Research Proves Wade Wrong on comments about Managments Loyalty Toward Players
I have been doing some research after Dwyane Wade made comments about the Chicago Bulls organization having loyalty issues since Michael Jordan is no longer involved. Wade said Pippen too, but we can argue the claim later.
His statement sparked some interest to see if any players have worked for the team after retirement. I knew John Paxson, Johnny Red Kerr, Norm Van Lier and a few others had returned to work with the Bulls, but I didn’t know the full lineup.
Norm Van Lier
I contacted the Chicago Bulls office, and exchanged emails with Bull’s public relations man, Shaun Hickenbottom. He was able to give me a lengthy list of ex-players who work or have worked within the organization or have been an ambassador for the Bulls in the community.
The Backlash of Wade’s Comments Towards the Bulls
Yesterday the Miami Heat’s superstar guard Dwyane Wade made some comments about the Chicago Bulls being disloyal to it’s past superstars Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.
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It might have been a good idea to do this before he made the comments.
I think Wade is uninformed. Many Bulls have come back to the organization in some way or another. John Paxson is the current Executive Vice President of Basketball Operation.
There hasn’t been any sign or statement within the organization or from MJ and Pippen proving Wade’s theory true.
Retired Bull’s General Manager Jerry Krause may have had a play in this disloyal debate. Phil Jackson and him didn’t get along. Still, there isn’t any reason to blame an organization for one man, who isn’t even in the company anymore.
Unfortunately, I think this means Wade is not going to come to the Chicago Bulls.
It could be a good sign, because I don’t know if Wade and Rose would have worked well together. They play the same style of game. The bad part is, will his comments and stand against the Bulls influence other free agents. Boozer said he would play in Chicago, but what about Chris Bosh, Lebron James or even Ray Allen?
Vinny has reached his expiration date
Vinny Del Negro is going to get fired tomorrow. After two average regular seasons with 41-41 records, followed with consecutive first round playoff exits, the Bulls are ready to move on to bigger and better head coaches.
[picappgallerysingle id="8603038"]Del Negro has one more year left on his contract worth $2 million. The Bulls are making the right decision by ”eatting ” the money and replacing him with somebody who can make a difference.
The way the Cookie Crumbles
Erin Redmond from larrybrownsports.com took a stab at the Bull’s record and their chance of making the playoffs. He blames the playoff system and doesn’t see why the Bulls should be in the post season with a “crappy” record. I think we need to quit blaming systems and realize this is how the cookie crumbles.
I agree the Bulls fell apart in the second half of the season. Trades, injuries and a head coach who should have never got the job justify their losing ways. Joakim Noah was hurt for almost two months, Derrick Rose, Kirk Hinrich and Luol Deng have all missed games. John Salmons, one of the Bulls top scorers, was traded; same as a key defensive player in Tyrus Thomas. Enough said, I get Redmond’s point.
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Bulls could use a big man/ Big Z needs a job
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Zydrunas Ilgauskas, “Big Z”, is officially a free agent. The Washington Wizards, who picked him up in a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers shortly before the deadline, bought out his $11.5 million contract and then released him.
Big Z can not go back to the Cavaliers for 30 days but could be picked up by any team immediately with a prorated share of the veteran’s minimum. He is still valuable and could help teams make the playoffs or into later rounds.
He is a solid veteran big man. The Cavaliers were his team before Lebron James dropped in the team’s lap. Besides having knee problems in his first couple of seasons, his numbers are very consistent. He was only a few rebounds away from averaging a double-double for a season multiple times in his 10 years on the team. A couple years ago, he was the only respectable center in the eastern conference.
