Horns vs. Antlers: Skiles, Bucks look like viable rivals
Considering the proximity between the Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks, the two teams haven't developed much of a rivalry.
When was the last time both teams were concurrent NBA contenders? Probably 1974, the year the Bucks and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar swept the Bulls in the Western Conference finals.
These two locales may soon have more in common than crippling road construction. While the Bulls lucked into No. 1 draft pick Derrick Rose, the Bucks made something happen on draft day by acquiring forward Richard Jefferson from New Jersey.
This is the same Jefferson who averaged 24.7 points against the Bulls last season, who owns enough speed to make life difficult for Luol Deng, and has never lost a home game to the Bulls during seven years with the Nets.
You think Milwaukee coach Scott Skiles had all those points in mind when the trade was being negotiated?
The Bucks' new general manager, Zion native John Hammond, demonstrated right away that he plans to aggressively rebuild the roster. Remember, as Joe Dumars' right-hand man in Detroit, Hammond helped make the Bulls look silly a few times.
The Jefferson deal could be a steal for Milwaukee, since the cost was ineffective forward Bobby Simmons and reluctant Wisconsin native Yi Jianlian. The 7-footer from China wasn't a flop as a rookie, but he definitely showed signs of being a finesse player whose best talent is spot-up shooting.
Now Hammond must find a way to exchange Mo Williams for a point guard who will pass the ball inside once in a while. Miami showed interest in Williams last summer, and the Bucks made a mistake by not sending him south. Williams is a bad fit next to Michael Redd.
Some might say Kirk Hinrich would be a good match for Milwaukee. But even if the Bulls move Hinrich this summer, they would want more in return than unfocused power forward Charlie Villanueva, which is about the extent of the Bucks' assets.
So Milwaukee took a bold step last week. Some other moves in the Eastern Conference weren't quite as positive.
Toronto took the biggest risk by adding often-injured Indiana forward Jermaine O'Neal for guard T.J. Ford, center Rasho Nesterovic and the No. 17 pick, Georgetown center Roy Hibbert.
If O'Neal is healthy, how well will he fit next to Raptors forward Chris Bosh? Two 20-point scorers posting up at the same time is an unusual concept. If O'Neal is injured again, Toronto won't have much size beyond Bosh.
Indiana made progress toward developing an up-tempo style by adding Ford and guard Jarrett Jack from Portland in a pair of deals that aren't yet official. But the Pacers still have some odd-shaped pieces when they play 6-9 Mike Dunleavy at two guard or Troy Murphy at center.
New Jersey still has some talented players, but its primary goal appears to be creating cap room in 2010 to sign Jay-Z confidant LeBron James just in time for the team's move to Brooklyn.
In the meantime, maybe the Bulls can finally snap their 13-game losing streak in East Rutherford. The Nets' arena is just a few miles down the road from the studio in Secaucus where the Bulls recorded a huge win in the draft lottery.
City of champions
In the past 12 months, the Celtics and Red Sox have won championships, while the Patriots completed the NFL's first 16-0 regular season. So does that give Boston the greatest one-year run of any American city?
The answer is no. It will be a long time before any city tops Philadelphia in 1976. Here's why:
1. Bicentennial
2. "Rocky" wins best picture.
3. Phillies make playoffs for first time in 26 years.
4. Flyers one year removed from back-to-back Stanley Cup titles.
5. 76ers purchase ABA star Julius Erving from Nets.
6. Vince Papale story plays out with the Eagles and new head coach Dick Vermiel.
Richards picks Heat
Davidson point guard Jason Richards, a Barrington native, went undrafted but will sign with the Miami Heat, according to the Charlotte Observer. Richards is expected to join the Heat's summer-league team, which is scheduled to play the Bulls on July 7 in Orlando. Richards led the nation in assists, while Davidson came within a basket of beating eventual champ Kansas in the regional final.
Quotable
"I was up until 2 a.m. the night before the draft trying to get Michael Beasley or O.J. Mayo. I'd be a liar if I didn't say we tried everything we could to originally get Beasley. We couldn't get Beasley, so then we tried to get Mayo."
- Memphis owner Michael Heisley on his team's draft plans, which ended with the Grizzlies acquiring Mayo from Minnesota for Mike Miller and the rights to No. 5 pick Kevin Love.