I'm being shameless here, but I'm lifting the Crawford rumors out of Chad Ford's column today (sub. reqd.):
Isiah Thomas wants Jamal Crawford. How badly? Sources claim the Knicks and Bulls are talking about a deal that would have the Knicks swallowing the contracts of Eddie Robinson and Jerome Williams in an effort to convince the Bulls to do a sign-and-trade.
Of course, the Bulls would have to take back a bad contract, as well -- Shandon Anderson's. So far they've been reluctant to do even that. They've been pushing for the Knicks to trade Dikembe Mutombo, Othella Harrington and Frank Williams for Crawford. Mutombo and Harrington are in the last years of their contracts, offering the Bulls more long-term salary cap relief. Still, despite the snags, expect something to happen here soon. It's pretty clear the Bulls don't want Crawford back (agent Aaron Goodwin claims they haven't even made an offer), and the Bulls are reluctant to pull the trigger on their free-agent favorite -- Brian Cardinal -- until they figure out what to do with Crawford.
Chicago also has been talking to the Heat, who might be able to offer a slightly better deal -- Caron Butler and Eddie Jones for Crawford, Williams and Robinson -- but they're a little preoccupied with the Shaq talks at the moment and aren't offering Crawford as lucrative a contract.
So there you go. That's what I call blogging journalism. I think we'd all agree that the Heat deal is a little sweeter. Get some wing players who can put the ball in the hoop. And guard a little as well. As much as it seems the Bulls are through with Crawford (and I am too), they do need people to replace his scoring. Ben Gordon can pick up some slack, but even with Crawford the Bulls offense was abysmal, so more help needs to come. Moving on...
I haven't made a comment yet on the Free Agent signings that have run rampant over the past week. Let me just say I'm almost glad the Bulls don't have cap space, because there are some UGLY deals going down. Check out all the numbers from EoTB, he's understandably miffed at the whole thing. Suddenly the Eddie Robinson contract doesn't look so bad. Well...maybe I won't go that far.
On the Carlos Boozer defection to Utah, go here and learn why we're lucky to have the right Paxson brother as the Bulls GM. This is the kind of mistake people get fired for.
I'll be back later in the weekend to go over the Summer League squad. Oh and some links will be changin' shortly. So keep hitting refresh every 5 minutes or so.