Basically the Curry trade came down to, Chicago giving away Eddy for Thomas and Noah. Im asking you, was it now worthit? Would you rather have these two in comparison to Curry? I myself probably would rather have Curry because he's that one guy we need who can score lol. I don't know what that would have done for Tyson's sake but Curry IMO is better than Tyrus and Noah. Whats your take?

I'm going to have to agree. This is part of the reason I didn't like the Noah and Tyrus picks. We traded a very good low post scorers for 2 athletic players who can't score.

Right now, give me Curry over Ty and Noah and we have a pretty looking team.

I think I'm going to disagree. With Curry we didn't really know what we were going to get. His conditioning, his health, his attitude, etc... I love the upside of Tyrus and the energy he brings to the court. With Eddie...I never really saw the energy...or the boards. So it comes down to the O of Eddie...or his lack of rebounding...or at times lack of commitment.. So who was the PF that was going to make up for the D rebounds if we kept Eddie?

With Noah...although I'm still not crazy about the pick...I'm hoping Pax can parlay it into something.

What we're all forgetting here is that the Eddy Curry trade can't be looked at from a raw perspective. To the common eye, it appears we gained Tyrus and Joakim for Eddy Curry.

In actuality, we cleared major salary space with the Eddy Curry trade to get a temporary low post assistance from Antonio Davis, a veteran. When we traded away Tyson Chandler, we dumped even more salary cap space. Then what did Paxson do? Wrote a big fat check to lure Ben Wallace to Chicago. So the Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler trades not only yielded Joakim and Tyrus, but cleared the way to be able to afford Ben Wallace while still keeping enough salary space available to possibly trade our accumulation of young players for a superstar.

Like countless media has already said, the Bulls have all the pieces to make a blockbuster trade. It all depends on Paxson's poker face now.

It is interesting that Curry fills our biggest need quite nicely. However, he wasn't going to stay, there's just no way. Between refusing to to take that test to constantly getting on Skiles' nerves he wasn't too likely to be around for the long term.

Had we known what we do now (That Curry would be healthy) there is absolutely no way I'd make that trade. However, I understand the logic of the deal at the time and think the move was a very shrewd one by Paxson.

However, Eddy Curry would have been the absolute answer to this teams low post concerns.

I think you have a fuzzy memory. The Curry deal also sent Antonio Davis away. It was something like Curry and Davis for Tim Thomas, Mike Sweetney, one first rounder, and the right to swap another first rounder.

The deal came down to draft picks, is what we got in return and those picks turned out to be Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah and IMO Eddy Curry > TT and Noah. Also I might as well throw in Chandler + Curry > Tyrus + Wallace.

I think we had a guy like that. His name was Tyson Chandler. I really think this team would have been 10 times better of had they kept Tyson and Eddie. I really think we'd be a championship team if we had done that.

I know it's to late to think what if, but I seriously think the 2 of them only needed a couple more seasons together before the team was really going to take off. However, Paxson wanted this team to be his creation and thus sent the Krause experiment packing. For all the bad picks Krause made, he got it right when he picked Curry and Tyson. (however, not for Elton Brand). You can't look at Tyson and blame him b/c he was the reason Brand was traded.

Curry
Tyson/Nocioni
Deng/Nocioni
Gordon/Sefolosha (possibly)
Hinrich/Duhon

Curry $8.947, Tyson $10.5, Gordon $4.8, Hinrich $11, Deng $3.2, Duhon $3.2, Nocioni ($6 million), Sefolosha $1.8

= $48.47 miillion (not including the raise that Gordon and Deng are going to get next year). So that means we'd have roughly $17 million for the remaining 7 roster spots plus the increases to Deng and Gordon. Assuming we could fill 7 roster spots at $800K each that is $5.6 million. We'd have $11.4 million to split b/t Deng and Gordon. Give $4.2 to Gordon and he's making $9 million a year. Give the other $7.2 to Deng and he's making $10.4 million. Either way this works out better than what we currently have going on with Wallace's rediculous contract.

