeouts. And Donyell Marshall, who played only 23 minutes Thursday, was not happy coming out of the game at one point, and he was animated about it. But Marshall was nursing bruised ribs and the game was a rout. RIVALRIES: Chandler likes to compare his game against that of Phoenix Suns rookie Amare Stoudemire, but he doesn't appear to be Chandler's only rival. Second-year player Kwame Brown was inspired Thursday by articles in which Chandler was quoted as saying the Wizards should have drafted Chandler ahead of Brown with the No. 1 pick in 2001. Brown recorded a double-double Thursday with 20 points and 12 rebounds. "It was an emotional game for me,'' Brown said. "Doug [Collins] taped up articles in my locker with Chandler saying he was the No. 1 pick.'' Chandler, who was coming off a 27-point, 14-rebound performance Tuesday, was held to eight points and four rebounds by Brown. But he doesn't sense a rivalry. "I take rivalries with people who present them,'' he said, "but I'm not taking on the whole league. "He went out and had a good game. I had a pretty rough night.''
Are we under the cap? I don't think we are, and if we aren't don't we have to trade our own players if we get back anything other than a draft pick? I don't see the Rockets moving any of the players we currently have, so it would have to be a draft pick trade.
Rudy is a chemsitry guy. He will not trade for anything else other than picks, unless a=something like a Brand deal comes through.
Although I would have serious misgivings about it, the only possibility would be to send Griffin to Chicago in exchange for Curry and the owed draft pick(s) -- No. 1 over #20 or two No. 2s. Curry has almost as much "potential" as Griffin, but could he become a PF rather than a center? At 6'11" and 300 pounds, he has the height, weight and athleticism to play PF -- but can he? Will E.G. add another 15 pounds of muscle during the summer to make him a super athletic, 6'11" 250-pounder? Griffin certainly has more range, but Curry has more size. I don't know, but I'd HATE to part with Griffin.
I believe that we're over the cap, but not by much. I agree that any involvement on our part, would most likely be to acquire additional future picks. However, if an opportunity were presented to upgrade a position by swapping a player we don't want for one we do, I would think that the Rockets would pursue it. An example might be (don't crucify me, I'm just throwing out some scenarios): Taylor for Marshall/Fizer or Cato for Curry/Marshall. Maybe, we could get Tyrone Hill for Taylor. I think it would all depend on how much Krause wants Miles, or if Cleveland demanded Chicago's #1 pick.
Actually, getting Donyell Marshall would be an excellent move if the Rockets could manage it. If the obligation+Taylor would do it, I say go for it. I doubt the Bulls would be willing, however.
