Multiple outlets are reporting that the Bobcats and Bulls are set to finalize a trade that would send Tyrus Thomas to the Bobcats.
It appears that the final deal will be Thomas for Flip Murray and Acie Law (both expiring contracts) and a future protected first round pick.
Thomas is currently in the final year of his rookie deal at $4.7 million this season. He will be a restricted free agent this summer, due a qualifying offer of $6.2 million for 2010-11.
Thomas is a 6’10” super-athletic power forward who has had difficulty putting it altogether on the court since he was drafted #4 overall in the 2006 NBA Draft after a promising freshman year at LSU. While he has shown flashes of brilliance, he is also regarded as still being quite immature.
While there have been no major transgressions, either off-court or on, the Bulls have undoubtedly grown weary of dealing with his lack of professionalism and consistency. He was suspended for a game earlier this month for “conduct detrimental to the team” in what was likely the straw that broke the camel’s back. Furthermore, the emergence of Joakim Noah likely further influenced the Bulls to trade him now to get an asset back.
Thomas is currently averaging 8.8 points and 6.3 rebounds in 23 minutes per game this year for a career-high 16.7 PER. He did miss a swath of games earlier this season with a broken arm; this injury was sustained in a weightlifting accident and does not reflect any chronic problem.
No doubt Larry Brown is geeked about teaching young Tyrus how to “play the right way” and “respect the game.”
We’ll have more posts to come on the trade this afternoon. For now, here’s some bonus links:
- Tyrus Thomas’s official site (complete with bitter, narcissistic Kanye track after you get past the front splash page)
- ESPNChicago’s Nick Friedell on Thomas’s return from the forearm injury in December
- Friedell again, this time from January on The Thomas Question
- And Friedell one last time, from just a couple weeks ago on Thomas’s one-game suspension
-Dr. E
POLL : TYRUS THOMAS TRADE REACTIONS
- Great Deal for Cats
(82%, 102 Votes) - Better Deal for Bulls
(5%, 6 Votes) - Not Worth 1st Round Pick
(13%, 16 Votes)
Total Voters: 124
Initially, I didn't like the idea of Charlotte trading away another 1st round pick, but I really thought about what a 1st round selection means for the Bobcats.
The concept that the future 1st rounder would be of any value is entirely dependent on the sale of the team. If Jordan stays involved, that 1st round pick is nearly worthless –
2007 : Adam Morrison = Bust
2008 : DJ Augustin = Semi-Bust
2008 : Alexis Ajinca = Bust
2009 : Gerald Henderson : Semi-Bust
Any future draft selection made by Jordan would be worthless, so it's really just a way of GM Rod Higgins to do some pre-emptive PR work for his boss. If they have no draft picks to ruin, they'll not have the opportunity to make another big mistake.
Hey Jared – How does "Thom Cat" sound?
Any good nicknames for this guy? Even though TT is easy to type and makes me giggle more than a grown man should, can we come up w/ something better?
Just off the top of my head, but given that he went to LSU and is now in the proud home of Bojangles could we possibly call him Cajun Fillet Biscuit Combo? CFBC for short.
hahah
can't agree no more with the post above
i understand his energy and defense will be an asset to the team…but why get another person who can't score in the paint!?
as i mentioned in last blog post….
why not give it a try for andray blatche!?
It was odd to see that Blatch dropped 33 pts a few days after it was reported that the Cats had passed on a DJ for Andray deal.
Still, I guess Andray's multiple run-ins with the law (including the one with an undercover cop posing as a prostitute) were more than the Bobcats organization was willing to gamble on.
Next to Blatche, Tyrus Thomas looks like the teacher's pet.
true that…..
anyway, just saw another rumor saying
dj augustin+nazar+gerald henderson for tj ford and brandon rush
i will be thrilled if this really work out!
Man, I’d hate to see Gerald Henderson go before he ever got a chance to play.
I think Brandon Rush will be a solid scorer, but not much of a defender. I think we could get more for Mohammed this off-season. He would be useful to a contender and holds and expiring contract.
You could also go with T2: Judgement Day
Wholeheartedly agree with mike15. If MJ is gonna buy this team then we're looking at no less than a decade of draft disasters so why not curb the disfunction by trading the potential for younger NBA veterans.
This was a great "MJ playing to MJ's Strengths" deal that I'd love to see a lot more of going forward. Nice move Higgidy-Higgins.
I do some weightlifting at least twice a week, weightlifting is a very good exercise and it keeps the shape of my chest and shoulder muscles in very good form.~~~