Not to mention that Tyson would have never been offered more than $10 million if Eddy didn't leave and the Bulls weren't in the corner.

I think that Paxson ruined something great when he let them go. I thought it then and I still think it now. Hopefully, everything works out and we still become a great team that wins multiple titles. But if we don't I know where I'm going to be pointing my finger.

It was basically rebuilding all over again. Tyson and Eddy were just becoming great players until they got traded. We just started that whole process over with Tyrus and Noah. I realize Paxson has his own plan but my god, Curry and Chandler were towers together, one was a defensive player and the other was an offensive juggernaught (sp?). I don't know about championship because I don't know if Tyson or Eddy would have put the numbers they did this year up with the current Bulls team but they'd be in much better shape to win it all.

The what-if game isn't all that simple though, because AT LEAST one of Curry, Chandler, Hinrich, Gordon, and Deng would almost certainly gone by now. Curry and Chandler both got major deals (Curry got 6-60, Tyson got 6-64), obviously Hinrich signed a sizeable extension as well, and Deng and Gordon are going to get pretty big ones as well. Even if it weren't for the heart thing I'm not entirely sure we would have re-signed Curry for that kind of deal...

Um, I think you're revising history a bit. Eddy was averaging 16 a game, but missed 19 regular season games and the playoffs, as well as giving you only 5.3 rebounds and lackluster defense, and Chandler was coming off a year where he averaged 5.3 points and 9.1 rebounds while fouling at a high rate. It sure didn't look like they were both worth $10 mil a year at that point. Hell, Tyson was a downright liability most of the time, and Curry was often MIA in the 4th because Skiles was afraid of his D in close games. Heck, even LAST year on the Knicks Curry wasn't worth it. I can't really fault the logic at all, except that I'd have liked to see us get more for Chandler.

It's not like we dealt them IMMEDIATELY either, Curry had 4 years on the Bulls, and Chandler had 5. They were given numerous chances to put it all together for us, and they just didn't. I don't think they would have been as successful as they were this year had they still been on the Bulls. Besides the chemistry issues with the coach, both have also been playing pissed off of late, which I doubt would have happened with us. Both were often in Skiles' doghouse, and with their contracts I just think their departure was probably inevitable.

I don't really miss Tyson, we've replaced him pretty well with Wallace, Tyrus, and Noah. Curry is another story. If we knew he'd be healthy and that Skiles wouldn't drive him off the team, he'd be a damn good fit. Neither was the case though...

Ya I know but they both came right out of highschool, what are they now like 24-25 years old? Curry and Chandler worked well together because Tyson didn't need to focus on his offense because Curry handled the down low scoring, Tyson handled the defense pretty well that last year they were together I think he almost averaged 10 rebounds a game. They were best friends together I just wished they could have stayed together longer and kept the chemistry going.

They're both around that age. Basically every high schooler but O'Neal (didn't really get a shot in Portland) established their career arc by then though. That's the way the contracts work out, they got you for 4 years before they have to decide whether to pay you the big money or not.

Chandler averaged 8 points and 9.7 boards the last year with Curry. That was part of the problem, he actually regressed a bit the next year, probably expediated his departure a bit. Would things have been different if Curry had stayed? Maybe, it's always a bit easier when there's another big guy there to take up space. He looked totally lost a lot of the time the next year though, having Curry there wouldn't have stopped him from making stupid fouls...

I think a big factor in things could have been the result of the Wizards series that year. If Curry and Deng had been healthy there's a good chance we knock off Washington that series, which probably makes it more likely that we would have kept Curry and Chandler. That didn't happen though, and that combined with the whole DNA test/contract scenario with Curry put things over the top.

we got more than just Noah and Thomas from that deal. We got a load of cap space, some second rounders, Ben Wallace signing would never have happened if the Curry deal didnt occur. We would prolly be unable to sign Gordon, Deng, nocioni, and Hinrich if the Curry deal didnt happen. If Curry stayed we wouldve had to pay both Curry and Chandler big deals along with Hinrich and the rest of em. Either way someone had to leave.

