Regardless of what happens here, keep the following things in mind:
1) Jay Williams WILL start for the Bulls and play well over 30 minutes/game. You can call him a PG, a SG, whatever--THE DUDE WILL START.
2) Sam Cassell's contract is up after next season, and he's NOT going to be re-signed by the Bucks. He might not even be re-signed by the Bulls, assuming this trade happens.
3) I HIGHLY DOUBT that Jerry Krause is going to trade Marcus Fizer AND Jamal Crawford for an unwanted veteran point guard who may not even be back with the team after next season. Now I'm not saying that I LIKE either Fizer or Crawford, because I DON'T--but the two dudes have more trade value than THAT! They don't have a TON of trade value, but c'mon, both guys for SAM CASSELL?
4) The Bucks just traded Glenn Robinson, who averaged over 20 points/game last season, for TONI KUKOC (and a first-round pick, which WILL be a lottery pick, since the Hawks AIN'T gonna make the playoffs). Milwaukee is DUMPING GUYS. They will be MORE THAN HAPPY with Fizer and Best or Crawford and Best.
5) Sam Cassell is STILL an above average starting PG in this league. But he's NOT one of the top ten starting PGs in the league, as somebody just suggested--if he WERE top ten, why in the hell would the Bucks be trying to get rid of him?
6) The Bulls WON'T make the playoffs next season, whether they acquire Cassell or NOT. But they WILL be a lot better than they were in 2001-02. I think they'll be right there with Milwaukee and Atlanta for the 11-12-13 spots in the East (ahead of New York and Cleveland, behind Washington, Miami, and Toronto).
7) Marcus Fizer is a BUST, and he AIN'T gonna eventually re-sign with the Bulls. Will he start at PF for the Bucks? Ahead of Anthony Mason? Nope--not unless Mason gets dumped, too (which COULD happen). And what about Jason Caffey and Marcus Haislip? Is Fizer a good fit in Milwaukee?
8) Jamal Crawford WOULD, however, be given an opportunity to start in Milwaukee, while Travis Best would give the team a solid combo guard off the bench (I think he FINALLY realizes that he's not a starter in this league, but he's STILL a hell of a bench player).
9) Jalen Rose started at SG, not SF, for the Bulls last season. And the team ALREADY has a nice backup guard (Trenton Hassell). Why would the Bulls want or need Sam Cassell? Like I said, he WOULDN'T be re-signed by Chicago, and the Bulls AIN'T gonna make the playoffs during his one season there.
BOTTOM LINE: This trade doesn't make sense for the Bulls. Jerry Krause should hold out and see if he can get something better for Crawford, a guy who has several teams interested. If the Bucks would take Fizer and Best for Cassell, I say the Bulls should do it in a SECOND.
Meanwhile, the Bucks could PROBABLY do better. Jamal Crawford and Best would be better than no trade at all, though. And Fizer needs to be avoided by the Bucks, don't you think? Sam Cassell would start for a LOT of teams out there, a lot of PLAYOFF contenderss who would have much more use for him than Chicago. Teams like:
Boston (Cassell for Tony Delk and Shammond Williams?)
Indiana (Cassell for Ron Artest and filler?)
Orlando (Cassell for a future #1 and filler?)
Philly (Cassell for Eric Snow or Aaron McKie?)
Washington (Cassell and Pryzbilla for Chris Whitney and Popeye Jones?)
Miami (Cassell for either Chris Gatling or LaPhonso Ellis and a future #1?)
Toronto (Cassell for Alvin Williams?)
L.A. Lakers (Cassell for Kareem Rush and Tracy Murray?)
Portland (Cassell for Ruben Patterson?)
L.A. Clippers (Cassell and Pryzbilla for Keyon Dooling and filler?)
Minnesota (Cassell for a future #1 and filler?)
Sam Cassell DOES have value, more value than Glenn Robinson because of his contract. It'll be interesting to see what happens!
