I. Season Overview

The Bulls finished yet another dismal and disappointing year in the cellar of the NBA. It all  started during last years draft when the Bulls GM Jerry Krause pulled the trigger on a draft day deal that sent All-Star Power forward and leading Scorer Elton Brand to the Clippers for the second pick in the draft (High Schooler Tyson Chandler) and Brian Skinner (later released). 

The Bulls then picked High Schooler Eddie Curry in the same round. The Bulls signed Charles Oakley in attempt to educate these youngsters and help there development. That move seemed to back fire as Oakley spoke out against the youngsters saying that he needed more playing time. 

The Bulls also Signed free agent Eddie Robinson from Charlotte in the off season and he showed a lot of flashes that he could become a star for the Bulls but never remained healthy enough to become a real threat. 

Jamal Crawford (last years pick up at the point guard position) was hurt in the off season and was out most of the season with an injury. When he did play at the end of the year he didn't show the improvement in his game. 

Personally I can see Cartwright playing Crawford at the Shooting guard position at times next season. Ron Artest showed an ability to become a scorer when he returned from an off-season injury. Then the Bulls received an offer that was to good to refuse. The Bulls traded Artest, Mercer, Miller, and Kevin Ollie to Indiana for Jalen Rose, Travis Best and a 2nd rounder in this years draft. With the addition of Rose and Best, Chicago became a much improved ball club (although it did not reflect in there record).

II. Draft History (Displayed are first round picks over the last 10 years.)

Chicago was awarded a franchise on April 30 1966, and were the first expansion team to ever reach the playoffs in NBA history. The first Coach was Johnny "Red" Kerr, no relation to Steve Kerr who later played for the Bulls.

• 2001:Eddie Curry (Thornwood HS.), 4th pick (Elton Brand was traded for the Number two pick in the draft which turned out to be Tyson Chandler another Highschooler)
• 2000: Marcus Fizer (Iowa State), 4th pick, Dalibor Bagaric (Europe), 24th pick
• 1999: Elton Brand (Duke), 1st pick; Ron Artest (St. John's)
• 1998: Corey Benjamin (Oregon State), 28th pick
• 1997: Keith Booth (Maryland), 28th pick
• 1996: Travis Knight (UConn), 29th pick
• 1995: Jason Caffey (Alabama), 20th pick
• 1994: Dickey Simpkins (Providence), 21st pick
• 1993: Corie Blount (Cincinnati), 25th pick
• 1992: Byron Houston (Oklahoma State), 27th pick

III. Management and Coaching

GM Jerry Krause almost dug his own grave by some of the quotes that he has made in the past. "Players don't win championships, organizations win championships!" Those are some pretty insulting words for a player to hear after he just poured his heart out on the hardwood for his team, only to have a GM say that if it wasn't for me drafting, and trading behind the scene's you would have never got this opportunity. Those are hard words for any player to hear let alone the greatest player to ever play the game in Michael Jordan. As a result the Chicago Bulls have suffered since the departure of the greatest Bulls team ever. 

At the first of this season the Chicago Bulls GM Jerry Krause was content with going into another season with his self appointed fishing buddy Tim Floyd (a former collage coach from Iowa State). But Tim grew more and more disappointed with the way the players were not buying into him and his program. During the Season Tim decided to resign as coach but asked that Krause give Bill Cartwright a chance as interim coach as Floyd felt he was a coach that the players respected and looked up to. Tim was right, and Bill improved the ball club even though the Bulls did not improve there win, lose record. 

The Bulls this year are looking to improve on and try to make it to the playoffs for the first time since loosing Jordan and company. They feel that they can do this with a some major off season moves that Will give them some key players. Since free agency is always a question mark when it come to Chicago, the Bulls will more than likely have to get some highly experience collage players from the draft, that can make and immediate impact. 

If they cannot make the playoffs this year look for owner Jerry Reinsdorf to pull the plug on Jerry Krause as the Bulls GM but try to talk him into staying as GM of the White Sox (Major League Basball team that Jerry Reinsdorf owns), and Put B.J. Armstrong in his place.

V. Players

Center:  

Eddy Curry- We all know this guy was so hyped up in Illinois last year that if Krause did not pick him and he was available, that he would never live it down. Eddy will be a great player and proved it in some of his limited time last year. Eddy does tend not to play hard when loosing by a large margin. And needs to improve his 15ft jumper.

Dalibar Bagaric- If this guy was not tall he would have been on the next plane back to Croatia. Someone needs to tell Krause this guy is awful and I think Charles Barkley has on several occasions. If Gadzuric is drafted by the Bulls this guy is toast.

Forwards:  

Jalen Rose - A very good player but almost to good for his own good, seeing as he feels he needs to take a lot of shots, most of them in three on one situations that he should pass out of. Needs to be a stronger defensive player also.

Marcus Fizer - He has shown flashes that he could be a very great player(even better than Elton Brand). He just needs more playing time in which he will get a lot more of this year. Needs to learn also that rebounds are just as important if not more than point.

