Chandler big factor for Hornets

If general manager John Paxson decided to make a list of the Bulls players having disappointing seasons, all he'd have to do is photocopy the roster.

There have been flashes of promising play here and there, but nobody has gone above or beyond expectations, which is why the Bulls are floundering at 20-30.

With just more than a week remaining before the Feb. 21 trade deadline, the Bulls will get a reminder tonight of the dangers of giving up on a player after a disappointing season.

The Bulls traded center Tyson Chandler to the Hornets after he averaged 5.3 points and 9.0 rebounds in 2005-06. In return, they got veteran power forward P.J. Brown, who unofficially retired after spending one season in Chicago.

Essentially, the Bulls swapped Chandler for Ben Wallace. Chandler signed a six-year, $63 million contract the year before he was traded, so basically the Bulls cleared spots on the roster and payroll to add Wallace as a free agent.

That move isn't looking so good these days, either. Chandler returns to town tonight averaging 12.2 points and 12.3 rebounds and shooting 61 percent. New Orleans ranks second in the powerful Western Conference with a 34-15 record.

"He looks like he's playing with more confidence," coach Jim Boylan said Monday at the Berto Center.

Boylan was an assistant coach for two seasons while Chandler played for the Bulls.

"He's matured a little bit as a player. I think in his life, he's gotten a little more stability. I'm happy for him. Tyson is a great kid. I really like him. He's really blossoming into a good NBA player."

In his blog for NBA.com, Chandler wrote that he deserves to make the all-star team. The entry appeared a day before he found out he was not named one of the West reserves.

"I feel like I've had an all-star-type year," Chandler wrote. "My numbers have been great against every all-star name that's been out there. Also, my team is in first place in the Western Conference.

"I've never had the numbers to even be mentioned for the All-Star Game. I know that. This is the first time I feel like there's an actual shot that I can be playing in the game."

Of course, this is one of those chicken vs. egg arguments. Did the Bulls give up on Chandler too soon, or is a large part of his success due to playing with Chris Paul, one of the league's premier young point guards?

The 7-foot Chandler spent five seasons with the Bulls after his draft rights were acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers for Elton Brand in 2001. His best statistical performances with the Bulls were 9.2 points in 2002-03 and 9.7 rebounds in 2004-05.

Chandler seemed to lose confidence in his offensive skills over the course of his Bulls career and began to play like Dennis Rodman, where every time he got an offensive rebound, he immediately looked to pass the ball.

"Chris Paul does a nice job of getting him a lot of things around the basket," Boylan said. "But Tyson is playing really well."

Chandler missed New Orleans' last two games with an illness, but he practiced Monday and is expected to be in the starting lineup tonight at the United Center.

Paul has had an interesting week. He recorded 16 assists and 2 points Saturday against Memphis. On Feb. 4, he was thoroughly outplayed by Utah's Deron Williams, finishing with 6 points and 6 assists. In between, Paul exploded for 42 points, 9 assists and 8 steals in a win at Phoenix.

The value of a confident playmaker was apparent Saturday when the Bulls finished a six-game road trip by losing 97-87 at Utah. Williams, the former Illinois star, led an efficient Jazz offense. Whenever the Bulls left an opening, Utah usually scored in a matter of seconds.

The Bulls can recognize mismatches, but it often takes them five seconds or more to get the ball into the post -- and only after the intended target moves 15 feet from the basket to meet the pass.

"In that particular game, we were missing a lot of pieces," Boylan said. "Sometimes we struggle in transition or finding ourselves some easy shots. I can't really comment on what it would be like to have someone of (Paul or Williams') ability, because that's not reality."