Rumour: Bulls may consider trading top pick for Harrington

[Nick]

The Bulls and Indiana Pacers have discussed a trade sending Al Harrington and the No. 29 pick in the June 24 draft to the Bulls for the No. 3 pick and a player, possibly Scottie Pippen, according to a league source.

Talks are still in the early stages as both teams gauge the market.

Harrington is a 6-9, 250-pound small forward who averaged 13.3 points and 6.4 rebounds this season, finishing second to Dallas' Antawn Jamision for the Sixth Man of the Year award. But Harrington no longer wants to come off the bench, and the Pacers have indicated a willingness to move him.

Harrington is considered a bargain with two years and $13.3 million left on his contract. He's a perfect fit for the type of player Bulls operations chief John Paxson has targeted for the offseason.

Source mmm... sauce

[RedTorro]

That is an absolute outrage. What a horrible trade, that would definately be a step back IMO. Al harrington is overrated by leaps and bounds. He is NOT the answer at forward. If you trade the 3 pick in the draft you deserve a better quality player.

[Waz]

r u a fool Harrington is not overated although Chicago should try 2 get sum1 beter 4 that numba 3 pik

[alexboom]

Chicago should try 2 get sum1 beter 4 that numba 3 pik

1... 2... 3... 4... YES WE GOT IT IT'S A WORLD RECORD !!!!

[Donyell]

That would be the most stupied thing the Bulls could do.
Come on, for Harrington??
If they want to trade that draft pick, they really should be trying to get someone good for it.

[Andrew]

If I were an NBA GM, Harrington's a player I wouldn't mind having on my roster, but at the expense of the number three pick? Even though this year's draft doesn't look like being as strong as last year's, he's not worth the third pick. Even though I'm inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt after Krause's rebounding blunders, Paxson (so far at least) doesn't seem like much of a replacement.

I don't think Harrington can be a consistent scorer, a guy who can go out most nights and score 20+ points. Jamal Crawford has the scorer's mentality that Chicago needs - even though "defense wins championships", you still need to be able to put points on the board - but he's too inconsistent.

If the trade does go through and turns out for the best, then great. I certainly wouldn't mind being proven wrong by unexpected success. But I just don't think good will come of trading the third pick for a guy who's spent most of his career as a reserve, even one who's been a solid reserve the last couple of seasons.

[magius]

i wouldnt do it because chicago's already logjammed with chandler and curry and davis and williams. why do they even need a harrington type player? they need better wing men to stretch the d away from the inside.

It's too bad they lost jay williams because i think he could've developed into a devastating drive and dish point. Anyway, i think maybe chicago should try to get ray allen in a deal involving crawford and of course keep hinrich at the point. I would not trade either curry or chandler. I really dont see any equal value for two young big men with potential. your not gonna get another big, you might get a good guard, but unless that guards name is micheal jordan you arent going to go anywhere anyway. Stick with the blueprint and have patience.

[Mikki]

That would be the most stupied thing the Bulls could do.

How about trading Brand for Chandler.

[bomba90]

Bad trade! The only thing I can say about it.
At the third pick you can choose Luol Deng, that is considered a better player than Harrington in the future, IMO in the near future.
Plus, Harrington is 5 years older than Deng.

[Andrew]

Anyway, i think maybe chicago should try to get ray allen in a deal involving crawford and of course keep hinrich at the point. I would not trade either curry or chandler. I really dont see any equal value for two young big men with potential.

I agree. The only problem is Crawford - he doesn't seem to have enough trade value, and as you pointed out, Curry and Chandler still have too much potential and promise for Chicago to give up on them (just yet, anyway).

[magius]

i get the feeling that seatlle is itching to pull the trigger to ship allen out, because flip isnt getting enough playing time with barry and allen around, and no one really wants barry that much. Does chicago have any big expring contracts? Maybe they can entice seattle with crawford and the glimpse of lots of cap room, and maybe a 2nd round pick.

