Chicago’s Eddy Curry trade to New York still causing roster enigma
Jul 14th, 2007 by Jason M. Williams
After the recent acquisition of Zach Randolph, the New York Knicks now possess two of the most dominant low post scorers in the Eastern Conference. After the recent drafting of Joakim Noah, the Chicago Bulls now possess three of the best defensive, energized rebounding big men in the Eastern Conference. It almost seems like a trade being made between the two teams would make too much sense. Yet, how both of these teams came to this point is quite ironic enough.
Normally, successful teams feature a proven low post scorer paired alongside of a defensive rebounder to clean the scraps and keep opponents out of the paint, similar to how Batman has Robin. The champion Spurs featured Tim Duncan to score and Oberto to defend and live off of scraps. Before them, Shaq had his Robin in Udonis Haslem, Duncan had his Robinson, Rasheed had his Big Ben, Shaq had his Horace Grant, Ewing had his Oakley, Hakeem had his Otis Thorpe, and the list goes on. So why wouldn’t the Knicks and Bulls pull off a trade that would give each team this explosive frontcourt? Well, the interesting reason is that their initial trade is what put this enigma together.
Chicago dealt Eddy Curry to the Knicks two years ago and obtained two draft picks in the process. Those two draft picks turned out to be none other than two Robins in Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah. Their third Robin is Ben Wallace, whom they signed last summer. Imagine if Chicago and New York had never pulled off the trade. Chicago could be looking at an Eddy Curry and Ben Wallace one-two punch, while New York would be saddled with Zach Randolph, Ty Thomas, and Noah. Both teams would have a clear definition of roles and responsibilities and both would have dynamic frontcourts. Instead we are left with the Bulls having no one to score in the post, while the Knicks have no one to defend.
Curry/Wallace combo could not have happened for Chicago. The only reason that Chicago was able to sign Big Ben was because they cleared a bunch of cap room by signing/trading Curry to NYK (along with Antonio Davis) and taking back Toxic Tim Thomas’ expiring contract and Sweetney’s rook scale contract. The Bulls did the same thing when they signed/traded Jamal Crawford to the Knicks - the Bulls included Jerome Williams’ long term bad contract in that trade and took back expiring/waivable contracts such as Mutombo, Frank Williams, O. Harrington, Trybanski and a case of Gatorade. Those two trades are what opened up the cap room that became Ben Wallace, and the picks that became T. Thomas, J. Noah, and Khryapa (traded the 2006 2nd round pick rec’d from NYK to Portland on draft night), plus the TBD 2009 2nd round pick still owed to Chi by NYK from the Curry trade.
that is so ill- concieved and ignorant to assume that if the trade had never occured the two teams would have been in opposite situations. The Bulls would not have has enuff money to sign Wallace if they kept Curry.
smh-shakin my head. YO!
I agree with you to, as hindsight is 20/20. If Eddy Curry had remained a Bull, not only would those trades and draft picks never materialized for Chicago, a certain free agent from Detroit would have not been signed for a nice total of 60 million dolars. Tyson Chandler would have still remained a Bull, thus giving them the offensive-defensive center/forward combo that many succesful teams have, without going to free agency for a 32 year old undersized center. But, here’s an interesting dilemma. Would Isiah Thomas select Tyrus and Noah if he still had those draft picks? After all, draft picks are selected according to the criterias set in placed by the GM. Would he have picked Aldridge and Hawes? Who knows. I doubt very much that Thomas and Noah would have Knicks, since he favored offensive players so much. Nevertheless, the fact remains that Eddy Curry DOES have the parts around him to form the Shaq/Grant, Ewing/Oakley combo. He has David Lee and Balkman. Since offensive post players are hard to find in the NBA, The Bulls still lose out in this deal, as it’s much easier to add defensive role players to a dominant scoring big man, which the Knicks have two.
The teams are exactley as they should be. Each club targeted players that they want for their teams. Paxson and Skiles love hustle and defense ie, Big Ben and Noah,
and Zeke loves flash and dash, Jamal Crawford (another ex Bull), Starbury, Randolph and Curry.
The way the players were obtained are also classic of each team’s plan. Chicago decided post Jordans second retirement to build through the draft.
Where Isiah has no patience at all and will pay any dollar for any increase at all in talent (with no regard for team chemistry).
The reason why Eddy Curry was traded from the Bulls was because of his heart problems. The Bulls by no stretch of the imagination wanted to part ways with Eddy Curry, but they felt like signing him to such a lucrative and legnthy contract would be too much of a risk.
Whoever said The Bulls would have went with Chandler and Curry if the trade plus the sign of Wallace didn’t happen is mistaken. They tried that, and is wasn’t working. They proved the two couldn’t play together, so a change had to be made. I thought Curry was going to be the only one traded. He didn’t have the attitude Paxson wanted, he didn’t show up to play everyday, and if he was looking for a raise, he was not going to get it from The Bulls. Chandler was a good fit, defensive minded, good rebounder, and they had enough offense in the other players to cover what he didn’t get. The problem was, he could never stay healthy, so Paxson let him go. I think he knew what he was doing, looking ahead for when Big Ben would be available, and when that time came, throw enough money at him to where Detroit would have to say “yeah right” and he would be theirs. Once again, they have enough offense to cover what he doesn’t get.
