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26.06.03, 17:36
Troche ciekawych plotek z ESPN.COM za posrednictwem Spursreport.com
SpursCrusader posted:
Draft Rumors: True lies, or a lot of Bull?
By Chad Ford
NBA Insider
Send an Email to Chad Ford Wednesday, June 25
Updated: June 25
9:21 AM ET
It's 2:13 a.m., and the phone rings with yet another GM who has a story to
tell.
Michael Finley
Guard-Forward
Dallas Mavericks
Profile
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
69 19.3 5.8 3.0 .425 .861
"Are you up?" I am now.
"The Bulls are on the verge of a blockbuster. They're sending Donyell
Marshall, Marcus Fizer, Eddie Robinson and the No. 7 pick to Dallas for
Michael Finley."
Really?
Two hours earlier, the buzz had the Bulls sending Jalen Rose to Minnesota
for Terrell Brandon and his expiring contract.
Juwan Howard
Power Forward
Denver Nuggets
Profile
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
77 18.4 7.6 3.0 .450 .803
A little before that came word that the Bulls weren't looking at a small
forward anymore, because they were confident they were going to lock up
Juwan Howard in free agency.
It isn't easy to connect the dots that late at night, but follow me for a
second. Finley and Howard are Chicago natives, workout buddies in the
summer, and they've both dreamed of playing for the Bulls one day.
GM John Paxson's goal is to win now. He wants to end the youth movement and
begin surrounding Tyson Chandler, Eddy Curry and Jamal Crawford with
veterans.
He also needs to make sure he has enough cap space to re-sign those young
guys when their contracts start expiring next year. That's why shipping off
Rose makes a whole lot of sense.
By 2:30 a.m., with the dots loosely connected, John Paxson is looking like a
genius.
A starting lineup of Crawford, Finley, Howard, Chandler and Curry sounds
pretty appealing. So does the extra $10 million in cap space Chicago likely
will have next season after signing Crawford to an extension.
Not so fast.
In the world of the NBA draft, where subterfuge is the weapon of choice in
ensuring the guy you want remains on the draft board until you pick,
everything isn't always what it seems.
"I think that whole scenario is a product of 'Mark Cuban Productions,' " one
assistant GM told Insider. "I've seen it too many times. That's too perfect
for Dallas. They get two low post players and a young stud like [Mickael]
Pietrus at No. 7. Be careful."
Good advice. Remember, it was Cuban who just days earlier began fueling the
rumors of a sign-and-trade deal to bring Jason Kidd to Dallas.
One more late phone call wakes up my best source with the Bulls. "I'm under
the impression we're not doing anything. Of course, that could change
tomorrow."
It probably will. The real trade talk begins today. With time running out,
offers become more serious, trade proposals more realistic and the pressure
to make something happen gets turned to high.
Trade Talk
I wasn't the only one hearing that the Bulls were on the trading warpath.
The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting a similar deal. According to that paper,
Paxson was the one making the phone call to Dallas.
Meanwhile Donnie Nelson told the Dallas Morning News that the Big Three