Chandler for Brand is okay in my book, I can see managements reasoning behind it, and in a way it couldve turned into a jackpot........... Let Chicago suck harsh for a year or two while chandler-curry develop, draft jay williams, bang! you have the blueprint for a dynasty right there. build. Problem is chandler has injury probelms, curry is uninspired, and jay williams is gone for now.

but think about it, would Brand really make a difference in Chicago? He was there for a couple of years and they sucked, and he's pretty much the same player now........ and look at the magic he's doing in Clipper land. Chandler to me is a good pick and a very good calculated gamble because he had and still has the potential of being an average to good to maybe great defensive presence inside. Every team that wants to contend needs a big man down low to defend. Artest, Bowen, and Kobe would not be considered good defenders if it were not for o'neal, duncan, and shaq accrodingly. If chicago wanted to be a mid 500 team for 10 years and then start rebuilding again, then i would say they shouldve stuck with brand, but i htink they want to win.

Unfortunately or forunately, depending on how you look at it, I think the future and possibility of Chicago winning another championship lies on tyson chandlers shoulders. Its a gamble, but its a better gamble then many teams in this league possess. Curry and Hinrich will be key pieces and deng (depending on how good he becomes and if they draft him), but they need chandler to be a monster on defense to become a great team. I think every team that has ever won a championship has had a good down low defensive player...... good team defense starts and ends with your shot blocker.

[Stevan]

wow I thought Harrington was a good prospect, someone who could put up 20 a game given the minutes. The Bulls have the third pick, in a crappy draft, so an established player who had a career year isn't such a bad trade. I keep thinking "T-Mac" in my head... scoring 15ppg or there abouts that year before he moved to Orlando and had a break out season in Orlando. He was good off the Toronto bench and people still had no idea what he could do. Now he's one of the top two shooting guards in the league. In this scenario (though it may be disrespectful) you have to look at the bright side - Pip's salary off the books.

Maybe the bulls could try Crawford for Harrington. The Pacers need a scorer (and Reggie's done) and they might be willing to give Crawford a shot at the two if Harrington wants out.

Or perhaps the deal in question could be expanded to include another one of the guys the Bulls don't want (Robinson, Fizer, whoever) and try and get Scott Pollard? He has disappeard, but shit he was a good player who might like a change of scenery. A diamond in the rough so to speak. I haven't taken salaries into account though.

[magius]

Dont think Mcgrady for Harrington, think zach randolph at best (though of courze randolph developed faster, but you get the drift). A better comparison is Jermaine O'neal in Elton Brands body. I dont think Als a good fit in chicago because they have too many post-ups, and the young ones they do have probably have more upside than harrington. Harrington does not have the makings of a superstar, I can guarantee you this, you can see it. He doesnt have the skill set or posess the natural physical ability to upgrade his skill set sufficiently.

I'd prefer scott pollard over jerome williams, but again, thats not chicagos main priority. Chicago's main priority like I said is wing players with decent open shot spot up 3 range shot capability (defense can be taught, but they need chandler to be a defensive presence first). The more I think about it, the more I think ray allen is the best most available option. How about take a gamble and try and acquire qyntel woods and stacey augmon/patterson for crawford? Rodney White looks like he could be an okay player too. White and Doleac for Crawford? I'm kinda lowballing and taking chances because like Andrew said not many teams are willing to give up straight up equal play-right-now value for Crawford, unless theyre just starting to rebuild and want to toss a contract (not many of those out there with players you actually want)

[Jackal]

Talk at the predraft camp persists that the Bulls and Pacers are entertaining trade possibilities for Al Harrington, whose salary closely resembles Scottie Pippen's.

But...

The Bulls don't appear willing to include their No. 3 pick in the talks for now.

The Bulls are intrigued by Deng

The Bulls turned in their protected list for the expansion pool to stock Charlotte. As expected, Curry, Crawford, Tyson Chandler, Kirk Hinrich, Linton Johnson, Jannero Pargo, Chris Jefferies and Paul Shirley were protected.

Something funny from the article:

Familiar face

Former Bulls general manager Jerry Krause visited Moody on Thursday to "see some old friends." Krause just returned from Tampa, where he participated in the New York Yankees' amateur draft. In an odd coincidence, the Yankees' first pick in the first round was No. 23. Apparently Krause never will be able to distance himself from Michael Jordan.

Source - Sign Up required.

Edit: Another Bulls related something..

It wasn't long ago when the line of teams interested in Antonio Davis, Scottie Pippen, Eddie Robinson or Jerome Williams would have been a long one.
Now the Bulls can only hope that the new Charlotte Bobcats will select one of those players in the NBA's expansion draft on June 22.

"If Charlotte took me, I wouldn't mind at all," Robinson said. "I'm familiar with the area and I enjoyed my time there. The fans appreciated what I did there."

