Tyrus Thomas and Da Bulls' Dilemma

Da Bulls have a problem...quite a few actually, but one of them is named Tyrus Thomas. Thomas is a problem because he doesn't like to play team basketball and he doesn't respect the team. He is an amazingly athletic power forward...he is also a mental case. He believes that he is the best player on the court at all times, and is always trying to make a highlight play...either that, or he doesn't try to do anything at all. I think he wishes he could grow up to be Amare Stoudemire.

The Bulls have needed a consistent low-post scoring threat since they traded away Elton Brand in 2001. For some insane reason, they thought a Tyson Chandler/Eddie Curry combo would be an upgrade over Brand (a guaranteed 20/10 until hit by the injury bug in 2007). That, naturally, didn't work, and Tyson was eventually shipped out for, essentially, P.J. Brown and Howard Eisley...not much for a 20/10 All-NBA guy, is it?

The brain surgeons running the Bulls thought they found their answer for the low-post when they drafted Thomas with the 4th pick (via a trade with Portland for the rights to the second pick, LaMarcus Aldridge...yes, I considered that stupid at the time) in the incredibly weak 2006 draft. Why they thought this is beyond me. Thomas had an impressive tourney run in his freshman year at LSU, but there were already questions about his maturity and commitment. I suppose it was the ridiculously good string of luck they had had with "big upside" youngsters.

So Tyrus Thomas hasn't developed into what you had hoped he would (big surprise)...now what do you do? The Bulls don't need Thomas (Taj Gibson is doing well enough for the short term) and don't like him (swearing at the coach, moody as hell), so the easy answer is to just dump him. He was still the number four pick in a draft though. You can't admit to the fans that you blew it again...can you?

Of course you can...and you should. If some team thinks they are a fundamentally-unsound, hyper-athletic big man away from their dreams, get some cap relief or a second round pick from them and be done with it. Make him go away in the most financially advantageous manner and resume dreaming about Chris Bosh.

Bigger message for the Bulls? Their last good post option had been in school for 3 years...pretty smart kid who learned how to play basketball the right way. All succeeding options? Teenagers with "big upside." The NBA has not and never will be a place where a kid will learn how to play basketball. For every LeBron James or Kobe Bryant, there are a dozen Tyrus Thomas's. The best you can actually hope for with a kid like that is that he actually becomes Amare...take a look at him lately? Won't play defense, doesn't like to rebound, and doesn't like anyone else on the team getting love.

The best thing that could happen to the Bulls, and countless teams like them, is that the league pushes through a 21 year old age limit. Players like Thomas would be exposed for who they are by their third year in college or the D-League.

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