| A Quietly Productive Offseason Authored by Kyle Trompeter - August 25, 2005 - 6:34 pm
Sometimes change is a good thing. Sometimes change is not a good thing. When your basketball team is coming off its first playoff berth since 1998 and the team increased its win total by 26 games from the previous year, change is not a good thing.
With big offseason spending money not coming until the summer of 2006, the Chicago Bulls needed to utilize their funds by keeping together the team that stampeded its way to the playoffs after a dreadful 0-9 start. General Manager John Paxson knows his two biggest goals this summer is re-sign his two biggest players, Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler.
Chandler seems to be a lock in signing with the Bulls, especially when you consider the health issues that Curry has been dealing with for the better part of five months. The Compton native will be looking for a contract similar to the one that was recently given to Philadelphia 76er’s Samuel Dalembert, which stands at around 60 million dollars over six years.
Last year, Chandler emerged as one of the more dominating interior defenders in the NBA, averaging 9.7 rebounds per game and 1.76 blocks. Though Chandler only tallied 8 points per game, he is not being paid for his offensive ability. His game around the basket consists of put backs from offensive rebounds and ducks. The scoring from the post usually comes from Curry.
The man in the middle for the Bulls had his season derail in March with an enlarged heart condition. It’s now been determined by doctors that Curry can play basketball, but there will always be a question mark around him whether his heart will hold up or not.
Nonetheless, the Bulls need Curry for his scoring just like they need Chandler for his defense. Here is a guy that when he is on his game there is really only one player in the league that can stop him defensively. Anyone want to guess who that is? You’re right! It’s Shaq. That was an easy one.
Here’s another one. Which big man (not including Tim Duncan) has the best hands and post moves in the NBA? Most NBA people would tell you that man is in fact Curry, and at such a young age there is still room to improve in that area. His weakness is defense, where he is an average rebounder and defender. Chandler, though, offsets Curry’s lack of defense, and vice versa with Curry covering up Chander’s shortcomings on offense.
Many around the organization feel that if Curry had been able to play in the playoffs, the team would have been able to expose Washington’s non-existent frontcourt and advance deep into the postseason. Paxson has said that he will do whatever it takes to bring both of them back.
The Bulls have been active in bring back a few other key components from last years squad. The re-signing of PG Chris Duhon is vital to keeping the team’s chemistry in good spirits. A second round pick out of Duke, Duhon turned out to be one of the top steals of the draft. His stingy defense was an integral part in the Bulls having one of the best perimeter defenses in the league.
In addition, Othella Harrington has signed a two year contract to return as the top low post scorer off the bench. Also, the Bulls have agreed to a multi-year deal with power forward Malik Allen and are pursuing restricted free agent Darius Songaila to strengthen the frontcourt.
In an offseason that has already seen Curry go from doctor to doctor across the country looking for clearance to play and Scott Skiles nearly leaving the team due to a contract dispute, the Bulls can finally settle down and work out deals for Curry and Chandler. When that happens, the focus will be back on basketball and making a run at an NBA title. |