"If I'm not wanted here, it doesn't make sense for me or them to sit on the bench," Robinson said. "I can't take another season like this one. I've been in the league too long for that."

"I haven't gotten much respect here," Robinson said. "Chicago is like a big Flint, if you ask me."

Such harsh words, sad if true. But the thing that irks me is, what if he doesnt get shipped out of Chicago, with all he's said...now they will really dislike him.

Source 2.

[hmm]

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[Alcoholic]

Al Harrington? After he airballed that 3 in the NBA Live intro video? LOL!

[bboyk10]

this is one of the craziest trades i've ever seen.
HAVE THEY SEEN HOW HARRINGTON PLAYED IN THAT PISTONS SERIES?
HE DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
U don't give up your no.3 pick for AL HARRINGTON. AND WHAT? U don't think it's enough so you'll give them scottie pippen in addition to that? THIS IS PATHETIC. THEY NEED A ALL AROUND SMALL FORWARD or a swingman. they don't need another power forward like small forward when they have ANTONIO DAVIS, JEROME WILLIAMS, EDDIE ROBINSON, MARCUS FIZER.
It'd be better if theytrade one of those forwards and trade for a offensive small forward.

[Jay-Peso]

I'd say go with the draft pick. You don't know what the player will be like but you do know Al Harrington and what he is capable of in the league. They are better off with the draft pick in my opinion

[Drex]

1... 2... 3... 4... YES WE GOT IT IT'S A WORLD RECORD !!!!

LMAO!

[Andrew]

"I haven't gotten much respect here," Robinson said. "Chicago is like a big Flint, if you ask me."

The only thing I have to say to that is respect has to be earned. Robinson may not be getting many opportunities to shine, but I don't think he's showed enough flashes of brilliance to earn the minutes he seems to believe he deserves.

[Fresh8]

Do it!

Indiana wanted to make changes to their roster...and Harrington wants to start... sort of a win-win situation!

But the Bulls will be the winners of such a trade!

[Andrew]

But the Bulls will be the winners of such a trade!

Not necessarily. Harrington could come to Chicago and never live up to the expectations once he's given a starting role, while the Bulls might have thrown away a chance to draft a good young player. Even though this year's draft doesn't appear to be as strong as last year's rookie crop, I'm very cautious about trading the third pick for a career reserve who may or may not play well consistently when he's starting full time.

[Stevan]

That's why hopefully if they pull the trigger they get a lower pick back.


It is risky, to trade the third pick, but it's not like we're trading Michael Jordan for Sam Bowie here!

I didn't know Harrington was strictly a post player. And... as everyone knows the Bulls are so packed with post players the fans are screaming for more. Eddy Curry is learning and has been inconsistent, Tyson is a garbage player who as far as I know isn't much of an option in the post, Antonio Davis (according to Limp - a good source) has no post game, and then there's who else? JYD, is he a post player offensively? Fizer? Yes but he's gone. Who else does that leave? Paul Shirley?

Al Harrington on a consistent basis off the Pacers bench scored and rebounded. 13 points, 6 boards 46% from the field in roughly 30 minutes a game. His stats are just about identical over the last 3 years. He doesn't have 3 point range apparently. He's only 24 years old. Last season he had some nice games including a 40 point game... I remember him having a stretch last season with some big numbers. I also read somewhere that his contract was fairly cheap and had 2 years to go. It's not that big a risk if the Bulls get another pick back through the deal.

Just a note, in 1999 and 2000 T-Mac had shit house percentages from down town and now in Orlando we know he can shoot the three. I'm not trying to compare the two, but I'm just saying that anything can happen with Harrington or another player people don't expect to do much.

[Andrew]

It is risky, to trade the third pick, but it's not like we're trading Michael Jordan for Sam Bowie here!

That's true. I just think the Bulls have taken too many risks in the post-Jordan era, with an ever changing face thanks to a revolving door when it comes to talent. Perhaps I'm just paranoid after all these losing seasons, but I hate seeing these risks turn out to be blunders...or at the very least, a sideways movement.

[Fresh8]

True...anything can happen- it can go either way

But I guess GM's need to choose by believing what is most likely to happen. Since Harrington has played consistently for 3 years...I see it most likely that he will.

A) He will get better
B) He will be solid like this

And it's not like he will be like Jay Williams...although there is a possibility

Therefore, Bulls IMO would still win in this trade