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Rebuild-A-Bulls With six picks in first 34, Chicago can improve
Posted: Tuesday June 27, 2000 05:20 PM
CHICAGO (AP) -- Two years after Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen's last celebration in Grant Park, the Chicago Bulls are still seeking the path back to respectability. Their meager 30 wins the last two seasons have shown just how far the Rebuild-A-Bulls have slipped, how quickly their championship run went away. Now, in Wednesday's NBA draft, they have six selections with which to forge a future. Can the Bulls find the players to blend with co-rookie of the year Elton Brand, last year's No. 1 pick? Or will they package some of their selections and trade them for an established or promising player? Chicago has three first-round selections -- Nos. 4, 7 and 24 - and then picks 32-34, which fall in the second round. "We feel we will get two really good players there," general manager Krause says of the fourth and seventh selections. And for Krause, who many think hurried the breakup of the six-time champions so he could start the rebuilding, it is one of the franchise's most important drafts. The Bulls also have ample salary cap room to lure free agents, a process that begins July 1, when teams can start negotiating. The field of free agents is an impressive one, featuring Tim Duncan, Grant Hill, Jalen Rose, Eddie Jones, Tracy McGrady and Tim Thomas. With Brand and last year's fellow rookie Ron Artest in place, the Bulls need everything -- a point guard, a center, a small forward and a shooting guard. "We're going to work hard and hope things work out and we're able to come out of this thing looking like an improved team going into next year," coach Tim Floyd said. No one is more eager than Floyd to start winning. After leaving a successful program at Iowa State, Floyd's two-year NBA record is 30-102. The Bulls recently cut veteran center Will Perdue to free up money, putting them in the market for a big man, perhaps Chris Mihm of Texas, who has solid offensive skills, but whose toughness has been questioned. Among the other players mentioned as potential Chicago choices are East St. Louis prep player Darius Miles, Florida swingman Mike Miller, Fresno State guard Courtney Alexander, Hofstra guard Speedy Claxton or Minnesota center Joel Pryzbilla. Or, reports say, the Bulls could be interested in trading picks to get young Portland backup center Jermaine O'Neal. And the Bulls aren't just counting on their first-round selections. They also plan to find a player or players in the second round who can contribute, as well. "Not enough has been talked about the 32nd, 33rd and 34th [overall] picks," Floyd said. "Those are key picks. If we can steal a guy the caliber of a Rashard Lewis with one of those picks, it certainly could be beneficial." A year ago, the Bulls took Tulsa rebounder Michael Ruffin in the second round.
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