If Isiah wants to continue to make these moves for headcase players, let him. He’ll never make it far. These players won’t take him anywhere. At least he was smart to turn down Lee for Artest. He has somewhat of a brain.
The combination of Noah, Thomas, Joe Smith and Nocioni can easily score over 30 ppg combined from the PF position. They’ll be fine.
Thomas and Smith will be good for 8-12 a piece. Nocioni from 12-15 and Noah from 6-10 depending on their PT. It will be interesting to see what Skiles rotation is.
It seems that you Chicago fans can’t get over the Curry trade. Remember you got two first round draft picks for a man that could drop dead on the court (remember your thoughts). He Curry was not wanted in Chicago so what is the beef. New York has the pieces to be in the post season, even without the high draft picks, while Chicago would be struggling to score points. B-diggity could add up points as much as he could, the game however, is played on the floor.
Why would NY select Ty Thomas and Noah when they have David Lee? All this talk of NY’s lack of chemistry is a mis-nomer, for all Isah has to do is fit the pieces for the game situation. Good Luck Chicago fans you have had your draft picks from the Knicks, now let the games begin
I can’t wait to see what happens in New York, I don’t think there are any good big man defenders from the east that could guard our potential ” twin towers ” of the knicks. The return of Q with Starbury and Crawfish means that you have to guard both inside and out. Not going off topic though, the worst trade that the knicks might have done is the trade with Dice for Nene and Camby. Dang! That still stings till now, we got nothing out of that deal…( Even worst that signing grandmama!! ) Well, getting Jerome James( Lazy Bum) is a close second…
It is interesting to analyze the impact of the Curry trade on both teams, but here is my 2 cents. You are already seeing Curry’s best as he will probably not improve much more. Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah have great potential, but only time will tell. I think the bulls will wind up the winner in this trade as you see both these players develop. Let’s revisit this discussion three years from now.
Are they going to start allowing NY to play with 2 or 3 basketballs at the same time now, since everyone playing will need one? Crawford, Marbury, Curry, Randolph…. all dribble too much or stand in one place too long with the ball before they score…. and never pass. Can’t wait for all of the happy “teammates” when they aren’t getting “their” shots! YIKES!
“Good Luck Chicago fans you have had your draft picks from the Knicks, now let the games begin.” Are u kidding? I love how Knicks fans think they have a good chance to contend this year. Zach Randolph is a black hole that will kill whatever “chemistry” the Knicks already have which aint much. Him and Eddy Curry might score 50 pts a night together but neither one can guard my grandmother. The Knicks are a hot mess. Chicago on the otherhand will be no worse than last year and as long as they can avoid facing Detroit until the Eastern Conference.
Ignore anyone who tells you that Ben Wallace was only signed because Chicago “cleared a bunch of cap space” through the trading of Curry to New York.
The cap space represented by Antonio Davis, and the cap space represented by Tim Thomas in that deal, were well within 10% of each other (probably even within 5%) and both had contracts that expired in that VERY SAME off-season. It was a wash. Research into this will verify my claim.
For that reason, to this day I have never heard a satisfactory explanation as to why Antonio Davis was included in that trade. There was absolutely no financial benefit; but, anyone who attributes Chicago’s ability to sign Ben Wallace with the fact that they traded Eddy Curry is most certainly giving credit where it is not due.
The Bulls could still have signed Ben Wallace, even if they hadn’t dealt Curry. The Curry trade did not, by any means, make the Ben Wallace signing possible. They were independent, totally unrelated events. Check the numbers. You’ll see.
Paxson’s methods for creating a good NBA team are starting to bear fruit. To the Knick supporters here, i offer this; the Bulls have been in consecutive playoffs, and have shown improvement, whereas the Knicks have nothing (except a ridiculous luxury tax bill) to show for their efforts. Paxson drafts winners from major college programs. He shows them loyalty by not trading them for what might appear to be a fair deal for the Bulls. He believes in team chemistry and continuity. The Bulls may get a ‘good will’ discount when they have to re-sign..Deng & Gordon?..coming up soon, but Paxson has already said that they will make their re-signings a priority.
I’m a Bulls fan, and Curry could or would not play defense. The heart thing was a concern. The Bulls are a young team and they’ve gotten into the playoffs for the past two yrs. Noah’s ball handling and defense are remarkable. The difference w Deng between his 1st and 2nd yr is what I’m looking for w Thomas. They’re best b-ball is ahead. It’s a game that that the Bulls have a good shot of winning every time. The Knicks have to have 2-3 players get hot for them to win because they don’t play a lick of defense. I watched Portland and 40-50% of the shots were taken by Randolph. I don’t know if it’s gonna work…..