Its not like it matters, it would be one thing if we trade Curry and then sucked for the next 4 years, but we got better even with him gone, so i dont really mind the trade. I like the way our team is heading.

I truly believe that Tyson needed to get away from the Bulls to become the player he was last year. I just think he had too much pressure and too much of a bad relationship with Skiles to develop like he did this past season.

As for dealing Curry, I'm still okay with the trade. Hindsight is 20-20, people. There were way to many ? marks with Curry to keep him around. Plus, it's his own damn fault he didn't take the DNA test. If he had, we wouldn't have traded him.

Im not saying "What if we would still have them" Its simply a topic about, would you rather have Curry or Tyrus and Noah in comparison to the trade.

I would of loved a team of

PG:Kirk Hinrich
SG:Ben Gordon
SF:Luol Deng
PF:Tyson Chandler
C:Eddy Curry



I think that team would be pretty awesome but oh well Im happy with what we have now too.

One can "what if" all you want, but Eddy Curry was done being a Bull when he refused to take the DNA test.

Something that people seem to forget is that Chandler couldnt be a shut down defender bc he couldnt play more than 27 minutes a game thanks to fouls. How could he have been our ben wallace, when that leaves 20 minutes a game where a teams best post option is guarded by EC or a 2nd stringer.

Tyson couldnt stay on the court. Im glad he's gotten over that somewhat on the hornets, but he had to move on to improve his game, really.

And after their contracts certainly no TT and Noah (duh) but we also used that room for Wallace

I still prefer wallace and TT to Chandler. When it comes to getting the big rebound or making the big stop, i still trust wallace for that kind of stuff over most Cs in the league including tyson.

First of all, in terms of talent:

Tyrus + Noah > Curry

In terms of value with salary:

Tyrus + Noah >>>> Curry


Curry may be the missing piece on the Bulls but people could say that about him on the Knicks too with a Marbury, Crawford, Lee, Frye, etc. He did jack to lead the Knicks. People will say the Knicks suck and they don't play defense...well Curry is not a good defender either and as a result, we are talking about adding Curry to this Bulls mix that plays hard and defends. In my mind, he wouldn't be a good fit. Just cause he has some post moves doesn't make him a great post player. He can score but he also turns it over a lot and can't pass out of the post to save his life. So don't make Eddy the savior or the missing piece on the Bulls because he is not. I would much rather have Tyrus and Noah with the upside, athleticism and hustle than Eddy Curry.

Eddy Curry is the missing piece and so was Elton Brand before him..

If we got 12-15 ppg from a post player on this team it would make all the difference in the world. Eddy was a true post player, he didn't go outside of his range and gets you easy baskets, something we struggle to get unless its Tyrus dunking or a drive in layup. It almost makes me sick watching PJ Brown, Ben Wallace or Tyrus Thomas back down their defender and try to score; that is not easy buckets. Curry is a very high % shooter, he shot 54% his last year on the Bulls.

True he may not have averaged 20 ppg with the team now with Kirk, Ben and Luol but I gaurantee you the team would be in whole lot better shape then it is now.

fixed it

Fixed, nothing.

If I am putting $50 million plus into a employee, I deserve to know if he is going to drop dead at work. Especially when you consider the lawsuits that get filed about that kind of stuff everyday, Paxson was doing exactly what he should have been doing. He even went as far as to offer him that huge annunity just in case Curry couldn't play anymore.

meh, I think it had to do with Paxson wanting to build his "own" team so he wanted to find every possible way to get rid of Krauses guys which he had no problem doing. He doesn't seem to be having any problems now, he knew if he wouldn't take him someone else would.

I guess if you think what he should be doing is setting a dangerous precedent.

And maybe your health insurance should subject you to a dna test before providing coverage. Hospitals should dna test your prenatal child to see if there is a high possibility of complications before deciding whether to deliver it. Both are huge financial risks assumed by private companies that could be alleviated with a simple drop of blood. And why stop there, maybe we should test your DNA to see if you prone to violent outbursts. If its positive, we can toss you in jail now rather then waiting until you wreak havok on our peaceful society.

