Chad Ford's latest chat inspired me to put together an Elton Brand trade:

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/traderesult?players=1711~2381~3030~91~1725&teams=20~20~20~4~4&te=&cash=

Bulls get:

Elton Brand

Kareem Rush

76ers get:

Ben Gordon

Drew Gooden

Cedric Simmons

Deal works for the 76ers because it dumps the suddenly bad contract of Elton Brand with several expirings.  But the expirings also have talent so they can still make a playoff run. BG gives them the shooter they've desperately been seeking as well.  With Brand and Gooden out as free agents, they would also be under the cap in order to re-sign BG. Presumably next season Speights could help fill Brand/Gooden shoes.

Deal works for the Bulls because they get a low post presence (hooray).  They also get value for BG in case he's leaving this summer. Brand's contract is a bit much, but it still should allows the team to be under the cap in 2010 if they want to go out of there way to be (ahem Noc/Tyrus/Thabo have to go).  It also avoids the luxury tax for both teams.

I think it's time to just sit back, take a breath, and realize it's never going to happen for Tyrus. At least not with the Bulls. This is now his third year, historically the year that players make a big leap in their game.  After three years, I can honestly say he is no better today than he was as a rookie. His game is one problem after another. The biggest problem being he has no game.

He is a jack of all trades, below average at everything, master of nothing. This problem causes him to remain completely unfocused for what he should be doing on the court.  At least with Noah (who probably should go too), he knows his limitations and has a mold for what type of player he should be.  With Tyrus, he can't decide where to apply any of his various skills. For every positive, there's a negative.

He has great form but can't shoot.

He has great athleticism but chooses not to take advantage of it.

He has great defensive tools but can't seem to keep his head in the game.

Patience is always something I feel should be preached, especially as it applies to Paxson and VDN etc.  But with Tyrus, there doesn't seem to be any true development.  He isn't moving in a positive directions. If anything his game is trending downward.  There's no point in finding patience for a guy who just doesn't seem to get it or even learn from his mistakes. I can't find any negatives that I remember from his rookie year that he has corrected now in his 3rd year. 

I watched him specifically against Cleveland as well as Cedric Simmons. While I was watching, I did my own personal scouting to ask who was the former #2 (or 4) pick? You know, if I had no idea and just watched for the first time.  At the end, I found myself leaning towards Simmons because of his height, strength, and finishing advantages. I know it was only one game, but when Tyrus athleticism isn't on display, he appears below average as a player. 

Tyrus has been compared to several players (Kemp, Marion, Stoudemire). I decided to post their career links below. I want someone to find any real similarities in their games. Go ahead, try your best.  He may have their athleticism, but he doesn't have any of their skill.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/k/kempsh01.html

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mariosh01.html

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/stoudam01.html

All of these players made waves by their second year or sooner.  Tyrus is now in his third year, two removed from high school on top of that. He is not exactly the young raw player he once was. He's just the moderately young, moderately raw bust. The Bulls need to move him and move on. I wish him well, hopefully he can have a Tyson-like resurgence. 

I wanted to close out this post with a bang by comparing his numbers with a guy he does resemble. But sadly, upon looking at it, even Stromile Swift was outperforming Tyrus at this point in his career. 

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/swiftst01.html

Houston sends: Rafer Alston, Carl Landy

Chicago sends: Kirk Hinrich

This trade is pretty simple and helps with one of our team problems, interior strength. Alston's salary comes off the books next year and Landry has potential as a starting PF. I don't believe his again ridiculously high PER (20.17) will keep up for 35 minutes a night, but he can play. The best part about him is his contract. 3mm for this year and next. And in 2010, a TEAM option at 3mm. So either you can dump him for cap space or keep him as a low cost big. This also shaves off about 1.25mm from the luxury tax line for next year.

Houston needs a point guard, preferable one who can shoot and defend. Hinrich reasonably fills those spots and clears up their log jam at PF. They basically have Artest, Scola, and Chuck Hayes filling that spot. Especially once Battier comes back.

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