Skip to main content
Pippen Ain't Easy
Fansided

A new wrinkle in an infamous Chicago Bulls draft trade found the light of day

Twenty years later and this deal still stinks.
ByMorris Bankston|
Share on FacebookShare on XShare on Reddit
Google Discover
Jan. 22, 2010; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Chicago Bulls forward (24) Tyrus Thomas against the Phoenix Suns at the US Airways Center. Chicago defeated Phoenix 115-104. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan. 22, 2010; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Chicago Bulls forward (24) Tyrus Thomas against the Phoenix Suns at the US Airways Center. Chicago defeated Phoenix 115-104. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

On Friday’s episode of ESPN’s The Hoop Collective podcast, former then-New Jersey Nets assistant general manager and podcast co-host Bobby Marks shared a previously untold story of a comical trade negotiation on the day of the 2006 NBA draft, centered on the second pick of that draft, which was owned by the Chicago Bulls.

The Bulls, of course, elected to trade their number two overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft for the number four overall pick in the same draft, which resulted in the Bulls acquiring forward Tyrus Thomas at four instead of LaMarcus Aldridge at two.

History did not serve the Bulls well in this trade as Aldridge went on to achieve an 18-year NBA career marked by seven NBA All-Star Game selections and five All-NBA team selections. 

Meanwhile, Tyrus Thomas didn’t finish his rookie contract with the Bulls, instead finding himself on the outbound side of a 2010 NBA Trade deadline deal between the Bulls and then-Charlotte Bobcats.

Worth mentioning as well, to fact-check Bobby Marks' memory, the Nets’ first round picks in the 2006 NBA draft were actually the 22nd and 23rd overall picks, in which the respective selections for each pick were University of Connecticut products guard Marcus Williams, and forward Josh Boone.

In that context, it’s reasonable to understand why the Bulls would agree to trade back from their second first-round pick, the 16th overall pick of the 2006 NBA Draft.

What could have been if the Nets deal happened

The 2006 NBA Draft is not remembered as a transformational draft for the NBA, yet there were successful talents that emerged from that draft. 

If the Bulls did trade back from 16 to either 22 or 23 in the 2006 NBA Draft, the Bulls could have selected six-time NBA All-Star and 2018-19 NBA champion guard Kyle Lowry.  

However, for context, it did take Lowry nine NBA seasons and three NBA franchises to reach his first NBA All-Star game during the 2014-15 NBA regular season.  

Also worth noting, the Bulls guard rotation going into the 2006 NBA Draft was essentially booked between Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon, and Chris Duhon.

At the same time, if the New Jersey Nets were offering a future first-round draft pick, then perhaps the Bulls would have been better off with that trade in the long-run instead of taking a big swing and a miss on Tyrus Thomas, or even better NOT TRADING LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE!

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Loading recommendations... Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations

Home/Bulls News