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PHILADELPHIA -- Before setting off on what he hopes is another championship mission, Toni Kukoc recounted the paper trail behind the blockbuster deal that sent him to Philadelphia.
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The way Kukoc told the story Thursday, it sounded like a lesson
to Chicago Bulls coach Tim Floyd: Don't put trade possibilities
down on paper, and don't let the paper fall on the floor.
In his first public appearance since being traded to the
Philadelphia 76ers, Kukoc acknowledged that he did find a piece of
paper outlining his trade possibilities a few weeks ago.
"That was actually one of the writers asking the coach what he
knows about a trade," Kukoc said. "And the coach gave him a
question what he heard about it. So this journalist actually sent
him a note about whatever he knew, and the coach circled the ones
that he heard of."
At this point, the room filled with laughter.
"We had a meeting right away after that," Kukoc said, "and
the paper was there."
The bottom line is that Kukoc is no longer a member of the Bulls, no longer the only real link to their glorious past. And his presence in Philadelphia with Allen Iverson must make other teams in the East just a little nervous.
"If we need a player, a lot of players come to mind," Iverson
said. "But to be able to get that player, you can't ask for much
more. Toni can talk to us about what it takes to get there."
The Sixers got Kukoc from the Bulls and sent Larry Hughes and
Billy Owens to Golden State. The Warriors sent a No. 1 draft pick
to the Bulls, who need plenty of them to rebuild from the breakup
of their dynasty.
"The last two years, we didn't play much of competitive
basketball," Kukoc said. "So I'm glad to be in a place that is
doing that right now."
Kukoc was rumored to be headed to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he would be
reunited with his former coach, Phil Jackson. Another potential
deal had him going to Portland to play with former teammate Scottie
Pippen.
Though Kukoc acknowledged finding the trade possibilities on a
piece of paper, he said he put little stock in the rumors.
"The rumors with me and Phil or Scottie, the Lakers or
Portland, you guys created these things," Kukoc said. "I guess
you would know these things better than I do."
Contradicting recent statements that he was considering going home to Europe after the season, Kukoc said he'd decided to stay in the NBA and believes he has four good years left. But he wouldn't commit to signing with the Sixers. Kukoc is on the last year of his
contract, and the Sixers could offer him more money than any other
team.
"I am here two hours, so I can't tell you about these things
right away," Kukoc said. "I don't want to give a straight answer
right now. ... If everything works fine, I don't see any reason why
I should not stay here."
Kukoc didn't practice Thursday and hadn't undergone a physical
when he met with reporters for a late afternoon news conference. He
said the back injury that forced him to miss the first 24 games was
completely healed.
Kukoc is expected to play Friday night against Cleveland, although coach Larry Brown said he probably won't start.
"I think we've got to give him a feel," Brown said. "He's come off the bench before. I think the championship years he came off the bench. We'll probably go that way for a while for sure."
The deal was well received among Kukoc's new teammates, who
didn't have enough firepower to take scoring pressure away from
Iverson -- until now.
"He can bring things to practice that some of us guys need to
know to win championships," said George Lynch, whose playing time
could take a hit with Kukoc in the mix. "He played with one of the
greatest players ever, so hopefully he can bring some of that
influence to us."
Iverson, who supposedly became close with Hughes the last two years, blamed Hughes for failing to fit in with the Sixers.
"To be honest, Larry had his opportunities to play more minutes," Iverson said. "All he had to do to get more minutes was show the coach, do whatever it takes to be on the court.
"Forget going back to me and Larry playing the same position.
You do whatever it takes to make the team better. If Larry had to
play point guard, he had enough talent to play the point. I don't
think Larry was willing to do that."
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ALSO SEE
Bulls send Kukoc to Sixers in three-way deal
Kukoc-Hughes user trade comments
Around The Rim on the Kukoc trade
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