Let the games begin!
Well, it has been a very busy ten days hasn't it. We have seen the retirement of the greatest basketball player ever, and following close behind, the devastation of a dynasty.
It started with Michael Jordan announcing his retirement. What has followed has been a flurry of trades and free-agent signings. With the opening of training camps on Thursday, The NBA has been more alive than it has been in six months. The first step of the devastation of the Chicago Bulls Dynasty was Jordan, then it all started to dwindle away. It continued with rumors of the other proverbial rats deserting the sinking ship. It ended with three of their main remaining free-agent in other cities, and their rebounding monster still in retirement limbo.
Steve Kerr confirmed rumors and ended up in San Antonio, signed by the Bulls and then traded for Chuck person, and a conditional Draft Pick, adding a very solid perimeter shooter to their very weak backcourt. Also joining Kerr in San Antonio is Australian Guard Andrew Gaze. Gaze last played in the NBA with the then Washington Bullets, with two 10-Day contracts. Before then, Andrew was on the Seton Hall team that made the NCAA Championship game. Bringing very sweet outside shooting to a team that desperately needs it, Gaze will be a valued member of the Spurs.
Another deserting rat is another Australian Luc Longley. Longley has joined ex-Minnesota Timberwolve Tom Gugliotta in signing with the Phoenix Suns. Luc averaged career highs of 11.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists with the Bulls last season, and brings a wealth of experience (from regular season, to playoffs, to Championship games) to a team that is making a legitimate Championship shot. Along with forward Tom Gugliotta, the Suns are starting to play hardball. In 1997, Googs was the first Minnesota player to play in an All-Star Game, and was selected to play on TEAM USA for the 1998 World Championships, but didn't play because of the lockout. Tom should make an immediate improvement to the Suns, as he averaged 20.1 points, and 8.7 rebounds last season in only 41 games, as he missed the rest of the season with bone spurs and chips in his right ankle. Look to see the Suns make a great effort to win the Championship that would be King.
The thing that worries me, is that the Bulls have yet to get anyone decent in all their sign & trades. For Luc, they got Mark Bryant, Martin Muursepp, and Bubba Wells. I don't want to put anyone down, but these aren't the high quality players we are used to playing for the Bulls. Throw them into the mix with the other couple of draft pick options that they got as well with other trades, and I guess you can conclude that the Bulls are looking forward to the Draft.
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