Who's from Chicago?
- Thread starter WDGann
- Start date
In all honesty, I think only Jerry West has been a better GM than Krause in the last two decades. Early on he got rid of dope fiends like Woolridge, Dailey, and Enis Whatley. Drafted Pippin and Grant who were hardly heralded. In this era drafted Brand, Artest, Curry and Chandler. Yea maybe he made a mistake with Williams but who would not have taken him with the second pick. Made the pivotal Oakley for Cartwright trade. Signed Kukoc, Rodman, Kerr. Was criticized for not resigning Grant who averaged about 30 missed games a year with Orlando.
Phil Jackson was unhireable in the NBA because of his counter culture rep. Couldn't even get hired as an asst. with the Knicks. He has the nerve to criticize Krause. All Krause did for him is give him a team that had been one game away from the finals in Collin's last year, put millions in his pocket, and place his ungrateful ass as a future Hall of Famer. Same to say with MJ. They paid him his NBA salary to play in the Southern Association, and 50 million his last 2 years in Chicago. He had no intention of coming back in the strike shortened season, and because of his "cigar" injury would not have been able to play anyway.
What Krause did the last few years is what no GM has the balls to do. He said essentially that any GM can try to put together a 40 win team. He took the risk of winning 15-25 now, with the chance of having a 60 win team in the future. Whoever takes over will inherit a great nucleus, but have none of Krause's vision.
Phil Jackson was unhireable in the NBA because of his counter culture rep. Couldn't even get hired as an asst. with the Knicks. He has the nerve to criticize Krause. All Krause did for him is give him a team that had been one game away from the finals in Collin's last year, put millions in his pocket, and place his ungrateful ass as a future Hall of Famer. Same to say with MJ. They paid him his NBA salary to play in the Southern Association, and 50 million his last 2 years in Chicago. He had no intention of coming back in the strike shortened season, and because of his "cigar" injury would not have been able to play anyway.
What Krause did the last few years is what no GM has the balls to do. He said essentially that any GM can try to put together a 40 win team. He took the risk of winning 15-25 now, with the chance of having a 60 win team in the future. Whoever takes over will inherit a great nucleus, but have none of Krause's vision.
Pabst,
those are some good points about krause. Like all things, when the Bulls were winning, Krause was invisible, when they started losing 50+ games per season, suddenly the little fat man was the topic of everyone's conversation. I think that it is difficult to estimate Krause's success or failure because of Jordan. Jordan was, and quite possibly still is, such a great all around leader that he could transform NBA cast-offs into great role players. Some of the players the Bulls brought in the past 3-4 years, who are here one day and gone the next...aka Miller, Mercer, Best, Oakley, etc. etc, were the caliber of players that worked perfectly in the system 5-10 years ago...I guess what eventually occured was that the Bulls, in recent years, no longer could attract would be free agents to a team that had no chance of winning in the rebuilding phase...Those same free agents would have been more willing to come, had the team been the same dynasty of yesteryear...When you have such a wreck of a team as the Bulls did for about 3-4 years, no one wants to share that misery, and the GM gets alot of the blame...
those are some good points about krause. Like all things, when the Bulls were winning, Krause was invisible, when they started losing 50+ games per season, suddenly the little fat man was the topic of everyone's conversation. I think that it is difficult to estimate Krause's success or failure because of Jordan. Jordan was, and quite possibly still is, such a great all around leader that he could transform NBA cast-offs into great role players. Some of the players the Bulls brought in the past 3-4 years, who are here one day and gone the next...aka Miller, Mercer, Best, Oakley, etc. etc, were the caliber of players that worked perfectly in the system 5-10 years ago...I guess what eventually occured was that the Bulls, in recent years, no longer could attract would be free agents to a team that had no chance of winning in the rebuilding phase...Those same free agents would have been more willing to come, had the team been the same dynasty of yesteryear...When you have such a wreck of a team as the Bulls did for about 3-4 years, no one wants to share that misery, and the GM gets alot of the blame...
good comments... that is the most support I have heard for Krause, ever. After reading your analysis I'm gonna take down my poster of MJ... and replace it with a larger one of "Executive of the Year... Jerry Krause"! :eek:
In all seriousness.. you have given me some things to think over. But I still think the guy shouldn't have traded Brand or Artest (I know Ron is a psycho!).