And the annuity was comical. Curry and his agent knew that he could get fat contract just by completing a physical.

He didn't have to do anything. Employers use things as conditions of employment all of the time that have more of an invasion into your private life than the test they wanted. Pretty much everyone in the US is drug tested and backround checked before getting any job offer. Building a paradoxical mountian out of a molehill doesn't change that fact. John Paxson knew that there was a reasonable chance that Eddy Curry's heart could give out at anytime, and wasn't stupid enough to throw a boatload of money at him, until he knew that he wasn't going to be responsible for his death. "Luckily" for Eddy, Isiah Thomas has no such morals. On the other side of the coin, do you think the Curry family would have been willing to sign off on all potential lawsuits if Pax did allow him to play again for the Bulls? Somehow I doubt it. I know some people look at this and get all cynical about it, but in reality, the Bulls have always looked out for their players, and I don't see this any differently. Just ask Jay Williams who shouldn't have gotten a dime from the Bulls because he violated his contract, but instead got a 7 figure dollar amount.

I knew we should have drafted Amare Staudemire......

What we should have done is drafted Carlos Boozer and Matt Barnes, not Roger Mason and Lonny Baxter.

NO ONE knew he was going to be that good that fast, otherwise he'd have gone a lot higher than #9. High schoolers were VERY hard to judge, the level of competition is so drastically different, and most of them still need time to develop. That is especially true since that was only one year after the glut of high schoolers in 2001 that all needed a lot of work. Hindsight is 20-20.

At the time Williams was the best pick by a longshot, he was a potential star PG and was starting to come on late in the year once Cartwright finally got a clue and played him and Crawford at the same time. If not for the motorcycle accident it's highly possible he would have been a star, he still got off to a better start than a lot of franchise PG's.

And on a side note, there's NO chance we would have taken Stoudemire. We already had 2 high school big men on the roster.

Well put, my friend. I'd also like to add that Eddy is stupid for not getting the DNA test b/c he put making money before his own life.

If any of you had the chance to make $60 million, but had to take a DNA test to make sure you were healthy, would you take the test on the chance that you would fail and getting a measly 7-8 figure contract? I know I would b/c I'd want to make sure I wasn't going to die. I'd rather make $10 million and live the rest of my life than sign for $60 million and never get to spend it b/c I'd die a few weeks later on the court.


No doubt. Remember when he had that triple-double against Kidd and the Nets? Looked like a pretty damn promising player after that...

Also, Jay Williams and Deron Williams had basically identical rookie year stats, and now look how badass Deron became in his second year? I think we really could have expected that or close to that out of Jay.

relax, it was a joke!

Ha, my bad, my sarcasm detector doesn't work too well.

Lol I was just saying, "Now that we know" what happened to jay wil and Amare's emergence, I was being sarcastic when I was saying, I knew we should have gotten Amare instead of J-will.

It was really stand up what they did with Jay Williams, but that doesn´t mean everything they do is saintly. Forcing the DNA test was a purely buisness related discision and the 200k allowance was just a carrot to get him to bite on it.

I´m not happy about the other invasions of privacy either, but none open the can of worms that Paxson tried to. Really, where would it stop. If they knew Duhon´s family had a history of alcoholism, would it be ok if they forced him to take a DNA test to see if he had the gene for it before drafting or signing him?

And athlete´s families do so well in those lawsuites, right?. Just ask Korey Stringers widow, her husband was basically forced continue working out in the sun though dehydrated and suffering from heat stroke and she hasn´t gotten a dime from her lawsuites. In fact most of them have already been thrown out. In the courts, if informed of the risks, an athlete takes responsibilty for their bodies when they step on the pitch. It isn´t highschool or college. The only risk from a lawsuite was bad pr. The only thing holding up Paxson was his inability to get someone to insure the garunteed contract Curry was due. And believe me, Isiah Thomas wasn´t the only GM with ¨low morals¨ ready to throw a fat contract to Curry. You don´t give up what he gave up for a player, if you are the only team interested.