Bulls Trades

Unlike Brian, I don’t particularly like this trade. The only reasoning I can see behind it is salary dumping for the Great Bonanza of 2010 (Miller’s $12.25 come off the books that year). Brad Miller is a shill and I think one of the most overrated players in the NBA, which is pretty impressive when you think of the people commenting on it (I’m looking at you Gary Payton. Shut up and get off my TNT).

So, I’ve decided to look back and think of some other terrible decisions made by the Bulls that have led them to this pathetic state where they have decided to call Brad Miller a saviour:

1. Elton Brand to the Clippers for Brian Skinner and the draft rights of Tyson Chandler

Single greatest WTFWYT? moment of my life. First off, I had no idea Brian Skinner was a person. Second, Elton Brand had just finished proving himself as a potential NBA Great. He had two seasons in a row, starting with his rookie year of 20.1 pts and 10 rbs, including a league runner up finish with 3.4 offensive boards per game. This was clearly the time to trade him for a draft choice made by the World Champion CLIPPERS. Idiots.

2.LaMarcus Aldridge to the Trailblazers for Tyrus Thomas and Viktor Khyrapa

I’m no expert, but this makes the second trade in a row in my list of the Bulls trading away a player and then taking on a draft pick (with structured pay scale) and another player. Which means the Bulls couldn’t just trade for a new player, they had to take on more salary and thus hamstring them further. LaMarcus Aldridge may never be on an All-NBA Team, but Tyrus Thomas is a reclamation project. He’s an athletic freak, but he’s an athletic freak who only played one year of high school and one year of college basketball. Turns out, that doesn’t make you a wonderful NBA player. And who the fuck is Viktor Khyrapa. Apparently, we bought out his contract when he complained about playing time. Really? Really? Couldn’t we have just Larry Hughes-ed him and embarrassed him for the rest of the season?

3.  Nothing to Hell for Vinny Del Nacho

Maybe technically not a trade, but I’m really irritated anyways and only Hell could have formerly posessed his contact rights. See the Bill Simmons column piece on Luol Deng for the single greatest coaching description of all times:

“I know a reader once compared Vinny’s coaching to Shooter’s taking over Hickory High that first time, but actually, it’s more like watching an old person getting ready to go through a metal detector at an airport. Just complete confusion and panic and a lot of stopping and starting and glancing around. I feel bad even making fun of it. Let’s just move on.”

‘Nuff said.

4. Andres Nocioni and Drew Gooden to the Kings for Brad Miller and that other guy.

I don’t get it. I don’t think this will cripple the franchise in the way that Paxon clearly intends to (this is secretly revenge on Reinsdorf, right? I see where you’re going you clever little man), but it’s not going to fix anything. It’s basically hitting reset on the Nocioni contract and admitting Drew Gooden would rather play baseball than re-sign and be coached by an amateur magician.

5. People to the Caveliers for other People and LARRY HUGHES

This is kinda a stretch, but who makes a list and ends it at 4? That’s just dumb. And we’ve basically traded away everything of value in that trade anyways (see Drew Gooden). And, little known fact, Hughes was part of a 3-team trade way back in 2000 that deprived us of Toni Kukoc in the first place. AND he made us lose Joe Smith, the resident Old Guy on the team. Now we have to use Aaron Gray in that role. Irritating. AND we’re on the hook for 25 million dollars through 2009/10 for a man who is currently serving as eye candy on the bench. Oh no wait, we told him not to even bother with that. Well…fuck.

So yea, the Bulls have really done a number to themselves over the year. Just tear the franchise down and try again, okay?