And Krasue wouldn't have been much without Jordan.
But time will tell if we can win more than 26 games next year with the team he's left us. The fans deserve that! And I'm a fan!
Ice
Just had a lengthy phone conversation with BJ. Seems he and Paxton ARE on the short list, but behind MJ. It's his to accept.
And yes, MJ left because he and Krause had not been on very good terms for a few years. He was not happy with some of the handling of salaries and trades. Particularly when Tony received more cash than Scottie when Scottie was putting out the numbers and getting the job done.
He was also unhappy with the retirement of Paxton. Kerr was all but a MJ choice. Without that he might have departed earlier. There was bad blood going into that last year you might remember. MJ fought for an increase for the core group. He had been very unhappy with the salary sharing from the previous championship run with Williams and he was determined to not let that happen again.
He was also behind the scenes complaining about the bench and some of the money being spent there instead of the core guys too. MJ complained about having to restart the team chemistry over every year and how hard it was on the cast. Krause made the then famous comment, "Look, we can put ANYBODY out there with MJ and win this thing all day long." So as far as developing the product then dismantling it, all Krause doing.
To give him credit, Krause had a good concept. Give MJ the tools he needed to expand his game. But then he forgot who was winning all the championships night in and out. He almost believed it WAS management. Don't you remember that comment just before the final championship playoff run began? MJ even answered in an on-camera interview, "If management thinks this is all that easy, let them put the jerseys and shoes on and come down here and do it. I didn't see any of management down here taking the last shot or putting out the D."
Yes, Krause formed and developed it. But the players played it! The defense from Scottie. The rebounding from Grant/Rodman. The stable three headed center concept anchored by Mr. Bill. The stalking D from Harper. The outside shooting from Hodges/Paxton/Kerr.
I am not speaking as much from hearsay, rather than having been associates with some of the players during the time. Horace was a close buddy that I never got over being traded. But we knew he was heading out when he did. And with all that stuff, MJ anchored, led, and bled it! It truly would be nice to see him return.
And yes, MJ left because he and Krause had not been on very good terms for a few years. He was not happy with some of the handling of salaries and trades. Particularly when Tony received more cash than Scottie when Scottie was putting out the numbers and getting the job done.
He was also unhappy with the retirement of Paxton. Kerr was all but a MJ choice. Without that he might have departed earlier. There was bad blood going into that last year you might remember. MJ fought for an increase for the core group. He had been very unhappy with the salary sharing from the previous championship run with Williams and he was determined to not let that happen again.
He was also behind the scenes complaining about the bench and some of the money being spent there instead of the core guys too. MJ complained about having to restart the team chemistry over every year and how hard it was on the cast. Krause made the then famous comment, "Look, we can put ANYBODY out there with MJ and win this thing all day long." So as far as developing the product then dismantling it, all Krause doing.
To give him credit, Krause had a good concept. Give MJ the tools he needed to expand his game. But then he forgot who was winning all the championships night in and out. He almost believed it WAS management. Don't you remember that comment just before the final championship playoff run began? MJ even answered in an on-camera interview, "If management thinks this is all that easy, let them put the jerseys and shoes on and come down here and do it. I didn't see any of management down here taking the last shot or putting out the D."
Yes, Krause formed and developed it. But the players played it! The defense from Scottie. The rebounding from Grant/Rodman. The stable three headed center concept anchored by Mr. Bill. The stalking D from Harper. The outside shooting from Hodges/Paxton/Kerr.
I am not speaking as much from hearsay, rather than having been associates with some of the players during the time. Horace was a close buddy that I never got over being traded. But we knew he was heading out when he did. And with all that stuff, MJ anchored, led, and bled it! It truly would be nice to see him return.
How about Jamal Crawford tonight. Kid took over the game. It's good to finally see the talent on this team come alive. Earlier this year I was down on Eddy Curry. He played with alot of intimidation. Crawford never seemed to get into a shooting flow, etc. Now these guys seem comfortable at the NBA level and they get into good streaks.
Even though their final record this year is going to be bad, this team is such an improvement over last years. They usually played 3 quarters of good basketball, even on the road alot of times. I think the Bulls are turning the corner.
Even though their final record this year is going to be bad, this team is such an improvement over last years. They usually played 3 quarters of good basketball, even on the road alot of times. I think the Bulls are turning the corner.