There was a great article in the Sun Times yesterday about the Eddy Curry trade. It’s hard to believe Curry, one of the most polarizing players in Bulls history, has been in New York for two full seasons now. Most people blasted John Paxson for not getting enough in return when he shipped Curry to the Knicks for a couple draft picks, but the emergence of Tyrus Thomas and possibility of the Bulls landing another high lottery pick look like pretty good compensation for the 24 year old center.
But did the Bulls really get the better end of the deal? Would the Bulls be better this season if they still had Eddy Curry?
Seemingly the only thing keeping the Bulls from a being a shoe-in for the NBA Finals this season is their lack of a low post scoring threat. Eddy Curry could have been that guy. Playing a career high 35 minutes a game for the Knicks this season, Curry is averaging over 19 points and 7 rebounds a game. He recently dropped 43 in a road win over the Bucks including a game tying 3 pointer at the end of regulation. Before the Knicks recent string of injuries, which saw them lose David Lee, Stephon Marbury, and Jamal Crawford, Curry had New York right in the playoff hunt at 29-34. Remember, the only reason the Bulls traded Curry in the first place was because he refused to take a DNA test after it was found that he had a potentially life threatening heart condition, something that has yet to ever effect his career.
Had the Bulls kept Curry the roster could look completely different. They wouldn’t have Tyrus Thomas, probably wouldn’t have Ben Wallace, and might still have Tyson Chandler. While the Wallace versus Chandler debate could go either way, it’s impossible to overlook the impact Tyrus Thomas has had on the Bulls in the second half of the season. With Andres Nocioni virtually missing the entire half, Thomas stepped in and gave the Bulls’ bench a much needed surge. He was as important as anyone in games against the Celtics and Cavs, and his tip-in as time expired gave the Bulls a huge road win over the Denver Nuggets. Thomas’ big play ability is something the Bulls never got from Curry and it adds another dimension to the team on both ends of the court. His block of a Josh Smith dunk in Atlanta and his block-to-dunk sequence in New Orleans could be two of the best plays of the NBA season, and both were momentum changers that led to Bulls’ victories.
And don’t forget the Bulls will swap first round picks with New York this year. If the season ended today, the Knicks, at 32-46, would have the eight worst record in basketball. The Bulls could look to add a big man with that pick. If they get lucky, Ohio State’s Greg Oden would make the Bulls one of the NBA’s elite teams for the next decade (I’m on the record as a Durant guy, but the Bulls would be dumb not take Oden). Even if the pick stays at eight, the Bulls should have options with big men like Washington center Spencer Hawes, Florida forward Joakim Noah, and Georgetown center Roy Hibbert all likely available.
While having Curry would add another dimension to the Bulls offense, the pieces added via the trade with the Knicks more than make up for his absence. With the draft picks the Bulls acquired from the trade they have basically rebuilt again, only this time a steady foundation is already in place with guys like Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon, and Luol Deng. It would be unfair to say New York got fleeced in the deal, but trade let the Bulls add some young pieces that should have them competing in the Eastern Conference for years to come.
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