Tyson Chandler - This youngster will be an all-star someday. He has so many moves down low and can score from almost anywhere. He comes out of no where to block shots. When he gains the knowledge of playing in the NBA and with a full year under his belt give this kid some playing time and watch out.

Eddie Robinson - He has been on the down low so to speak! All this guy does is score points when no one else can to keep you in ball games. His health has been more of an issue than anything else.

Guards:  

Travis Best - I solid point guard that can give you big minutes in games but is almost too unselfish, and needs to be more of a strong finisher on the fast break.

Jamal Crawford - He has shown flashes that he could be a star but with the injuries we can't tell. Need to keep himself healthy and play a few more pick games with MJ.

A.J. Guyton - I solid point guard that can give you solid minutes in games but has to knock down the three pointer when called upon. Needs to also work on his defensive skills.

Trenton Hassel - might be the NBA's biggest bargain considering he was a second round pick and has started on many occasions. He is a great defensive player and good ball handler. More like Norm Van Lier than any other player to my knowledge. Need to develop his outside shooting more.

Fred Hoiberg - Her is very versatile and can knock down the open three but I don't see him sticking around the Bulls very much longer.

Norm Richardson - Good young ball player, but also wont be around much longer. Will be an NBA journey man.

V. Team Needs and Possible Offseason Moves

This team is a lot better than their record indicates. They are also very young with the additions from the draft last year in Eddie Curry and Tyson Chandler. They look to get even younger by letting Charles Oakley leave by way of Free Agency. Marcus Fizer will most likely step In the role of Starting Power Forward with Chandler seeing some time at that spot also. 

Chandler will play a very important role next year because he may be asked to play Small and power forward some along with the Center spot, but he has shown that he is talented enough to do so. It also looks like Eddie Robinson may be asked to play a lot at the shooting guard position next year.

It looks like at this point the Bulls will release Travis Best and A.J. Guyton for cap reasons as well as more playing time for the new draft pick hopeful Jay Williams and Jamal Crawford. They look to split time unless a good offer is on the table for Crawford.

Also it looks as if the Bulls will be getting a new public address speaker as they have fired Ray Clay there long time announcer. The job now looks to be in the hands of a young DJ named Steve Scott. 

VI. My selection

With the 2nd pick in the 2002 Usenet Mock NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls select: Jay Williams

Strengths: He is a great outside shooter with a smooth stroke, similar to Ray Allen's. Very quick and explosive, as well as being a great defender. Has a good feel for the basket, especially on the move. Strong finisher, an attacker on the offensive side of the ball, unbelievable motor, with incredible scoring instinct. Very good intensity, competitiveness, and shows some of the same fire to his game as a guy who has a statue with his likeness outside of the United Center. His three point stroke, is beyond NBA range. He has the quickness to excel in the NBA and can use his strength to overpower opposing guards. He has Magic Johnson like ability to make the hardest passes look easy. He has a killer instinct, not found in a lot of .

Weaknesses: Consistency, He has had some games in which he just has not shown up as far as stats but this could be the results of playing within coach K's system. Still needs to improve his free throw shooting.

VII. Other Players Considered

Yao Ming - Yao is a tremendous athlete as 7-5 285, but the Chinese star will need to gain a lot of weight and learn the NBA quick in order to not be abused by Shaq. He can knock down the open shot all the way past the NBA three point line. Jerry Krause loves him but is somewhat glad he does not have the opportunity to take him because playing time would be torn between last year pick Eddie Curry and Ming.

Mike Dunleavy - The 6-9 220 Mike Dunleavy is also a great player with an incredible outside shooting touch for a big man. He sees the floor very well, and is an unselfish player. Mike is a student of the game as his father is a coach and is a product of coach K's system.
The only reason the Bulls will not take him is because Jay William is just to good to pass on, and that there Small Forward spot is taken with Jalen Rose.

VIII. Likely Selection

I believe this will be the first draft in a long time that Jerry Krause will be a little more on the conservative side and draft a player who will be a solid player rather than a potential superstar. This is not saying that Jay Williams (who I believe the Bulls will select with the 2nd pick) will not be a superstar but at least Jerry knows that he is getting a solid point guard that will be a leader, and is un-selfish. 

The second round we should see more of the same as the Bulls feel that with the 31st pick of the Draft the can pick up Dan Gadzuric the 6-11 245 Center from UCLA. He is projected to possible go to the Kings with the 28th pick but the Bulls believe he will slip because the Kings will address a need at the 2 guard spot.

With the 44th pick of the Draft Chicago hopes to select Juan Dixon the 6-3 shooting guard from Maryland. The knock on Juan is that he is to short to play the 2 guard spot in the NBA. He could easily fall to this spot if the Lakers don't jump on him in the first round. I can say this is all possibility but the way it is looking now it is a probability, and if so the Bulls will no longer be the laughing stock of the NBA!