[RealFan]

Originally posted by bobalooey
sam Smith NEVER reported the Brand trade before it happened. Not one source knew about it or reported it before it happened. They didn't even know on ESPN until it was announced by the commisioner. So do not berlieve anything that SS reports. He is a complete idiot.

Actually, I think Smith nailed it one or two days before the trade. He definitely cautioned that Brand was on the block for the #1 or #2 pick. I dismissed it immediately but remember thinking later about how Smith had it right.

 

[RealFan]

Originally posted by Kneepad

The way I remember it was Smith proposed that trading Brand might be the best approach for the Bulls to get better. That is different than reporting that such a trade is actually going to happen or is actually in the works.

Again, I don't claim to be a guy who remembers everything and I certainly don't like Sam Smith. But I think he mentioned in print that Brand would likely be traded for one of the top two picks. I don't know that he mentioned Chandler as the pick though.

Maybe a search over at RealGM's archives can dig up the correct thread. I don't want to pay the Tribune to dig through its archives.

 

[RealFan]

I went over to the RealGM site and found this link which supports that not only did Smith leak the trade of Brand, he also nailed the trading partner in the LAClippers. So as I thought, he had the whole thing figured out but for the Bulls picking Chandler with the newly acquired pick.

I wonder how he got that information out of the supposedly airtight Bulls organization?

That's why I tend to believe more of his stuff now, but maybe he just got lucky.


http://www.bulls4ever.com/boards/viewtopic.php?topic=4764&forum=10

 

[RealFan]

Originally posted by Kneepad
Ah, but if you go to page 2 of that thread and look for air_philly_23's post, it claims that this was a trade suggestion by Smith, not reporting discussions of such a nature between the two teams. The fact that it ultimately came to pass nearly exactly as Smith suggested makes it seem more like it was "reported" as opposed to "suggested".

With all Krause's paranoia over secrecy, I simply can't believe that word of such a critical trade leaked out of the Bulls organization beforehand.

I did as you said and you are correct. I wish that someone had simply pasted the article within the thread. But I agree with you that the article was speculation. Though I still wonder if his speculation wasn't "educated" by someone within the Bulls organization. I'm just being paranoid.

I hope the Ming situation resolves itself and that Houston is able to make the pick. But if not, all bets are off (or on)!

 

[RealFan]

That's right GettinBranded. I think Krause will explore every avenue to see what the maximum value of that #2 pick is before he does anything. JWill is not a lock.

And it really shouldn't be a surprise. Krause historically has shied away from smallish guards (i.e., Francis).

I simply cannot wait until Wednesday. I just finished telling my wife that I will be unavailable for father/husband duty for about two hours on Wednesday. She just rolled her eyes.

I did tell her that there's one thing that would take precedent over the draft, but she just rolled her eyes again. :laugh: