All the blame? No. But I think the Kwame Brown comparison is apt. Lets go down the line.

Kwame Brown Eddy Curry

Stone hands: Check Check
Poor defender: Check Check
Poor rebounder: Check Check
Inconsistent: Check Check
Low BB IQ: Check Check
Skipped college: Check Check
Traded before age 23: Check Check
High draft pick: Check Check
Poor shot blocker: Check Check

I think I’ve made my point. Look, I agree that he had a nice offensive season last year, but he still could not pull more boards than the starting small forward (Richardson) and a reserve (Lee). You could argue that last season was his best as a pro but that was a result of being the first, second, and third option on offense. He still had a high number of turnovers, low number of blocked shots, and a poor defensive rating. He has not improved his footwork, FT%, defensive skills, passing, ect since he came into the NBA.

The defensive system has not changed. Just becuase Curry isnt featured in the offense the way he was last year does not excuse him from contributing with defense and rebounding. If he did either of those very well he would get minutes on this team, even if offensive system did not fit his so called skill set.

Ok maybe Brown is a bit of stretch (he could be the worst top 5 pick ever), but I think I am damn close to the bullseye on this one.

“Is it not time to accept that Eddy Curry is the new Kwame Brown? Perhaps we can trade him to LA for a Caron Butler type producer. Lord, if only there was a GM dumb enough to give up the team’s future for Eddy Curry…well I guess I should say ANOTHER GM dumb enough.”

Thomas…does Eddy shoulder all the blame? Last year he had a decent enough year..but still needed lots of work on rotation,defense ,rebounding and conditioning. But there was reason for some optimism. This year IT put him in a system that doesnt suit him. His skills didnt diminish overnite. He’s in a total mental funk. I have a hard time believing that if we didnt get Zach, Curry would be having a much better year. We saw last year when his confidence is up, he can do a few things. Which isnt too say there isnt room for lots of improvement.

They’ve got lots of talent, but keeping the right combination to go from playoff contender to title contender will be tough. Smith and Childress are free agents after this season; Bibby, Marvin WIlliams, and Zaza after next; then Joe Johnson; then Horford and Law. Reminds me a bit of the Clippers a few years ago (Brand, Maggette, Odom, and Miller), although Atlanta is lucky to have them a bit more spaced out.

“I think Atlanta is coming up to the same position Chicago found themselves in a couple years ago. It’s about time to start handing out new contracts to some of the young guys and they need to act shrewdly. Chicago overvalued their young talent and didn’t make moves for proven star caliber players. Now, they are paying the price as some of the guys start to plateau and they are no longer big trade chips and aren’t good enough for the Bulls to seriously contend.”

Devin, your point about potential not being a sure thing is well taken and I see some parellels between Chicago and Atlanta, but I can’t say I completely agree with your take on Chicago.

With Noah and Ty Thomas in their first and second years is the league I think it’s hard to say their talent has plateaued… Luol Deng hasn’t come as far as expected, but he’s still a good player and I don’t think you could have reasonably expected Hinrich to become more than a solid floor general and all-around player, which he seems to be, and Gordon to become more than a fairly efficient gunner with a sweet touch, which he is. Nocioni also didn’t have a particularly high ceiling.

I realize that neither Atlanta or Chicago is following the build around a superstar model, but unless you luck out in the draft or free agency that’s pretty hard to do. If Chicago was going to trade for a “superstar” it likely would have been a Pau Gasol level guy at best, or maybe an aging Iverson, Shaq, or Kidd. In which case I don’t think you give up much of your young core. It’s not like they have a short-term “window” like Dallas.

I see them following more of the team building model followed by Dallas or Phoenix, bring together a bunch of solid players who fit well together. Then develop some “superstars” or at least realy good players from your young guys (Dirk/Amare/Marion/Howard/Barbosa or former guys like Joe Johnson/Devin Harris/Nash for Dallas) or a free agent (Nash for Pheonix). The Bulls even made a bit of a Steve Nash attempt with Ben Wallace, which obviously blew up in their face.

Overall, I’m not sure they overvalued their young talent, rather they didn’t jump for a Gasol, Randolph type of guy whose not necessarily better than some of their young guys will be or an aging star (well not in a trade anyway). At the same time, the only young guys they’ve signed long term thus far are Hinrich and Nocioni, neither of which has an untradable deal (Hughes does, but it’ll be a trade chip after next season).

I would put the Bulls at least on par with Seattle and Memphis in terms of the NBA’s young teams with the brightest young futures, if not up to Portland’s level (because of Oden mostly).

While the West is clearly the dominant conference, the East has taken 2 of the last 4 titles and I think you have to give the Leastern Conference a chance to continue competing for the championship in the forseeable future with, at least, Boston and Detroit in the short-term and the Cavs (LeBron), Magic (Howard), and Heat (Wade + lottery pick) down the road.

Maybe the East getting the ping pong bounce would also help.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/nba_experts/post/Zach-Randolph-thinks-he-s-a-guard;_ylt=AjD4IIce0.BLJ4BSgr6Kbg68vLYF?urn=nba,68500

Hat Tip: Basketbawful

I see the Bibby move as a good thing. Acie Law is not ready to run the show. Bibby is a good stop gap to give Law time to learn the point. Plus ATL needs to make the playoffs this year as PHX owns their pick. If ATL gives up a lottery pick this year after wasting a lottery pick on Sheldon last year and passing on two top points two years earlier, Billy maybe sent packing. Has any team other than the Clippers done less with so many lottery picks?

They have two of their young players expiring this year; Childress and Smith. I bet they will let Childress walk and then overpay for Smith (who has never shot a TS% of over 51.2%).

I think the Bibby move was premature, he is too old to still be contributing when Horford and Williams really hit their stride and in the meantime will only keep Atlanta from getting a great player in the draft.

Also Atlanta seems to be missing that great talent that they can build around. Horford or Williams could still possibly turn into that, I doubt it, but right now I think their two best players, Smith and Johnson, are no more than good starters, neither is a star in my opinion.

The Chicago analagy is a great one, they too are missing that transendent talent that solidifies a team. Deng is almost there but not quite and Deng is better than anyone on Atlanta.