Offseason key to Curry's future in Chicago

The Chicago Bulls are taking a hard-lined approach into this offseason after yet another disappointing season. Hopes of having Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry, the two ex-high school bigmen taken in the same draft in 2001, take them to the next level last season was a failure when both turned up to training camp out of shape. Curry was carrying excess weight and Chandler wasn't in the right conditioning, putting the Bulls on the backfoot from the start.

This season things will be different.

K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune writes that coach Scott Skiles recently told Curry that his work habits between now and the June 24 NBA draft could play a part in off-season personnel decisions. Curry has been working out at Hoops the Gym with trainer Tim Grover and has visiting the Berto Center every 10 days so management can monitor his conditioning.

All indications are that these sessions have gone well, but Paxson and Skiles want Curry at the Berto Center so they can better monitor his conditioning and weight and to pace him through drills.

Chandler, however, has impressed management with his off-season commitment.

Via Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls

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Smith Says Bulls Should Deal Pick

Sam Smith of the Chicago Tribune urges the Bulls to trade the number 3 pick they received in last night's Draft lottery.

Since this is widely considered to be a two-player Draft, getting the third pick leaves the Bulls out in the cold. After Emeka Okafor and Dwight Howard, there’s not good enough.

All the Bulls really were given is the chance to take a risk on somebody like Duke freshman Luol Deng. He’s got ability but is not enough of an upgrade.

“He's not a slasher to beat someone off the dribble, a requirement for the pro game,” Smith writes. “Is he better than Mike Dunleavy? Probably not. Wally Szczerbiak? Probably not yet. Though Deng looks like he would do well over time, could he use a teammate who can be double-teamed? Sure.”

The Bulls need somebody ready to contribute minutes and quality, like Wally Szczerbiak, Antawn Jamison, Shane Battier, Al Harrington or Shareef Abdur-Rahim.

Smith also discusses the possibility of trading No. 3 for a player and a lower pick, and sizes up some sleepers in the Draft.

Via Chicago Tribune

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Dwight Howard to Live with Relative

Dwight Howard’s older cousin, Kevin Samples, told the lottery-pick-to-be "he ain't ready for this."

Howard, 18, is in fact likely to be the first or second player chosen on the June 24 Draft. And with this comes instant stardom, attention, and unwanted distractions.

Howard’s parents have decided that their son will live with a relative at least for the first two years, and Samples is ready to take on the job.

This is becoming common practice in the NBA as the average age of Draft entries drops.

Chris Bosh lived with a cousin last year. LeBron James lives with an uncle.

Samples is 24 and will help Howard manage his calendar, clear his life of trouble, and ease his transition to the life of professional basketball.

Via The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

General Basketball, Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls

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