Boston has a developing front line. The Bulls could put together the kind of package that could attract the Celtics--I believe Boston is looking to hit a home run with Pierce in a Garnett-type deal--and put in place the team that could move forward as a serious contender. I don't believe the Bulls will make a deal in the next month, but why hang onto all the salary-cap room and draft picks if you can get a star now, especially a veteran? As someone who doesn't have the job as general manager, I also don't risk losing it.
Perhaps Adam Morrison of Gonzaga or J.J. Redick of Duke will be stars in the NBA. They and Texas' LaMarcus Aldridge are considered the top picks along with another big guy from Europe named Andrea Bargnani. The way the Knicks are going, the Bulls could have one of the top picks, out of the Eddy Curry deal. But are any of those players the star the Bulls need?
The Celtics need a point guard. They like Delonte West, but more as a shooting guard. So consider this proposal: Chris Duhon, who has shown he can run a team and make a three-pointer, local favorite Ben Gordon from Connecticut, Eric Piatkowski and Tim Thomas (who have expiring contracts) along with the Bulls' No. 1 pick for Pierce and Raef LaFrentz. Gordon can score almost as much as Pierce, the Celtics would get another first-rounder--give them the Knicks' pick if they want top-five protection--they get their point guard and save tens of millions of dollars by getting rid of LaFrentz's contract. And in Szczerbiak, they now have a scorer who can be popular with fans to replace Pierce. And where have they gone with Pierce? The deal also works for the salary cap.
The deal would eat up all the Bulls' salary-cap room, but if you have the chance to get a player like Pierce who can carry a team for a quarter and draw a double team, you have to take a shot with the high-level complementary players the Bulls have.
If the Bulls wait until summer, would Al Harrington be that player? I doubt it. And LaFrentz, albeit overpaid, can be a serviceable big man who can shoot outside. With Tyson Chandler playing as he has lately, the Bulls could really be one top player away with a lineup of Kirk Hinrich, Pierce, Luol Deng, Chandler and a Udonis Haslem power forward-type they might get in the draft or free agency.
Listening to more knowledgable people than I talk, 2006 sounds like the kind of weak draft that might produce no players as good as Pierce. If I were Chicago I'd do a trade build around Gordon, Duhon and 2006 pick(s) for Pierce. If they could avoid taking Raef or giving up Deng or Hinrich they come out in good shape.
I remain a skeptic that any Pierce deal to Chicago will happen, however. Both sides value their own assets too highly.
2 comments:
First of all, I hate Sam Smith. That guy really has no clue whatsoever--most of his columns are wacky trade proposals like this one, which make no sense for the Bulls. He's the ultimate knee-jerk fan, except instead of calling for his team to fire their coach, he calls for a ridiculous trade. Over and over, week in and week out.
I agree with B that it wouldn't be a bad idea for the Bulls to trade for Pierce, largely because I don't think they'll get anyone better in free agency this year. I'm also not that high on Gordon, who can score but routinely gets exposed on the defensive end. I'd certainly be willing to trade Gordon + Bulls pick + cap room for Pierce, and I think that's a trade that helps both sides.
I definitely would not be willing to take on Raef's contract, though. And I think that if Ainge is smart, he'll push for Deng instead.
RE: Sam Smith -- At least he runs his trades through tradechecker. His proposed trade would go through, assuming Duhon (it's either him or one of the Bulls who has a trade restriction) agrees to it. As opposed to most of the media proposed trades that we bat around on this blog.
More on your other thoughts tonight.
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