Chicago Bulls Trade Talk: Best Five Trades-#1
By Ronald Agers
Well Pippen Peoples, we are here. We have made it to the top of the list 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 insight in the front office moves in the past and have learned some things along the way. I think through this series maybe Bulls fans can have a better understanding of the moves that made this franchise a NBA dynasty in the 1990’s. As we all know, the Chicago Bulls have a ton of rumors linked to them, but rarely any big trades. I hope this series has filled this offseason void. In the future, maybe Bulls fans can use this information to possibly read between the lines with possible trades in the future.
Mar 3, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Kevin Martin (23) shoots the ball over Denver Nuggets guard Randy Foye (4) during the second half at Pepsi Center. The Timberwolves won 132-128. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Speaking of rumors concerning the Chicago Bulls, it seems that the Minnesota Timberwolves seems to have the Bulls on speed dial this summer. After burning up the phone lines trying to get a deal done for Kevin Love, it seems that the rumors swirling around a Kevin Martin deal is starting to pick up steam. According to numerous reports including ESPN and Pippen Ain’t Easy sister websites from the FanSided network, Da Windy City and Hoops Habit, the Chicago Bulls are in discussions to acquire Kevin Martin for Tony Snell, Mike Dunleavy and a 2015 second round pick. To keep up to date with in-depth analysis on this situation, now is the time to keep logging on to Pippen Ain’t Easy for the bottom line.
In today’s NBA, it seems that everyone has bought into the quick fix to become contenders for a championship. We tend to think of the Boston Celtics when Danny Ainge swung deals for Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen for a championship a few years ago. Miami made it a trend when they created their super teams for four years with Dywane Wade, Chris Bosh and LeBron James. Now the New World Order is in Cleveland when James copied Pat Riley’s blueprint and took it back to Cleveland. But history has shown us that the Bulls have never used that avenue to win their titles. Their dynasty was built up through the draft and timely trades. The number one trade in history, combined them both.
Before we look at the finest trade in history, let’s look back at the others leading up to this point.
Chicago’s 5th best trade ever…
The Chicago Bulls flip centers in between three peats trading Stacey King for Luc Longley.
The number five trade discussed the Chicago Bulls trading away Stacey King, the back up center from the first three peat teams to Minnesota (Boy these two teams have history!) for Luc Longley. Luc Longley became the starting center for the second three peat squads, while Stacey King fell off the map. Don’t feel sorry for him though. King came home to Chicago and became the Bulls announcer who we all will be checking out 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 was flipped to make the second best trade ever to spark the Bulls’ second three peat. But this one started the first three peat in Chicago Bulls history. It also spelled history to any chance of Michael Jordan and Jerry Krause ever getting along. The fact that this trade actually worked kept Jerry Krause from ending up missing with Geraldo doing a primetime special looking for him and the move set the Bulls up for the next 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 put the Bulls in position to draft Michael Jordan. Don’t get it twisted. The Bulls did not want Jordan, they wanted Akeem Olajuwon. But so what? Movie producers wanted Tom Hanks to play the lead in The Shawshank Redemption. Will Smith turned down the lead in the Matrix. Bruce Willis turned down the role in the Beverly Hills Cop. Get the point?
The Chicago Bulls trade Will Perdue to San Antonio for Dennis Rodman.
This trade changed the Chicago Bulls from Michael Jordan and the Jordanaires to the next coming of the Beatles. Rodman helped the Bulls to another three peat while bringing Rock and Roll to Chicago while Will Perdue…well let’s get to the number one trade shall we?
Drum roll please, the number one trade in Chicago Bulls history is…
Feb 9, 2014; Tucson, AZ, USA; Chicago Bulls former player Scottie Pippen waits for the game to start between the Arizona Wildcats and the Oregon State Beavers before the first half at McKale Center. Arizona won 76-54. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
June 22, 1987
The Chicago Bulls trade the rights to Olden Polynice to the Seattle SuperSonics for Scottie Pippen.
Come on Pippen Peoples! You had to know the namesake of the most renegade NBA website at FanSided was going to get the number one spot! It’s only appropriate.
Let’s get Oden Polynice out-of-the-way. Who knows him? Okay we have crickets here. Well Olden Polynice was the center at the University of Virginia who helped the squad make it to the Final Four. Yep Olden Polynice. Not Ralph Sampson, his time was in 1981, but Olden Polynice. Polynice became a journeyman in the NBA playing up until 2004. Polynice is known for something. He will go down as the only player in NBA history to ever get arrested not once but twice for impersonating a police officer.
Now to the man of the hour. Thanks to the shrewdness of Jerry Krause (Sorry Mr. Jordan, gotta give the man his due for this one.) The Bulls switched draft selections with the Sonics and drafted future All-Star Horace Grant with the 10th pick. Scottie Pippen became the greatest wingman since Flavor Flav in the Public Enemy days. Pippen made being “Robin” profitable for basketball players in the NBA. He was an elite wing defender, an incredible athlete, an effective scorer and a perfect compliment to Jordan. Jordan was already a star, but when Pippen made the leap to the next level, it was over.
Nov 27, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James reacts after dunking in the third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Pippen has a résumé that could call in debate if LeBron James is a few notches lower than him on the totem pole.
Six NBA Finals with no losses. (Editor’s note…To all fans thinking it was all Jordan, check out the Washington Bullets series in 1997 and both NBA Finals versus the Utah Jazz on YouTube. If you’re still not convinced, ask the Detroit Pistons in 1991 when the Bulls broke through!)
Two gold medals with an invitation to the original “Dream Team”. No losses.
Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer…twice!
One half of the greatest tag team in NBA history. It would be Kobe and Shaq but they messed their good thing up. These fellas got along for the good of the “Bling”.
Congratulations are in order to Scottie Pippen for being a part of the greatest trade in Chicago Bulls history. Michael Jordan will be the icon, but if Scottie wasn’t doing all of the little things, Jordan wouldn’t be looking like this…
Dec 21, 2013; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan unveils the new Charlotte Hornets logo at halftime during the game against the Utah Jazz at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
There you have it Pippen Peoples, the number one trade in Chicago Bulls history was bringing in Scottie Pippen. To check out the other trades on this list, please check out Pippen Ain’t Easy, your best choice for all things Chicago Bulls.
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