Well Pippen Peoples, it looks like we are coming down to the wire in our Chicago Bulls Trade Talk series. Pippen Ain’t Easy has been counting down the five best and worst trades in Chicago Bulls history. Hopefully you have a deeper historic insight in the front office moves and have learned something along the way. It has been insightful for me and I have a deeper understanding of how the franchise was built-in the glory days of the 90’s down to the demise of the 2000’s. With the lack of trades that are going on lately, I thought Pippen Ain’t Easy could do something to fill the void.
With Kevin Love passing on the Bulls and being traded to Cleveland last month, it looks like another Kevin is being linked to the Bulls. There are rumors that the Minnesota Timberwolves are interested in dealing Kevin Martin for the right price. I think this floating rumor is one-sided with the Timberwolves trying to shed players to start over in the post-Love era. For more information and analysis on this possible rumor, check out Pippen Ain’t Easy for the breakdown.
This has been a busy offseason for the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls front office made some wonderful moves building the roster, but sometimes it would be interesting if the Bulls could land that No.1 choice free agent. The Bulls has always been the bridesmaid and never the bride in this scenario. But history has shown us that the Bulls have always built their successful teams through the draft and timely under the radar free agents. The number two best trade on the Chicago Bulls Trade Talk list definitely fits the bill.
Before we get started, let’s do a quick recap of the best trades up until this point.
Chicago’s 5th best trade ever…
The Chicago Bulls trade one three peat center (Stacey King) for another (Luc Longley).
The start of this series discussed the Chicago Bulls trading Stacey King, who was a member of the first three-peat squad to Minnesota for Luc Longley. This was a swap of two lottery busts. Luc Longley went on to become the starting center to the second three peat squads, while Stacey King became a great Bulls announcer who we all will be listening to this year on the Chicago Bulls network.
Chicago’s 4th best trade ever…
Jerry Krause trades Charles Oakley and a first round pick (Rod Strickland) to the New York Knicks for Bill Cartwright and a first round pick (Will Perdue).
This trade is directly linked to the second best trade in Chicago Bulls history (more on that later). But this trade basically ended any chance of Michael Jordan and Jerry Krause ever getting along. Krause traded Jordan’s best friend in Oakley for a rim protector and defender in Cartwright. The fact that this trade actually worked kept Jerry Krause from turning up missing with Jordan being the prime suspect. It also started the domination of the NBA for most of the decade.
Chicago’s 3rd best trade ever…
The Chicago Bulls trade Reggie Theus to the Kansas City Kings for Steve Johnson and three-second round picks.
This trade ended up putting the Bulls in position to draft Michael Jordan. You ask why wouldn’t this trade be number one? Because the Bulls never wanted Jordan. They wanted to draft Akeem Olajuwon, the consensus number one pick. This trade was just to dump games to try to get the number one pick. Thanks to the Chicago Bulls and the Houston Rockets, there is now a NBA Draft lottery. Drafting Jordan was finding a needle in a haystack because it was an accident.
Now that you have the recaps, let’s continue the Chicago Bulls Trade Talk series with the second best trade in Chicago Bulls history.
October 2, 1995
The Chicago Bulls trade Vanderbilt…I mean Will Perdue to the San Antonio Spurs
WHILE
The San Antonio Spurs traded away Dennis Rodman.
Remember back when trading Charles Oakley was a “bad idea”? Fortunately for the Bulls (and Jerry Krause) they were able to flip Perdue into Dennis Rodman in a straight up trade. If you are wondering how in the world the Bulls could swing this, sit back relax and read.
After Chuck Daly left Detroit after the “Bad Boy” era, Rodman wanted out of Detroit. He found himself in San Antonio with David Robinson, Sean Elliott and Avery Johnson.
Well to be kind, Rodman fit on the San Antonio Spurs roster like oil in a glass of Kool-Aid. The Spurs were a straight-laced squad that had a rock star on the bench. What Wesley Snipes started with the hair dye in Demolition Man, Rodman made infamous.
Then there was the relationship with Madonna.
Then the jerseys getting thrown into the crowd (Nope, it didn’t start in Chicago).
Then the lounging on the bench with his shoes off.
Then the arguments with John Lucas.
Then David Robinson wanting him out-of-town.
Then the meltdown in the playoffs the year before the trade.
All of this added up to the Bulls gambling that the Zen Master, Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen and the overlord, Michael Jordan could keep Rodman in check.
This in to Pippen Ain’t Easy…they kept him in check, somewhat.
There was that wedding, to himself.
There was that Bash at the Beach wrestling match which included Utah Jazz power forward Karl Malone. (Editor’s note NWO 4 Life BABY!)
Then there were those awful movies.
Then there was the “As bad as I want to be” book.
Then there was Oprah.
There was the kicking of the photographer.
But there was three NBA Finals wins that came with it. Dennis Rodman was perfect for this team because the Bulls figured out something that only Chuck Daly seemed understand with the handling of Dennis Rodman. Let Dennis be Dennis and he will kill himself on the court for you. During the second three peat Dennis Rodman averaged 15.9 rebounds while defending the best players on the opposing team’s frontline. Understand that he guarded Shaquille O’Neal in stretches during the 1996 playoffs. Remember what he did to Karl Malone in the NBA Finals during his MVP year?
This was the “Big Three” long before LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. This tandem solidified the Bulls into the team of the 90’s. Everyone remembers the slam dunks of Jordan and Pippen, but Rodman helped anchor one of the most dominant defensive teams of the era.
Will Perdue went to San Antonio. His number was 41. No more titles. But David Robinson was a lot happier. Plus Will Perdue probably saved thousands of dollars in therapy because Michael Jordan HATED Will Perdue.
There you have it Pippen Peoples! There is only one more trade to cover to see which trade tops our list as the best trade in Chicago Bulls history. Which trade could it be? You have to keep it locked to Pippen Ain’t Easy to find out!
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