A tale of two players

This says it all.

Paxson scouted Nocioni at a tournament in Spain in February. Signing him would dovetail nicely with the Bulls' plan to bring Luol Deng along slowly. It also would glue Eddie Robinson firmly to the bench if he isn't included in a trade to the Knicks.

Nocioni's deal is believed to be for three years and near $3 million annually. It leaves the Bulls with enough money to pursue players like Lithuanian shooting guard Arvydas Macijauskas or veteran Toni Kukoc.

But Crawford's uncertain future— -- the talks with the Knicks could resume Wednesday, in a month or never -- —has management waiting on the next move.

"I've said all along the only way we could do a deal like Jamal's [to the Knicks] is if we got financial relief," Paxson said. "If we move Jamal, we're moving the best player in the deal. So we have to have some advantage. It just hasn't seemed to work.

Nothing personal but J.Crawford was the leading scorer for Chicago by default. His numbers are artifacts of playing for a losing team that hasn't many offensive options including a gap at small forward. He shoots often and sometimes poorly. For him to expect 7-9 million for 6 years is unearned. Some teams have overpayed for freeagents but those are mistakes which do not prove Crawford is worth that kind of money. He is a talent, more so than those players NY offers in compensation. Paxson is not going to give him up in a bad deal. Thomas is not making a good offer.

Let Crawford find another team willing to play more than th emid-level exception. If not then wait one more year for only 5 million and go as an unrestricted free agent. He'll have to chance not getting hurt. 5 million is a lot of money. Note: Walter Payton once sat out for a pay raise - 400,000 a year. Let's say that he was 10 times as much as now, it's still only 4 million for the best football player ever.

Nocioni sounds like a solid player who is probably every bit as good as Forward B.Cardinal (Memphis) and Guard M.Daniels (Dallas). He's 9 million for 3 years - about half or even less than those other players. At least all 3 are young enough to play to their potential all those years. A.Foyle for GSW is a Center who will be ~35 when his 6 year contract ends. That's a long term deal to a guy who will grow old and produce less.

Guard Arvydas Macijauskas or veteran SF Toni Kukoc?
If Pippen is any sign, I'd go with Arvydas Macijauskas. Toni Kukoc is a great passer, can score and is also a local resident of Chicagoland and good veteran influence for the team. Convinced? Me too!