Bulls-Pacers Trade

[Superfluous_Nut]

Can anybody tell me what Chicago was thinking?

Brad Miller, Ron Mercer, Ron Artest, Kevin Ollie go to Indiana.

Jalen Rose, Travis Best, Norm Richardson go to Chicago.

First off, Norm who? Never heard of him. Unless he's the next Jordan or something, this is just silly. That's giving up 3 starters for 1. Sure Best will likely start at PG, but I don't think he's very good, really...

The only problem for the Pacers is finding minutes for all these guys. Not the worst problem to have.

Looks like IND might end up making some noise in the post-season. I wonder if they're gonna make another move to try to consolidate talent.

[Turbo]

As a closet Bulls fan (aren't all Bulls fans in the closet nowadays?), I think that it depends on what you want.

The Pacers wanted something short-term. Something to go with their team for a run into the play-offs right now.

The Bulls wanted something for the long run....and obviously, these guys were not going to be around long anyway. In fact, they were going to lose Brad Miller and Ron Mercer this off season, so now, they got something in return for them.

[Superfluous_Nut]

Got something in return? Like Travis Best? You think he'll be back?

Why would Mercer and Miller leave? They signed as free agents to start with. It's not like they were shipped to Chicago or they signed on back when the Bulls won games or something...

I can see trying to get rid of Artest cuz he's a little unstable (ie, sick of losing). Rose is unhappy in Indy. Seems like a good trade would have involved only those guys, but of course there's the Salaries... I don't see Miller and Mercer as being "filler" to make a trade work -- they're better than that.

Maybe the Bulls feel like Tyson Chandler is ready to go and E-Rob needs more minutes. Curry doesn't seem like he's ready. The big white guy -- Dolibar something or other -- is an okay backup.

Oh well. I'm not a Bulls fan, nor a Pacers fan so I could care less.

'Cept that it puts Artest with O'Neal and Tinsley... they're all three on my Fantasy NBA Team. I don't like having them all on the same team... Why didn't they ask me before they did this??? :)

Yeah but the Bulls' "long-run" keeps getting longer every year. They traded their franchise player for a high school kid on draft day, one year after drafting a guy who plays the same position as their franchise player. This is the same team that tried to run off Scottie Pippen countless times in the mid-1990's and dismantled the best dynasty in sports history--is anybody surprised anymore?

How did this franchise win 6 championships with these guys in charge? Judging buy there moves they've made this year, it wouldn't surprise me to see them trade Curry or Chandler next year for a first round draft pick in 2008.

[hotshot mcgee]

while not a good move by any means for the bulls, if they can keep rose around for any amount of time, it could really benefit him. he is hella talented, but he's always been ona jam packed roster.

[wolverine]

Hey they won 6 titles because of two letters MJ.

[Turbo]

Why the trade was good for the Bulls... (http://www.chicagosports.com/bulls/content/story/0,1984,175751,00.html)

Here is a quote from that article...

"Apparently, the Bulls found their go-to guy.

Making virtually every big play down the stretch, Jalen Rose made his Bulls debut memorable, carrying them to a pulsating 113-109 victory over the Knicks before a raucous United Center crowd of 19,303.

After missing a first-quarter dunk, Rose scored 28 of his game- and Bulls-season-high 36 points in the second half Wednesday as the Bulls rallied from a 16-point, first-half deficit to snap a four-game skid.

"We didn't have a guy before who was 'The Guy,'" coach Bill Cartwright said. "Now we do." -- K.C. Johnson, Chicago Tribune Reporter

[magnus]

I don't know that I would have gotten rid of Artest. The benefit of him staying after Brand was traded was that they were still big. Was he great? No. Was he irreplaceable? no. Did they give up too much for one player? Yes. I think Rose will be good in Chicago. But without being well versed on their roster or the relative values of the various players I think they gave up too much for one guy.


Miller's trading is just justification that he made a terrible move.

[Turbo]

You may be right, MvM. However, the Bulls have been spurned by marquee free agents so much the last few years (for good reasons) that they see this as the first step in convincing those players to go to Chicago.

I think that Jalen Rose will do what he did tonight vs. NY. He will give the young kids, Curry and Chandler, plenty of action and help speed their development.

If they do develop as touted, plus Rose's experience, this team will play much better next year. Add to that the fact they will have a top lottery pick (maybe Jason Williams) and all of a sudden, you have a young team with plenty of exciting players as well as good potential.

[derek4425]

right now the bulls remind me a lot of the clippers from a couple of years ago. they have some talent, but they are just old enough to get their own blockbuster card. give these guys a few years to mature and grow into the pro game and i think they will be ok. and i also agree that if jalen rose keeps his head on straight, he will be able to help this team. he brings the bulls one thing they haven't had in a few years and thats a household name. it'll be interesting to see how this all unfolds, but i think you will see the bulls improve as the season winds down and really be a team that is pushing for the playoffs in two or three years.

[Turbo]

I agree with you completely, derek. Jalen Rose is still young himself, so he has quite a few years left of quality b-ball; yet, he has experience so he can tutor the youngsters.

[kshead]

I guess I'm one of the few people that likes this trade for BOTH teams. I don't think it is as one-sided as some of you do I guess.

My take:
I like Jalen a good bit - when he's not sulking. He now has his wish - the ball and the green light to hoist up as many shots as he wants. I liked the Pacers when Larry was coach and put the ball in Jalen's hand. He was not exactly a great PG, but he caused matchup problems for the other teams with him handling the ball. Also, if you remember, the Pacers went to the Finals that year. Now he had become a malcontent in Indy. Not enough shots for him (Best too). The Pacers get to ditch two players that were pissed and grumbling. Plus, Tinsley is getting most of the PG minutes now anyway. So far, so good. The other players are throwaways….Best is another shoot-first PG that'll wear out his welcome real soon (see Marbury et al). If not? So what. He's gone.

Mercer and Miller…..hmmm

Mercer - I've always liked Ron too (I'm a UK fan). BUT Ron plays a little soft, stays hurt and has a big $$$ contract. Looking back again…most of you will remember that Mercer was the consolation prize for the Bulls when they could not land a BIG Free Agent a few years back. They overpaid for Ron in a big way. Again, nice skills, but not for THAT contract. Also, a few more trades and he'll qualify for the "Chris Gatling" frequent trader points. There is something not quite "right" there. No one wants him.

Miller - I'll be even more critical. He's a big stiff who took his limited playing run in ONE season and turned it into $$$. (See also M. Geiger). Another player the Bulls overpaid. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

So essentially Chicago gets a "do-over" for these players. If you - by some miracle of fate - are still a Bulls fan, you should be dancing in the street over the ditching of these two contracts/players alone. Their skill and availability does not match their contracts.

Artest - This is the one Chicago needs to keep I thought. A stopper player on D who doesn't bitch about shooting. I'll take a thousand of these guys if I already have people that can score (which the Pacers have). As a role player, he will fit in VERY well with the Pacers. He also won't sit on the bench and grumble.

A few years from now I'm guessing that this will be known as the "Rose-for-Artest" trade. I don't expect much from the other players that were included. Just my opinion though..

[Superfluous_Nut]

Brad Miller's pretty good. I wouldn't call him filler. Per 48 minutes, he's close to Brand's numbers in Chicago.

It was a decent trade from the Bulls standpoint because they got rid of redundant talent and "focused" their talent (1 guy that's a legit go-to guy for a few pretty good players).

Clearly they're already thinking of next year and beyond. Eventually, tho, people will get tired of that and want somethingt this year.

[kshead]

Ej - I figured we'd just be pretty much disagreeing over Brad. I know he has pulled decent numbers this year, but I wonder if he would get those anywhere else but on a team as bad as Chicago. If he proves me wrong, I'll eat my words. :)

Also, I should add that I used to think VERY highly of Mercer. I always thought he would be a very good pro because he could shoot the midrange jumper really well. It's a lost art in the NBA (coming back though!). So if he gets healed by some miracle all of the sudden, then it would be steal....I just don't know why he's never worked out anywhere.

[Superfluous_Nut]

Hey, don't get me wrong... I'm not a huge Miller fan, but he's a competent center. Brand's numbers have come down as well since leaving Chicago. I figure Miller's good for 10 & 6 in Indy. But more importantly, it keeps people from doubling down on O'Neal. Miller's got a decent mid-range shot.

[Turbo]

The Bulls got a guy (Rose) who's much better than Miller, Artest , Mercer and Ollie. Plus, Rose gets to tutor and teach the younger Bulls players.

Last night, the 2 high schoolers had more touches, points and rebounds than they had had in any game all season. Could be why the Bulls scored so much and actualy beat NY.

Not that the Knicks are anything to brag about.