| | PHILADELPHIA -- Toni Kukoc, the last key player from the Chicago Bulls' championship dynasty, was traded to the Philadelphia
76ers on Wednesday in a three-team deal involving Golden State.
The Sixers sent Larry Hughes and Billy Owens to Golden State,
which dealt a No. 1 draft pick to Chicago. The Bulls, who have
stockpiled three No. 1 picks for this year in the wake of their
messy breakup, also got Bruce Bowen from the Sixers and John Starks
from the Warriors.
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Wednesday, Feb. 16
The trade will have a major impact on Philadelphia. The acquisition of Toni Kukoc gives the 76ers a multi-faceted offensive player in that he can play power forward. Opposing power forwards aren't accustomed to guarding Kukoc out on the floor. He handles the ball well, drives to the basket and makes the three-point shot. Against small forwards, he can back them down and post them up and be able to score.
Kukoc will also benefit the 76ers as a ballhandler and passer. He can take the ball out of Allen Iverson's hands by giving Iverson a breather offensively. I wouldn't be surprised to see Iverson's field-goal percentage go up because he won't take those five or six tired shots a game. The 76ers get a veteran player who has won championships, understands big games and knows he will be a leader. That's a major plus. He brings leadership qualities to a team that can win.
This is a wonderful opportunity for a young kid like Larry Hughes because he needs to develop his skills. Golden State is a perfect situation for him because he will get on-the-job training without the worry of his team's record. Hughes has all the skills, but it was difficult for him in Philadelphia because he was mentally struggling and fighting with Larry Brown.
In Chicago, Jerry Krause is trying to improve the talent pool by amassing first-round draft picks. John Starks might be dealt again to a potential playoff team that needs a backup shooting guard who can score. Maybe a team like Minnesota.
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The Sixers got a potent scorer to complement NBA scoring leader Allen Iverson, making them a serious threat in the East.
Sixers general manager Billy King called Kukoc "a player who
has won championships and who has played with the greatest player
in the league in Michael Jordan."
While Kukoc solidifies the Sixers' position against more
versatile, experienced Eastern teams, it might be short-lived.
Kukoc, 31, is in the final year of his contract and the subject of
an extension has yet to come up.
"His experience will help us tremendously this season,
hopefully in the playoff this year and in the future," King said.
"We're not doing this just as a short-term thing. Our goal is to
have Toni Kukoc finish his career here."
The deal marked the last gasp in a glorious run for the Bulls. Kukoc followed Jordan, Scottie Pippen and coach Phil Jackson out of town.
"The only player in the history of the franchise who was
untouchable was Michael Jordan," said Bulls general manager Jerry
Krause, who fought back tears during a news conference in Chicago.
"The rest of the athletes can be traded. That's the way life is."
The Sixers said Kukoc would arrive in Philadelphia on Thursday
and play Friday night against Cleveland. Presumably, he will start
at small forward, but coach Larry Brown was home ill and wasn't
available to confirm that.
In recent weeks, Kukoc has said he wouldn't mind being traded. There was speculation the Lakers would acquire Kukoc and reunite him with Jackson, his former coach.
"I told him, 'I think you're a piece that will help us continue
to go in the right direction,"' King said.
The draft pick that goes to Chicago is Washington's pick left
over from the Chris Webber trade. If it's in the top three picks
this year, the Bulls have to wait for an unprotected No. 1 pick in
2001.
"Our hope is that with this pick, we get a player who
translates into long-term success," Bulls coach Tim Floyd said.
Hughes, drafted eighth overall in 1998, didn't agree with Brown
or fit in the Sixers' offense with Iverson at shooting guard. He
was nearly dealt to Miami as part of a deal for Jamal Mashburn
several weeks ago, but it fell through.
"Trading Larry Hughes, it was difficult," King said. "When we
brought him in, there were high expectations. It didn't work out
probably the way we would have liked or the way Larry would have
liked."
The deal means Philadelphia has traded three of its last four
No. 1 draft picks -- Jerry Stackhouse, Keith Van Horn and Hughes.
Iverson was the No. 1 overall pick in 1996.
"The goal that Billy King and Larry Brown have been asked to
accomplish is to win an NBA championship," team president Pat
Croce said.
"I am very excited to be coming to Philadelphia," Kukoc said
in a statement released by the Sixers. "The team is doing well and
is probably going to the playoffs, so it's exciting for me to be
playing with these guys."
Playoffs are something Kukoc knows a little about. He was with
the Bulls for three of their six championships in the 1990s, which
will forever be known -- in Chicago and in basketball -- as the
Jordan era.
Kukoc said recently, "It would be nice to play again for a team
that has a great chance to win a championship."
With Kukoc in Philly, the Sixers have that chance. After playing
alongside Jordan in Chicago, Kukoc now will find himself playing
with Iverson, the defending scoring champion and self-proclaimed
best player in the league.
Kukoc was sidelined with back spasms for most of the early
season and only recently returned, sparking the Bulls to three
straight victories.
Bulls general manager Jerry Krause has scoffed at the notion of
Kukoc returning to Europe after the season, saying the player and
his family were too Americanized. Kukoc acknowledged that Krause
was right, and King said he thought that was unfounded speculation.
"My family, I can say, is pretty Americanized," Kukoc said. "My son has lived pretty much all his life in Chicago, my daughter was born in Chicago, we all like Chicago. So he is half-right about that.
"But I still like to go home in the summer, and I've never actually said 'no' to the European teams. I'm keeping those options open, but only if I can't find a team in the NBA.
"I'm intending to stay in the NBA."
Kukoc is averaging 18 points and 5.4 rebounds in 24 games this
season, although he is shooting a career-low 23 percent on
3-pointers.
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AUDIO/VIDEO
 Bulls trade Tony Kukoc to Sixers.
RealVideo: | 28.8
Fred Carter talks about Larry Hughes going to the Warriors.
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 Toni Kukoc hopes for a perfect fit in philly.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Allen Iverson believes Kukoc was a major part of Chicago's success.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
G.M. Billy King wants his Sixers to win now.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Pat Croce wants to give his team what it needs to win.
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Fred Carter gives his insight on the Sixers acquiring Tony Kukoc.
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