NBA: Raptors - Bulls trade

[Smooth]

Canadian Press

11/29/2003

TORONTO (CP) - The Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls completed their long-awaited deal Saturday.

The Raptors sent power forward Antonio Davis, forward Jerome Williams and little-used forward Chris Jefferies to Chicago for star forward Jalen Rose, forward Donyell Marshall and forward Lonny Baxter.

"We're giving up talented players," Bulls general manager John Paxson told The Associated Press, adding the presence of Davis and Williams will help the Bulls on the inside where they have young and erratic youngsters Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler. "This is hard to do, but I think it's right for the organization right now.

 "It's been a long tough week in a lot of ways. I think we're in position now where we got a big basketball team. We've still got issues and I don't expect miracles right away, but I expect us to be a competitive team."

Paxson fired coach Bill Cartwright on Monday after Chicago lost 10 of its 14 games. Then on Friday, he named Scott Skiles to replace him. The Bulls are 4-12 overall.

Davis and Williams were left out of the lineup for Toronto's game in Miami on Saturday night, while Jefferies is on the Raptors' injured list.

Reports of a blockbuster trade reached a fever pitch a week ago when numerous sources reported the Raptors were on the verge of a deal with the Bulls that would involve Rose, Davis and others.

Chicago had long been rumoured to have been shopping Rose, a small forward in his 10th NBA season. Rose, averaging 13.3 points a game, will bring much-needed offence to the Raptors.

Even though he has struggled this season with the Bulls, Rose was the key player in the deal. He has averaged more than 20 points per game three times in his career, including the 2002-2003 season (22.1), and has a career scoring average of 14.4 points per game.

"It's obviously an issue that we have to address," Raptors GM Glen Grunwald said earlier in the week. "We've had some stinker games."

O'Neill spent the last two seasons with the Detroit Pistons, overseeing a defence that allowed the fewest points in the league 87.7 points per game.

The six-foot-nine Davis, in his 11th season, has been at the centre of trade rumours since the summer when he sold his home in Toronto, and has said that he would not mind being traded. He is averaging just 8.6 points but nine rebounds for the Raptors.

"Antonio Davis can't help but be a good influence on the other guys and Jerome Williams hustles all the time," Skiles said. "He gets up and down the floor."

Added Paxson: "Sometimes you have to give good things up for things that make more sense at the time. I think we've become a more physical and tougher team that can rebound and defend better."

For Davis, Chicago is the perfect place to be traded. His family already lives there, and he nearly signed there three years ago.

Williams, a fan favourite in Toronto nicknamed the Junk Yard Dog, was hoping not to be traded.

"I live for the city of Toronto," Williams said recently.

Jefferies, a first-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Lakers in 2002, has appeared in only two games with the Raptors this season.

The six-foot-nine Marshall averaged 8.7 points per game and 6.2 rebounds in 16 games this season while the six-foot-eight Baxter averaged 4.3 points per game and 2.5 rebounds in 14 appearances.

Marshall said he got a phone call Saturday from Paxson telling him of the deal.

"I feel a little in shock right now," he said. "I kept hearing about it for a week and a half now.

"Usually when trade rumours go around that long, usually they're dead. I was laying at home getting ready to come into the second practice and my phone rang and it was Pax. I've been in this league 10 years. I know it's a business, I know you've got to do what you've got to do to make this team better."




Damn I don't know about this trade, what do you guys think about it? Raptors lose some size... but they do gain some scoring with Jalen...

Yo Tom what you think about this trade?

[pappy]

its was alright.   they did cut a lot of pay roll trading jalen.  i never liked him tho cuz i was a big ron artest fan ever since his college days an they traded him for jalen.  the bulls do get some much needed experienced defensive players.  an plus this will help the young kids b/c we jalen wont be hoggin the ball anymore

[PLANT]

its was alright.   they did cut a lot of pay roll trading jalen

the Bulls actually are getting the shitty end of this deal...the 3 Raptor players are worth 75 million and the bulls players are worth only 60, so the Bulls are taking an extra 15 mil on salarys on this deal.

Great trade for Toronto!  Im not sure what Chicago was thinking because Davis is old and washed up now, Jeffries hasnt proven his skill and JYD doesnt want to play for Chicago....

[pappy]

its was alright.   they did cut a lot of pay roll trading jalen

the Bulls actually are getting the shitty end of this deal...the 3 Raptor players are worth 75 million and the bulls players are worth only 60, so the Bulls are taking an extra 15 mil on salarys on this deal.

Great trade for Toronto!  Im not sure what Chicago was thinking because Davis is old and washed up now, Jeffries hasnt proven his skill and JYD doesnt want to play for Chicago....

how many years do the rest of the guys have on there contracts cuz if was good in chicagos case cuz jalen still had4 more years left on his thats why it was good 4 us

[Smooth]

im pretty sure AD and JYD both got 3 years on there contract... JYD will definitly help the bulls with his hustle... but Represent is right abut AD he is startin to get a lil old, and he's not what he was even 2 years ago...

[pappy]

your goin love jalen for about a week an thn u will hate him jus like bulls fans tho.  ive been hearing tho that JYD is a real good guy.  shitload of hustle on the floor an a good guy in the community

[PLANT]

your goin love jalen for about a week an thn u will hate him jus like bulls fans tho.  ive been hearing tho that JYD is a real good guy.  shitload of hustle on the floor an a good guy in the community

Ya man JYD is cool shit.....I really wish we still had him, hes hilarious and he always pops up her and there in the community.

The Toronto media is saying that they might play Jalen Rose at point guard....If so, Torontos lineup looks pretty good.

PG - Jalen Rose
SG - Vince Carter
SF - Lamond Murray
PF - Chris Bosh
C  - Donyell Marhsall

[pappy]

u wont like rose after 2 weeks.  but i wll miss donyell marshall.  he was a solid player off the bench

[Smooth]

u wont like rose after 2 weeks.  but i wll miss donyell marshall.  he was a solid player off the bench

Yeah I can't wait to see Donyell play... he's really solid...

lol about Rose... I can see myself gettin annoyed with him... he can hog the ball way to much sometimes...

[Perfection]

Alvin Williams will most likely still be in the starting line up.