|
All Star
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,665
|
Quote:
I'm not even sure about this one. So let's think about this together. What if the Bulls made a run at Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal in a package that would include Luol Deng and the Bulls' rights to New York's first-round draft pick next year?
This presumes that the troubled Pacers would change course and go for a major rebuilding in the face of the strip-club ruckus at which Stephen Jackson fired a gun into the air. Jackson was booed by the home fans Saturday night in his first game since the incident that resulted in felony charges. Jackson, his disguise not working?he shaved his head?said he merely was protecting his teammates. That would be a more reasonable explanation had he not said the same thing when he went into the stands in Auburn Hills, Mich., two years ago and attacked fans.
There's no question the Pacers have big image problems in a community growing embarrassed by its team. For now, it appears they'll forge ahead with their team as comprised, if not compromised. But they may have to reach a compromise. It's becoming increasingly hard in conservative Indiana to embrace Jackson and Jamaal Tinsley, whose car was found to contain marijuana the night of the incident. If the team also starts slowly, it's quite possible it could look to trade. O'Neal would be the only player who could bring them value to rebuild.
If a team is going to rebuild through the draft, 2007 may be the year. Pacers general manager Larry Bird knows about the Boston Celtics' success through the draft with Bill Russell, Dave Cowens and then himself. This next college class could be one of the best ever for big men. Eligible players include Indianapolis native Greg Oden from Ohio State, Spencer Hawes from Washington, Joakim Noah and Al Horford from Florida, Tyler Hansbrough from North Carolina and Josh McRoberts from Duke.
Giving up a season by going into the lottery always is painful. But a team can come out with talent that can carry the team for a decade. It's hard to see how these Pacers, with a core of O'Neal, Jackson and Tinsley, can be much more than a .500 team on the edge of the playoff race. It's the road to nowhere the Pacers were on in the 1980s.
And perhaps no one could offer a better package then the Bulls, for both talent and financial relief.
O'Neal, a perennial 20-point and 10-rebound low-post threat, makes $18 million this season. The Bulls would have to match salary, which would require Deng, P.J. Brown, Michael Sweetney and probably Chris Duhon. The only true core player lost would be Deng, and the Bulls will have to make a decision at some point on that issue. Does anyone really believe that Andres Nocioni, who will be one of the most sought-after free agents next summer, will re-sign with the Bulls to be a backup?
This is a good problem to have, but inevitable when a poor team begins to emerge as a power after years of top draft picks. It's just a matter of making the right decisions. If you don't, you become the old Clippers. O'Neal would replace Brown at power forward and Duhon probably is the fourth guard, anyway, with the addition of the impressive Thabo Sefolosha. Brown and Sweetney are in their final contract seasons, and Duhon has only one more left, giving the Pacers substantial salary-cap relief to pursue free agents. The Pacers also would get the right to swap picks with the Knicks, which the Bulls have from the Eddy Curry deal last year. That means the Pacers, assuming they miss the playoffs, could have two lottery picks to begin rebuilding and Deng, an emerging young star.
Sure, one could argue that Deng and Nocioni could play together for the Bulls. But that would make for an awfully small lineup with Ben Wallace, none of them exceeding 6 feet 9 inches. And, sorry, but the Knicks look like they'll be better. Whomever the Bulls could get for that pick probably wouldn't help much until Wallace is done.
Watching the unbeaten Bulls in the brief exhibition season thus far, a low-post presence opposite Wallace would look awfully good. Why not go for it all now while Wallace still is Big Ben? The Bulls look like a 50-win type regular-season team. But what about in the slower playoff games? Wallace figures to be at his best only for the next year or two. Why not try to add an offensive force to complement him now instead of waiting for Tyrus Thomas to emerge, and perhaps add another young big man in the draft? One issue could be O'Neal, not generally known for his work ethic. But maybe that could change by being around the Bulls and Wallace, who always has scared O'Neal, and having a chance to finally win a championship. Certainly, it's something for both teams to consider.
Promises, promises
Among those predicting championships or at least Finals appearances during the first week of training camp: LeBron James in Cleveland, Luke Walton in Los Angeles, Dwight Howard in Orlando and Tracy McGrady in Houston. McGrady declared, "San Antonio's getting older. Dallas showed that. You've got Phoenix (with Amare Stoudemire hurt) and I don't know who else. I think we're right up there with them." The Rockets do look interesting with Shane Battier playing power forward to spread the court. (Wait, even Jeff Van Gundy is going to try it?) By last report, all 30 teams indicated a likelihood of making the playoffs. ? Pistons players close to Wallace say he has bemoaned the Bulls' rule that precludes him from wearing a headband. ? Former premier Bulls free agent Ron Mercer was supposed to be in Sonics camp but declined and probably will retire. Didn't know he wasn't retired, eh? ? Open-court play is the trend sweeping through the NBA. The Nuggets had the coach of high-scoring Pepperdine in camp to talk about his system, while the Knicks say they'll at times use guards Stephon Marbury, Steve Francis, Nate Robinson and Jamal Crawford together.
Doc's advice
Boston coach Doc Rivers on the Pacers' late-night activities: "It's like my dad said, 'Nothing good happens after 12. All the bad people come out at 12. That's why they deliver the mail during the day.'" ? The free agent to watch next summer is Chauncey Billups, who will opt out of his contract and expects to be offered more than the Pistons offered Wallace. ? Should be an entertaining competition for a starting forward job in Sacramento, where Kenny Thomas and Shareef Abdur-Rahim were involved in fights late last season and in camp. Yes, Ron Artest may be their moderating force. ? Naperville's Anthony Parker could start for the Raptors. He has been playing overseas since being drafted in 1997. ? Watch for Carlos Boozer trade talk to emerge. Utah coach Jerry Sloan again ripped Boozer's defense after the Jazz beat the Pacers on Saturday. Said Sloan: "He can't step out on the floor and expect to get 19, 20 points a game and his man's getting 22 or 23. They come right at him right at the start of the ballgame." Both opposing team highs in the Jazz's exhibitions have been by players defended by Boozer. ? Could be tough going for the Bucks with starters Andrew Bogut and Bobby Simmons out the first month with leg injuries.
Double dribbles
Long questioned about non-confrontational ways with players, new tough guy Flip Saunders put in attendance rules for the Pistons and had the bus leave without Rasheed Wallace when he was late for a practice in Puerto Rico. Former NBA coaches Dave Cowens and Terry Porter are now Pistons assistants. ? Shaquille O'Neal on the new Pistons and Bulls: "[The Pistons are] still going to win their 50, 55 games, but it ain't the same without Big Ben. With Big Ben out in Chicago, it makes [the Bulls] more of a dangerous team. But nothing for us to be worried about." ? The Lakers raised their courtside seats to $2,200 from $2,100 a game. Lower-level seats go for $220. This to see Smush Parker and Kwame Brown? ? The Illini reunion continues in Utah. Deron Williams, the team's leading scorer in preseason, Dee Brown and Roger Powell are gaining some notice from Sloan. Of Williams, Sloan said: "He's worked on his game. He seems to be able to shoot the ball better. He'll fight you all day long." ? The Magic opened the exhibition season with six players injured and Grant Hill healthy. Surprise of their camp has been Marquette's Travis Diener. ? Maywood's Shannon Brown is looking like he could push ahead of Damon Jones, whom the Cavs are desperate to deal.
Last shots
Nets forward Antoine Wright said he spends more time with Vince Carter than Richard Jefferson. "Vince has a plane," Wright said. "You can go wherever you want when you have a plane. Richard is pretty cheap. He won't buy a plane. He only buys first-class tickets." Carter, noting the plane crash of baseball's Cory Lidle, said he owns the plane but doesn't fly it. Toronto's Joey Graham is a pilot after getting his degree in aviation and said: "If I could say anything to the rest of the pilots, it's keep flying. You never know what's going to happen." ? Last year's starting center, Adonal Foyle, isn't playing in exhibitions for the Warriors while Dajuan Wagner is starting until Jason Richardson returns from a knee injury. ? The luckiest man in the world may be the Knicks' Jerome James, now with a torn plantar fascia and $30 million contract. ? Matt Carroll has been the offensive surprise for the Bobcats in workouts. One of the reasons is because he is defended mostly by rookie Adam Morrison, whose forte is shooting. New part owner Michael Jordan has declined to meet with media and stayed in the background around the team. ? Not too happy in Dallas is Josh Howard, who said he is angry over the lack of a contract extension. "Disappointed would be a better word," he said. "The other one I'd use would be a cuss word."[/b]
|
http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...-home-headlines |
10-16-2006, 09:33 PM
Similar Threads
Linear Mode
