Gooden to Bulls?

[Kings113]

Daily Herald - The Bulls and Cavaliers have had discussions about 6-foot-10 power forward Drew Gooden, according to a league source.

Gooden will be a restricted free agent this summer, so it’s likely the Bulls would have to give up something in return whether they trade for him now or try to sign him during the off-season. The most logical fit in a trade would be Chris Duhon, since the Cavaliers are hurting for a true point guard.

There are times when Gooden appears to be a very good player. He’s averaging 11.1 points and 8.8 rebounds this season, which is actually down from 14.4 and 9.2 last year. His minutes have dropped slightly with the addition of Donyell Marshall.

The issue with Gooden is he’s been traded twice in four NBA seasons and many observers don’t expect him to stay in Cleveland. Such a history always raises a red flag, since it’s natural to assume something must be wrong with the guy if three teams don’t want him.

But Gooden has an advocate on the Bulls in Kirk Hinrich, a former teammate at Kansas. Any negatives in Gooden’s game have gone unnoticed by the Bulls’ point guard.

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/39003/20060206/bulls_and_cavs_discuss_a_gooden_deal/

I think this would be a good trade for the Bulls, finally getting more size and a good young PF. Would also solve the Bulls overload at PG.

I'd hate to see Duhon leave the Bulls, he's been a huge part of their revival, swagger, and one of my favorite Bulls. But he really would be perfect for the Cavs, would get his starting job back, and could truly take off. Skiles absolutely loves him though, so who knows.

 

[Bricklayer]

If Gooden is 6'10" so am I. An upgrade of sorts if they do it, but he's no bigger than the pile of guys they already have there -- Sweetney, Songaila, Harrington etc. What they really need to do is get a center back so they can move Chandler back over to PF, but just aren't many out there and available.

 

[bozzwell]

Bulls are a case study of how you _can_ have too much of a good thing in the NBA. Lots of young players on rookie or reasonable contracts (except Chandler), tonnes of cap space in upcoming FA season and draft picks galore (especially that 1st from NYK). Still, they are undersized and don't have a real center. Their best young players are all either 1's or 3's (Hinrich, Duhon, Gordon, Deng, Nocioni etc.). Basically, Bulls are stuck in a holding pattern of being a middling team because they are paralized by the moves that they don't want to make - like trading Gordon who is undersized for 2 and not really good enough to play 1. Adding Gooden would give them near monopoly on undersized 4's in the league.

You would think that with 2 st round picks, expiring contracts and duplicative talent on the roster they would be looking at mega-deals right now, but all they can come up with is Gooden?

 

[Kings113]

No. There's also been Al Harrington/Ben Wallace/Nene/Peja in the summer (and at the deadline for Harrington).