Chicago Tribune NBA columnist Sam Smith stopped by the NBA Vine to discuss whether the Bulls’ front office could have tried harder to acquire Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant, his thoughts on the firing of Scott Skiles and Isiah Thomas’ chance of turning things around in New York.
Q: Sam, thanks for stopping by the NBA Vine. The Bulls have been known to start recent seasons slowly. Why the move to fire Scott Skiles this early? Do you agree with Bulls’ management on this decision?
A. I probably would have given him more time, though I suppose when something is inevitable why wait. That seemed to be the Bulls thinking. I feel it’s more an indictment on the players, but some had quit playing, namely Ben Wallace, who skipped a pair of games with a phantom injury. I’d never do that at work no matter how I felt about my boss, but I suppose it’s a different level of pride for some NBA players. Skiles, too, had lost considerable enthusiasm, almost as it he were inviting the departure. It was if he were saying he’d taken them as far as they could go. So I can’t quibble that much with the timing.
Q: During a recent TNT broadcast, Charles Barkley stated that he didn’t think it was fair that Scott Skiles was fired. Further adding, “I don’t ever say if guys should get hired and fired, that’s not my job. My job is to analyze the game. The person that didn’t trade for Kevin Garnett last year should get fired. You have a chance to get Kevin Garnett and Pau Gasol, you (have) to make that trade. That’s the person who made a bad decision.” That quote seems to be a jab at GM John Paxson, was the blame in Chi-town falsely directed at Skiles?
A. I thought Skiles got off pretty unscathed. It obviously was aimed at Paxson, but Barkley, while entertaining and a wonderful man, has never been friends with information and facts. I’m convinced no one tried harder than the Bulls to get Garnett and offered the best package, far better than they got from Boston. At one time, Minnesota could have had Chandler, Deng and the No. 2 overall pick in the draft. Minnesota would not deal with the Bulls. I think there’s still a chance to get Gasol, who isn’t exactly Garnett. He’s 0-12 in his career in playoff games.
Q: Changing gears, we all know that Ben Gordon wants to be a full time starter, but his numbers are always better off the bench. Do you think that he will be back in a Bulls uniform next season?
A. Probably not, though this all depends on other deals and factors. It’s not like the Bulls don’t like Gordon. They do. But they suddenly have so many other needs-size inside, big shooting guard-they could move Gordon to accommodate some of that. I’d love to see him stay as that great scoring sixth man can be like a great reliever in baseball.
Q: The Knicks recently were in Chicago. Tough loss. Isiah Thomas has gone on record saying that he believes he can “win a championship,” in New York. Do you think he’ll be around NY long enough to live out that prediction?
A. No one does, but let’s also remember neither was Pat Riley, Hubie Brown, Larry Brown, Jeff Van Gundy, Willis Reed and Don Nelson, some great coaches there. It’s not easy to win and the Knicks haven’t in 35 years. So I don’t fully understand all the anti-Isiah sentiment. I recall when Red Holzman came back in 1978 they couldn’t wait to run him out and the back pages of the tabloids had Jeff Van Gundy with a noose around his neck in 1999 before they went to the finals. Strange things happen in the NBA and what if LeBron wants to play in New York when he becomes a free agent?
Q: Who is your rookie of the year so far this season?
A. Not a great season, but Kevin Durant clearly is the head of the class, though the Sonics are wearing him out with so little help.
Q: Last question. Now this is my opinion. Every Bulls fan from the Michael Jordan era that I’ve come across, generally does not like Lakers star Kobe Bryant. Do you feel that these fans at heart are really disappointed that a deal couldn’t be made to bring him to Chicago earlier this year?
A. I don’t fully understand that, but you’d have to be disappointed not having Bryant. He’s the best individual player in the game today. There really was no chance the Lakers were trading him to the Bulls without the Bulls giving up five of their top six players and draft picks. Kobe would have retired rather than play with the team that was left. Bulls fans generally are frustrated because the promise was there after improving each season and now the Bulls look like another team stuck in the middle.
Q: Sam, appreciate your time. You must stop by the vine again.
A. Sure
Sam Smith is the NBA columnist for The Chicago Tribune
